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Someone has already test driven the 2016 Chevy Volt

Due to some well-placed connections at General Motors Canada headquarters in Oshawa, a senior member of the gm-volt.com forum with the handle "kickincanada" got about 30 minutes behind the wheel of a 2016 Chevrolet Volt. Kickincanada owns a 2012 Volt, and other than personal reservations over the styling of the new car, he came way nothing but impressed by the second-generation hybrid. He drove the Premier trim, posted his observations on the site, then answered questions for other owners desperate to find out what's coming. He said the interior materials are "more upscale," there is less hard plastic and better leather, the seats are more comfortable, and ergonomically, "Everything is beautifully laid out." Although obviously not as luxurious, the interior reminded him of the Cadillac ELR. Tech touches like a better display, Apple integration, a wireless charging area for the phone, heated rear seats, and a better rear console were also worth noting. As for driving, Kickincanada called it "incredible." The "much more luxurious drive" comes courtesy of a "firm and sporty" suspension setup, less NVH thanks to more sound insulation, quieter Michelin Energy Saver tires, and quieter operation of the genset ICE. He said acceleration from a standstill felt quicker because there was no delay between applying the throttle and the car taking off. He estimates owners should be able to get about 100 kilometers (62 miles) out of the electric mode alone on a full charge, and that the new Volt is "clearly improved in almost every way" (the car's official range, as determined by the EPA, is 53 electric miles). We look forward to finding out ourselves. Click through to gm-volt to read all of his thoughts and responses if there's a hybrid purchase in your future. Related Video:

'Tomorrowland' movie will advertise Chevy Volt, E-NVs

Before the 2016 Chevrolet Volt arrives at dealerships, it's going to come to a cineplex near you. The next-generation hybrid and the EN-V electric networked vehicle concept will play bit parts in the background of the upcoming Disney movie Tomorrowland starring George Clooney and Britt Robertson. Chevrolet will run digital and television ads around the movie's opening, which is May 22 in the US. The Bowtie and Disney tie-up is another in their years-long collaboration, going back to the revamped Test Track that opened at Epcot Center in 2012, and Chevolet is also the official vehicle of Shanghai Disney. The press release below has more on the movie and the Volt, the movie trailer is above – there's no Volt in it, but there is a late-model Buick. Chevrolet and Disney See Possibilities in 'Tomorrowland' Film to help kick off marketing efforts for next-generation Chevrolet Volt DETROIT, 2015-03-26 – At their core, Disney and Chevrolet are entities of optimism, believing that with a little ingenuity, anything is possible. They will come together in the new Disney film "Tomorrowland" to imagine the possibilities. The all-new 2016 Chevrolet Volt and EN-V concepts appear in the backdrops of the present day and Tomorrowland. The film's U.S. debut is May 22. In Disney's riveting mystery adventure "Tomorrowland," a jaded scientist and an optimistic teen embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space. "Tomorrowland is a place where nothing is impossible, which is something that Chevrolet believes can exist in the here and now," said Tim Mahoney, vice president, Global Chevrolet. "The Chevrolet spirit reflects the hopes and possibilities of tomorrow in real instruments of change for today like the next-generation Chevrolet Volt." The first marketing efforts for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt will be tied to Tomorrowland. A television spot and digital advertising will debut in early May. The all-new Volt is an electric car with extended range, showcasing a sleeker, sportier design that offers 50 miles of EV range, greater efficiency and stronger acceleration. The Volt's new, efficient propulsion system will offer an estimated total driving range of more than 400 miles. With regular charging, owners can expect to average more than 1,000 miles between gas fill-ups. Chevrolet and Disney have a long history of collaboration around the globe.

Two More Recalls Push GM Total To 4.8 Million In A Month

General Motors announced two more recalls late Friday, bringing to 4.8 million the number of cars, trucks and SUVs the automaker has called back for repairs in the past month. The string of recalls, topped by an ignition switch problem in compact cars now linked to 13 crash deaths, has embarrassed the company and sidetracked its new CEO, who started work just over two months ago. GM has admitted knowing about the switch problem a decade ago, yet it didn't recall any cars until February. The recall delay has brought two congressional investigations and probes by the Justice Department and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Late Friday night, GM announced it would recall 490,000 late-model pickup trucks and SUVs because transmission oil cooling lines weren't secured properly in their fittings. Transmission oil can leak from a fitting and hit hot surfaces, causing fires, the company said in a statement. GM said it knows of three fires and no injuries. The recall affects Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks from the 2014 model year, as well as 2015 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe SUVs and the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL SUVs. All have six-speed automatic transmissions. The Silverado is GM's top-selling vehicle and an important profit center for the company. The GMC Sierra also is among GM's top sellers. Dealers will inspect the transmission oil cooling line fittings and make sure they're securely seated, at no cost to owners. Also Friday night, GM announced the recall of 172,000 Chevrolet Cruze compact cars because the right front axle shaft can fracture and separate while being driven. The recall affects cars from the 2013 and 2014 model years equipped with 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engines. If a shaft fractures, the wheels would lose power without warning and the cars would coast to a stop. GM says it has warranty reports of several dozen shaft fractures. It is not aware of any crashes or injuries. Dealers will replace the shafts free of charge. The recall allows dealers to resume selling affected Cruzes. GM issued a stop sale order on the cars Thursday night. The recall also covers about 2,500 replacement shafts used to fix manual transmission Cruzes that were recalled last September. In all, GM has recalled 4.8 million vehicles since last month, two million more than the company sold last year in the U.S.