Quote:
|
Originally Posted by phoebeisis
GM has several of these "Prius matchers" of various sizes in production already.The Corsa(roughly Yaris sized), the Saturn(OPEL) I mentioned,AND THE Zafira( a stubby 8 passenger TDI minivan-nothing like it in the USA, but it could be the "road trip" vehicle of the future once folks decide they don't want to drive 22 mpg (hy)12mpg( city) minivans with $4 gasoline.It will get better than double normal minivan mpg.
|
I too, see the Prius AND the Civic Hybrid as the current technological benchmarks that GM MUST beat in order to regain the credibility we're talking about. The Prius is not the only benchmark because at least in Canada it costs 15% more than a 2006 Civic Hybrid, yet despite its sophistication it does not deliver 15% more fuel economy than the Civic's exercise in optimal simplicity. I would be happy if GM could prove they can trump at least one of these.
I've owned Opels and I don't regard them as competition for Honda and Toyota (at least on some of the criteria I outlined above (Quality, Reliability, and fuel economy). Sorry, only the old Morris and some FIAT models give me more nighmares than the Opels I owned.
It is not hard to belive that most automakers have their own skunkworks producing (or at least claiming to produce) wonder prototypes. I don't doubt GM has much invested in this as it would be reckless not to. But, if for whatever reason (labour is not the major excuse) they do not execute and deliver a product capable of challenging Honda and Toyota products, then all the claims GM makes only amount to the stuff their suits have been promising and delivering over the last 20 years.
Regards;
MS