Well, they did it.
General Motors confirmed yesterday that its upcoming 200-mile battery-electric car will be named the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
That’s Bolt-with-a-B, not Volt-with-a-V.
The Volt-with-a-V is Chevy’s now-established plug-in hybrid compact hatchback.
DON’T MISS: Why ‘Bolt’ Is A Really Terrible Name For Chevy’s Electric Car
An all-new second-generation Volt will go into production later this year as a 2016 model, while the Bolt-with-a-B will enter production roughly a year later and go on sale as a 2017 model.
The name Bolt had been widely criticized as too similar to Volt, especially since many Spanish speakers pronounce the letter V as a B to start with.
In a statement e-mailed to The Detroit News, Chevy director of communications Mike Albano confirmed the name.
Poster for ‘Bolt’ movie starring John Travolta and Miley Cyrus (2008)Bolt Chevrolet Bolt EV concept, 2015 Detroit Auto Show
The statement said, in part:
Since unveiling the Bolt EV three months ago, the name has quickly become associated with Chevrolet. Therefore, we will use the name when the vehicle goes into production.
The Bolt EV is a significant statement of Chevrolet’s commitment to electrification and the name suits this game-changing electric vehicle designed for attainability, not exclusivity.
ALSO SEE: Should GM Name Its Bolt Electric Car The 2018 Chevrolet EV2?
As this site noted in January, “Those of us who have surnames starting with ‘V’–including this editor–are deeply familiar with the inability of many people to distinguish between ‘V’ sounds and ‘B’ sounds.”
While adding “EV” to follow the Bolt name may help (and nod to GM’s pioneering EV1), electric-car advocates have found that the “EV” suffix is often dropped off the name in discussions of the electric Chevrolet Spark EV.
The Spark is largely sold with a conventional gasoline engine, whereas the Bolt EV will be a dedicated model that comes solely as a battery-electric car.
Chevrolet Bolt EV concept, 2015 Detroit Auto Show
GM CEO Mary Barra introduced the Chevrolet Bolt Concept at this year’s Detroit Auto Show in January, promising a 200-mile range and a price of $37,500 before incentives.
The production version of the Bolt EV will be built at the same plant as the next generation of the Chevy Sonic subcompact, with which it shares some understructure.
Not a lot more is known about the production Bolt EV, but unconfirmed industry rumors say GM is planning to build roughly 25,000 Bolts a year.
MORE: Chevrolet Bolt Electric Car Concept Video
The Bolt will be sold throughout the U.S., unlike the Chevy Spark EV compliance car, which is offered only in California, Maryland, and Oregon.
Cue the jokes about broken Bolts. And “Bolt” the movie. And so forth.
Sigh.
[hat tip: Ryan Cody]
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