GM has confirmed that it will likely be introducing a successor to the extremely profitable Chevrolet Bolt EV, however we have lastly bought our first glimpse of what it’s going to seem like when it formally arrives on the brand new American car market someday subsequent 12 months. Chevrolet’s official Instagram account just lately posted 4 teaser pictures of the upcoming Bolt EV, showcasing the headlights, a portion of the entrance bumper, the taillight, the charging port, and the wheel. From this, we are able to inform that the upcoming alternative will probably be a compact crossover, which is able to probably sit beneath the Equinox EV within the American group’s electrified line-up. We already know the model will base it on the Ultium platform, so we are able to considerably predict what sort of specs the newcomer will characteristic.
- Base Trim Engine
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Electrical
- Base Trim Transmission
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Single Pace Automated
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Entrance-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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200 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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266 lb-ft
Whereas the Equinox EV is performing comparatively properly by way of new gross sales, it is nowhere close to as profitable because the Bolt EV, which stays the group’s best-selling EV ever, and the one electrified car that actually took the battle to Tesla’s obscene dominance of the American electrified car market. Given the present panorama of the American EV market, there is a very robust chance that the upcoming Bolt will decide up the place the previous-generation mannequin left off when the model put it to relaxation simply shy of two years in the past. Regardless of many challenges, the EV market within the U.S. continues to develop, due to extra selection, higher accessibility, and a greater understanding of the phase. Customers are additionally turning into extra educated on the propulsion methodology and worth the decrease operating prices and improved carbon emissions.
To provide the most modern and correct info potential, the information used to compile this text was sourced from Chevrolet and different authoritative sources, together with the EPA and Automobile and Driver.
Our First Glimpse Of The Subsequent Bolt EV
5 Teaser Pictures Reveal Key Design Highlights
The primary of Chevrolet’s teaser pictures reveals the Bolt’s headlight configuration, which features a slim LED DRL positioned on the prime and a sq. LED headlight cluster. Curiously, the model has opted for a design evolution of the previous-generation Bolt’s cluster versus adapting the Equinox and Blazer EV‘s LED headlight bar.
The picture additionally highlights a portion of the plastic-clad wheel arch, signifying the potential of us getting the Bolt as an EUV-exclusive mannequin, which is smart contemplating the demand for an EV hatch within the U.S. is just about non-existent in the mean time. Nissan takes this similar method with the upcoming Leaf alternative, as higher-riding compact autos turn into the brand new customary of practicality and affordability.
Further key particulars of this picture reveal a gloss-black contrasting door mirror and a faux-air consumption appliqué simply beneath the decrease headlight. Crossing over to the second picture reveals three key design parts. The primary is an higher plastic trim that connects the entrance headlights and incorporates the Chevrolet branding. It is a easy black plastic panel with a element line that runs by the middle to create a 3D design.
Proper beneath it is a 3D diamond configuration that’s embossed on the physique panel, which is a typical development that almost all Chinese language producers are making use of to their region-exclusive fashions. The all-new Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid additionally incorporates the same method with its entrance bumper. This design is solely aspirational and would not serve any purposeful advantages. Becoming a member of it is a decrease faux-intake grille, consisting of a group of elongated hexagons.
Chevrolet’s third picture reveals the taillight configuration, revealing extra of a deviation from the previous-generation Bolt’s rear cluster. This configuration takes extra of a geometrical method that flows into the tailgate. We won’t inform whether or not this goes for the lightbar route, just like the Equinox EV, however simply based mostly on the form, it’s protected to imagine that it’s going to take a extra simplified method to the Blazer EV’s rear-quarter and tailgate taillight configuration. Additionally, pay attention to the gloss black trim that flows up the perimeters of the tailgate.
The Bolt EV’s NACS Charging Port
The fourth picture offers a close-up shot of the upcoming Bolt EV’s NACS charging port, positioned on the left entrance quarter panel simply beneath the hood line. This is similar kind of port that the previous-generation mannequin options, which makes complete sense contemplating it’s an American-exclusive EV that is not bought anyplace else on the planet.
Moreover, we get to see a glimpse of what seems to be like a decrease hood contrasting trim and a portion of the plastic-clad wheel arch that sits beneath a trendy indentation that runs throughout the decrease a part of the quarter panel.
Black Alloy Wheels Steer Clear Of The Futuristic Route
The ultimate picture offers us the nice shock of a standard black alloy wheel with alloy lug nuts, which steers away from the traditional aero-disc plastic covers that manufacturers are aggressively making use of to their EVs to make them look extra futuristic and decrease total drag coefficient scores.
Once more, we won’t actually inform a lot from this angle, however we do additionally get to see a silver brake disc caliper and ventilated brake disc, in addition to a black hub cowl with the silver Chevy emblem.
What The Equinox EV Tells Us About The Upcoming Bolt
Current Applied sciences Spotlight What We Can Count on
The upcoming Chevrolet Bolt EV will sit on GM’s Ultium platform and can probably be the smallest mannequin obtainable in its catalog. On the very least, we all know that it’s going to characteristic the identical front-wheel drive configuration utilized to the Equinox EV, more than likely with a diminished energy output. For reference, the bottom Equinox EV generates 213 horsepower and 236 pound-feet to the entrance axle, leading to a 7.7-second 0-60 MPH time and 112 MPH prime pace.
Chevrolet Equinox EV Efficiency Specs
The mannequin presently options an 85-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, leading to an EPA-estimated 319-mile vary determine, joined by a 31-kWh-per-100-miles mixed consumption common. DC Degree Three quick charging is proscribed to 150 kW, leading to you having the ability to get well 10 to 80 p.c of the cost in 34 minutes.
GM has indicated {that a} new LFP battery pack will probably be added to the Equinox EV vary in due time. The aim of that is to make the EV cheaper to provide, in order that they’ll enhance its base $35,000 MSRP beginning worth. We do not know what pricing technique the model is aiming for, however we do know that the Bolt EV has to value lower than $30,000 if there may be to be any hope of it mimicking the previous-generation mannequin’s success.
Spied Check Models Reveal Further Particulars
There Are Some Particulars To Be Seen Beneath The Camo
Spied pictures of a Bolt EV check unit, spied by Automobile And Driver, reveal key particulars of what we are able to count on from the upcoming EV due someday subsequent 12 months. This features a tall roofline, raised experience peak, and low-profile roof rails. The mannequin’s design additionally features a barely lengthy entrance overhang and quick rear overhang, along with a hatch-mounted spoiler and shark fin antenna. The check unit additionally options dual-tone alloy wheels, versus the total black set we see within the teaser picture. Moreover, we get to see a pair of reflectors on the decrease aspect of the rear bumper.
Past this, there is not actually a lot else for us to go on so far as what we are able to count on from the next-generation Bolt vary. What we are able to say is that the absence of this mannequin has left a noteworthy void within the trade that no different model has efficiently crammed. Chevrolet first launched the Bolt EV in 2017 as an unofficial successor to the Volt PHEV vary, marking its first official step into the world of full electrification.
The mannequin had a profitable six-year manufacturing run, which was in the end hampered by a catastrophic battery failure difficulty, leading to some fashions burning to the bottom. This was attributable to a fault attributable to the battery producer that was by no means really corrected, leaving some present Bolt house owners unable to make full use of their EV’s battery capability. Later mannequin years did not battle with this difficulty, because the manufacturing fault was corrected, however it nonetheless left a stain on the EV’s legacy.
