There was chatter at the LA Auto Show that GM’s top talker, Bob Lutz, was starting to distance himself from the original design of the upcoming Chevy Volt. The appealing design for the battery operated Volt, caught the eye of many.

It seems, and rightfully so, that if you are building an eco friendly vehicle it should get the best gas mileage possible. It appears Lutz’s coif started blowing in the wrong direction when he heard the wind tunnel results for the current concept design.

The analysis showed that a different shape and aerodynamic configuration could produce better results.

“Test vehicles will be running in the first quarter of 2008 with 40 to 45 miles of electric drive, ” Lutz said. GM is currently in the process of dropping the bottom out of old Malibu’s and have them fitted with Volt battery packs. Testing is expected to begin in 2008.

Lutz said that the Volt will be on sale by November 2010. Cost is expected to be in the 30 grand range with the hope of selling an impressive 60,000 units in the first year of production.