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Hybrids Electrics Hydrogen Cars

Autoblog Green reports, "There are…some rumorsfloating around that the next vehicle in America to get electric drive after the Chevrolet Volt could come from Cadillac." General Motors has not confirmed the rumors, but there is some logic behind the suggestion. One of the primary challenges facing Volt engineers has been price - the unique technologies that power the Volt (which GM calls "E-Flex") are expensive to develop, but GM needs to sell the vehicle at a competitive price. AG comments, "Offering the EV bits and pieces with a Cadillac badge and all the expected trimmings could go a long way towards defraying some of those high development costs.&quot.

eGMcartech speculates that any Volt-derived Caddy would "try to extract 40 miles on electric power alone just like the Volt. GM insiders say that Cadillac buyers are more likely to accept a steeper price, seeing as the Volt is expected to come in around $40,000 anyway." If a Cadillac variant were developed, they believe, it would "hit the market in late 2010 as a 2011 model year."

The Volt enthusiast site GM-Volt.com notes, "GM has previously unveiled a concept car called the Cadillac Provoq. It was meant to demonstrate an E-Flex platform using a hydrogen fuel cell range extender in the form of a crossover. As far as anyone at GM would say at the time of the unveiling, that vehicle was not production-intent." But it provides a logical platform for extending the Volt line to GM’s upscale brand.

We’ll bring updates on any upscale Volt variant as we have them. In the meantime, you can research the latest in green cars with U.S. News’ car rankings and reviews.