Chevy "VOLT" .. thoughts of Pinto's...!

[ozpont]

GM's Volt battery fires threaten to knock 'moon shot' off target
David Welch
Automotive News | November 29, 2011 - 5:49 am EST
UPDATED: 11/29/11 9:50 am ET

DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- When General Motors Co. announced plans in June 2008 to build the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, executives called it a "moon shot" intended to rocket past Toyota Motor Corp. in technology leadership.

Now the car is a flash-point for concern.

The automaker's image car is the subject of a U.S. probe following fires that occurred in its lithium-ion batteries at least a week after three crash tests. GM on Monday offered loaner cars to concerned buyers and said its engineers will help the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determine the cause and a way to fix it.

While engineers work on safety issues, the largest U.S. automaker is racing to ensure that the Volt doesn't become a public relations fiasco. The car was dreamed up under now-retired Vice Chairman Bob Lutz to combat the environmental and technology praise Toyota received for its Prius hybrid.

"They didn't introduce the Volt because of its commercial success," said Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com, an auto research Web site. "It's their 'can-do' statement, their counter to the Prius. They will do everything they can to make sure people don't draw negative conclusions."