The recap, for those who missed it: During this week's Volt media launch, Chevrolet released extensive technical details on the car's gasoline-electric drivetrain. The information outlined how the Volt's electric motor, electrical generator and gasoline engine interact, and it contained a tidbit that many thought contradicted GM's long-trumpeted assertion that the Volt is an electric car.

The media firestorm that ensued involved outlets like Edmunds and Jalopnik, both of which posited that GM consciously misrepresented the truth. A host of other outlets offered explanations, from Green Car Reports' assertion that "the press is wrong" to Wired's detailed examination, which states that the Volt "isn't a true [electric vehicle]."

Late last night, GM issued a press release under the heading, "Clearing up confusion about the Chevrolet Volt." The release is largely reprised on the Volt's consumer public-relations site, ChevroletVoltage.com​; it essentially recaps much of the pro-Volt enthusiast-media content and attempts to explain how the Volt is an electric vehicle, pure and simple.

"There is no direct mechanical connection (fixed gear ratio) between the Volt's extended-range 1.4L (sic) engine and the drive wheels," it says. Note the parenthetical, which is key to GM's argument -- it refers to the car's transmission, which encompasses a planetary, or epicyclic, gearset, which offers variable gear ratios. That connection, GM says, means that the Volt is an EV, not a plug-in hybrid. Oddly, this same connection is at the heart of the media's argument, which essentially claims that the Volt, fixed-ratio gearset or not, is a hybrid.

Confused? Don't worry. Chances are you're not alone.

The irony here is that most consumers probably won't care, nor should they -- the semantics of the Volt's categorization have little to do with how it feels behind the wheel. And in a market where fuel mileage and looks often sell a car as much as anything else, it's probably best to focus on the end result.

One result worth noting: Motor Trend, that paragon of by-the-numbers vehicle evaluation, recently saw 126.7 mpg while testing a Volt in mixed city-highway usage. No matter how you slice it, that's impressive.