Test-driving General Motors’ new Chevy Volt

The Chevy Volt. GM has been calling it a “game changer” and “revolutionary.” Reviews have been positive, even if Jalopnik has anointed it the “Jesus Car.”‘

Volt spokesman Robert Peterson, however, called it something else.

“It’s a little spooky …” he said.

He was talking about the sound of the engine, but it’s not a bad thing.

The Chevy Volt is a little spooky. It’s quieter than a church mouse loaded on Ambien. So sure, the silence is a little disconcerting for anyone accustomed to the pop of cylinders in a poorly made Chevy, which seems to be just about everyone (kidding!).

It’s electric, baby, and it’ll be built in the states. No wonder GM seems thrilled to promote a vehicle that works better than Captain Planet and is made by Captain America. The Volt engineers, however, have worked overtime to ensure the car’s bells and whistles sound like Big Ben and the James Brown horn section. The Volt, said Peterson, was designed with the tech-savvy in mind.

“We think that early on, it’s going to be early adopters to technology. People that need the latest and greatest technology.”

Now, a techie is an odd creature, and the same goes for motorheads. They seem to communicate by way of congested chuckles and half-finished non sequiturs. It’s pure gibberish. Then again, so are the squawks of politicians and media types. So perhaps we should discuss a few of the Volt’s cooler features with something we can all relate to  — like Hollywood.

Volt’s Flux Capacitor

Back to the Future’s Flux Capacitor needs no introduction. Without it, Crispin Glover wouldn’t be the romantic, productive member of society he was in 1985.

The Volt’s Flux Capacitor is its lithium-ion battery. Peterson said the 400-pound, T-shaped battery nestled in the car’s belly can last about 40 miles before it needs to be recharged. The small gas engine in this hybrid extended-range electric car works like a generator after the battery’s drained.

The Daily Caller pit crew was fortunate enough to be in the car when it finally ran out of juice. The dashboard belted out a little jingle as the Volt switched to generator power. Apart from a muffled growl, the changeover was seamless and the car kept driving as stealthy as ever. Very cool.

The style of the T-shaped design, though, is even more important than its substance. Thanks to the battery’s placement, the Volt doesn’t look like a smug golf cart begging to have its tires slit.

The new design doesn’t flex like the 2007 prototype. The look is definitely conservative-sleek. However, it probably wouldn’t take much convincing to get The Situation into the driver’s seat. As Doc says: “If you’re gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?”