Andy
04-15-2009, 01:15 AM
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative (http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/), Green (http://www.autoblog.com/category/green/), Cadillac (http://www.autoblog.com/category/cadillac/), GM (http://www.autoblog.com/category/gm/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/cadillacconverjdd_09-580op.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1279778/)
Cadillac Converj - Click above for a high-res image gallery
At the Detroit Auto Show (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/DetroitAutoShow/) in January, GM surprised the crowd with a concept coupe called the Cadillac Converj (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/CadillacConverj/). Built on the same Voltec platform as the Chevy Volt, the Converj was seen as a way for GM to leverage the pricey ER-EV drivetrain in a vehicle that could sell at a premium price, recovering some of the development costs. According to Motor Trend, the Converj has been given the green light for production in 2011, a year after the Volt launches. When we talked to GM's Bob Kruse at the Detroit show, he indicated a production Converj would likely use the same powertrain as the Volt, although it could have different calibrations to allow somewhat higher performance than the Chevrolet.
If the Converj does move forward, the proportions might have to change in order to use the same under-structure as the Volt. However, the larger stumbling block to building the Converj is money -- or the lack of. Unless some kind of deal is struck between the Treasury and Energy departments to allows GM to tap into ATVM loans, there won't be enough cash in GM's coffers to build the Converj.
Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/cadillacconverjdd_09_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1279778/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/cadillacconverjdd_01_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1278496/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/cadillacconverjdd_03_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1278495/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/cadillacconverjnaias09---01_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1278612/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/cadillacconverjnaias09---02_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1278623/)
[Source: Motor Trend (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0904_cadillac_converj_gets_green_light/index.html)]General Motors reportedly approves Cadillac Converj for production (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Read (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0904_cadillac_converj_gets_green_light/index.html) | Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1517335/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/cadillacconverjdd_09-580op.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1279778/)
Cadillac Converj - Click above for a high-res image gallery
At the Detroit Auto Show (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/DetroitAutoShow/) in January, GM surprised the crowd with a concept coupe called the Cadillac Converj (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/CadillacConverj/). Built on the same Voltec platform as the Chevy Volt, the Converj was seen as a way for GM to leverage the pricey ER-EV drivetrain in a vehicle that could sell at a premium price, recovering some of the development costs. According to Motor Trend, the Converj has been given the green light for production in 2011, a year after the Volt launches. When we talked to GM's Bob Kruse at the Detroit show, he indicated a production Converj would likely use the same powertrain as the Volt, although it could have different calibrations to allow somewhat higher performance than the Chevrolet.
If the Converj does move forward, the proportions might have to change in order to use the same under-structure as the Volt. However, the larger stumbling block to building the Converj is money -- or the lack of. Unless some kind of deal is struck between the Treasury and Energy departments to allows GM to tap into ATVM loans, there won't be enough cash in GM's coffers to build the Converj.
Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/cadillacconverjdd_09_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1279778/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/cadillacconverjdd_01_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1278496/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/cadillacconverjdd_03_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1278495/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/cadillacconverjnaias09---01_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1278612/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/cadillacconverjnaias09---02_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj/1278623/)
[Source: Motor Trend (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0904_cadillac_converj_gets_green_light/index.html)]General Motors reportedly approves Cadillac Converj for production (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Read (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0904_cadillac_converj_gets_green_light/index.html) | Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1517335/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/)