New model would do battle with Ford C-MAX, Toyota Prius V
With the next-generation Chevrolet Volt on the near horizon, everyone expects the plug-in electric vehicle to retain its five-door body style and atypical 2+2 seating. However, GM might be readying a five-seat electric alternative to compete with the Ford C-MAX and Toyota Prius V.
According to Green Car Reports, a five-seat MPV makes sense and would expand GM’s electric footprint while also offering a more practical alternative to the Volt. Test mules using Orlando bodywork have also been seen making the rounds. Though, the outlet is unsure of what drivetrain will sit underneath the new model.
Due to the nature of the Volt’s T-shaped battery pack, which intrudes into the passenger area through a tunnel running through the middle of the floor, a Voltec-powered MPV may not be in the cards. What’s more likely is a conventional hybrid model similar in size to the Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept (pictured) shown at the Beijing auto show in 2010.
[Source: Green Car Reports]
