Quote:
Originally Posted by 1stpik
You guys missed the salient part of that press release. It's the part that says "AS SOON AS (2010)." That's a marketing executive's way of saying "maybe." And we all know what "maybe" means in the car business.
|
Actually in this case, it's a way of saying that at this point it is uncertain if the vehicle will launch in late 2010 or early 2011, but it will launch.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by 1stpik
I also have to take exception to the claim that "the Vue plug-in hybrid will be the most fuel-efficient vehicle offered by a major automaker." What, like Honda and Toyota will go out of business in two years?
|
I would take exception to that, too, if the entire quote didn't read.....
Depending on a consumer’s drive cycle, the Vue plug-in hybrid will be the most fuel-efficient vehicle offered by a major automaker.
The point being, someone using it solely for short trips could go weeks without ever using a drop of gas. Of course, someone with a 40 mile round trip commute, like myself, would use gas on every trip and would get mileage just a bit better than the non-plug-in 2-Mode. That's why the part of the quote you left out is key to the understanding of the statement.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by 1stpik
News flash -- Honda is releasing a hydrogen-powered car later this year (not maybe in 2010).
|
Honda is leasing their hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in SoCal. GM is also already providing free of charge an equal number of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in SoCal, New York, and DC.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by 1stpik
Toyota plans improvements to the Prius. Both of those major automakers ALREADY offer the most fuel-efficient vehicles.
We'd all love to see the Big 3 catch up to the Japanese ..... but don't bet money on it.
.
|
I'll go one better. I'm betting my career on it.
No doubt Toyota is waaay out there in terms of hybrid cars on the market and is by far the most visible hybrid proponent on the planet. But with the co-development agreements with BMW, Chrysler, and Daimler, GM is no slouch. Add to that the fact that GM is coming at the technology from the large end of the market (buses ---> trucks ---> crossovers ---> cars) and I'd say that things will get pretty hot over the next couple years. Consumers will benefit from the competition and the additional product offerings. Just yesterday, GM-Allison announced the sale of an additional 1,700 hybrid buses to Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Peace,
Martin