Will Chevy's Bolt-Based Crossover Look Like This?

Aug. 09, 2020 1:40 PM ET by Jared Rosenholtz Electric Vehicles / 5 Comments

And would this be enough to beat the Tesla Model Y?

The 2020 Chevrolet Bolt has sold well as an affordable electric vehicle. Yet despite General Motors' efforts to market the hatchback as a tall crossover substitute, buyers have seen past the charade and run straight towards the shiny new Tesla Model Y. But GM isn't ready to give up on the EV market and will introduce a Bolt-based SUV in the future.

The American automaker already makes two such models for the Chinese market, the Chevrolet Menlo and the Buick Velite 7, neither of which will come to the United States. The rumored Chevy Bolt-based crossover should look significantly different and rendering artist Kleber Silva has taken a crack at designing the upcoming EV.

The design looks more SUV-like than the original Volt, though it still has a whiff of tall hatchback about it. Judging from the overall shape and the unique C-pillar, this rendering is distinctly derived from the Chinese market Buick Velite 7, with a Chevy fascia grafted to the front. It looks more like the discontinued Volt than the current one, but this isn't necessarily a criticism. Around back, the Bolt SUV's taillight design takes a unique direction that still manages to fit perfectly with the Chevy design ethos. The taillights could almost be called Camaro-like.

2017-2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV Left Rear Angle In Motion

This new model should have a longer wheelbase than the current Bolt, and will thus accommodate a larger battery pack. With a larger battery, the upcoming model could outdo the existing Bolt's 259-mile driving range. The longer wheelbase will also improve interior space, though the car won't be much taller than the current Bolt. Front-wheel-drive is expected, as with the existing Bolt, meaning all-wheel-drive will not be an option.

Expect the Bolt-based SUV to arrive as a 2022 model and go on sale towards the later part of 2021. Pricing should start around $40,000.