General Motors on Thursday showed off some of the aerodynamic styling of the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt, which is scheduled to ship in late 2010.

In a company blog post, Bob Boniface, who is the director of design for the Volt, released photos of the exterior. The release of images was timed with a GM management conference in Traverse City, Mich.

(Credit: General Motors)

Boniface said that the Volt design team is spending a significant amount of effort in wind tunnels to minimize the wind drag, which can account for 20 percent of a car’s energy.

“We believe the Chevrolet Volt’s exterior design is an attractive balance between aerodynamic performance and styling,” he wrote.

Speaking to MarketWatch, a GM representative said that the company still intends to deliver Chevy Volts to dealers in late 2010.

The drip-feed of photos and updates on the Volt underscores how important the product launch is to GM.

(Credit: General Motors)

The company is being pummeled financially by its reliance on sales of SUVs, trucks, and large cars as consumers shift to more fuel-efficient cars.

The Volt, which will be able to go 40 miles on an electrical charge, is a high-profile model to demonstrate GM’s commitment to diversifying its fleet with more fuel-efficient technology.

The Volt will also have a gas engine used to recharge the lithium-ion battery, giving the car a range of 400 miles.