Chevrolet Bolt-based Crossover Makes First Appearance

The Chevrolet Bolt has carried the electric torch for General Motors for several years now. It’s lonely, but won’t be for long. While plenty of press gravitates towards the upcoming Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, and a slew of electric vehicles scheduled to follow, there’s a far more humble vehicle waiting in the wings.

Chevrolet’s Bolt EUV takes the basic bones of the Bolt and adds a more commodious body — apparently, just the thing to get noticed by the American buying public. On Wednesday, GM offered a first glimpse of the new model.

Arriving in a year’s time as a 2022 model, the Bolt EUV will take its place in Chevy’s lineup alongside a refreshed Bolt. The two models share the nameplate’s existing platform, rather than the BEV3 architecture slated for the Lyriq and so many others. That modular platform is designed to mate with the automaker’s Ultium battery packs, resulting in ranges of over 300 miles.

In the 2020 model at least, the subcompact Bolt is good for 259 miles of all-electric driving, which is still very competitive.

Via a brief video in which a refreshed Bolt (seen above) morphs into a Bolt EUV, we can see that the EUV is taller and longer than its hatchback sibling. The Bolt EUV’s profile and upper works reminds the viewer of the Buick Encore GX. Sporting a floating roof treatment and a much flatter beltline, not to mention a significantly elongated and flatter hood, the EUV’s lower body remains obscured. We hear the model stands to gain a wheelbase stretch for increased interior volume.

Entering production at GM’s Orion Assembly next summer, the duo will be the first Chevrolet models to carry the Super Cruise hands-free driver-assist system found on certain Cadillac models. Without a doubt, the larger Bolt will be a victim of sticker bloat.

[Images: General Motors]