General Motors verified previous rumors on Wednesday that the 2009 Cadillac Converj concept will go into production as the Cadillac ELR.
The luxury car based on a Chevy Volt's "Voltec" powertrain debuted at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, and GM was noncommittal for quite some time as to whether it would build it, even though enthusiasts immediately praised the Converj concept.
Next month a Wisconsin Toyota dealer hopes to post a new record for putting on the world’s longest hybrid parade featuring as many as 500 hybrid vehicles. Any make or model of production hybrid will be welcome at the Hybrids on Parade (HOP) event, being sponsored Sunday, July 24, by Smart Motors of Madison. The goal is to actually be recorded as a new Guinness World Record™ for longest hybrid vehicle parade.
Automotive News yesterday reported that General Motors is preparing for future gas price spikes by introducing compact cars for all of its brands. Within about two years, expect a new breed of G.M. small cars: the Chevy Spark minicar, Buick Verano compact, GMC Granite small truck, and a Cadillac ATS.
Bloomberg is reporting that General Motors stopped work on the Cadillac Converj, a sleek electric-drive coupe, to focus on cheaper plug-in hybrids for its luxury brand. The decision, if verified by GM, represents an acknowledgement of the high cost of producing plug-in hybrids that run without using any gasoline for long distances—rather than the type of plug-in hybrids that can use smaller and therefore less expensive battery packs.
![GM: "We’re Forced to Make Hybrids." But Which Ones?](http://www.hybridcars.com/files/imagecache/teaser_thumbnail/files/caddy-cts-112.jpg "GM: "We’re Forced to Make Hybrids." But Which Ones?")
Last week, General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz repeated his long-held opinion that hybrid gas-electric cars have a limited market and will not be profitable for the company. Yet, he believes GM will be forced to make more hybrids because of tougher fuel efficiency regulations. This begs the question: What hybrids should we expect from GM?
Chrysler is killing its dedicated electric car program. General Motors is moving forward with its sleek electric-drive Caddy. What do these two news flashes tell us about Detroit’s prospects in the bold new era of EVs and plug-in hybrids? And what about that other Detroit car company?
One day after the US government rejected GM’s turnaround plan, Mark LaNeve, the company’s vice president of sales, service, and marketing for North America, spoke with Eddie Alterman, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver magazine. For most of the discussion, LaNeve and Alterman talked about restoring consumer confidence and the future of GM brands. But finally LaNeve said that GM needs to turn away from high-performance and toward fuel-efficiency to send "a better message" to key stakeholders."
GM’s jet-flying, cigar-chomping product czar Bob Lutz announced last week that he will be retiring. Mr. Lutz Lutz bemoaned what he saw as a depressing new period of government oversight, one driven by the need for higher fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. He said that his abilities no longer fit the times.
Several sources inside General Motors told BusinessWeek that the company will show a Cadillac two-door plug-in series hybrid at next week’s Detroit Auto Show. According to BusinessWeek, the concept vehicle—a new model similar to the CTS sedan although “smaller” and “bolder”—suggests that the company plans to use the Volt’s electric-drive technology in other vehicles.
