A prototype 2011 Chevrolet Volt wends its way through Los Angeles traffic. The official retail launch is November 2010.
It’s going to be a fun year for automotive journalists and anyone who loves cars. Here is a list of four cars we’re looking forward to driving this year.
Some of the cars on this list are there because they are true game changers, an over-used term, but one that really applies here. The world is about to change with the world’s first two mass production electric vehicles expected to start production at the end of the year. If you think this country uses too much oil, foreign or domesticly produced, these cars should be on your radar.
But the others are here because they also advance the issue of increased fuel economy. So here we go with the list:
• Chevrolet Volt – The Volt tops the list because it has the potential to change the automotive industry. If GM gets it right, the Volt could lead to a whole range of vehicles that don’t use gasoline on short trips, yet have the extended-range capability most Americans insist on.
The Nissan Leaf, which goes on sale later this year, will have a 100-mile range.
The Volt will have a range of 40 miles on a full charge, meaning most people will be able to travel to work and run a few errands every day, without starting the onboard gasoline engine/generator. They just plug it in overnight and the next day they have another 40 miles of gasoline-free driving.
But say that owner plans to head out on a weekend trip Friday after work. The Volt’s gasoline engine kicks in, providing an additional 300 miles of range, comparable to a conventional car. When the fuel runs low, pull into a gas station to fill up and go another 300 miles. GM calls the Volt a Extended-Range Electric Vehicle.
Once car buyers begin to understand what it is and how it could benefit their pocketbooks, GM might have toruble keeping up with demand. But an even bigger issue is how GM will expand the use of the technology in the future. Could it be used on a bigger vehicle, such as a Chevrolet Traverse-size people mover?
• Nissan Leaf – The Japanese automaker is also jumping into the electric vehicle fray with it’s own take on electric mobility. Nissan promises a 100-mile range for the Leaf, which is scheduled to go into production at about the same time as the Volt.
Ford will offer both this sedan and a hatchback version of the 2011 Fiesta.
While the Leaf will be significantly cheaper to purchase – $25,280 compared to $33,500 for the Volt after a $7,500 federal tax credit for each – it will be interesting to see how owners deal with the issue of range anxiety. The infrastructure to serve pure EVs such as the Leaf mostly doesn’t exist yet, so owners will need to make sure they can always get somewhere where they can access an electrical outlet. At least at first, that will mostly mean home.
Complete freedom from gasoline is carrot here. The only time Leaf buyers will visit the gas station is for restroom breaks and Snicker bars.
The Scion iQ microcar is little bigger than a Smart fortwo, but it has four seats, so it will be more useful.
• Ford Fiesta – Ford has whipped the target youth market into a frenzy in anticipation of the Fiesta with a groundbreaking social media marketing campaign. Now that the Fiesta is finally here, it promises excellent fuel economy and some upscale options typically found in bigger and more expensive cars. And, Ford is allowing third-party developers to make apps that can work with Ford’s upgraded Sync system, with even more capability planned for the future.
• Scion iQ – The Toyota youth label’s microcar comes to the U.S. for 2011 with many observers wondering if there is a really a market for a car this small.
Some have looked at the Smart fortwo experiment – where sales have plummeted after a reasonably good start – and wondered about the wisdom of bringing the iQ here. The iQ is only about a foot longer than the Smart, but clever packaging allows for rear seats. And any transmission other than the Smart’s poor automated manual will be an improvement. It should also garner a few sales based on cheeky good looks alone.