Report: GM re-greenlights the Cadillac Converj for production
11 August 2011
GreenCarReports cites an unnamed source at GM who says that the Cadillac Converj luxury plug-in coupe (earlier post) is now back in the GM product plan.
The extended range electric vehicle, introduced as a concept at the Detroit auto show in January 2009, was said to be slated for production (earlier post). However, the program was then subsequently said to be stalled.
The Converj was recently approved for production by GM product executives. It will likely launch in 2013 as a 2014 model, though it may end up with a Cadillac-style three-letter model name. The production version will feature, says our source, “a Generation 1.5 Voltec” powertrain.
That would be an updated version of the extended-range electric powertrain from the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, possibly with better acceleration to suit the Cadillac image—but not the fully revised second-generation version that will go into production in 2015.
How GM is going to make a Cadillac Converj or CVJ or whatever it's going to be called:
1. Chevy Volt rolls into Cadillac Converj conversion area.
2. Workers remove Chevy badge & Volt badges.
3. Workers install Cadillac Badge & Converj / CVJ badges.
4. Rebadged vehicles are shipped to Cadillac dealers worldwide, with $10,000 increase in MSRP for being a Cadillac.
Wah-lah!
Posted by: ejj | 11 August 2011 at 03:28 PM
I've been saying all along that luxury cars should be the first to go PHEV.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 11 August 2011 at 04:42 PM
The lower cost mass produced Toyota Prius PHEV will make E-P a poor forecaster.
Posted by: HarveyD | 11 August 2011 at 05:34 PM
The Prius will do a good job of bringing a portion of the 2M Prii owners over to PHEV. For real green car enthusiasts there are Leaf and MiEV and Model S in different cost brackets.
The positive feedback from EV/PHEV owners in nearly unanimous - no one wants to return to the gas pump. The Converge will likely get slightly better AER.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 11 August 2011 at 06:44 PM
But Prius is the "eco" car, selling mostly to "eco" buyers.
Had Lexus made a PHEV with remote control for the HVAC system and the instant throttle response of electric drive, it would change the image of PHEV from "eco" to "luxe". That market's a lot bigger.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 12 August 2011 at 05:50 AM
E-P...The market for 'luxe' PHEVs is bigger than for 'econ' PHEVs may have been correct for pre-2008 USA but not for current world market nor for future USA's market. Two to three billion future buyers will buy lower cost 'eco' vehicles because they cannot afford to buy nor operate the expensive luxury models. Many of those future 'eco' models buyers will come from the 300+ million impoverished USA's middle and lower classes. Of course the favored few will continue to buy 'Luxury' $100 + K vehicles.
Reel$$...not so sure that many current Prius III HEV owners will switch to the Prius PHEV. Not having to plug it in (and lower cost) is a requirement for many Prius III HEV owners.
Posted by: HarveyD | 12 August 2011 at 08:02 AM
Prius PHEV should run just fine without any plugging in. It's hybrid. Just no AER. Telsa Model S is already capturing good numbers of Camry and Lexus owners. Model S will rule the luxe EV bracket if it rolls out smoothly.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 14 August 2011 at 06:05 PM