Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Ultra Luxury Cars | GM Okays Electric Cadillac Converj


Cadillac will one day have its own Voltec based vehicle thanks to a decision by GM management to produce the concept coupe. The Converj has made the auto show rounds of late, a stylish two door model that shares the same technology designed for the upcoming Chevy Volt.

Voltec Technology

Though production has been approved for the Converj, GM has yet to set a date for when the car will be built and made available to consumers. Right now, GM is concentrating on getting the Volt ready which is expected to roll off an assembly line in November 2010 as a 2011 model. The Volt is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack and will have a 40 mile pure electric range which will be extended by a few hundred miles thanks to a supplemental 1.4L I4 gasoline engine.

Theoretically, a Volt driver would be able to commute back and forth to work daily without gasoline provided his mileage is held below that 40 mile threshold. The Converj would feature a similar arrangement, providing an uncommon but welcome luxury option for buyers.

Core Brands

News that Cadillac would get the Converj comes as the automaker battles with lagging sales. To date, Cadillac has lost the most sales of GM's four core brands (Cadillac, Buick, GMC, and Chevrolet) and is in need of some fresh product. Recently, the Cadillac CTS wagon and all new Cadillac SRX crossover were added to the brand's line up, but the company's own offerings pale with what its chief European competitors, BMW and Mercedes, have to offer.

To help its Voltec platform effort, GM is spending more than one billion dollars to bring the Volt to market, building a battery pack facility in Michigan to supply the car. Opel will also get a Voltec car, the Ampera, while GM may extend the technology to cars sold in other markets including Holden in Australia or possibly Buick in China.

Budding Electrification

As the Volt comes to market, several manufacturers will already have their electric cars available for sale. Right now, the Tesla Roadster is available with the Fisker Karma expected next year. Mitsubishi, Nissan and Ford have models promised which could mean that by 2015 the auto industry could be radically different, with electric and hybrid models dominating the market.

GM's decision to build the Converj comes after months of speculation that this radical looking electrified coupe would, indeed, be built.

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including Cadillac wheels and Cadillac rims.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Keegan

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