[JD59]

FLINT, Mich. — General Motors (GM) said Thursday it will build a factory in Flint to make four-cylinder engines for the Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car and other models.

GM Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said the new plant will build a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that will extend the range of the Volt, and a turbocharged version that will power the Chevrolet Cruze, a compact car to be built in Lordstown, Ohio.

GM to build $370M engine plant in Michigan - USATODAY.com

[jrmontag]

If any place needs it, it's Flint. Good for them.

[uswith6]

Originally Posted by John1960

FLINT, Mich. — General Motors (GM) said Thursday it will build a factory in Flint to make four-cylinder engines for the Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car and other models.

GM Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said the new plant will build a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that will extend the range of the Volt, and a turbocharged version that will power the Chevrolet Cruze, a compact car to be built in Lordstown, Ohio.

GM to build $370M engine plant in Michigan - USATODAY.com

No one is talking about that they have to do this, they have agreed to keep so many UAW jobs in Flint.

It is extrememly good for Flint, but I doubt it would have happened without that agreement.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by relitha

Yep, how long before it shuts down? A 40k car that no one will buy. It will go 40 miles before you need to pay for that little engine as an extra add on. My Toyota gets 44 MPG and it is not a hybred. I only paid 15k for it. With the way things are going in the banking industry no one will be able to buy a car not to mention a 40k car that goes 40 miles. I would make book on GM going out of business in 5 years.

I think it's going to be $35,000. The Volt doesn't require any gas (as I understand it) if you only drive 40 miles between charges. Unlike a hybrid that switches back and forth between electric and internal combustion, the Volt is all electric for 40 miles. So if your daily commute is 20 miles or less, you probably won't use any gas during a normal work week.

I spend $50/week in gas right now. That's $2500/year in savings that would definitely put the Volt's payment in my price range.

2011 Chevrolet Volt Review and Prices

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by relitha

Yep, how long before it shuts down? A 40k car that no one will buy. It will go 40 miles before you need to pay for that little engine as an extra add on. My Toyota gets 44 MPG and it is not a hybred. I only paid 15k for it. With the way things are going in the banking industry no one will be able to buy a car not to mention a 40k car that goes 40 miles. I would make book on GM going out of business in 5 years.

It'll last until the workers start demanding $30 per hour for a $15 per hour job. If Michael Moore and others wanting hand outs can keep their noses out of it, it MIGHT be successful.

[Coldjensens]

I am concerned that Volt will come too late, too few of them and too high of a price to really do anythign for GM. By the time they get these things out, Toyota will already be selling a plug in Prius and GM is only plannig to make 10,000 of them the first year. Tht means that no one will be able to get them. It will be like the Solstice. Great marketing made everyone want one, but they simply were not available. Now that they are finally avialable in significant numbers, the hype has died off.

[Thewitchdrhetoldmewhattod]

I find myself agreeing with icepants. This Volt is going to be too little to late. And at too hight a price. Who the heck is going to fork over 40k for a car that goes 40 miles? Toyota and Nissian are building the next big battery plant that will make the Lit. Ion. Batt. These are lighter and longer lasting. The Prius will continue to at the fore front of the market. Most of the car companys that are leading in the energy issue have alread been working on the next gen. And GM is still trying to produce something comparable to the Prius. LOL They just do not get it. Say good by to GM. In the next 5 years it will be a shell of what it is now, if it even exists.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Thewitchdrhetoldmewhattod

I find myself agreeing with icepants. This Volt is going to be too little to late. And at too hight a price. Who the heck is going to fork over 40k for a car that goes 40 miles? Toyota and Nissian are building the next big battery plant that will make the Lit. Ion. Batt. These are lighter and longer lasting. The Prius will continue to at the fore front of the market. Most of the car companys that are leading in the energy issue have alread been working on the next gen. And GM is still trying to produce something comparable to the Prius. LOL They just do not get it. Say good by to GM. In the next 5 years it will be a shell of what it is now, if it even exists.

40 miles on battery, then it switches to gas. The great majority of Americans live within 20 miles of work, so they may never (or very rarely) have to use gas. The Prius still only gets about 50 mpg, so you're still mainly relying on GAS to get it to run.

Read up on it, it's very interesting.