At 2010 Auto China motorshow in Beijing, General Motors revealed a crossover version of their yet to be launched Chevrolet Volt. It’s called the Volt MPV5 and it’s a five-passenger multi-purpose crossover concept based on the Volt platform with very similar design and technical details.

“The Volt MPV5 concept takes the efficient design of the Chevrolet Volt and adapts it to the family vehicle crossover segment. It’s immediately recognizable as a true member of the Chevrolet family,” said Bob Boniface, Director of GM North America Crossover Exterior Design, whose team worked in conjunction with members of GM’s design studio in Australia on the Volt MPV5 concept.

This might look like a jacked up Volt, but in fact with a wheelbase of 2,760 mm, it is 15 mm longer. The MPV5 is also 181 mm longer (4,585 mm), 73 mm wider (1,871 mm) and 182 mm taller (1,612 mm) than the Volt. And thanks to its flip-and-fold second row seating, it  provides up to 1,764.1 litres of cargo space with the seats folded and 863.7 litres of space behind the second row.

The hybrid drivetrain of the MPV5 is the same Voltec propulsion system found in the Chevrolet Volt, which means it is consisting of a 1.4-liter engine generator providing electric power for the batteries that run the car. This car can cover a distance of 51.5 km on pure electric propulsion, and when the generator kicks in the range is extended to 482 km.

“The Volt MPV5 concept demonstrates the flexibility of the Voltec propulsion system, which can produce enough electric power to propel a range of vehicles. from a compact sedan like the Volt to a crossover like the Volt MPV5 concept,” said Doug Parks, Global Vehicle Line Executive and Global Vehicle Chief Engineer for Electric Vehicles at GM.

“Rapidly growing demand for personal transportation across China is creating new environmental and energy security challenges,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “GM is committed to finding and adopting solutions, which include the electrification of the automobile. The world premiere of the Volt MPV5 concept in Beijing demonstrates GM’s desire to make China a global focus of its advanced technology strategy.”