Shanghai GM, the Chinese arm of the (still) biggest automaker in the world, has announced its “Drive to Green” strategy in order to have a cleaner way of producing cars, as well as cars that pollute even less than the current ones. To prove wrong the ones that may think this is just a statement and nothing else, the company has also presented the first product from the strategy, the Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid.
Capable of running 12 km/l of petrol, instead of the 10.2 km/l the regular version is able to achieve, the LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid is, according to Shanghai GM, the “first mainstream hybrid model in China’s upper-medium vehicle segment with volume production”. It offers almost an increase of 20% in fuel economy, but still nothing to be impressed with, especially considering the additional cost a hybrid vehicle offers. The real deal, the two-mode hybrid system, will be reserved to another vehicle, yet to be defined. Anyway, the fuel economy intended for this new product will be significantly better: 50%.
Besides the new cars, Shanghai GM has also announced three new engines for 2008. Although one of them is a total mistery (no information about it), the other two are the 1.2-liter S-TEC and the HFV6 3.6-liter SIDI dual mode direct injection engine, possibly the same one used on the Saturn Vue Green Line. The S-TEC generates 85.2 bhp and spend one liter of fuel every 16.7 km. As for the V6, its direct injection system enhances power and torque respectively in 15% and 8%. Fuel consumption is improved by 3%.
Source: General MotorsBuick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid leads Drive to Green plan
General Motors / Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid
Shanghai GM wants to go green
By Gustavo Henrique Ruffo
January 26, 2008 4:30 PM
Filed Under: American, Buick, Green, Industry, Technology
Comments
wolff
January 26, 2008 8:19 PM
butt ugly, n really not worth it!! Honda n Toyota do better stuff anyday!!
flyerbry
January 27, 2008 5:59 AM
While Hondas are engineered well, their styling isn't any better than the Buick pictured. Toyota on the other hand doesn't have the quality ratings Buick has had the past few years. If you are going to make generalizations you should give them some thought first. To me this looks like another boring Buick and like that of all other manufacturers, the hybrid technology won't be a good seller until it includes plug-in capability that justifies the added expense of the hybrid drivetrain to buyers. Todays hybrids are at best a pro-environment statement for the owner. That is why the only hybrid from any manufacturer that has sold well up to this point is the Prius. The Prius is cheap and the tree huggers have proclaimed it their poster child. This Buick is worlds ahead of the Prius in terms of looks but won't sell any better even though it has a hybrid option. What sales this Buick does produce will be because in China a Buick is held in tha same regard as a Lexus is in the US or a BMW in Europe. GM is finally building world-class vehicles in terms of design and quality but if they really wants to sell hybrids they need to get their plug-in technology into production before the Japanese beat them to it.
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