Latest news with #ChevyBoltEV
Car and Driver
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
New Chevy Bolt Spy Photos Suggest the Revived EV Barely Changed
The second-generation Chevy Bolt EV was spotted testing with camouflaged front and rear bumpers ahead of its return to production later this year. This is the first we've seen of the Bolt since Chevy confirmed the model would return in 2025; visually, the design looks awfully familiar. The electric hatchback has a new grille, a fresh set of taillights, and the headlights appear to adopt Chevy's signature EV LED light strip Despite solid sales figures in 2022 and 2023, Chevrolet decided to kill the Bolt EV in 2023—a move that was quickly followed by General Motors CEO Mary Barra announcing that the nameplate would be revived in 2025. A long period of radio silence followed, with GM keeping mum, and we've seen neither hide nor hair of the EV until recently. First, GM confirmed the Bolt would return for 2027, and more recently, our spy photographer caught sight of the second-generation Bolt testing with camouflaged front and rear bumpers. KGP Photography | Car and Driver While we weren't expecting Chevy to reinvent the wheel with the relaunched Bolt, the updates look more like a modest facelift than a new generation. The front of the car is completely covered in camouflage, but we see enough of the headlights to suggest the Bolt is adopting the same LED light strip as Chevy's other electric models. The front grille also looks to have a more prominent role on the second generation. The lower front bumper also appears to have a new set of horizontal slats. KGP Photography | Car and Driver The back of the Bolt is similarly updated with a new split-taillight design and a new center-mounted brake light mounted in the hatchback's spoiler. Speaking of, the hatch itself appears to take on a new shape and looks more squared-off than the first generation. That said, it's likely the new Bolt is hiding a number of changes under its sheetmetal. For starters, the updated model is expected to switch to a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack in an attempt to bring costs down. The old version used a 63-kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion pack that we managed to get 220 miles out of during our 75-mph real-world highway range test. The biggest downside to the old unit was a peak DC fast-charge rate of 55 kW. Estimates for the updated model put the Bolt's range closer to 300 miles with plans for improved DC fast-charging. KGP Photography | Car and Driver While Chevy hasn't announced any set-in-stone dates, the new Bolt should enter production later this year as a 2027 model, with the on-sale date expected to land in early to mid-2026. Jack Fitzgerald Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I'm a Mechanic: 5 Electric Vehicles I Would Never Buy and Why They Aren't Worth It
Though electric vehicles have been around for a while, they became all the rage when Tesla transformed EVs from niche products into desirable mainstream vehicles. However, just because a car is electric and good for the environment doesn't mean it's always a solid purchase to put your money behind. Some EVs come with pretty serious flaws that could make them a headache to drive. To get an expert's perspective, GOBankingRates spoke with Mateo, a car mechanic with over ten years of experience. Here are five EVs he would never buy and why. Also President Trump said he wants to end the EV tax credit — this is bound to have an impact on EV owners' wallets. Learn More: See Next: The Nissan Leaf (2011 to 2017) was one of the first mainstream EVs, but Mateo warns that the older models have a pretty big issue: batteries that degrade quickly. 'These early Leaf models don't have an active thermal management system for the battery, which means they lose range much faster than other EVs,' he explained. 'I've seen owners complain that their range drops by half within a few years.' Also, because battery replacements for the Leaf can cost thousands of dollars, it's not a smart choice if you're looking for an electric vehicle that you can drive for years to come. Check Out: The Chevy Bolt EV (2017 to 2022) is another electric vehicle that many people go for since it's affordable, but it has some potentially dangerous battery issues. 'The biggest problem I've seen with the Chevy Bolt EV is the battery recall,' Mateo said. 'There have been cases of these cars catching fire due to faulty battery packs.' According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2021, all Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles were recalled due to the risk of the high-voltage battery pack catching fire. Tesla is one of the biggest names in the EV industry, but not all of its models are worth your hard-earned coins. According to Mateo, the early versions of the Model S (2012 to 2016) come with serious maintenance concerns. 'The first-gen Model S has a lot of problems. For example, door handle failures and touchscreen issues,' he said. 'But the worst part is the air suspension and drivetrain issues, which can be insanely expensive to fix.' If you really want to buy a Tesla, Mateo recommended sticking with newer models that generally have better build quality and reliability. The BMW i3 (2014 to 2021) was marketed as a futuristic and compact EV, but Mateo believes it's one of the worst electric cars to buy. 'The i3 has a relatively small battery and limited range and the maintenance costs are high because it uses a lot of carbon fiber in its construction,' he explained. 'Plus, BMW parts and labor aren't cheap.' So unless you're looking for a car that you'll only use to drive short distances and don't mind the high repair costs, Mateo suggested skipping this one. The Jaguar I-Pace (2019 to Present) is positioned as a luxurious EV that promises high performance, which is why it's relatively expensive. But Mateo believes it's not worth spending $70k on this car brand since it has some reliability concerns. 'This car has had software glitches, charging issues and battery problems,' he said. 'It's a nightmare when it comes to repairs because Jaguar dealerships don't always have the right parts or technicians trained for EVs.' Plus, the I-Pace's resale value has gone down quite a bit, which means you could lose a lot of money in the long run. 'The EV technology is improving, but not every car is worth the investment,' Mateo said. If you're in the market for one, make sure to research each car's reliability, battery performance and repair costs before making a purchase. More From GOBankingRates10 Home Features That Have Decreased the Most in Popularity (And How Much Homes with Them Cost)7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth This article originally appeared on I'm a Mechanic: 5 Electric Vehicles I Would Never Buy and Why They Aren't Worth It
