Chevrolet Volt MI Vehicle Honored with 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year Award

“The Volt delivers on the promise of the vehicle concept as originally outlined by GM, combining the smooth, silent, efficient, low-emissions capability of an electric motor with the range and flexibility of an internal combustion engine,” wrote Motor Trend editors for the magazine’s January 2011 edition. “It is a fully functional, no-compromise compact automobile that offers consumers real benefits in terms of lower running costs.”

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Chevrolet Volt MI automaker’s electric car beat out nine contenders including the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Sonata, Lincoln MKZ hybrid, BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XJ, Infiniti M and Audi A8.

“Chevrolet is truly honored to receive one of the world’s most coveted automotive awards,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman for Global Product Operations at the ceremony for the award. “The Volt team has worked under extraordinary circumstances to produce this breakthrough vehicle.”

It was a testament to the return of the Detroit Three as a frontrunner in auto design, as a Detroit MI automaker had held the Motor Trend award consecutively from 1986 to 2002. It wasn’t until 2003 that the trend was broken with the Infiniti G35. After 2003, it’s been back and forth for domestic and foreign vehicles.

When the Chevrolet Volt release was discussed by the GM Michigan automaker in July, General Motors decided to open up the three limited original markets, Michigan, California and Washington D.C., to include two other locations: New York and Austin, Texas. Many believed this to be a good move for General Motors as the automaker started to make its comeback from hard times the year before.

The Chevrolet Volt MI vehicle has a revolutionary propulsion system as it became the world’s first extended-range electric vehicle. The amazing range of the Chevrolet Volt is about 350 miles with the first 25 to 50 miles propelled by electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. For the final 300 miles, the gas powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range on just one tank of gas.

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