Talking about its new hybrid car, the Chevrolet Volt, General Motors mentiond the design was nearly ready. With additional work needed on the car's lithium-ion battery and other technologies to take place over the next two years makes me wonder why would there even be a press release.

In my opinion it is very much like most things here in the U.S. We have to sell it before we make it. Then if the demand is extreamly high we can get by with sub-standard products. What? Did I say that?

But let's be honest with each other here. A high-tech-state-of-the-art car designed two years before production. I hate to say it but unless the design is higly flexible G.M., and any other car maker, runs the risk of scrapping designs that do not mesh with new any technologies that will arise in the next two years. For instance, what if we find a new and greener battery source that requires additional cooling or placement within the car? Look for new designs in 6-12 months.