New York is the place to be this week for all things automotive and amongst the throngs that have journeyed to the Big Apple to gawk at the latest offerings were a group of hard-core Chevy Volt fans. They came from all across the country to gather together under the banner of "Volt Nation" for a chance to see the concept version of the object of their affection up close and ask questions of some of the GM executives responsible for the E-Flex development program.

Organized by Dr. Lyle Dennis (pictured above on the left), creator of the popular GM-Volt fan website, the group of about 300 souls converged on the Jacob Javitz Center for an event that, for probably the first time, brought car company officials and consumers together to ask questions of each other. Our favorite GM exec, Bob Lutz, was on hand as was design chief, Frank Weber.

So what was learned about the upcoming Volt? From scouring the posts of attendees we hear that the battery should begin life with a 50 mile range, that's 10 miles more than originaly thought and it can be plugged into regular 110V outlet or 220V. It is being designed as a "global" vehicle so it could sport either right hand and left hand drive and will comply with emissions regulations world-wide.

We'll have a video of the event in a bit. Video after the jump.

[Source: GM-Volt]

Click image for a high-res gallery of the Nissan Denki Cube concept

Yesterday, the Financial Times reported that Nissan will unveil its electric Denki Cube concept in New York. Based on the standard Cube minicar, the Denki (Japanese for "electric") shows that Nissan is also looking at the market viability of EVs. It's not alone, as Subaru will be showing its R1e and Mitsubishi will display its i MiEV along with the i MiEV Sport concept.

We don't yet have official details on the Denki Cube, but photos tell a lot of the story, and as is the case so often in the runup to auto shows, those photos have hit the web this morning. The Super Nissans forum has accelerated the unveiling schedule for Nissan, breaking the embargo and posting the shots you see here. Visually, the Denki Cube is finished in white with lightning-pattern grillework, dressed-up headlamps, and hole-punch patterns on the front and rear bumper covers (the taillamps show through those rear openings). Solid wheel covers with square centers complete the exterior makeover. Inside, the standard interior gets a swanky new instrument panel, but the layout is essentially unchanged. Yellow seats and trim highlight the otherwise white cabin.

We'll bring you live shots and complete details following the car's official unveiling tomorrow! A series of customized Cubes will also be unveiled for the first time, and we'll be on hand to provide full coverage.


[Source: SuperNissans.net]

Click image for a gallery of the Subaru R1e in New York

That Subaru R1e caught driving the streets of Manhattan over the weekend foreshadows the expansion the car's field-test program to the United States. Subaru is expected to make a formal announcement within the next hour or so, but we can preview it for you here now. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will receive two R1e vehicles to pilot in the same way the cars are being used in Japan.

To recap, the R1e is a full-EV version of the Japan-market R1 microcar. Driven by a 40 kW motor powered by a Li-Ion battery pack, the R1e is being field-tested by employees of both the Tokyo Electric Power Comany and NEC Lamilion Energy, Limited. The Japanese government lauded this effort last year. There are currently forty of the cars in service in Japan and Subaru hopes to bump that number to one hundred. When connected to a quick-charger station that's also part of the pilot testing, an 80% charge can be achieved in just 15 minutes. When plugged into a standard household outlet, the car will fully recharge in 8 hours or so. Operating range, according to Subaru, is 50 miles and the car boasts a top speed of 65 miles per hour.

The R1e will be on display at the 2008 New York Auto Show starting this weekend, and we'll update this post with Subaru and NYPA's formal announcement as soon as it hits the wires.

UPDATE: Official Subaru announcement has been added after the jump.