DETROIT — The Chevrolet Volt, General Motors Co.'s hybrid electric car, has gotten a makeover.
The 2016 Volt, unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, features a sportier exterior design — GM calls it “muscular” — and an emphasis on aerodynamics. Notably, the new design also incorporates active grille shutters, which open and close automatically to manage airflow into the engine compartment.
Active grille shutters are typically made with glass-reinforced nylon veins, and housings of glass-reinforced polypropylene. GM did not disclose the specific material it uses in the Volt's shutters.
The second-generation Volt also features a lighter drivetrain and a new, 192-cell lithium-ion battery pack, pushing the vehicle's electric range to an estimated 50 miles. The 5.5-foot-long battery pack retains the T-shape of the first-generation Volt's battery and has a glass-reinforced polyester structural composite cover.