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

GM has apparently learned the lesson Honda did with its Accord: consumers aren't keen on hybrids that don't return significant fuel economy improvements, and they seem to prefer the vehicle to be distinctive from the "regular" models in the line-up.

GM has cancelled its Malibu "mild" hybrid.

Chevrolet manger Ed Peper "disclosed to GM-Volt.com that GM is now working to develop an extremely fuel efficient dedicated hybrid besides the Volt."

source: GM Planning Dedicated High Efficiency Hybrid Sedan | GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

Good news, but the return of Lutz to GM makes me think there'll be just more of the same ol GM. I really hope I'm wrong though.

There are more than one hybrid architecture that can work. Rather than get into a hissy-fit, I'm glad they 'learned a lesson' but the clock keeps on ticking.

Bob Wilson

In my opinion...

GM dropped the ball when they took back all the EV1's and crushed them.....

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

Hybrids do not rid us of dependency on foreign oil....

...back in 1982, a SAE newletter stated that GM had a 60 mpg two-seater (Fiero?) but wasn't going to produce it because GM management didn't feel there was a "market" for such a car.

...Toyota (MR2), Mazda (Miata), and Honda (S2000) simply went out and "made" a market right under GM's nose...albeit, not at 60 mpg however!

tasdrouille -

Ibid.

I can't believe Lutz is back. He's like a Zombie.

CarloSW2

Gee Mr. Peper... Ya think? Me, I just want the extra weight, cost, complexity, and maintenance for no other reason. Yeah.

Not Fiero, but GM TPC (Two Person Commuter)- the Grand Daddy to the Metro; different market than the sports cars. Idjits should have built it right away. :rolleyes:

Dang, hadta go all the way to Russia for these pics!

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...82gm_tpc_2.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...82gm_tpc_1.jpg

Frank -

That reminds me soooo much of the Ford Gnat (by Ghia). Never found a picture of it at that Russian site, though. Only saw it once at the LA car show (late 1970's?!?!).

Makes me wonder if the 1st gen CRX got some inspiration from the TPC.

CarloSW2

Here: http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=6238,4202876

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...dsupergnat.jpg

Other lil Fords...

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...urbancar_2.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...tystar5201.jpg

Frank -

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

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.

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

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

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?

...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!

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".

...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)!