Re: GM hyrids
Actually, the car I'd *love* to see GM hybridize is the Dodge Caliber. "Car & Driver" liked it well enough, and it already comes in three flavors (1.8L to 2.4L; and Automatic, MT5, and MT6). What's one more configuration?
If you take the 1.8L Caliber and add 2-Mode, you probably *would* get a 40-50% FE boost because the 2-stage electric motor would be pushing a relatively small car (bigger than Fit, smaller than Civic). The 1.8L Caliber gets 34 MPG, so a 2-Mode could get as much as 48-50 MPG. The base model Caliber runs for $15k, so a hybrid version could still be a sub-$20k proportion.
I'd happily buy *that* kind of car from GM. It's small, sporty, fun, and affordable.
Hope is like a candle held against the night. -------------------------------------------------------------- --> My Forums / Blogs / Logs / Webs <-- -------------------------------------------------------------- "Compassionate Conservatism": An American Oxymoron -------------------------------------------------------------- Confirmed Hypomiler. Road Rage and Jackrabbit Starts Forever!
|