2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV To Take Center Stage at 2016 CES

LAS VEGAS – The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car, which targets the BMW i3, Nissan Leaf and Tesla’s upcoming Model 3, will be unveiled on Wednesday at the 2016 CES, General Motors confirmed.

Designed to travel more than 200 miles between charges, the 2017 Bolt is scheduled to go into production at GM’s Orion Assembly Plant in Michigan in late 2016. It will arrive at Chevrolet dealerships shortly afterward.

In an unusual twist, Chevrolet will debut the Bolt EV using Facebook Live. The unveiling will include a live video introduction as well as an “immersive 360-degree interior video experience,” Chevrolet said in a statement on Tuesday.

Full pricing and specifications have not been announced, but Chevrolet said the Bolt EV “will break the affordability barrier with a price below $30,000 after full federal tax credits.”

“The Bolt EV will also offer connectivity and infotainment technologies seamlessly integrating smartphones and other electronic devices important to today’s consumers,” the company said.

About the size of a Buick Encore, the Bolt is expected to seat five passengers and their gear.

Chevrolet unveiled a concept version of the Bolt EV at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.

At the time, it said the Bolt will offer selectable driving modes for cruising and sport, LED head- and taillights and a floating center stack with a 10-inch touchscreen.

To develop the production version, GM partnered with LG Chem. The unprecedented arrangement calls for the Korean supplier to provide battery cells and many powertrain components for the Bolt EV.

Edmunds says: Car shoppers in the growing market for pure electric vehicles will want to pay close attention to this critical unveiling at the 2016 CES.