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2016 Chevy Volt will have more EV range, bigger battery

Meet the new Volt, not the same as the old Volt. That appears to be the story when General Motors introduces the 2016 Chevy Volt at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Today we're getting some more details on the guts of the new plug-in hybrid, and it turns out they're going to be much improved from the current Volt, which first went on sale at the end of 2010. Sure, the first-gen Volt did get some improvements along the way (a slightly larger battery pack, lane departure warnings) but the new Volt – which will go on sale in the second half of 2015 – marks the first time GM has been able to return to the drawing board and really make the improvements that its customers want. That's how Larry Nitz, GM's executive director of vehicle electrification explained it to AutoblogGreen today when explaining the all-new Voltec extended range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain. "In the Gen 2 is we gave the engine a little more power, a little more torque, a little more displacement, more capability." – Larry Nitz Nitz said that the new Volt will be better in almost every sense: a bigger battery, longer EV-only range, 20 percent better acceleration in the low speed range and higher overall efficiency. This is due, in part, to the Volt's two motors being able to both act as generators and power the car. As we noted this morning, the 2016 Volt will use a larger, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a version of which is already used in the Chinese-market Cruze. Nitz said that this has a number of benefits, including more power and quieter operation. "Some people would say, why did you make [the first-gen engine] so big. I would say, why did you make it so small?" he said. "It works good, our customers love it, but the reality is that if you go a little bit off and use the car a little harder, you can get the engine to need to operate at a higher speed. In an EV, that's quite noticeable. So, what we did in the Gen 2 is we gave the engine a little more power, a little more torque, a little more displacement, more capability and what it has marginally enabled is not only is it more efficient but it's also quieter." Nitz wouldn't talk about how the new powertrain might affect the two other products that use the Volt's underpinnings – the Cadillac ELR and the Opel Ampera – but if you've got a quieter option, we assume that's something ELR drivers would enjoy. But that's a story for another day.

Chevy prices new 2016 Cruze from $17,495

Chevy has released pricing information for the new 2016 Cruze. As you might expect, the MSRP on the new model has gone up a little over the model it replaces, but it remains competitive with its rivals. The new 2016 Chevy Cruze comes in four trim levels and with either a manual or automatic transmission. Though not every trim can be had with either gearbox, they are all powered by the same 1.4-liter turbo four, good for 153 horsepower. The list starts in L trim level with the manual, which goes for $17,495 - including the $875 destination charge. The automaker points out that the price of admission is lower than those of the base models of the Toyota Corolla ($18,065), Honda Civic ($19,475), and Hyundai Elantra ($18,075) – all prices verified and including delivery. The Ford Focus ($18,100), Subaru Impreza ($18,295), Mazda3 ($18,695), and Volkswagen Jetta ($19,600) also start at higher prices, with the Nissan Sentra ($17,355) and Dodge Dart ($17,990) listing for similar money. However the Kia Forte ($16,715) still comes in cheaper. Of course those prices are just for the base models. Step up to the Cruze LS and you'll be looking at $18,995 with the manual or $19,995 with the automatic. The higher-end LT and Premium models are only sold with the slushbox and retail for $21,995 and $23,995, respectively. Deliveries start in the spring. ALL-NEW 2016 CHEVROLET CRUZE PRICED FROM $17,495 Redesigned, re-engineered compact sedan is roomier and better connected DETROIT – Chevrolet announced pricing for the all-new 2016 Cruze will start at $17,495 when it goes on sale next spring. The Cruze's base price is almost $2,000 less than the 2016 Honda Civic LX ($19,475), while offering features such as the standard Chevrolet MyLink radio with a 7-inch-diagonal screen, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility – subject to their terms, privacy statements and data plan rates as well as a compatible smartphone. OnStar 4G LTE with a Wi-Fi hotspot and a standard rear-vision camera are also available. Larger, lighter and roomier than the 2015 model – including two inches more rear knee room – the all-new Cruze is offered in L, LS, LT and Premier models. An all-new, direct-injected 1.4L turbo engine generates a General Motors-estimated 153 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission is standard. Cruze LS with an automatic transmission starts at $19,995 with GM-estimated highway fuel economy of 40 mpg. Environmental Protection Agency estimates are not yet available.

It's possible to go 111 miles on electricity in the new Chevy Volt

Wayne Gerdes at CleanMPG put the 2016 Chevrolet Volt in Premiere trim through a few closely watched on-the-road tests over a few days. One of them was a run from full charge to EV-only exhaustion, and at the end of the trip Gerdes had traveled 111.0 indicated miles on a single charge, 111.9 according to his Garmin. What's the catch? He guessed his average speed was about 20 miles per hour, which was 15 and 20 mph around town and "a few miles" at 50 mph on the highway. The EPA says the new Volt should go 53 miles on battery power. In the 2011 Volt, rated at 38 electric miles, Gerdes got 75.5 miles on a charge. The upshot is that at urban driving at average speeds should get drivers the EPA rated 53 e-mpg without fuss. He wasn't so impressed with performance in Charge Sustaining Mode, though. During one run that covered 101.2 actual miles in CSM, using 1.691 gallons, the Volt got 59.8 mpg. Speaking of driving in CSM only, Gerdes said it's less efficient here than in competitors from Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, but that's one of the few performance-related complaints he had. Elsewhere around the PHEV, Gerdes liked improvements to the eight-inch display and rear-view camera, build and design quality, the much quieter ride, and the switch to regular fuel. The six-foot Gerdes found the cabin space still cozy, especially in the back where ingress and egress could be a challenge for people of a certain stature. He lamented the fact that he couldn't find instantaneous fuel and energy consumption or among the many readouts, and would prefer the sedan kicked into glide mode sooner. In spite of that, he declares the Volt II "a full blown electric car." Head over to CleanMPG for the rest of his assessment.