Wagoner: Not planning to give up No.1 - Hummer key for youth market
GM is well aware that the youth market is key to the success of their future sales, after all, younger people eventually grow up and become the car buying public. In December, GM admitted in an internal memo that more and more young people were removing GM from their "consideration lists".
Rick Wagoner said on Sunday that GM plans on expanding their Hummer brand, as "The Hummer brand is very well-respected by teenage boys, and that's a good thing to build on...we need to expand the product offering," according to Wagoner. He continued, "We spent some time recently in California, even this morning, to find ways we can improve our internet marketing, where younger buyers are tending to go to. Those kinds of things, I think, are critical over time."
So, GM is looking at marketing techniques that connect with that younger crowd. I hope that the marketing folks can learn to push vehicles other than the Hummer to young people. I know that in California, GM made a "green" prototype Hummer, one that "breathes" clean oxygen via algae filled body panels. Again, I hope that they can come up with something that actually has the chance to see the light of day - I don't think we will see any oxygen breathing Hummers driven by teenage boys on the road any time soon.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 12:35PM (1/10/2007)
If the Hummer used E-Flex tech, (and ultimately it will) it would have all the E-flex advantages with a very high-torque 4x4 electric drive train. The Hummer body is just another styling choice. I'm sure that GM is considering using E-Flex across their entire line. Imagine! 2-3 E-Flex frame sizes with 3-4 Range Extender options and all you have to do is change the bodies and plug in the electronics (drive by wire) for anything you want. Hummm... A lightweight PHEV/BEV Hummer. Cake anyone? How about champagne?
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small-wee-wee 9:05AM (1/11/2007)
I always wonder what poor self image the drivers of these monstrosities must have.
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Dan Ritchie 11:01AM (1/11/2007)
Gee... exactly how many bad decisions does it take to belly the General? One would have thought they'd already be out of business with these think tanks.
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Tim 10:00AM (1/23/2007)
Hello, ever heard of the FREE MARKET? Like most companies, GM is driven by what their customers want to buy. To Americans, cars are a status symbol. NOW… Imagine if GM (or anyone) offered a 4X4 E-Flex style series PHEV version of the Hummer, Silverado, Suburban, etc. with 40 mile all electric range and a 100-MPG rating within 70 miles on flex fuel or biodiesel. Now think of a highly flexible drive by wire vehicle layout that is cheaper to build and more robust than the current geared drive train. One Range Extender “engine”, one motor controller, 4 electric wheel motors with max torque from 0-full RPM, The motor controller computer can independently control each wheel motor! Now, the options are unlimited…
NORMAL ECONOMY MODE – Only one drive wheel receives power until slip occurs then power could be transferred as required. Drive timers could make sure that each wheel motor receives equal drive time over the life of the vehicle maximizing motor life. Good for normal or slippery conditions on hard surfaces, rain, snow, sand, or even rock crawling where each wheel’s independently controlled torque and limited slip are paramount.
4X LOCK MODE – All wheels are locked to rotate at the same speed. Good for sticky surface conditions such as mud, hill climbing etc where spinning may help clean the treads and improve traction.
4X SKID-STEER MODE – Right wheels and Left wheels are locked together like a skid-steel loader. Forward the left wheels while reversing the right ones or visa-versa and you have ZERO TURN RADIOUS. There could be a small joystick that takes the place of the old manual shift knob or the steering wheel could lock dead-center and the top could separate into 2 control levers. THE ULTIMATE 4X4!!! Humm…. Military Applications in a HUMVEE Anyone?
Since drive-train geometry is no longer an issue, pneumatic shocks could raise or lower the vehicle to pre-programmed heights as needed and load cells on each wheel could monitor conditions and attitude adjusted to keep center of gravity as low as possible to reduce rollovers. The options are up to your imagination. This is the true power of a series hybrid like E-Flex!
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