When it was presented in January at the Detroit Auto Show, the Chevrolet Bolt EV didn’t seem like it’s a work-in-progress concept car. It felt high-quality, it was drivable and is had just enough room for four adults. Though the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV prototype in the adjacent video and gallery doesn’t live up to the concept vehicle’s styling, things look promising.
If you can ignore the faux headlights and taillamps, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt prototype in the preview video below is a tell-tale sign that things change from concept to finished product. The front bumper design is different, as is the lower apron, side mirrors and the size of the wheels. As expected, Chevy designers toned down the futuristic aesthetics of the concept.
This reasonableness is not for the worst, you know. All these modifications were done for three reasons: lower production costs, better real-world functionality, and cost-conscious replacement parts (as in the bumpers, side skirts, and such). It’s interesting that Chevrolet kept the quarter glass and the mounting points of the mirrors, albeit the mirror caps are larger. The generous glasshouse will make parking a breeze.
At some moment in the video, there’s an engineer that opens the hood and would you look at how petite the engine bay is? Without an internal combustion engine, it’s no wonder though. Peeking through the rear windshield, we can identify a rather cavernous boot and two headrests for the rear seats. From the side profile view, it’s easy to understand that legroom and headroom will be plentiful even for taller adults.
There’s no update on specifications, but we found out that the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is compatible with a Fast DC charging station (500V/175A). There’s a small LED light on top of the dashboard, near the windshield, that blinks orange or green depending on how much juice is in the battery. With a theoretical range of 200 miles (321.8 kilometers) and a starting price estimated in the vicinity of $30,000, we are waiting patiently for Chevrolet Bolt production to start at the GM Orion Assembly plant.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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