GM’s full-size hybrids crack the $50k barrier

The hybrid news is coming in at a furious pace from the boys over at General Motors. Earlier today, the company showed off its second generation Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid pickup which features the new 2-mode gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain.

Now, the company has priced out its new Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid full-size SUVs. The Tahoe Hybrid will be priced at $50,490 for 2WD models and $53,295 for 4WD models. The slightly up-market Yukon Hybrid will be priced at $50,945 and $53,755 in 2WD and 4WD models respectively.

As with the previously announced Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, the two full-size SUVs feature GM’s 2-mode hybrid system which is backed with a 6.0 liter V8 engine. The SUVs can travel up to 30 MPH under electric-only power and can tow up to 6,200 pounds in 2WD guise (6,000 pounds for 4WD models).

As reported by DailyTech in late September, the Tahoe Hybrid and Yukon Hybrid are rated at 21 MPG/22 MPG and 20 MPG/20 MPG respectively for 2WD and 4WD models.

“We promised to apply our most advanced technologies to vehicles that can save the most fuel, and we are delivering on that promise with the Tahoe and Yukon Hybrid SUVs,” said GM vice chairman Bob Lutz. “The gasoline-only Tahoe and Yukon SUVs already offer best-in-segment fuel economy. Now, consumers can choose GM’s patented 2-Mode Hybrid technology that delivers the same city fuel economy as the 2008 Toyota Camry with the base four-cylinder engine. The difference is that the Tahoe and Yukon can seat eight people and can tow up to 6,200 pounds.”

For comparison, a 2008 Toyota Camry CE has a base price of $18,470 and is EPA rated at 21 MPG/31 MPG (city/highway) for the manual and automatic.

GM’s 2-mode hybrid system boost fuel efficiency by 25 percent overall

General Motors is stepping up its efforts in the hybrid game with its second generation Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid pickup. The new Silverado Hybrid goes far beyond what the first generation “mild hybrid” model could achieve and instead uses GM’s much-touted 2-mode hybrid system.

The standard gasoline-powered Silverado is already the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup on the market, but the 2-mode hybrid system — which is shared with the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade hybrids — boosts efficiency even further. The Silverado Hybrid can travel up to 30 MPH under electric power alone (even while towing) and still has the ability to tow up to 6,100 pounds.

The 300-volt nickel-metal hydride battery used in the Silverado Hybrid is mounted under the rear seats. A 300-volt air conditioning compressor is also used to cool passengers even with the gasoline engine is not running.

When all is said and done, the 2-mode hybrid powertrain boosts the fuel efficiency of the Silverado by 40 percent in the city and 25 percent overall. This achievement is quite remarkable when you consider that the Silverado Hybrid is still packing a 6.0 liter V8 engine with 332 HP and 367 lb-ft of torque.

GM also notes that thanks to the hybrid powertrain and its 26-gallon fuel tank, the Silverado Hybrid will travel more than 500 miles on a single tank of gas.

“The Silverado Hybrid is the newest example of Chevy’s heritage of truck innovation, which stretches back 90 years, and exemplifies Chevrolet’s commitment to fuel solutions,” said Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper. “Silverado Hybrid will deliver fuel economy comparable to many small and midsize trucks that are equipped with four- or six-cylinder engines — all while delivering the capability customers expect of Chevy full-size trucks.”

The 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid will launch in late 2008 and will be available on Crew Cab models in both 2WD and 4WD trim levels.

General Motors’ all-electric Volt to reach consumers in late 2010

General Motors is quite confident these days. The company recently priced its highly-anticipated full-size hybrid SUVs and showed off a concept version of its full-size hybrid Chevrolet Silverado. GM CEO Rick Wagoner also noted that his company will release one hybrid per quarter for the next four years — lofty goals indeed.

Likewise, the company’s brand new Chevrolet Malibu mid-sized sedan has been generating an overabundance of praise and its new $32,000 second-generation Cadillac CTS just walked away with Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award.

GM is hoping to use this momentum and high level of interest in its vehicles to push the electric motor-powered Chevrolet Volt to customers by the end of 2010.

GM vice chairman Bob Lutz has heard all of the critics who question GM’s aggressive ramp for the Volt, but is still committed to moving forward.

“There is a lot of skepticism within the company about the timeline,” said Lutz. “People are biting their nails, but those of us in a leadership position have said it has to be done.”

GM is hoping to use the Volt as a halo car to further strengthen its brand and its commitment to fuel economy. Dodge used the Viper to enhance its image for performance and styling in the 1990s. Toyota used its Prius at the turn of the century to shroud the entire company with a green image despite the fact that gas guzzlers like the Tundra and Sequoia share the same showroom space.

“When they think of GM, the iconic brand is, unfortunately, the Hummer,” continued Lutz. “That perception needs to change.

The GM Volt features a 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine which is solely used to recharge the onboard lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack, which will be manufactured by Compact Power and Continental Automotive Systems, powers the Volt’s electric motors for forward propulsion.

GM says that the Volt can travel for up to 40 miles on battery power alone. After the 40 mile threshold has been reached, the gasoline engine kicks back in again to recharge the battery pack.

The entire industry has its eyes on GM and its Volt. Toyota took a big risk with its Prius and it has paid off dearly for the company.

“We have since realized that letting Toyota gain that mantle of green respectability and technology leadership has really cost us dearly in the marketplace,” Lutz added. “We have to reestablish GM’s leadership and the Volt is, frankly, an effort to leapfrog anything that is done by any other competitor.”

Uzbekistan plans to start producing the Chevrolet Lacetti at UzDaewoo Auto by 2009, a source from Uzavtoprom, which unites the country’s vehicle manufacturers, told Interfax.

The government of Uzbekistan has adopted a resolution on organizing commercial production of the Lacetti at UzDaewoo, which approves the implementation of this project, he said.

UzDaewoo Auto and GM DAT signed a contract on September 14 2007 for delivery of the machinerya and equipment required to set up Chevrolet Lacetti production. The project’s feasibility study puts projected capacity for the new conveyer line at 30,000 cars per year. The project is to take 16 months to set up.

The government has given Uzautoprom permission to allocate an interest-free loan equivalent to $47.69 million to UzDaewoo Auto, of which $41.2 million will be used to buy machinery and equipment.

UzDaewoo Auto was established jointly by the Uzbek government and Korea’s Daewoo motor. The company launched construction of an auto plant in Andijan region in 1996 with projected capacity of 200,000 vehicles a year.

Uzbekistan purchased the Daewoo Motor stake in UzDaewoo Auto in October 2005 and Uzautoprom now holds all the shares.

Uzautoprom and General Motors set up the joint venture GM Uzbekistan in October 2007 to produce and sell Chevrolet cars in Uzbekistan on the basis of UzDaewoo Auto. GM owns a 25% stake and Uzbekistan 75% of the joint venture. Projected capacity is 250,000 vehicles annually.

UzDaewoo Auto currently produces seven car models, with commercial production of the Nexia, Matiz and Damas and assembly of the Lacetti, and Chevrolet Captiva, Epica and Tacuma from October 2007.

UzDaewoo Auto produced 140,080 cars in 2006, up 38.7%. The company plans to turn out 170,000 cars in 2007

General Motor Corp.(GM) is introducing an advertising campaign to raise awareness about Chevrolet’s “green vehicles.”
The automobile maker said the advertisements will showcase solutions for achieving better fuel economy.
The campaign will begin at the Live Earth concert and will continue throughout the year.

General Motors Asia Pacific Holdings LLC, a General Motors Corp. (GM) unit, said Tuesday that it entered into a joint venture with Malaysian auto distributor DRB-Hicom Bhd. (1619.KU) to sell and explore making Chevrolets for the Asean market.
Under the agreement, the companies will “explore the establishment of a local vehicle assembly program as well as a manufacturing hub for the production of Chevrolet vehicles, parts and accessories for the Asean market,” they said in a joint statement at the venture’s launch.
The joint venture will initially oversee the sale and distribution of Chevrolet vehicles in Malaysia, the companies said.
DRB-Hicom already oversees the sale and distribution of Chevrolet vehicles in the country through a wholly-owned unit. It did not say whether the unit will continue to sell Chevrolets after the joint venture commences operations.
DRB-Hicom Group Managing Director Mohd. Khamil Jamil told reporters that the joint venture will strengthen the partnership between the companies, and will help DRB-Hicom’s goal to eventually manufacture its own cars either alone or with a partner.
The GM unit will hold a 51% stake in Hicom-Chevrolet Sdn. Bhd., while DRB-Hicom will hold the rest, according to the companies. Investment in the joint venture is expected to be not less than a total MYR50 million, Mohd. Khamil said.
Sales of the first car under the partnership, a Chevrolet Aveo Notchback, will start Wednesday. The basic model costs MYR69,888.
The companies said they expect to sell between 2,000 and 3,000 cars by year-end under the joint venture. They will also launch three to four new models by April next year, according to Mohd. Khamil.
At Tuesday’s launch, GM and DRB-Hicom also confirmed they have submitted separate bids for a stake in Malaysia’s flagship automaker Proton Holdings Bhd. (5304.KU).
Both companies declined to say how much of Proton they want to own, citing confidentiality agreements.