Daily Auto News GM, Chrysler Recovery Plans Focus on Green Cars
Daily Auto News
The viability plans General Motors and Chrysler submitted to the federal government yesterday focused heavily on what the two automakers plan to stop doing – models they will discontinue, brands they will sell or close, and impending layoffs. But buried within both plans submissions were future vehicle plans that reveal a new focus for two of America’s largest automakers — electric cars and more fuel-efficient gasoline-powered vehicles.
Autoblog Green reports, “The Chevy Volt figures prominently in GM’s plans and is slated for a 2010 release. By 2014, GM says its cars will average 38.6 miles per gallon and its trucks will average 27.6 mpg, improvements of 7.6 and 3.6 mpg respectively.” The Volt, which GM calls an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, can travel at highway speeds on battery power alone, using a gasoline engine only to recharge its batteries when they are depleted to a pre-set level.
The Volt’s drivetrain will power at least two new variants, according to the Detroit Free Press. “The Volt, which has become a symbol of GM’s powertrain strategy of the future, is slated to hit the market late next year. GM has said it planned to use the extended range electric vehicle technology in other vehicles.” The company’s viability plan promised at least two new Volt variants, but “GM declined to provide further details.”
Car and Driver speculates that the two models are “likely an Opel model for Europe and a version of the Cadillac Converj concept shown at this year’s Detroit auto show. GM previously said it is building a manufacturing facility for lithium-ion battery packs that will power its future hybrid and electric vehicles.”
Chrysler’s plan, meanwhile, promised a similar slate of what it calls Range-Extended Electric Vehicles. Canadian Driver reports, “A two-mode hybrid version of the Company’s best-selling vehicle, the Dodge Ram is scheduled for 2010. The first Chrysler electric-drive vehicle is also scheduled to reach the market in 2010. It will be followed by other electric-drive vehicles, including Range-extended Electric Vehicles, in the following years in order to further reduce fuel consumption.”
The company also hopes to cut the fuel consumption of its least-efficient vehicles with a new engine. Motor Trend reports, “Chrysler claims that the long-awaited Phoenix V-6 engines will debut in 2010,” which the automaker claims will offer V8 power with V6 fuel-efficiency. If Chrysler is able to complete a planned merger with Italian automaker Fiat, Chrysler hopes to bring several of that company’s small, fuel-efficient vehicles to the U.S. for the 2010 model year.
While the automakers await the government’s decision on further aid, they’re trying to spur a recovery at the dealership with heavy incentives on almost every new car model. Research the best car deals with U.S. News’ car rankings and reviews.
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