News: GM planning dedicated high efficiency hybrid (in addition to the Volt)

[cfg83]

Frank -

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I have a pic of that thing somewhere...

You do?!?!?!? You should submit it to the Russian site because I couldn't find it there. In the LA Car Show program there was a picture of it. If/when I ever dig through my voluminous crabola, I'll be lookin' for it.

I think we'd enjoy seeing what might have been (and it's a Ghia, after all),

CarloSW2

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by theycallmeebryan

I will not be satisfied with them again until they offer another car like it. The Volt still doesnt cut it...

Here's an idea that's been getting some discussion on the EVDL (and elsewhere): a less expensive, lighter, all electric Volt, minus the ICE hardware.

Add the option to upsize the pack if 40 miles range isn't enough for your needs. (Although there goes your "cheaper" Volt in that case.)

It'll be interesting to read about the first Volt buyer who chucks the ICE & related parts overboard.

[cfg83]

Frank -

Thanks! I can see Mercury LN7 lines in the rear window+pillar, and it looks like they have the "downsloping aero grill" too.

Thank goodness it wasn't all in my mind!

CarloSW2

[Frank Lee]

Yes, it's a nice looking lil car! Too bad they never mass produced them.

[RobertSmalls]

The Malibu Hybrid wass a car with an identity crisis. They went to all the expense of a 36V (yet still belt-driven) hybrid system with NiMH batteries, and they added $4000 to the price of the car. An expensive hybrid system needs to see big MPG gains, but GM failed to take the opportunity to downsize the engine to compensate for the extra torque of the hybrid motor.

They charged an extra $4k for the Malibu Hybrid, which is crazy. I want to see a dirt cheap mild hybrid system - a giant belt-driven alternator to provide auto-stop, fast engine starts, and regenerative alternatoring. This would bring EOC and idle stop to the masses. Combined with a manual tranny, it would also increase the spread between hypermilers and EPA mpg. Keep the whole system cheap by keeping it 12V, thereby eliminating the DC-DC converter, the NiMH batteries, and the starter motor. GM (or Bosch), can you do that for $500?

[Old Tele man]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Not Fiero, but GM TPC (Two Person Commuter)- the Grand Daddy to the Metro;

...thanks! I never remembered its name, but I do recall reading TPC in later literature. Talk about some "valid" history, that's it--a golden opportunity MISSED!

[Frank Lee]

Well, gotta give GM credit for not TOTALLY missing it. They did come out with the Metro (yes, they were involved with the development of it along with Suzuki). Better late than never. But now I think they are fools for having dropped it. At the LEAST they could have come up with a successor that continues to make use of that nice 1.0 three-banger. Could have been a great engine; today's "small block Chevy".

[Old Tele man]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

At the LEAST they could have come up with a successor that continues to make use of that nice 1.0 three-banger. Could have been a great engine; today's "small block Chevy".

...my thoughts exactly!

...I'm not saying GM should've dropped any their engineering search for "...more HP from fewer cubes..." but rather that they should've concurrently downsized existing engines in 'cid' while maintaining same HP output! That way a smaller engine, with same HP would be used in the same chassis to achieve ever increasing MPG.

...in other words: two races: (1) upward for HP from same cid, and (2) downward for displacement for same HP.

...heck, I was a "dyed-in-the-wool" MOPAR guy during my younger days (had a 70½ AAR'Cuda 340/6BBL), but these days I wouldn't even think about a FIAT-managed HEMI Challenger (ha,ha)!