General Motors pulled back the curtain on a Chevy Volt SUV at Auto China 2010 (here) this week. The 5 passenger crossover concept is currently known as the Volt MPV5 and measures 7 inches longer and 7 inches wider than the original Volt sedan we’ve been hearing about for many months. It went on display to the news media today, and is generating quite the buzz.

While it seems a bit premature, GM is showing the public that Volt’s Voltec Propulsion system can be applied to other vehicle types (the sedan version of the Volt is expected to be available later this year). In addition to everything the MPV5 borrows from the Volt (mainly the drivetrain technology), it also shares many attributes of the Chevrolet Cruze including an aerodynamic front-end and full underbody belly pan. Even so, it still looks a little like a Chevy HHR.

The concept MPV-5 (multi-person vehicle for five) was shown with a 1.4 litre, 150 horsepower gas engine (aka the generator) and a 16 KWH lith-ion battery pack. Because it doesn’t cut through the wind with the same efficiency as its older sibling, electric range drops nearly 25% (down to 32 miles on a full charge vs. 40 for Volt #1). Even so, the gas engine can take you the next 300 miles when the juice runs out. Both Volts can brag about being emission free, at least part of the time.

This conceptual electric Volt had the same center stack and gauge cluster as it’s predecessor. Two tone leather seats and 17″ wheels added to the overall look. It is estimated the top speed would be somewhere around 100 miles per hour. A full battery charge using a 120 volt system is expected to take more than 8 hours.

One interesting fact about the size of this small electric SUV/crossover is that the Voltec technology will apparently not work in vehicles much larger or smaller than these Volts. This is according to Alan Taub, GM’s Director of R&D. Even so, the multi-person utility vehicle offers more than 30 cubic feet of cargo storage (10 more than the sedan model plus room for a fifth passenger). The rear seat also folds down, allowing more room to move objects other than extra people.

As we know with all concept vehicles, the odds of moving to production status aren’t great. Even so, many auto experts noted that the MPV-Five Volt wouldn’t need a lot of changes to wind up at U.S. dealerships, should GM decide to move forward. If it happens, 2012 might be the earliest we’d see it. More updates will be added here as they come in.