Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011

[hill]

Originally Posted by resoh02

I will be positive when something is positive. The previous mgt ran it into the ground and now the current mgt is on the same track. If they think the 40000 volt is the answer they are crazy. People can't affort the exsisting prices let alone 40k.

GM is counting on its new partner to cut the cost. New partner? Yes, dear ol' Uncle Sam ... the U.S. government vis a vis yours and my TAX dollars. GM is counting on giant subsidies to cut the cost of the Volt. See? You're going to have to buy GM whether you like it or not! I hope the Volt makes it. But it sucks that it needs $7,000 tax payer dollars each just to help it compete w/ the Prius ... if it ever gets to market, that is.

Originally Posted by Duffer

I am glad to see that the Internet connection in your bomb shelter is working properly. Yes, the world is in bad shape due to poor management by wealthy people who should know better, they are the cream of our society you know. The U.S. looks like an old maid that has cleaned way to many houses and her to do list is still growing. As a manager you must talk about positive things instead of all the negative things that are happening now, or may happen in the future.

You're kidding, right? . . . . that part about "... you must talk about positive things ...". What does that mean .... that nice talk will fix things? ... that NOT talking about what's wrong will make it go away? I must be a little dull here, because that philosophy never made a dime for my business ventures. So, does that mean if I don't talk about being dull, that I'll suddenly stop being that way?


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[Duffer]

GM had been in a tail spin for years before the wings folded and it crashed into the ground. There were many factors involved in it's demise; management decisions, labor costs, health insurance costs, retired worker's pensions, years of manufacturing jobs lost in America and our shift into a "Service economy", oil prices, ... History can't be changed and you are never sure of the future. When you take control of a company you need to inspire people, not just say "we are dead meat". If the Volt is all that you are looking at then you are missing boat.

[cwerdna]

Stumbled across this today on the dead Saturn Vue 2-mode hybrid:
Saturn Vue 2-mode hybrid rated at 27/30 mpg by EPA, will never be built — Autoblog Green

It appears that the EPA had already completed its testing regimen last fall and had officially rated the two-mode Vue at 27 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined. Compared to the existing mild-hybrid Vue, this doesn't look that great, since that one also had a 28 mpg combined rating (25 city and 32 highway). The mild hybrid, of course, used a four cylinder engine while the 2-mode had the 3.6-liter V6, giving it much better performance and a 3,500 pound tow rating.

[patsparks]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

Some of us had a chance to test drive the Saturn VUE two-mode in January and it is a nice, small or CRV style vehicle. However, I felt the engine was too large ... unless you are going after the 'tow a boat' crowd.

We had an interesting and informative discussion with one of the engineers but we'll cover that another day. But I will share that he was faced with decisions by upper management that showed in January 2009, they believed:

• hybrids are 'for show' - the management at that time could not conceive of any other reason than 'bragging rights' for anyone to buy a hybrid or any 'green' vehicle

There are some very bright and skilled engineers in the old GM led off a cliff by some management whom I have no respect for.

Bob Wilson

I seem to have missed this thread.
Thanks Bob for setting up that test drive. Yes the Vue was a nice car to drive and I think the 2 mode drive train is really a tow car setup. GM seem to have taken the view (pardon the pun) that this car was going to be for people who wanted the power of a 6 with the economy of a 4. It would be a good tow vehicle and might displace some of those monstrosity class trucks and SUVs (Suckers & Uneducated's Vehicle). You and I both know you need 500hp to tow that 6 x 4 box trailer to the local tip to dump half a ton of tree prunings. It stands to reason that the Vue 2 mode hybrid would be a tow car with the drive system coming from a commercial vehicle heritage.

I hope GM get serious about hybrids because when that happens I think hybrids will become mainstream. Even if it doesn't Toyota will make hybrids mainstream anyway, it will just take a little longer.