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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.

2016 Chevy Volt will be available across Canada, unlike most of US [UPDATE]

UPDATE: The story's been updated to add a response from General Motors of Canada. It's not enough that the Toronto Blue Jays may be the most intimidating team in Major League Baseball. Now, it appears that our neighbors to the north will also have some bragging rights in regards to General Motors' Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicle. Specifically, most of Canada will have access to the 2016 version before most of the US will. In fact, the car will be available in Canada before people can buy it in Michigan. A trip to Windsor, Ontario, anyone? The Volt, which will boast a longer plug-in range than the current version, could go on sale in Canada as soon as November, GM Authority says. The model's second-generation version may debut in California as soon as this month, and is slated to be sold later this year in the 10 other states that abide by the so-called CARB (California Air Resources Board) rules for zero-missions vehicles. Those states include Oregon, Maine, New York and Massachusetts. But not GM's home state of Michigan. Either way, the new generation model's debut can't come soon enough for the US automaker, as Volt sales in 2015 have seriously lagged the 2014 numbers because of people waiting for the new version. "We will receive the 2016 Volt in Canada this fall, starting with our key Volt markets in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia," wrote General Motors of Canada spokesman George George Saratlic in an e-mail to AutoblogGreen. "Note these are also the three provinces that provide provincial incentives on EV purchases. We'll then roll out Volt to the rest of the country." Last week, details were revealed about the first sales of the 2016 Volt, where marketing efforts will be concentrated among the largest plug-in buying states in the union. The other 39 states will get their shot starting next year with the 2017 model-year variant. Related Video:

New Chevy Small Block crate engine has 405 hp, endless possibilities

With decades of history, the Chevrolet Small Block V8 has definitely stood the test of time, and the company has kept finding ways to make it better. At this year's SEMA Show in November, Chevy Performance is unveiling the latest upgrade to that legacy with the new ZZ6 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) crate engine. Offering 405 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque, the mill should add a big dose of power to any project car. For the ZZ6, Chevy is working to improve the Small Block's high-rpm performance. To make that happen, the engine has Fast Burn aluminum cylinder heads and an updated valvetrain inspired by the LS family of powerplants. Large intake runners help with the airflow, and the valve springs use a tapered design that allows for less reciprocating mass. The mill also packs a forged steel crankshaft and high-silicon aluminum pistons inside of a cast iron block. Chevy is offering the engine in two versions depending on what the builder needs. The Base configuration comes with an intake, distributor, water pump, and a few other parts but lacks carburetor and accessories. Conversely, the Turn Key option has everything, including the carb, air cleaner, starter, alternator, and more. More details about their availability will be announced at SEMA. NEW ZZ6 CHEVY SMALL BLOCK ADVANCES CRATE ENGINE LEGACY Revised Fast Burn heads with LS-inspired valvetrain enhance high-rpm performance 2015-10-02 DETROIT – Developed with contemporary technologies, including a high-rpm valvetrain, Chevrolet Performance's new ZZ6 crate engine offers builders a modern twist on the classic Chevy Small Block 350. It uses updated Fast Burn cylinder heads with beehive-style valve springs inspired by the LS engine family – a feature that enhances high-rpm capability, enabling the new high-performance engine to achieve 405 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. That's more power than any factory produced 350 engine ever installed in a Chevrolet production vehicle and it's one of the most powerful 350 Small Block-based crate engines in the nearly 27-year history of the "ZZ" lineup. "The new ZZ6 is the ultimate ZZ 350-based crate engine from Chevrolet Performance," said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports.