Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Lutz: High-performance Chevy Volt SS a "possibility"]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/lutz-high-performance-chevy-volt-ss-a-possibility/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/lutz-high-performance-chevy-volt-ss-a-possibility/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/lutz-high-performance-chevy-volt-ss-a-possibility/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Chevy Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

Electric vehicles are for people who would rather drive slow, boring commuter cars that don't consume fossil fuels and therefore don't spew pollutants from their tailpipes. Gas-powered cars - and especially those wearing time-honored badges like SS, R/T or GT - are for those that prefer fire-breathing, tire-screeching performance and care much more about nitrous oxide than nitrogen oxide. We all agree on these points, right? Not so fast, says Bob Lutz.

When asked whether or not Chevy could shock the performance crowd with an SS version of the upcoming Volt, Lutz said, "I would not discount that possibility." That's as close as you're going to get to an admission of intent this early in the game. Lutz goes on to suggest that the Voltec powertrain will allow for plenty of on-demand power. "[I]f we want to sacrifice a little bit of fuel efficiency in the interest of performance and still get over 200 miles per gallon, we can do that any time."

Following the same logical train of thought, we could certainly see a V-Series of the Cadillac Converj. If you're interested in hearing the news straight from the horse's Lutz's mouth, click past the break for a video.



[Source: Fox Car Report via GM-Volt.com]

Continue reading Lutz: High-performance Chevy Volt SS a "possibility"

Lutz: High-performance Chevy Volt SS a "possibility" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevrolet volt2011 chevy volt2011ChevroletVolt2011ChevyVoltbob lutzBobLutzcadillac converj vCadillacConverjVchevroletchevrolet voltchevrolet volt ssChevroletVoltChevroletVoltSschevychevy voltchevy volt ssChevyVoltChevyVoltSslutzvoltvolt ssVoltSsTue, 10 Nov 2009 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Bargain Bin: High-priced hybrids get hefty incentives]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/bargain-bin-high-priced-hybrids-get-hefty-incentives/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/bargain-bin-high-priced-hybrids-get-hefty-incentives/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/bargain-bin-high-priced-hybrids-get-hefty-incentives/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Surprise! Lexus and its parent company, Toyota, are apparently finding that it's not as easy selling hybrids for $106,000 as it is to move them for $25,000. The Lexus LS 600h L is certainly an excellent piece of automotive engineering, delivering gobs of horsepower and torque with at least a modicum of efficiency thrown in for good measure.

Still, sales of the LS range are down over 50 percent, leading the the Japanese auto giant to place a whopping $10,000 cash incentive on its range-topping hybrid model. Moving down the Lexus lineup a notch will net you a $3,000 incentive on the GS 450h. What's more, the company is throwing another $1,000 at any sales associate that manages to sell one of its pricey hybrids.

Not into expensive hybrid sedans? How 'bout we move to the exact opposite end of the fuel-saving market and into the driver's seat of a 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. Signing on the dotted line for GM's top-of-the-line hybrid 'ute will cost you from about $73,000 to over $87,000... minus a five-digit discount, of course. Such a deal!



[Source: Auto Observer]

Bargain Bin: High-priced hybrids get hefty incentives originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillaccadillac escaladecadillac escalade hybridCadillacEscaladeCadillacEscaladeHybridescaladeescalade hybridEscaladeHybridhybridhybrid incentivehybrid incentivesHybridIncentiveHybridIncentiveslexuslexus ls 600hlexus ls 600h lLexusLs600hLexusLs600hLls 600hls 600h lLs600hLs600hLTue, 06 Oct 2009 07:59:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Cadillac Converj has a new lease on life, maybe]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/23/report-cadillac-converj-has-a-new-lease-on-life-maybe/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/23/report-cadillac-converj-has-a-new-lease-on-life-maybe/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/23/report-cadillac-converj-has-a-new-lease-on-life-maybe/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Cadillac Converj Concept - Click image above for high-res gallery

Last we knew, the fate of the Cadillac Converj vehicle was unknown and remained "a concept vehicle undergoing a review that has not yet concluded." Resistance to putting the Voltec plug-in powertrain into a Cadillac apparently came not only from the Treasury Department (when General Motors was still in bankruptcy) but also some executives within the company.

BusinessWeek names the resisting execs as GM North America President Troy Clarke and Mark McNabb, who ran Cadillac, Hummer, and Saab. Note the past tense there: both Clarke and McNabb no longer work at GM. One of the Converj's strongest proponents, Bob Lutz, remains with the company. While nothing has been officially decided - some inside GM think the Volt should have been a Caddy all along while others don't think that luxury car buyers care about being green - don't count the Converj out yet.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj


[Source: BusinessWeek]

REPORT: Cadillac Converj has a new lease on life, maybe originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillaccadillac converjcadillac converj conceptcadillac phevcadillac voltCadillacConverjCadillacConverjConceptCadillacPhevCadillacVoltconverjfalseSun, 23 Aug 2009 15:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Day one for The New GM: the more things change... Lutz stays, company needs vehicles that matter]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/day-one-for-the-new-gm-the-more-things-change-lutz-stays-co/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/day-one-for-the-new-gm-the-more-things-change-lutz-stays-co/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/day-one-for-the-new-gm-the-more-things-change-lutz-stays-co/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



After only 40 days in bankruptcy, General Motors emerged today as the new GM (sans green logo, for now). While the bankruptcy was about as short and sweet as they come, the future is what everyone is most interested in, and it's kind of looking a lot like the present/past.

For one thing, Chevy Volt cheerleader and former General Motors product chief Bob Lutz has reversed his decision to retire at the end of this year and may stick around in either marketing and communications or product design, sources told Automotive News (subs req'd).

As for the company itself, their press release says, among other things, that the new GM has, "A fresh lineup of Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC cars, trucks and crossovers, each with leading-edge designs and technologies that matter to both consumers and the environment."

CEO Fritz Henderson wrote that the new GM will focus on "customers, cars and culture," meaning that they need buyers, vehicles that people want to buy and will shift things around in the company to make decisions faster. A lot of this we've heard before. After this morning's press conference, Henderson drove away in a 2010 Cadillac SRX crossover. Were all the Volts busy? is this a sign of what will the future will bring to the old new GM?

[Source: GM, Automotive News (subs req'd), Green Car Advisor]
Photo by Patricia Drury. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Day one for The New GM: the more things change... Lutz stays, company needs vehicles that matter

Day one for The New GM: the more things change... Lutz stays, company needs vehicles that matter originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzBobLutzbreakingfritz hendersonFritzHendersongeneral motorsgeneral motors bankruptcyGeneralMotorsGeneralMotorsBankruptcygmgm bankruptcyGmBankruptcynew general motorsnew gmNewGeneralMotorsNewGmFri, 10 Jul 2009 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Fisker Karma Sunset, Converj, BlueSport Roadster win Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/24/fisker-karma-sunset-cadillac-converj-vw-bluesport-roadster-win/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/24/fisker-karma-sunset-cadillac-converj-vw-bluesport-roadster-win/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/24/fisker-karma-sunset-cadillac-converj-vw-bluesport-roadster-win/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Fisker Karma Sunset Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Fisker's undeniably gorgeous Karma Sunset concept was named the 2009 Production Preview Vehicle of the Year at the North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards last night at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit. Organized by the South East Automotive Media Organization, the jurors also lauded VW's Concept BlueSport Roadster as the 2009 Concept Car of the Year and named the Cadillac Converj
"The Fisker Karma Sunset is just drop dead gorgeous" - juror Michael Bettencourt
the Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2009. The Kia Soul'ster won Concept Truck of the Year.

Aside from the Soul'ster, the winners combine an alternative fuel powerplant (plug-in hybrid, diesel or ER-EV) with lust-worthy design. We'll see if this does anything to dispense with the myth that green = fugly. The jury considered 23 concepts and 11 production preview vehicles that were introduced during the 2009 auto show season before selecting the top cars. See more pictures of the winners after the jump.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Fisker Karma S


[Source: Southeast Automotive Media Organization, Fisker]

Continue reading Fisker Karma Sunset, Converj, BlueSport Roadster win Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards

Fisker Karma Sunset, Converj, BlueSport Roadster win Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluesportcadillac converjcadillac converj conceptCadillacConverjCadillacConverjConceptconverjfisker karmafisker karma conceptfisker karma hybridfisker karma sFiskerKarmaFiskerKarmaConceptFiskerKarmaHybridFiskerKarmaSkarma skarma sunsetkarma sunset conceptKarmaSKarmaSunsetKarmaSunsetConceptkia soulsterKiaSoulstersoulstervw bluesportvw bluesport conceptVwBluesportVwBluesportConceptWed, 24 Jun 2009 12:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Cadillac Converj reportedly approved for production *UPDATED]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/cadillac-converj-reportedly-approved-for-production/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/cadillac-converj-reportedly-approved-for-production/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/cadillac-converj-reportedly-approved-for-production/#commentsFiled under: , ,



At the Detroit Auto Show in January, Cadillac surprised the crowd with a gorgeous concept coupe called the Converj. Built on the same Voltec platform as the Chevy Volt, the Converj was seen as a potential way for GM to leverage the pricey ER-EV drivetrain in a vehicle that could sell at a premium price, hopefully recovering some of the development costs. According to Todd Lassa at Motor Trend, the Converj has been given the green light for production in 2011, a year after the Volt launches. When we talked to GM's Bob Kruse at the Detroit show, he indicated a production Converj would likely use exactly the same powertrain as the Volt although it could have different calibrations to allow somewhat higher performance than the Chevrolet.

If the Converj does move forward, the proportions might have to change a bit in order to use the same under-structure as the Volt. The more important stumbling block to building the Converj is money or rather the lack of it. Unless some kind of deal is struck between the Treasury and Energy departments that allows GM to tap into ATVM loans, there is unlikely to be enough cash available to build the Converj.


*UPDATE: GM spokesman David Darovitz told us "The status of the Cadillac Converj concept has not changed - it's still a concept vehicle undergoing a review that has not yet concluded. "


[Source: Motor Trend]

Cadillac Converj reportedly approved for production *UPDATED originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcadillaccadillac converjCadillacConverjer-evextended range electric vehicleextended range vehicleExtendedRangeElectricVehicleExtendedRangeVehiclevoltecWed, 15 Apr 2009 09:37:00 EST<![CDATA[GM plans to offer 2-Mode powertrain in Cadillac SRX]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/08/gm-plans-to-offer-2-mode-powertrain-in-cadillac-srx/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/08/gm-plans-to-offer-2-mode-powertrain-in-cadillac-srx/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/08/gm-plans-to-offer-2-mode-powertrain-in-cadillac-srx/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for a high-res image gallery of the 2010 Cadillac SRX

According to Straightline, General Motors plans to drop its 2-Mode hybrid powertrain in the new Cadillac SRX at some unspecified date in the not-too distant future. GM had been planning to put its 2-Mode system in the latest Saturn Vue sometime this year, but that vehicle's status in the struggling automaker's lineup is most definitely in flux, leading us to believe that the Chevy Equinox could instead be the first application of the sophisticated hybrid powertrain outside the big rear-wheel drive trucks and SUVs it's currently installed in. Time will tell.

Because the new Cadillac SRX's platform differs somewhat from the one underpinning the Chevy Equinox and Saturn Vue, it's likely that a little extra engineering work will be required to make all the pieces fit and play together nicely. In any case, we would expect a similar package as what has been planned for the Vue, namely a direct-injected 3.6L V6 engine mated up with an automatic transmission featuring twin 55kW electric motors powered by a 300V battery.


[Source: Straightline]

GM plans to offer 2-Mode powertrain in Cadillac SRX originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2-mode2-mode cadillac srx2-mode hybrid2-modeCadillacSrx2-modehybridcadillac srxcadillac srx hybridCadillacSrxCadillacSrxHybridgmsrx hybridSrxHybridWed, 08 Apr 2009 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Cadillac blends top 2 Escalades for one really expensive hybrid]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/28/cadillac-blends-top-2-escalades-for-one-really-expensive-hybrid/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/28/cadillac-blends-top-2-escalades-for-one-really-expensive-hybrid/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/28/cadillac-blends-top-2-escalades-for-one-really-expensive-hybrid/#commentsFiled under: ,



Apparently, some people think that $83,000 just isn't enough money to spend on a new Escalade. That's the sticker on the Platinum edition of the big Caddy SUV. The marketing department has decided the truck needed to move closer to 6 figures to be taken seriously. Therefore, General Motors is adding the Escalade Platinum Edition hybrid to its lineup. The Escalade hybrid has been on sale since last fall with the same Two-Mode hybrid system used in the Tahoe and Yukon. Around the same time, the Platinum edition debuted with the 6.2-liter V8 and lots of luxury upgrades. The Platinum gets the same type of grille design used on the CTS and STS, as well as LED headlamps. Inside Aniline leather with French seams and contrasting stitching gives a fancier look. Cadillac hasn't said when the Platinum hybrid will go on sale or what it will cost. The conventional all-wheel-drive Platinum starts at almost $84,000 so adding the two-mode will likely bring the price tag close to $90,000 or more.

[Source: Cadillac]

Continue reading Cadillac blends top 2 Escalades for one really expensive hybrid

Cadillac blends top 2 Escalades for one really expensive hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillac escalade hybridcadillac escalade platinum hybridCadillacEscaladeHybridCadillacEscaladePlatinumHybridtwo-modetwo-mode hybridtwo-mode-hybridtwo-modehybridSat, 28 Mar 2009 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Luxurious and green: Europe's (relatively) low-CO<sub>2</sub> luxury sedans]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/24/luxurious-and-green-europes-relatively-low-co-sub-2-sub-lu/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/24/luxurious-and-green-europes-relatively-low-co-sub-2-sub-lu/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/24/luxurious-and-green-europes-relatively-low-co-sub-2-sub-lu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,



Some drivers love large luxury sedans sedans. What's more, there's nothing that denotes luxury quite like the largest car from a premium brand. They might be impractical in some European cities, but that's for the chauffeur to worry about. For the green-minded baron, though, there are always concerns about high fuel consumption and, well, sometimes you can do the job with a smaller car. However, for those times when we just need to be driven in a big sedan, let's see what the European market has to offer. After the jump we have a list of luxurious sedans ordered by CO2 emissions. And for once, this is a list - despite the inclusion of a few diesels - that includes many players from the American market as well. Click past the jump for the complete list.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj


[Source: Auto News]

Continue reading Luxurious and green: Europe's (relatively) low-CO2 luxury sedans

Luxurious and green: Europe's (relatively) low-CO2 luxury sedans originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>green luxusGreenLuxuslarge luxury sedanslarge sedanLargeLuxurySedansLargeSedanlow co2 sedanLowCo2Sedanluxury greenluxury sedanLuxuryGreenLuxurySedanTue, 24 Feb 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Cadillac quietly awards Super Bowl MVP Santanio Holmes an Escalade Hybrid]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/05/cadillac-quietly-awards-super-bowl-mvp-santanio-holmes-an-escala/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/05/cadillac-quietly-awards-super-bowl-mvp-santanio-holmes-an-escala/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/05/cadillac-quietly-awards-super-bowl-mvp-santanio-holmes-an-escala/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a gallery of the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

For the eighth year in a row, Cadillac has aligned itself with the Super Bowl and has awarded the MVP of the Big Game a vehicle of his choice. This year, the coveted award was bestowed upon Pittsburgh wide receiver Santanio Holmes, who's acrobatic circus catch in the corner of the end zone helped give the Steelers their victory over the Arizona Cardinals. So, what did the superstar receiver choose? A 2009 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Hybrid, which comes with an MSRP of over $85,000.

Why, after years of making a major production out of the event, did Cadillac keep this on the low down? According to Cadillac spokeswoman Joanne Krell, "We made the decision not to actively participate in the Super Bowl. We congratulate the MVP; it is a great achievement. [But] we are very sensitive to the federal assistance loan we have received, and we want to carry on our fiduciary responsibility. The Super Bowl was not a place for us this year." There you have it. So, giving away an $85,000 SUV after taking billions from the taxpayers is "responsible" now?

Gallery: 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid


[Source: Wired]

Cadillac quietly awards Super Bowl MVP Santanio Holmes an Escalade Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillaccadillac escaladecadillac escalade hybridCadillacEscaladeCadillacEscaladeHybridsantonio holmessantonio holmes cadillacSantonioHolmesSantonioHolmesCadillacsuper bowlsuper bowl mvpsuper bowl mvp cadillac hybridSuperBowlsuperbowl mvpSuperBowlMvpSuperBowlMvpCadillacHybridThu, 05 Feb 2009 11:54:00 EST<![CDATA[GM may not have enough cash for a production Cadillac Converj]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/gm-may-not-have-enough-cash-for-a-production-cadillac-converj/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/gm-may-not-have-enough-cash-for-a-production-cadillac-converj/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/gm-may-not-have-enough-cash-for-a-production-cadillac-converj/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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 Autoblog Green on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillac converjcadillac converj conceptCadillacConverjCadillacConverjConceptvoltecvoltec powertrainVoltecPowertrainTue, 20 Jan 2009 07:59:00 EST<![CDATA[President's new ride may be diesel powered, but is it emissions legal?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/presidents-new-ride-may-be-diesel-powered-but-is-it-emissions/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/presidents-new-ride-may-be-diesel-powered-but-is-it-emissions/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/presidents-new-ride-may-be-diesel-powered-but-is-it-emissions/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Cadillac Presidential Limousine

The other day, General Motors released the first official photos of the new presidential limousine that will enter service next week when Barack Obama is inaugurated. As the majority of presidential cars have been over the past century, this one is a Cadillac, but aside from grille and headlight shape, this one bears little resemblance to anything you can buy from your local dealer. It has been reported that most of the underpinnings of this limo are actually derived from some of GM's heavy duty trucks.

Among the truck-derived greasy bits may be the engine. It's been reported that the limo uses a 6.5L diesel V8 which got me thinking about whether it might be a Tier 2 Bin 5 compliant clean diesel. I contacted Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell who gave me the following response, "We're just not permitted to discuss that at all -- and in fact I don't even know the engine aspects of the car. So it's not the case that I'm just choosing not to tell you -- I don't know and would not be permitted to know."

While GM obviously can't comment on the specs of the car, I can certainly speculate. The president's transportation is often handled by the armed forces, which powers most of its ground vehicles with diesels. This is done so that a common fuel can be used for both the ground vehicles and aircraft, simplifying the supply logistics in combat. Since the limos are transported to the places that president visits in military aircraft, It is probable that it has been designed to run on military fuel. But is it a clean diesel? I wouldn't bet on it.

Gallery: 2009 Presidential Limousine


[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading President's new ride may be diesel powered, but is it emissions legal?

President's new ride may be diesel powered, but is it emissions legal? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamaBarackObamacadillac onecadillac presidential limoCadillacOneCadillacPresidentialLimoThu, 15 Jan 2009 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj, Audi Sportback win Eyes on Design Awards]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj-audi-sportback-win-eyes-on-desig/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj-audi-sportback-win-eyes-on-desig/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj-audi-sportback-win-eyes-on-desig/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


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 Autoblog Green on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillaccadillac converjcadillac converj conceptCadillacConverjCadillacConverjConceptdesign excellenceDesignExcellencedetroit 2009Detroit2009naiasWed, 14 Jan 2009 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj [w/VIDEO]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/11/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj-w-video/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/11/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj-w-video/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/11/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


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 Autoblog Green on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingCadillac ConverjCadillacConverjConverjdetroitdetroit 2009detroit auto showDetroit2009DetroitAutoShownaiasnaias 2009Naias2009voltecSun, 11 Jan 2009 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Cadillac to show new E-Flex coupe in Detroit?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/09/cadillac-to-show-new-coupe-in-detroit-with-e-flex/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/09/cadillac-to-show-new-coupe-in-detroit-with-e-flex/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/09/cadillac-to-show-new-coupe-in-detroit-with-e-flex/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



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. According to Business Week, the new Cadillac concept will be a coupe along the lines of the recent 2-door CTS, which we think is a beautiful vehicle. The new coupe would be smaller than anything else that Cadillac currently offers (we doubt the marque would revive the Cimarron nameplate) and we're not yet sure which set of wheels would be powered.

Passing the E-Flex architecture to Cadillac makes perfect financial sense, as the expensive battery pack could be partially absorbed by the higher profit margins afforded by the luxury brand. If there's any truth to these rumors, you can bet that our intrepid group of scribes will be on top of it when we visit Detroit next week. Stay tuned.

[Source: Business Week]

Cadillac to show new E-Flex coupe in Detroit? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillaccadillac e-flexcadillac evcadillac voltCadillacE-flexCadillacEvCadillacVoltdetroit 2009detroit auto showDetroit2009DetroitAutoShowelectric cadillacElectricCadillacFri, 09 Jan 2009 14:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit preview: Cadillac SRX is direct injected but not flex-fuel]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/detroit-preview-cadillac-srx-is-direct-injected-but-not-flex-fu/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/detroit-preview-cadillac-srx-is-direct-injected-but-not-flex-fu/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/detroit-preview-cadillac-srx-is-direct-injected-but-not-flex-fu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click above for more a high-res gallery of the 2010 Cadillac SRX

Next week at the Detroit Auto Show Cadillac will be taking the wraps off an all-new version of the SRX crossover. The SRX is getting smaller and moving to a new platform that is mix of the Epsilon II car platform and the Theta CUV. For 2010, the SRX will have two engines available, a 300 hp turbocharged 2.8L V6 based on the Saab Turbo-x engine and a new 3.0L direct injected V6. Both engines are part of GM's high-feature V6 family along with the 3.6L that's used in a wide variety of GM vehicles.

Contrary to some reports, the 3.0L SRX will not be a flex-fuel vehicle when it launches this summer. The spec sheet that was published by GM lists the engine as E85 capable. However, this is an error based on copy data over from the standard specs for the engine. GM Powertrain spokesman Tom Read confirmed to ABG that the engine has probably been engineered to be compatible with E85 with items such as high flow fuel injectors and corrosion resistant fuel lines. Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell confirmed that the SRX will run only at gasoline at launch and there are no current planst to make it flex-fuel capable. The only flex-fuel Cadillac currently available is the Escalade. For the full details on the SRX, head on over to Autoblog.

Gallery: 2010 Cadillac SRX


[Source: GM, Domestic Fuel]


Continue reading Detroit preview: Cadillac SRX is direct injected but not flex-fuel

Detroit preview: Cadillac SRX is direct injected but not flex-fuel originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 cadillac srx2010CadillacSrxcadillaccadillac srxcadillac srx e85cadillac srx ethanoCadillacSrxCadillacSrxE85CadillacSrxEthanodetroitdetroit 2009detroit auto showDetroit2009DetroitAutoShowTue, 06 Jan 2009 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[It's not clean and certainly not green - it's a coal-powered Caddy]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/its-not-clean-and-certainly-not-green-its-a-coal-powered-cad/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/its-not-clean-and-certainly-not-green-its-a-coal-powered-cad/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/its-not-clean-and-certainly-not-green-its-a-coal-powered-cad/#commentsFiled under: ,



The legacy of experimentation with alternative fuels to gasoline is nothing new. It started back in the earliest days of the car in the late 19th century. Alternatives to piston engines are also not new, although none but the Wankel rotary have had any notable commercial success. Starting back in the 1950s, there was a lot of interest in trying to run cars on turbine engines. Turbines had some inherent advantages,including high power density and, most importantly, the ability to run on virtually anything combustible. In the wake of the first Middle East oil embargo, the search for gas alternatives heated up again, and the engineers at General Motors came up with a novel idea: a coal-powered Caddy. The US had plenty of coal, after all, and GM had a turbine engine. The General's engineers therefore built a Cadillac Eldorado with a turbine engine that ran on powdered coal. As a proof of concept, it worked. The car ran fine. As a practical alternative? Not so much. The coal powder was messy and difficult to handle and the engines produced high NOx emissions. Then there was that pesky problem of a re-fueling infrastructure. Where have we heard that one before?

[Source: New York Times]

It's not clean and certainly not green - it's a coal-powered Caddy originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coalcoal powered carcoal turbineCoalPoweredCarCoalTurbinefeaturedTue, 06 Jan 2009 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Cadillac Volt rumors resurface; headed to Detroit?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/cadillac-volt-rumors-resurface-headed-to-detroit/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/cadillac-volt-rumors-resurface-headed-to-detroit/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/19/cadillac-volt-rumors-resurface-headed-to-detroit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Cadillac Provoq concept

General Motors could be working on a new Cadillac-branded Volt concept that would debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Last year in Detroit, the automaker set the precedent for a range-extended Caddy when it rolled out the Provoq concept, which featured a E-Flex drivetrain layout similar to the Volt but used a hydrogen fuel cell in lieu of the sedan's gasoline engine. Could another such concept be ready for display next month? We all know that the prospect of using hydrogen as an energy carrier isn't exactly right around the corner, so using a biofuel-powered engine would seem to make the most sense from a production standpoint, and GM could very well use the Delta platform for an uplevel E-Flex from Cadillac to help defray its cost.

Another reason it might make sense to spread the Volt technology to the Cadillac range is that consumers are willing to pay more for the Wreath and Crest than for the golden Bowtie. Therefore, dropping the E-Flex platform - including its expensive lithium ion battery pack - into a Caddy makes sound financial sense. We'll know for sure in January.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Cadillac Provoq Fuel Cell Concept


[Source: Autoweek]

Cadillac Volt rumors resurface; headed to Detroit? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's no doubt that the President of the United States needs a safe vehicle to be transported in. Various assassination attempts prove that case rather easily. President-in-waiting Barack Obama will be getting a brand-new armored "car" that will look like a Cadillac, but will really be based on the positively gigantic medium-duty GMC Topkick chassis. Nobody is quite sure what kind of armament the First Car will be equipped with, but let's just assume that there is plenty, including up to five inches of glass and ceramic ballistics materials. That should make this one heavy vehicle. In fact, a couple of heavy vehicles, as General Motors is likely building multiples so that decoys can be used. With all that weight to move around, we'd expect GM to use a version of its diesel engine (running perhaps on biodiesel? No?) and Allison transmission from its line of heavy-duty trucks. Alternatively, Obama could make a green splash by using GM's 2-Mode hybrid system. Just a thought.

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[Source: The Boston Globe]

Obama to be transported in GMC Topkick "Cadillac" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamaBarackObamacadillactopkickThu, 13 Nov 2008 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Several 2010 GM models likely to get new direct injected 3.0L V6 and 2.3L I4]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/11/03/several-2010-gm-models-likely-to-get-new-direct-injected-3-0l-v6/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/11/03/several-2010-gm-models-likely-to-get-new-direct-injected-3-0l-v6/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/11/03/several-2010-gm-models-likely-to-get-new-direct-injected-3-0l-v6/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



General Motors appears set to introduce two new direct injected engines to its lineup for the 2010 model year. A newly downsized 3.0L version of the 3.6L "high feature" V6 used across much of GM's lineup is set to launch in the redesigned Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac SRX and Chevrolet Equinox. The smaller V6 will get the direct injection system already offered in the premium versions of the 3.6L. The smaller engine will match the 250 hp output of the current non-DI 3.6L while offering a significant improvement in fuel economy. The base engine in the Equinox will be a new 2.3L four cylinder also with direct injection. The DI system should give the four cylinder about 210 hp and fuel economy equal or better than the current 2.4L engine used in a variety of GM cars.

[Source: GM Inside News]

Several 2010 GM models likely to get new direct injected 3.0L V6 and 2.3L I4 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>direct injecteddirect injectionDirectInjectedDirectInjectiondown sized enginesDownSizedEnginesMon, 03 Nov 2008 08:53:00 EST