Writing on the wall: GM shutters high-performance vehicle division
How does GM prove to the U.S. government that it can be a viable company again? By ditching high-performance vehicles. In the Viability Plan/$16.6 billion request submitted to Congress this week, GM said it would focus on eco-friendly cars and hyped up the Volt in many ways. The flipside of this is that GM’s High Performance Vehicle Operations team was disbanded. That means that development of cars like the low-volume Chevrolet Cobalt SS (above), the HHR SS and the V-series Caddies have been stopped. Engineers from the HPVO will move to other products in the Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet and Pontiac lineup. Maybe, GM says, if GM gets back on its feet, the HPVO unit might be pulled back together. Let’s hope that if it does, the meaning of “performance” will equal green, not just fast. [Source: Automotive News (subs req'd), Autoblog ] Auto Blog: Etc. , GM , Green Daily Writing on the wall: GM shutters high-performance vehicle division originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Writing on the wall: GM shutters high-performance vehicle division
GM may not have enough cash for a production Cadillac Converj
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Cadillac , Green Daily Click image above for live shots of the Cadillac Converj Concept Regardless of how much fiscal sense it might make to produce a Cadillac-branded vehicle that features the Voltec drivetrain shared with the upcoming Chevy Volt, General Motors might not have enough money to take the Converj coupe ( your fav ) from concept to production. The always-quotable Bob Lutz has said that there is much work left to do before any decisions are made, though a production Converj could still happen if all the cards fall into place. Basically, since there’s only so much R&D cash to go around, the accountants would need to conclude that there is a better chance of making money with the extended-range electric Caddy (the Caddy that zaps?) than there is with some other vehicle that’s already being considered. All of this makes plenty of sense, but we’d also add that the Volt has been given top priority in the GM camp, and a Converj for sale could help defray those already substantial costs. Stay tuned. Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj [Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)] GM may not have enough cash for a production Cadillac Converj originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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GM may not have enough cash for a production Cadillac Converj
24 hours left to vote in the ABG Best of Detroit poll
Auto Blog: Etc. , AutoblogGreen Exclusive We’re having fun watching the results come in for the AutoblogGreen reader poll of the best vehicle from the Detroit Auto Show. We have our own top picks , but this site isn’t just about us. It’s about you, and any friends who you want to email (or Twitter or txt msg or whatever) and tell them to give your favorite car from the show that extra push. To give everyone a fair heads-up, we’ll be closing the poll in 24 hours (at 5 pm EST on Friday), and then we’ll know for sure what the collective wisdom of the group picks for the top spot. Will the Cadillac Converj keep its lead over the new Insight? Earlier, the race was neck and neck (just two votes), but the Converj is now up by about 40. I’m sure there’s some Insight fan with 40 friends out there, isn’t there? Or maybe a Prius fanboy army that can get 150 fans to move that icon to the top of the list? In any case, we’re counting on you and your internet circle of friends to make this a contest. Click here to get started. 24 hours left to vote in the ABG Best of Detroit poll originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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24 hours left to vote in the ABG Best of Detroit poll
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Leave a commentAlmost 70 plug-in vehicles will take part in Inaugural Parade West
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Green Culture , Green Daily When Plug In America first announced their ” Inaugural Parade West: Plug In, America! ” that’s taking place in Santa Monica this weekend, they were hoping about 30 vehicles would take part. They underestimated interest. An update PIA sent out this week says that 68 vehicles are now confirmed to roll through Santa Monica on Saturday, all broadcasting the message that there are a lot of people out there who want plug-in vehicles. The vehicle line-up is pretty much a who’s who of currently (and previously) available electric cars: RAV4 EVs, Tesla Roadsters, an eBox, an iMiEV, a PHEV Escape, and a Porsche and a Geo Metro converted to run on battery power, plus more. Surprises include SUTs from Phoenix (we don’t see these out and about much) and an electric Chevy S-10. Celebrity guests/speakers include “Who Killed the Electric Car?” director Chris Paine and California State Senator Fran Pavley. Click past the jump for details. [Source: Plug In America] Continue reading Almost 70 plug-in vehicles will take part in Inaugural Parade West Almost 70 plug-in vehicles will take part in Inaugural Parade West originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Almost 70 plug-in vehicles will take part in Inaugural Parade West
Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj, Audi Sportback win Eyes on Design Awards
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Audi , Cadillac , GM , Detroit Auto Show , Green Daily Click image above for live shots of the Cadillac Converj Concept The Cadillac Converj is currently winning the AutoblogGreen reader poll of the best car from the Detroit Auto Show (but only by two votes, the new Honda Insight is right behind). Seems like you all share tastes with the judges for this year’s Eyes on Design Awards, which picked the Converj as one of tow top concept cars. The new Cadi-Volt shared its spot in the Design Excellence for a Concept Vehicle category with the Audi SportBack , while the Audi R8 5.2 FSI and the 2010 BMW Z4 both won Design Excellence for a Production Vehicle awards. The judges for this award included BMW design head Chris Bangle, Harley-Davidson chief styling officer Willy G. Davidson, and transportation design chair at the College for Creative Studies Larry Erickson. The Detroit Free Press says that Cadillac designers have been working on the Converj’s looks since June. Not bad for six months of work, don’t you think? You can still vote for your choice of the best car from the show; just click here . If you liked the Insight, your vote is especially valuable. There’s a picture of the SportBack after the jump. Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj [Source: Autoblog ] Continue reading Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj, Audi Sportback win Eyes on Design Awards Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj, Audi Sportback win Eyes on Design Awards originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj, Audi Sportback win Eyes on Design Awards
Posted in Auto Green | cadillac, cadillac-converj, converj, design-awards, detroit 2009, detroit2009, entry, naias, products | Leave a commentDetroit 2009: Cadillac Converj [w/VIDEO]
Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Cadillac , GM , Detroit Auto Show , Green Daily Click image above for live shots of the Cadillac Converj Concept Cadillac just took the wraps off a new concept based on the Chevy Volt’s “Voltec” drivetrain (that’s a new moniker, by the way). The angular coupe is called the Converj and it is drop-dead gorgeous. With styling that is instantly recognizable as Cadillac, Bob Lutz told us at the press conference that the car was designed to be aesthetically pleasing on its own. It’s just a great shape that holds great promise. Lutz and Co. referred to the Converj as the “CADILLAC OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES” and even if that sounds trite, it could well bring Cadillac back to the top of the luxury car heap, with a solid foundation of SRX and CTS below it. Like the Chevrolet Volt , GM says the Converj will be able to travel up to 40 miles on electricity alone, and it will have a small helper motor to help drivers avoid “range anxiety.” That’s the term for the fear of running out of charge when you’re still miles away from your final destination. As Lutz pointed out, you can’t run down to the gas station for a 5-gallon can of electricity. There’s a lengthy press release after the jump with plenty of stats. All we can say is that we’d love to hear that that the Converj is going into production tomorrow, but the reality of GM’s current financial situation probably means they won’t be able to make any firm commitments for awhile. Hit the jump to view video of the live unveiling. Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips, Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj [w/VIDEO] Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj [w/VIDEO]
Posted in Auto Green | a-rear-under, cadillac, converj, detroit, detroit auto show, detroitautoshow, entry, live, luxury, naias, naias 2009, photos, press | Leave a commentTesla Roadster Sport packs a little more punch for a lot more coin
Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Tesla Motors , Green Daily Click above for a high-res gallery of the Tesla Roadster With 150 Roadsters delivered to customers and another 1,100 people on the waiting list, Tesla decided now’s the time to release a more performance oriented version its Elise-based EV. The Tesla Roadster Sport features a hand-wound stator that increases winding density to help eliminate resistance while increasing peak torque. In conjunction with a set of Yokohama Ultra High Performance tires (likely the same Advan A048s fitted to the Elise/Exige), Tesla claims a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds – 0.2-seconds faster than the standard Roadster. The Roadster Sport also benefits from a few other Lotus-derived components, including adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars that can be tweaked to suit the driver’s tastes. Deliveries of the Roadster Sport will begin in late June, with a starting price of $128,500 in the US and €112,000 (excluding VAT) in Europe. Customers on the waiting list for their “base” Roadster have the option to upgrade to the Sport model, but if you’re looking for more stick, a nice set of Ohlins, some aftermarket sway bars and a new set of tires could be had for considerably less than the $28,000 premium of the Sport model. Gallery: Jason Calacanis’ Tesla Roadster Continue reading Tesla Roadster Sport packs a little more punch for a lot more coin Tesla Roadster Sport packs a little more punch for a lot more coin originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Tesla Roadster Sport packs a little more punch for a lot more coin
Posted in Auto Green | a-lot-more, cadillac, detroit, driver, live, luxury, naias, press, roadster, roadster-sport, sport, tesla roadster sport, tesla-motors | Leave a commentCadillac to show new E-Flex coupe in Detroit?
Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Cadillac , Detroit Auto Show It’s long been expected that Cadillac would be the second American brand, after Chevrolet, to get access to GM’s E-Flex extended-range electric-vehicle technology, and recent rumors indicate that a new concept car from Caddy will be shown at the Detroit Auto Show .
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Cadillac to show new E-Flex coupe in Detroit?
GM Leaks News of Volt-Style Cadillac
Several sources inside General Motors told BusinessWeek auto writer David Kiley that the company will show a Cadillac two-door plug-in series hybrid at next week’s Detroit Auto Show. According to Kiley, the concept vehicle—a new model similar to the CTS sedan although “smaller” and “bolder”—suggests that the company plans to use electric-drive technology, to be utilized in the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, in other vehicles. Detail of Cadillac CTS Kiley writes, “One GM executive says the Caddy’s drop-dead dramatic styling will make “‘people want it regardless of the energy source.’” Kiley’s report is a leak of what might have been one of the biggest surprises of the Detroit Auto Show. GM’s Chevy Volt , a plug-in series hybrid or range-extended electric car, made a big splash at the Detroit Auto Show two years ago, but this year’s show will be dominated by new hybrid and plug-in cars from Honda, Toyota, Ford, Mercedes, Chrysler, and Chinese automaker BYD. The Cadillac concept could bring much-needed attention to the General Motors booth. General Motors is still approximately two years away from releasing the Chevy Volt, which is due in November 2010. GM’s plans to introduce the Volt, and to introduce any other hybrid or electric vehicles, occur as GM is “reeling from billions in losses and needs government loans to stay afloat,” according to Kiley. read more
Posted in Hybrids | a-foot-longer, a-little-more, a-new-model, a-section-for, cadillac, chevrolet, detroit, europe, hybrid-or-range, smart-fortwo | Leave a commentGet Approved!
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