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The North American Concept Awards have been held for six years, and look over the wide variety of concept vehicles from the auto show season.

Despite a fresh new face for Jaguar, an “Holdy” but a goody from GM and a swank and sporty new look for jeep drivers, the Chevy Volt took the honors as both the 2007 Specialty Concept Vehicle of the Year and the Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2007.

Well, I should hope so (said in my most Rachel Lynd-ish manner possible.) NOW will companies focus less 600HP throwbacks to days gone by and think about our futures? Do people really expect the Volt not to sell? Maybe they know something we don’t??

Source: South East Auto Media

Post from: EveryJoe

Volt “Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2007″

Let’s subtitle this one, “What they’re bitching about now…”

* Heat and AC, which according to GM can only function when a car burns gasoline.

* The radio apparently can’t function because it bleeds too much energy from the battery.

What really kills me is this bit of wisdom:

Toyota, which also has set a 2010 goal for producing a plug-in version of its Prius sedan, has the same issue. But the Japanese automaker also has the advantage of having pioneered gas-electric hybrid technology and being the world’s leading seller of hybrids.

URG.

Just make the car already. You don’t see Toyota, Nissan, Tesla, ZAP, Miles Automotive, or any of the other electric developers pissing and moaning like this. It’s like someone’s holding a gun to GM’s head. If they don’t want to be an innovator in this field, that’s perfectly fine. They can step aside. No doubt the void will quickly be filled by their competition.

Post from: EveryJoe

More Explanations for Pushing Back Production on Volt

Toyota’s [hybrid project general manager, Yoshitaka Asakura] expressed skepticism about the concept of a plug-in hybrid car that would run only on battery power for 40 miles, the idea central to the Chevrolet Volt concept. Batteries powerful enough to achieve that would fill up the trunk of a car, he said.

OH BURN!

Slow and steady wins the race between big autos’ electric dreams, according to execs:

Mr. Asakura said Toyota is concerned customers might not accept a plug-in hybrid electric car that has to be recharged every day, despite enthusiasm from environmental groups and electric-vehicle enthusiasts…

Oh no. Did GM jump the gun again? I’m hoping not, but I have faith in Toyota’s marketing team to know what will sell – and what wont – even on US soil. (Though Consumer Reports disagrees – wee hee.)

Read article here

Post from: EveryJoe

Toyota Gives GAB to GM’s Volt Plans