- Many celebrities, including NASCAR's Jeff Gordon and author Stephen King, are among the first to own the hybrid Chevrolet Volt.
- Talk-show host Jay Leno received the 12th Volt off the production line.
- Alyssa Milano, of TV's Who's the Boss fame, purchased a Volt for her husband, while she is trying out a Nissan Leaf.
- Baywatch's Alexandra Paul also purchased a Volt, which has an MSRP of $41,000.
DETROIT — NASCAR champ Jeff Gordon and horror writer Stephen King are among a slew of celebrities who are getting a charge out of being the first to own the Chevrolet Volt hybrid.
King, who winters in Florida, bought the Volt in April as a birthday gift for his wife, author Tabitha King. But the best-selling author enjoys driving it so much, he wishes he purchased it for himself, King told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "I just love it because every time you do it, it is like saying to the oil cartel, 'Here, stick this in your eye,'" King told the Herald-Tribune. "It is like a license to steal."
Both King and Gordon chose a black version of the Volt, while TV show host and car nut Jay Leno selected Cyber Gray Metallic. Leno, who pre-ordered the vehicle, took delivery right before Christmas. His VIN is 12, according to the GM Volt Web site.
"I think it's a great car," Leno told the LA Daily News. "I just like its environmental technology and it is American technology. I like the fact that it's electric when you want it and gasoline (assisted) when you need it."
Alyssa Milano, who starred with Tony Danza in the TV sitcom Who's the Boss and on the witch-oriented Charmed, ordered the Volt for her Hollywood agent husband, David Bugliari, while she picked an electric Nissan Leaf for herself.
Baywatch babe Alexandra Paul, who played Lt. Stephanie Holden, is also a Volt owner. But she's no newbie. On her Web site, the environmental activist says she has owned at least four electric or hybrid vehicles previous to the Volt.
Even during pre-production, Chevrolet had lined up some celebrities to critique the vehicle. It hand-picked 15 green-vehicle advocates to be the first consumers to experience the Volt every day under real-world conditions during a three-month vehicle and charging evaluation program starting in late October. This exclusive group — referred to as the Chevrolet Volt Customer Advisory Board — included TV's Bill Nye the Science Guy and former CIA Director Jim Woolsey.
The Volt's MSRP starts at $41,000, including a $720 shipping charge.
Inside Line says: Hollywood gives the Volt a power surge. — Rene Wisely, Correspondent
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mklrivowner says:
06:41 AM, 05/11/2011
yamahr1 - In 2007, the top 10% controlled 83% of the nation's private wealth. And yet they paid only 70% of the nation's income taxes. When you are talking about numbers as large as a Nation's income tax, that comes out to be quite a large difference. And the wealth gap has only grown since then.
So if you want to talk about fair, the be fair in your statistics as well. The top 10 % should not be 'footing the bill', but they should also be carrying their fair share of the weight. Sure a 7% difference doesn't sound like much, but when you're talking about income levels at or near the pvoerty line, and people working three jobs to get food on the table, 7% can be the difference between getting by and homeless.
dmpete says:
03:08 AM, 05/11/2011
Far be it from me not to relieve a fool from his/her money, is the slogan GM should be selling with this thing....Who cares what celebrity has this turd. Who cares what any celebrity drives. Useless article.
yamahr1 says:
07:52 PM, 05/10/2011
120mmgun said: "I said nothing about whether "this car is worth the extra cash". I commented on the fact that the government is taking money from poor people (relatively) and giving it to the rich when they buy a Volt or Leaf."
The top 10 percent of wage earners paid 70 Percent of Federal Income Taxes. The bottom 50% paid only 3% of Federal Income Taxes. So who's really footing most of the bill, and who's carrying who?
So not only is your argument weak based on real numbers, but the fact is that regular middle class people can afford to buy a Chevy Volt, in part thanks to the Federal tax break (which may become a straight rebate soon.) We're not talking about a Tesla Roadster here (although that gets the same tax break as the Volt.)
120mmgun says:
04:09 PM, 05/10/2011
@supra4
I said nothing about whether "this car is worth the extra cash". I commented on the fact that the government is taking money from poor people (relatively) and giving it to the rich when they buy a Volt or Leaf.
tbone85 says:
12:30 PM, 05/10/2011
We've spent over 1 trillion $ over the last two decades for Middle Eastern "aid" and defense to subsidize the price of gasoline. How loud were they screaming about that use of taxpayer money?
yamahr1 says:
11:02 AM, 05/10/2011
ed124c: "Apparently, the Volt is a pretty nice car. Imagine what it might become if GM puts in a better gasoline engine and extends the electric range."
I don't think there's any evidence that the Volt's engine efficiency is lacking. Consider that the Volt weighs 3781 pounds (with its over 400 lb. battery), and AVERAGES 37 MPG. If you really scrutinize the hybrid competition and pay attention to the curb weights, the Volt is about as efficient as any other car on gas when weight is considered. For example, the over 500 pounds lighter Lexus CT200h, which uses the Prius powertrain (oohs and aahs), nets a 42 MPG average from the EPA; interestingly, crunching the numbers there shows that the CT200h is ~13% lighter and gets ~13% better fuel economy (gas vs. gas - of course when you plug the Volt in its overall gas use can even go down to zero.) Lighter materials and a lighter battery stands a better chance of extending the future Volt's gas mileage than changing the engine, but I think the numbers posted by the first generation deserve real respect.
My own Volt has averaged over 36 MPG for the 3700 miles it's run just on gas, and 64 MPG overall (adding in the 2300 electric miles.) These numbers are improving now that the ugly northeast winter is behind us and we're warming up. Unfortunately I have to do a lot of longer distance driving/commuting, as the numbers show, but even with that the Volt is the only car that can both take those longer trips and use that little gasoline. The average Volt owner is averaging 111 MPG overall.
So if you're holding out for a few more MPG from gas mode, I think you're splitting hairs.
lions208487 says:
08:11 AM, 05/10/2011
ed124- If you want a five seater with good MPG get a LaCross with E-assist, GM is looking to sell to younger buyers who want something other than the old GM boats of the 80's and 90's. No offense, but large senor citizens sedans are a thing of the past. Get an Avalon sir.
mklrivowner says:
07:59 AM, 05/10/2011
Like I said from the beginning, Jay Leno (America's "car nut") bought one! What more review do we need?
For those of you who are whining about the hybrid vehicle tax credit. Just remember that we've been paying oil subsidies and tax credits to Big Oil for YEARS.
ed124c says:
07:48 AM, 05/10/2011
Apparently, the Volt is a pretty nice car. Imagine what it might become if GM puts in a better gasoline engine and extends the electric range.
I agree that the $7500 in tax credits is a drop in the ocean, but as for me, a senior citizen with reduced income, I am not eligible for the credit because my Federal taxes are well below $7500.
And,oh yeah: GM, please make it a 5 passenger car in the next version. If almost every other hybird and EV ( the CRZ eing one exception) can have 5 passenger seating, why can't the Volt?
Right now, the Prius is the most efficient, all purpose, and affordable "green" car. Since the Prius has been around for about ten years, the new crop better get more sophisticated soon.
stingray454 says:
07:40 AM, 05/10/2011
You people are complaining about rebates on the Volt that will amount to about $75 million per year? Really?
How about the $10 BILLION we give to various foreign countries, most in the middle east, each year, and most who HATE the U.S.? And for WHAT exactly? $1.5 billion to Pakistan alone last year, so they could say SCREW YOU, we're going to take your money, AND harbor your terrorist enemy.
So why don't you people stop barking up the wrong tree?!?