The Chevrolet Bolt has carried the electric torch for General Motors for several years now. It’s lonely, but won’t be for long. While plenty of press gravitates towards the upcoming Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, and a slew of electric vehicles scheduled to follow, there’s a far more humble vehicle waiting in the wings.
Chevrolet’s Bolt EUV takes the basic bones of the Bolt and adds a more commodious body — apparently, just the thing to get noticed by the American buying public. On Wednesday, GM offered a first glimpse of the new model.
Arriving in a year’s time as a 2022 model, the Bolt EUV will take its place in Chevy’s lineup alongside a refreshed Bolt. The two models share the nameplate’s existing platform, rather than the BEV3 architecture slated for the Lyriq and so many others. That modular platform is designed to mate with the automaker’s Ultium battery packs, resulting in ranges of over 300 miles.
In the 2020 model at least, the subcompact Bolt is good for 259 miles of all-electric driving, which is still very competitive.
Via a brief video in which a refreshed Bolt (seen above) morphs into a Bolt EUV, we can see that the EUV is taller and longer than its hatchback sibling. The Bolt EUV’s profile and upper works reminds the viewer of the Buick Encore GX. Sporting a floating roof treatment and a much flatter beltline, not to mention a significantly elongated and flatter hood, the EUV’s lower body remains obscured. We hear the model stands to gain a wheelbase stretch for increased interior volume.
Entering production at GM’s Orion Assembly next summer, the duo will be the first Chevrolet models to carry the Super Cruise hands-free driver-assist system found on certain Cadillac models. Without a doubt, the larger Bolt will be a victim of sticker bloat.
[Images: General Motors]
This is what they should have done in the first place.
Not my cup of tea but it’s a unique product (until VW’s electric CUV comes out). If it’s priced sanely, it should sell.
“This is what they should have done in the first place.”
That’s what I thought. Wasn’t the Bolt being touted as a crossover when they were bringing it to production? It’s too small. This larger model should have been it.
Hmm – interesting.
One reason I didn’t buy the Bolt was its tiny interior volume, and there are countless complaints about front seat comfort. And it does look dorky. But it drives well, although I found the screen to be a bit busy and confusing.
If they’ve addressed these issues, the Bolt EUV could be a contender.
The seat comfort they’ve been updating almost every year, but I think these are again all new seats. The passenger volume is fine on the Bolt, so if they expand cargo a bit for the EUV it should be good, as long as the range doesn’t take too big of a hit.
It all depends on whether you want a city car or an all-purpose car. The Bolt is only good as a city car because it can’t take advantage of high-speed charging.
It supports CCS quick charging. GM says you can add 100 miles in 30 minutes. It’s a $700 dollar option and I can’t understand why it’s not standard.
@mcs With Wallyworld and Love’s truck stops getting chargers, that seems like $700 well spent. My inner trailer-trash could convince me to spend 30 minutes in either place. What I don’t understand is why doesn’t GM download two or three of the “find a charger” apps in their EV’s? As we said it about the military: if it’s easy, it’s convenient, and it makes sense; they’ll never do it.
A theory on the lack of standard DCFC on the Bolt is to facilitate fleet sales where DCFC might not be desired.
I always assumed the Bolt was a crossover. It’s a tall, bloated hatchback. Isn’t that the definition?
Also, Subcompact? The exterior dimensions, at least, make it look quite large in person.
It’s considered a 5-door hatch… not quite big enough to be a “crossover” which is supposed to be a tall, short, station wagon. Not enough storage behind the second row seats to quite qualify.
I still remember how my insurance company listed my 2002 Saturn Vue (purchased new.) They called it a Sport Utility Wagon (SUW).
I thought before it came out GM was calling it a crossover? But I agree, it’s too small.
Come on Chevrolet – call it the Camaro EL-1.
(Must I do everything?)
An electric first-generation Honda CR-V would be just about right, as it balances interior space with an easy-to-park size, along with good visibility and decent looks. (Ford copied it, blatantly, when they made the Escape.)
On the other hand, since an electric car can be any shape at all, why make it look like everything else? They could have built something with design cues from the 1932 Model 18, and created a reason to visit the showroom.