Motor1.com Delivers Industry's First Bolt EUV Crossover Spy Shots

For so many in the auto industry including us here at West Chevy of Knoxville, there is an extreme focus on electric vehicles as the tone of the future is set to mesh with that of the present. The compact Bolt is slated to be joined by a slightly larger model in the lineup. Caught here on camera for the first time by Motor1.com, we can see clearly what will become the Bolt EUV, or Electric Utility Vehicle. This prototype was cloaked during these early stages with heavy camouflage front and rear to hide the coming facelift as well as its design.

We can see that the crossover holds on to the Bolt's short, stubby nose, and the up-kink in the beltline at the C-pillar looks like traditional Bolt styling as well. Most of the C-pillar is hidden under the camo, but it is also suspected that the Bolt's floating roof design is cloaked under the tarps. At the rear you can make out that the placeholder lights are still there, suggesting it may be a prototype in the early stages of development. Many customers are excited about the coming of this crossover that will be ideal for the urban dweller and should brandish a predicted driving range of about 400 miles on a charge.

Even with the presence of the camouflage here, we are not completely in the dark as to what this new EV crossover will look like. Earlier this year crosstown rival Buick Velite 7 was put on display for the Chinese market, and there may be a few design similarities between the two. It will have a wheelbase three inches longer than the standard Bolt and measure five inches longer overall. This will also be the first non-Cadillac model to obtain Super Cruise, but it will not yet receive GM's brand-new Utium battery tech.

The new Bolt model will likely be compatible with Level 2 fast charging and should probably debut by the end of the year. Impressions from some people who got a peek at GM's big EV event though that it bared a bit of resemblance to the upcoming Ford Mustang Mach-E. There is a push-button gearshift, new seats, and lots of soft-touch materials, including a padded dashboard with leather-like material covering it.

The standard version will have a 400-volt battery pack and up to 200 kw fast-charging capability, and the version for the truck platform will be 800 volts and support 350 kw charging. Battery packs on board will feature pouch-like cells that engineers will be able to stack horizontally or vertically within the pack, and will allow for a modular layout that sees potential for more customized setup for each product. The steering wheel features a sportier design, and the instrument-panel design has been given a more cleaned-up appearance in the climate control zone and infotainment offerings.