Big GM Crossovers not going hybrid anytime soon
After a report here on ABG yesterday that General Motors was set to introduce hybrid versions of their full-size Lambda crossovers, I decided to call up Brian Corbett GM's spokesman for hybrid programs. The Lambdas include the Saturn Outlook, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia. According to Corbett, there are no immediate plans to hybridize the Lambdas. During a conversation with GM Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November he indicated that the shape of the engine compartment of the big CUVs was too narrow for the two-mode transmission to fit. Corbett said that a second-generation version was being designed but it was still at least 3-4 years away. The current mild hybrid system also isn't suitable for the bigger vehicles although the second-generation version of that might be adapted. That, too, is still three years away. So if you like the Lambdas but want better mileage, you'll be waiting a while . As for the GMC Sierra hybrid, Chevrolet announced the identical Chevy Silverado hybrid in LA and the Sierra will no doubt be announced soon.
[Source: General Motors]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Karkus 12:37PM (1/29/2008)
So, no hybrids for the rapidly growing CUV market segment?! Bad news for us and for GM's bottom line.
Also, there has been a lot of talk here about how GM was going to introduce 4 hybrid models every year! Sounds great until you realize that some of those will be the mild "barely a hybrid" BAS version, and the only real hybrids (2 mode) will be the big shopping utility vehicles and trucks (which are mostly sold to people who don't need them). And some of those will be corporate twins. So in the end, you may get about 1 distinct real new GM hybird per year. Still better than what most other companies are putting out, though.
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Charles S 12:52PM (1/29/2008)
While the future sales for hybrids is good, so far, the track record for hybrid SUV/CUV does not really spell "success" for the category.
I'm sure that fuel efficiency is something that's on everyone's mind, but in the end, fuel usage often rank low when it comes time to buy.
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Anne 3:18PM (1/29/2008)
I am a student and my diploma thesis is about the new idea of hybrid-cars. It´s a current and exciting topic. I would be glad if you could tell me what you think about hybrid-cars. Even if you don't know anything about it.
This is my short questionnaire:
http://cmc.psych.uni-goettingen.de/wsg/index.php?sCode=005962f161b15fc8
Thank you for helping me.
Anne
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Dave 5:28PM (1/29/2008)
"So, no hybrids for the rapidly growing CUV market segment?! Bad news for us and for GM's bottom line."
The Saturn Vue is a GM CUV and it will be offered in 3 different hybrid levels: mild, dual mode, and plug-in.
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Karkus 6:47PM (1/29/2008)
Hmmm OK, so I guess the Vue isn't affected by the problem of "the shape of the engine compartment of the big CUVs was too narrow for the two-mode transmission to fit."
Maybe they can put it in the small CUVs, but not the big CUVs?
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rob 9:39PM (1/29/2008)
Or maybe they don't want to give consumers a disincentive to purchasing one of their hot-selling models right now.
If you had your heart set on a vehicle in that size range, wouldn't you hold off purchasing if you knew a version that got 50% better gas mileage was going to be available in a few months?
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gsolman6 11:30PM (1/29/2008)
If I was in charge of GM I would not of made a $50k, 20 mpg, 7 passenger, V8 hybrid SUV but rather a $40k, 25 mpg, 7 passenger, V6 hybrid CUV. Better economies of scale with higher volumes and something that still meets those lofty utility requirements. Plus it is safer for me and the CUV passengers when an accident happens with my VW Golf versus a Tahoe/Golf accident.
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