Okay, first the bad news: GM is canceling the slow-selling Chevrolet and GMC hybrid pickups. You would have thought that GM would have marketed these vehicles like there was no tomorrow. Instead, these trucks saw only a tiny percentage of GM's marketing budget, and because of that, very few were sold. Also, the $3K premium over conventional pickups didn't help, but that's to be expected with any hybrid...
Whatever the reasons, too few truck buyers saw enough benefits to cough over the extra bucks.
The good news is that GM has a v.2.0 pickup hybrid in the wings, to be released in about 18 months. This will use their much-hyped two-mode hybrid drivetrain, which promises to be much more appealing—and most important, much more sales-worthy.
Full story here and here.
The good news is that GM has a v.2.0 pickup hybrid in the wings, to be released in about 18 months. This will use their much-hyped two-mode hybrid drivetrain, which promises to be much more appealing—and most important, much more sales-worthy.
Full story here and here.
ateixeira says:
08:48 AM, 04/30/07
GM needs to work on ALL their hybrids. The Vue and Aura Greenline models are very much sub-par. Their mileage barely beats the 4 cylidner non-hybrid competition from the better Asian cars.
Back to the drawing board, please.
hondacura4 says:
02:40 PM, 04/30/07
I wouldnt exactly call the 1st generation "hybrids" as in truth they really werent. I dont see strong sales in the future regardless of marketing. If truck buyers want better milage then they purchase diesel equipped trucks.
rsholland says:
02:51 PM, 04/30/07
The big advantage I see with hybrid pickups, is the built-in generator for powering hand tools, which the v.1.0 GM hybrid trucks had. That would I think be a very attractive feature to pickup buyers.
billt9 says:
09:51 PM, 04/30/07
This joint hybrid project is also available on the 2008 Dodge Durango/Aspen, and BMWs.
Should be a good system, if BMW bought into it.
jerrywimer says:
05:15 AM, 05/ 1/07
Based on today's article about the upcoming Chrysler Aspen Hemi Dual Mode Hybrid (same system), 40% city improvement, greater than 25% highway in fuel economy. Sounds pretty good for a full sized V8. Similar performance in GM products would put vehicles like my Avalanche as high as 20 city / 26 highway based on my own city / highway averages. I'd take that in a heartbeat!