GM to make "major" hybrid technology announcement Tuesday
GM will make a "Major Technology Announcement" related to hybrids at the Geneva Motor Show tomorrow. We invite your speculations on the nature of the announcement in the comments below, and we promise full coverage early tomorrow morning. You can watch a live webcast of the announcement by GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner online at GMnext at 8:45 a.m. EST/2:45 p.m. CET. GM-Europe President Carl-Peter Forster will join Rick in making the announcement.
[Source: GMnext]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
rgseidl 2:54PM (3/03/2008)
So now they pre-announce their pre-announcements? Thx, I'll just wait until they have something of substance to report.
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armmat 2:58PM (3/03/2008)
Exactly..more bull from GM. Just tank already...
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MarkR 3:52PM (3/03/2008)
They will announce their they have made a breakthrough in their Onboard Steroid Enhanced Hamster Battery regeneration program or (O'SEHBR) that will increase the range of their smallest production vehicle by 0.00000348 miles (rounded up of course) and extend the battery life by 2 milliseconds. Results will very depending on the age and diet of the hamster.
I have doubts about the technology, The rumor is floting around that the Hamster Wheel Union is holding out for better work conditions, and PETA has paid for their legal fees. It may be likely that GM will Buy out the HWU contract and do a total redesign around the South
American Wiesel (Mustela), but their could be some issues with getting them in the US under current immigration laws, particularly the new rules in Arizona that could result in employer jail time for employing undocumented workers.
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steven 3:53PM (3/03/2008)
So let's see, if a company does not announce that they are having press conference... what level of coverage should they expect?
The Geneva Auto show is like the NFL or the NBA where folks are required to have a press event after a game. Companies make announcements and put out schedules with the topics so people who are interested can attend and ask knowledge questions at the appointed time. Sorta like the last coupe weeks of postings with the title "Geneva '08 Preview".
BTW, it is getting close to Easter http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12/10/videos-bob-lutz-says-toyota-will-have-egg-on-its-face-come-east/
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steven 3:56PM (3/03/2008)
Sorry... before the grammar police get me....
That should have said "The Geneva Auto show is ***NOT*** like the NFL or the NBA"
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Throwback 4:48PM (3/03/2008)
So GM is being bashed because they put out their schedule of press conferences? ALL car companies do this at auto shows.
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s10 4:59PM (3/03/2008)
@ Throwback. No GM is not bashed for putting out their press schedule, but because they say it is a "mayor hybrid technology announcement!" which is rather unrealistic.
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Alpha 5:08PM (3/03/2008)
Volt? One can wish...
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T2 5:16PM (3/03/2008)
Come on guys let's be positive here.
The answer is easy if you ask yourself what has GM proved it already can do ? What one thing could GM do that would create major buzz and lots of showroom traffic ? For a vehicle that isn't on Toyota's horizon and for which GM can bring to market quickly. A vehicle that many would have bought and I have to include myself one of them. A vehicle that had the Lexuslike cachet. You're thinking I'm referring to the EV-1 ? WELL I am, I sure as hell am.
I speculate that GM management may, just maybe, be prepared to bite the bullet and admit they blinked and re-introduce this car. At one and the same time they are going to show to their shareholders and the buying public that they too can be as agile as needed when market conditions change.
Against Toyota they will demonstrate they can equally muster the humility of the Toyota chairman when he hastily backtracked on Li-ion for the 2009 Prius. Such a decision carries risk. Is the time right ? Are they up for it ? Well let's say they do have some things they didn't have at the launch eight years ago. $4 dollar gas. And they also didn't have the United States of Toyota on their doorstep dictating to America that when it comes to the greening of the automobile industry, this is the way it is going to be. And americans can go suck it up. Nor the zillion posts on the internet regarding corporate conspiracy by GM. Nor the loss of network television's effectiveness to get the message out.
They say they have lost the older generation to imports and are going after Gen Y'ers but we know they want their old customers back, the boomer generation. Well, this would be a step in the right direction.
T2
I should acknowledge "The U.S. of T" idea from the title of a book by Peter Lorenzo.
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Lou Grinzo 5:55PM (3/03/2008)
They will announce a new, dual-mode crock, the Lutz Belchfire 9000, that will be able to hold twice as much s*** as a single-mode crock.
Seriously, I expect it to be some minor tweak to their product plan, like a model that was scheduled to get hybridized in 2011 will get bumped up to 2010 or 2009.
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Chris 6:26PM (3/03/2008)
BAS for everyone (standard equipment except on their real hybrids)? I might could go for that.
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The Luigiian 7:37PM (3/03/2008)
I hope that they either announce a hybrid Colorado or a hybrid Camaro. I doubt it though, probably something minor, mundane and disappointing. Looks like I'll be waiting for an Ecoboost Mustang or an attractive Toyota A-BAT...
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KarenRei 8:15PM (3/03/2008)
The EV-1 is dead. It's not coming back. It was never designed to be a success. If they want an EV, they'll engineer a new one from scratch -- one that won't cost them a fortune to build, which will be based off of existing model lines, which will use part suppliers that can and will supply in bulk, and which will use the latest technology.
Oh, and it's not a "hybrid".
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david 8:22PM (3/03/2008)
They're probably going to announce some cool new hybrid technology that they will only offer in Europe.
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Throwback 8:44PM (3/03/2008)
GM is not bashed for putting out their press schedule, but because they say it is a "mayor hybrid technology announcement!" which is rather unrealistic.
s10, how do you know this? Should'nt we at least wait for the press conference?
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Wise Golden 9:04PM (3/03/2008)
I guess environmental empathy means cynicism. That’s what I gather from the vitriol aimed at GM in these comments. It’s no wonder we can’t get anywhere with the environment when we attack the companies that attempt to make progress.
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A.Brien 9:12PM (3/03/2008)
They will say that they choose series hybrid over paralled hybrid because it open the road to further
enhancements in the future over paralled hybrid technology that is less performing and cost more
to build. So they choose full electric plus small gas engine back-up power or range extender as some name it. Wall street will lose 200 points, the barrel will lose 20$ and i will drink a coffee over that but still keep my dodge neon 2005 for a while.
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s10 10:32PM (3/03/2008)
@Throwback, yeah let's wait for it.
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psarhjinian 2:51AM (3/04/2008)
I'm betting, well, on nothing. Maybe a concept, or a partnership agreement with someone.
All hat, no cattle.
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Chris 5:49AM (3/04/2008)
Maybe they will annouce the plug in versions of their current hybrids will be out this year instead of next?
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