Slowly but surely, the 2016 Chevrolet Volt is inching closer to showrooms.

Californians can now order the second-generation Volt, while other consumers have a new tool with which to ponder a possible plug-in car purchase.

Buyers in other states can at least keep themselves amused with an online configurator that launched recently on the Chevrolet website.

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Embedded in the single page dedicated to the 2016 Volt, the configurator allows users to select the color, wheels, interior trim, and trim level.

There are a total of seven exterior colors to choose from, plus two cloth and three leather upholstery styles, and two 17-inch alloy wheel designs.

They're available in concert with just two trim levels: base LT and uplevel LTZ.

2016 Chevrolet Volt

2016 Chevrolet Volt

The configurator doesn't include pricing information, but we already know the 2016 Volt will start at $33,995, including destination.

That's $1,175 less than the outgoing 2015 Volt.

Pricing information for the Volt LTZ model or any available options hasn't been released yet.

ALSO SEE: 2016 Chevrolet Volt Priced From $33,995, Or $1,175 Lower Than 2015 Volt

That is a bit odd, as Chevy is taking orders for the car as of last week, albeit only in California.

Order books for the 2016 Volt opened for Golden State residents May 28, according to a Chevy dealer website accessed by InsideEVs.

According to the site, production of these first California cars will begin in August.

2016 Chevrolet Volt

2016 Chevrolet Volt

And on August 27, the new Volt will be available to order in several more states--including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The car won't become available nationally until October 1, the website shows.

By the end of that month, cars for states outside California should begin production.

General Motors has already stopped production of the 2015 Volt to retool for the new model.

2016 Chevrolet Volt

2016 Chevrolet Volt

This abnormally long production shutdown will also give dealers time to clear inventory of the old model, sales of which have slowed over the past few months.

That's likely at least partially due to anticipation of the 2016 Volt, which was unveiled at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show back in January and teased aggressively before that.

In a few months, the first consumers will find out if the new Volt lives up to that hype.

[hat tip: Alex Bernstein]

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