Coming Out Week For Chevy Volt

This is a very important week for GM's Chevy Volt.

The company is bringing in journalists and analysts from around the country, giving them time behind the wheel of a Volt and an opportunity to see where the vehicle was developed, and the factory where it's being made.

(Reporters Note: I'll be driving the Volt on Wednesday, doing a live blog here on wwj.com, complete with photos and video.)

The point is to create a good impression for the Volt, before it goes on sale later this fall.

"It's important to get a great, sort of, impression, or image for the vehicle, said Jim Hall, managing partner of the industry consulting firm 2953 Analytics. "They've gotta be very careful, though, that they don't overpromise and they surprise people when they actually get in the vehicle and drive it."

(Video Blog: Jeff Gilbert talks about his previous drives of the Chevy Volt.)

Early reviews have been positive. Detroit Free Press Auto Critic Mark Phelan says he drove the Volt for 46 miles, and it was on battery power all the way. GM promises 40 miles of pure electric driving, before a gasoline powered generator kicks in.

Hall says that's important, because the Volt has to over deliver.

"Early adopters are going to be the thing that's gonna makes the car," he said. "Because, they are the people who are going to get out there and drive it. They will either become fabulous, actually incalculably valuable assets to General Motors. Or, if they're dissatisfied, they are going to be very loud about that."

Detroit News Critic Scott Bugess calling the Volt "quiet, efficient and fun."

Prior to this week's long drive, I've had three opportunities to get behind the wheel of a Volt. I drove an early test vehicle--a "mule" in auto terms--around the GM track in Milford. I had limited drives of pre-production Volts in Los Angeles and New York...both on closed courses.

In both cases, the Volt handled like a sporty mid size car, was extremely silent, and had a very high tech, but still upscale interior. I did experience the Volt's shift from battery power to onboard generator. It was almost seamless. Probably the only reason I noticed it was that I was looking for it.

Analysts say a popular, green vehicle can do a lot for a car maker.  The Prius, for example, helped Toyota cement its image as a builder of fuel efficient vehicles.

"For General Motors the upside is far greater than the upside of Toyota, for the Prius," said Jim Hall.  "A lot of it is going to depend on exceeding public perceptions, and making sure there are very few dissatisfied buyers out there."

Follow Jeff Gilbert on Twitter @jefferygilbert