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While we already discussed Todd Lassa's conjecture last week that the Chevy Volt could get badged as a Cadillac due to the lack of branding associated with it on the plant assignment list in the recent UAW contract. General Motors has made clear from the start that the initial production vehicle based on the E-Flex platform would be branded as a Chevrolet because they want this to be mass market-technology that is affordable to broad range of customers. GM has also told us that they are currently doing production engineering on both the gas engine and fuel cell variants of E-Flex. Automotive News is now reporting that it could be the fuel cell version of E-Flex that gets the Cadillac branding initially. While this possibility certainly seems more plausible given the current higher cost of the fuel cell system, GM spokesman Rob Peterson told ABG that it's pure speculation at this point. Given that E-Flex is a global platform it will undoubtedly appear under a number of body styles with various names. GM also recently assigned Volt exterior design leader Bob Boniface to head up a studio focused on developing E-Flex based vehicles.
Late last Friday we got the news that General Motors had committed to the building the Volt at their Detroit Hamtramck assembly plant. The information came from a leaked summary of the new GM-UAW contract that local union leaders were reviewing. Over at the Motor Trend blog, Todd Lassa took a look at the information on the list did some extrapolation. Most of the vehicle assignments on the plant list specified brands in addition to platforms. One vehicle that was conspicuous in missing a brand was the Volt which was listed as simply Global Delta Volt.
From that Lassa is surmising that the GM has possibly decided not to brand the Volt as a Chevrolet but instead sell it under a premium brand like Cadillac. The rationale for such a move is that production cost of the Volt is high enough that calling it a Cadillac would allow GM to charge a higher price and hence recover more of that cost. While this seems reasonable, it also seems highly improbable.
When GM announced the Volt they made it clear that unlike the GM branded EV1, they were calling the Volt a Chevrolet because they wanted the car to be a high-volume, mainstream model. They know full-well that they will almost certainly take a loss on the Volt in the first couple of years. Bob Lutz has made clear that they intend to sell the Volt for well under $30,000 and GM has already started running TV ads and billboards that feature the Chevrolet branding in conjunction with the Volt. Most likely the lack of branding on the list for both the Volt and the Global Delta MPV7 (the next generation Opel Zafira) is due to the fact that both vehicles will be sold globally under different brands in different regions. Here in the US, the Volt will almost certainly be a Chevrolet.
According to a recent article by the Wall Street Journal, the "eco" trend is reaching the bigger boys on the road. Since sales are going down for SUVs and trucks because of high gasoline prices, automakers are trying to improve fuel economy: New clean diesel engines, hybrid powertrains, shredding pounds and all types of "tricks" that help the vehicle use less fuel.
In general terms, the efforts, although significant in relative terms, aren't that spectacular. As an example, let's check the improvements on the Chevy Tahoe. Last year's model managed 15/19 mpg EPA (city/highway). For 2008, the same model has better numbers, 15/21, which offers a 9.5 percent increase in highway mileage, although 21 mpg still isn't great. Nevertheless, the 2008 model has more HP (320 from 295). This is about the same that has happened with the BMW X5, which has increased mileage 2/4 MPG although has increased more the number of ponies under the hood.
Nevertheless, GM has developed hybrid technology for buses, a descendant of which is the hybrid powertrains that will populate the models, namely the aforementioned Tahoe, the Cadillac Escalade, and the Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra pickups. Is this good? In theory, yes, but this comes at a premium which drivers might or not offset.
Continue reading after the jump a summary of the efforts to increase big vehicles mileage.
Here is another one of those posts where we extract a single comment from a long interview and obsess over it... you know the type. The interview was conducted by The Detroit News (we nabbed it from Autoblog), and the individual being interviewed is John Howell, from Cadillac. John would know about Cadillac's future plans, as he is the head of products at the GM division. He was quoted as saying, "Pretty much every program I am looking at going forward has got a hybrid as part of it."
That does not mean that we can expect to see a snarling new 7.0 liter V8 CTS-V-H with a two mode hybrid, although it sure would be cool! But, we might see a more pedestrian CTS with a hybrid option. As a rear wheel drive platform, the CTS or the STS could focus on hybrid performance, à la Lexus. If we hear any more details, you can count on us to share 'em.
The eagle eyed spys of KGP photography have struck again, this time catching another example of the Two-Mode Hybrid version of the Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade should have the same drivetrain as the Tahoe and Yukon and follow them to market by a few months. Judging from these photos however it looks like big Caddy won't be getting any aerodynamic tweaks like it's bretheren.
Someone with a camera phone recently spotted what appears to be a Cadillac Escalade hybrid taking a break at a state park near the General Motors Proving Ground in Michigan. Apparently Mike hasn't been reading our recent coverage of the Two-Mode hybrid system so he's not aware of some the more recent details. The Two-Mode Escalade should be out about twelve months from now and will have precisely the same power-train as the Yukon/Tahoe twins including the 6.0L displacement on demand V-8.
The truck at the in the photos looks like it still has the standard Escalade front clip rather than an aero-optimized version like the Tahoe/Yukon although that will probably change before production. We'll probably see the correct front end at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The photographer did peel back the black duct tape to get a shot of the Two-Mode badge on the back edge of the rear doors.
General Motors' first North American application of direct injection on a gasoline engine was the 2.0L turbo four cylinder in the Pontiac Solstice GXP/Saturn Sky Red Line. The direct injection allowed the engine to produce more power while getting better fuel economy than the base 2.2L engine.
Now the DI love is spreading to the 3.6L V-6 in the Cadillac STS. The updated engine gets an fifteen percent bump in power to 298 hp and six percent increase in torque. The final fuel economy numbers aren't available yet, but they are expected to improve compared to the original engine. The more precise fuel control also results in a twenty-five reduction in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions. The variable valve timing is also used to delay exhaust valve closing under certain conditions allowing exhaust gases to be pulled back into the combustion chamber. This lowers the combustion temperature and reduces NOx emissions without having to use an EGR system.
GM expects to build 200,000 direct injected engines annually by the end of 2008 and will expanding the use of direct-injection the coming years. The STS press release is after the jump.
General Motors is expanding the use of direct fuel injection technology on it's engines, with the next recipient being the 3.6L V-6 that's used in the 2008 Cadillac CTS. The 2008 version of the engine is expected to get a fuel efficiency increase of about three percent while at the same time getting a power bump from 255hp to 300hp putting in on par with the 4.6L Northstar V-8.
A smaller 2.8L version of the twin-cam, 24 valve V-6 is sold in overseas markets but has never been available in the US market. If GM offered a direct injected version of the 2.8L in US models like the CTS and Aura, they could achieve performance comparable to the current 3.6L while getting significantly better mileage. Besides the CTS the new engine will also appear in the updated 2008 STS.
When the Cadillac Sixteen concept vehicle was introduced at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, I was completely in awe. Gorgeous color, intriguing dimensions and a stunning 16-cylinder engine that pumped out about 1,000 horsepower. It was only a concept but Cadillac was searching for a powertrain to compete with the V12 engines in the BMW 7-Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. At the time, it seemed like a strategy with which no one would voice an objection.
Fast forward to 2007 on the heels of a documentary about global warming winning an Academy Award, and any suggestion of an engine that displaces nearly 14 liters would be suicidal.
In this week's Automotive News, editor David Sedgwick points out the irony of former Texas oilman and now President George Bush leading a proposal to raise CAFE standards. If passed, as explained by GM product boss Bob Lutz, the company would have to "re-prioritize" product plans. That means no V16, although GM might approve a V10 or V12 engine for a high-priced Caddy supercar.
Laments Sedgwick: "Well, life is hard. I say that with regret. My young son fell in love with the Sixteen -- frankly, I did, too -- but the world isn't geared for little boys."
The V16 in the Sixteen had Displacement on Demand (now called Active Fuel Management), but that cylinder deactivation technology wouldn't have given the engine enough fuel economy to be viable in today's political climate.
The year after the Sixteen was rolled out on stage, I interviewed GM's powertrain boss, Tom Stephens, for an engineering magazine.
"I was pretty proud of the V16," he said. "Yes, Cadillac should have an image engine. I'm totally supportive of that. I'm not sure that a 12-cylinder is enough. Maybe last year's V16 needs to be changed a bit."
Sadly, the only change that will bring this beautiful engine back is a way to get 25 mpg in the city. RIP sweet 16!
[Source: David Sedgwick / Automotive News (subscription required)]
It's finally here! The very first AutoblogGreen Podcast! Sebastian and Sam talk about some of the green highlights from this week's Geneva Motor Show, including the new diesels from Cadillac, Mazda, and Subaru, and the Subaru R1e electric car. The new Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept could be a fun, green successor to the old CRX and the Insight and the Toyota Hybrid-X gives a hint of the styling of the next generation Prius. We've also got an extended interview with Tesla Motors CEO Martin Eberhard. The transcript of the interview can be found here and here. We hope you'll subscribe to the podcast so you can get them automatically when they come out and we're going to try an put one out about every two weeks. We'll also make sure the sound quality is better next time.
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Some hybrid vehicles are unmistakable in that everybody knows they are hybrids, while others are much more discreet, having badges as their only identifiable clue. Then there are the unmistakeably un-green vehicles on the road, such as the obvious Hummers, Escalades and Navigators of the world. But, is it possible to combine the two? Can a company take a vehicle that has a very non-green image, make it a hybrid and have it gain acceptance in the green-friendly crowd?
The answers to those questions are yes and we'll see. Yes, GM is taking it's outlandish Escalade model and adding a hybrid drivetrain, and a sophisticated one at that. The vehicle will feature a 6.0 liter V8 engine with cylinder deactivation and attach it to a new transmission which also accepts motive power from two electric motors. The motors are capable of driving the vehicle under certain conditions without aid from the gasoline engine. Cadillac is also hinting that there will be a different front end on the vehicle, possibly one with better aerodynamics to complete the fuel efficiency theme?
The other question will be answered in 2008 when the hybrid Escalade goes on sale as a 2009 model. Will the vehicle be gobbled up by stars with a desire to be coddled while they portray a green image, or will it see duty as a family hauler for the wealthy who want to make a dent in their environmental impact? We'll see, won't we? One thing that I can't imagine is that people who can afford to purchase a hybrid Escalade will be all that worried about how much they can save filling it up, but what do I know? I can't afford the vehicle or its gas bill!
Click on the image for two high-res images of GM's new 2.9-liter V6 turbo-diesel engine.
General Motors has debuted a new 2.9-liter V6 turbo-diesel engine, destined to find its way into the 2009 Cadillac CTS. Indicating that it will be "sold mainly in Europe", GM have signalled their intentions to go after Europe's finest in the hotly contested executive saloon market with the powerful new engine.
Delivering 184 kW / 250 hp of power and a monstrous 550 Nm / 406 ft-lbs of torque (compare this to the 155 kW and 526 Nm of the new Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec), the oil burner is built to match Cadillac's performance-oriented brand character. But Cadillac is likely to be far from the only brand in GM's stable which will eventually get to take advantage of this new engine; it can be installed in a longitudinal or transverse layout and can be adapted to a wide range of two- or four-wheel-drive vehicles so expect it to pop up all over.
Other high tech features include a closed-loop combustion control system which has been designed to give the engine longevity by allowing it to meet future emissions standards; state-of-the-art injection and combustion technology for low emissions and high performance; a variable geometry turbo; and an advanced engine management system for optimal fuel economy as well as reduced emissions and noise.
Analysis: GM's getting serious about the European market where you have to be packing an advanced clean diesel under the hood to be taken seriously when petrol prices are so high. It looks like a lot of work has gone into making this a really flexible engine through the emissions controls employed and its ability to be installed in a longitudinal or transverse layout. No word yet on whether it meets the latest Californian emissions standards or what the fuel economy can expect to be. I'll be looking forward to the details.
Click on the image for a gallery of high-res shots of the new CTS
Cadillac got plenty of positive press when they unveiled the new 2008 CTS at the Detroit Auto Show a couple of weeks ago, especially for the quality of the interior. The new car goes on sale in Europe this fall and sometime after launch they are expected to add a diesel engine option. This will be Cadillac's second diesel engine offering in Europe, after the almost selling BLS, which may even break into the four-digit sales mark sometime this year.
Italian company VM Motori will be supplying a 3.0L diesel V-6 to GM for the CTS, which combined with the new car should really boost sales. GM only sold 464 of the old CTS in Europe in 2006. GM is already selling some Daewoo-built vehicles in Europe with VM Motori 2.0L four cylinder engines that are built under license in Korea.
The new 2007 Cadillac BLS Sport model has just gone on sale in Europe to extend the BLS sedan lineup. "Sports" features include bigger 18-inch wheels, lowered sports suspension, and chassis tuning to take advantage of the powerful engines available and to give more dynamic handling performance without compromising comfort.
Engine options include two 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engines which output 129kW / 175hp and 154kW / 210hp, while a 2.8 liter V6 unit puts out 188kW / 255hp. Also available in the Sport range is a direct-injected, common rail turbo-diesel engine fitted with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter, developing 110kW / 150hp plus, no doubt, a mountain of torque. Transmission options are six-speed manual or an automatic with a "Sport Mode". The interior features aluminium trip instead of wood and a tweaked instrumentation panel, along with a three-spoke leather steering wheel.
For the history-minded, there's a short, interesting article on AutoWeek's website about GM's early difficulties and eventual success with their cylinder deactivation system. The article starts with GM's failed attempt at rolling out their first production engine with the system installed under the Cadillac badge called V8-6-4 in 1981. The system had so many problems that Cadillac dealers often disconnected it because there was no known fix.
Chris Meagher, a GM engineer who worked on the V8-6-4 project, also worked on the successful cylinder deactivation system that was rolled out on 2005 models. He said the problem with the old Cadillac system was three-fold: faulty throttle-body injectors, primitive computerized engine management controls and flawed execution.
Because of GM's unsuccessful history with variable displacement, Tom Stephens, GM's power train chief, approved funding for the new cylinder deactivation project with a disclaimer. He told Meagher that the new system had to transition between eight and four cylinders seamlessly. He said that if drivers could perceive the change, the new system would not make production.
So far, complaints are nonexistent and GM expects to equip 2 million engines with the system at a cost of about $50 per engine annually by 2008.
Despite not reaching production until 2005, Meagher says that GM engineers never gave up on the idea of cylinder deactivation. He adds that one major development in component design significantly helped to bring forth a successful system - supercomputers that enable engineers see how parts work on a screen. He says that back in the '70s, "we had to build it, try it, build it, try it. Now our tools for developing this kind of stuff are just so much better."
The eagle eyed spys of KGP photography have struck again, this time catching another example of the Two-Mode Hybrid version of the Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade should have the 
It's finally here! The very first AutoblogGreen Podcast! Sebastian and Sam talk about some of the green highlights from this week's Geneva Motor Show, including the new diesels from 
