Cadillac officials acknowledged today that the SRX crossover, which will arrive in U.S. dealerships in early August, will eventually be fitted with the two-mode electric hybrid system.
It would be the same basic arrangement of parts as used in the full-size pickup trucks and SUVs for the last couple of years. General Motors' plan initially called for the Saturn Vue to be the first mid size crossover withing the corporation to receive a version of that system. Ooooh...yeah, that situation is very much in flux, as they say. Saturn said that it expected the Vue two-mode to be able to do 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds and return 27 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway with its combination direct-injection V6 and twin 55-kilowatt electric motors. It's fair to assume the Cadillac would perform similarly. For comparison, Cadillac estimates that a conventional front-wheel-drive SRX powered by the 3.0-liter direct-injection V6 should return 18/25 mpg, city/highway.
No word on timing for the two-mode SRX but we wouldn't expect it before the 2011 model year. A few main competitors either already offer a hybrid crossover in roughly the same size and price class (Lexus) or plan to within the next couple of years (Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen).
albook says:
12:11 PM, 04/ 7/09
Overall, GM sounds like a company that should really get the chance to rebound. But here is an example of some of the idiot mistakes they make. WHY are they making SUV hybrids but not a small car hybrid? and not the 40k+ Volt, but the Cobalt Hybrid that would actually reasonably compete with Civic/Prius competition. And Why is the Vue hybrid-GM's only full hybrid, except for the Tahoe(?!)- a V6? It should be a 4 cyl. GM clearly still needs to get some of its priorities straight.
legacygt says:
12:26 PM, 04/ 7/09
Building on the above comment, why is there no hybrid in any of the lambda vehicles? They can do it in the full size SUVs and they can do it in the small crossovers. Why wouldn't they do it on these larger crossovers? The lamdas are well regarded and could be the only 8 passenger vehicles with 30 mpg (or thereabouts).
lostandfound08 says:
05:44 PM, 04/ 7/09
@ legacygt and albook
The main reason you've only seen the Two-Mode in the big SUVs and pick-ups is that the system was originally created for rear-drive applications. Now, GM engineering the system for front-drive applications and we're starting to see the fruits of this: Two-Mode Vue and SRX.
redliner says:
05:56 PM, 04/ 7/09
...still very late to the hybrid party. Maybe GM can do what Toyota and Honda seem to have a problem with, that is, making a stunning, drop-dead gorgeous hybrid with stylistic importance, not just another super-efficient jelly bean.
aurakr says:
07:35 PM, 04/ 7/09
lostandfound08
the system was designed for all applications, front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive. That is why BMW and Mercedes/Chrysler also participated in its development.
You are correct in that it first came out in the rear drive suvs. It is a shame that the development of the Vue has either stopped or been delayed, because the rumors were that even with the 3.6 it was getting 28 mpg city and up to 32 mpg highway, and with a 7.3 0-60 time.
GM needs to get this system in a car yesterday.
aurakr says:
07:36 PM, 04/ 7/09
lostandfound08
the system was designed for all applications, front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive. That is why BMW and Mercedes/Chrysler also participated in its development.
You are correct in that it first came out in the rear drive suvs. It is a shame that the development of the Vue has either stopped or been delayed, because the rumors were that even with the 3.6 it was getting 28 mpg city and up to 32 mpg highway, and with a 7.3 0-60 time.
GM needs to get this system in a car yesterday.
aurakr says:
07:37 PM, 04/ 7/09
lostandfound08
the system was designed for all applications, front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive. That is why BMW and Mercedes/Chrysler also participated in its development.
You are correct in that it first came out in the rear drive suvs. It is a shame that the development of the Vue has either stopped or been delayed, because the rumors were that even with the 3.6 it was getting 28 mpg city and up to 32 mpg highway, and with a 7.3 0-60 time.
GM needs to get this system in a car yesterday.
lostandfound08 says:
08:45 PM, 04/ 7/09
@ aurakr
Yes, of course it was designed for FWD, RWD, and AWD. But, these drivetrains are not equivalent to each other. Therefore, the system implemented in RWD is not exactly the same as the one implemented in FWD. The main difference is packaging. For RWD vehicles, the transmission has more room, so it can accommodate the Two-Mode system much easier. It must be repackaged for FWD applications. So, while it was designed with FWD in mind, its not as simple as putting the Tahoe transmission into a Vue. Not even BMW or Mercedes/Chrysler has put the system into a FWD application yet.
felonious says:
08:35 AM, 04/ 8/09
Whatever. That looks like a darn fine SUV and 27/30 is awesome. I might just buy one. :)
1487 says:
11:29 AM, 04/ 8/09
The two mode system CANNOT be used in a FWD car as it exists currently. The system needs a large battery which is housed under the rear bench of SUVS or pickups. That space is not available on sedans. GM is refining its light hybrid tech and a 2nd generation should be out in 2010 or 2011. That system can be put in a small car.
There are only TWO small dedicated hybrids on the market and one just went on sale a few weeks ago. The fact that GM doesnt have a Prius competitor doesn't mean they dont have options for people who want efficiency. My guess is GM is banking on the Cruze to offer great mileage for thousands less than the Prius. Perhaps over time the Volt will get cheaper as production increases.
lostandfound08 says:
02:21 PM, 04/ 8/09
@ 1487
The Two-Mode can be used in a FWD car application, BUT, the issue is not locating batteries. The battery pack for the Two-Mode is not much larger than what is currently in the Malibu and Aura hybrids. The difficulty, rather, is space for the transmission. Since the hybrid system is housed entirely within the trans, packaging the system for the big SUVs isn't a problem. Once you try and squeeze it into the trans for the car, however, you run into packaging issues. This is why it is taking longer to get the Two-Mode into cars. Mercedes is rolling out the Two-Mode in its S-Class, for example, because they have more space for the trans (it is a RWD application, after all). Be patient, and you'll eventually see it in smaller FWD cars.