CARazed

I have the feeling GM and the other big auto makers got the picture at the Detroit Auto show. It seems that GM has created a new group to focus on Hybrids, extended range electric vehicles and batteries. See this official announcement for details on the new group. GM has also released new that they will be showing off two new trucks at the upcoming Chicago Auto show.

Pictured is the Denali XT, a duel-mode hybrid gas-electric truck that can drive on batteries and/or a gasoline motor. Besides the fact that it looks like a Honda Ridgeline was accidentally let into the Chrysler 300 cage resulting in a strange genetic mutation, this new truck looks pretty cool. Strange but cool. The exact details and fuel economy ratings are not yet public but it will be built on a unibody subframe giving it car like handling like the Ridgeline. The engine will most likely be a v8 or 6 cylinder that can eat e85 or gasoline. GM is even playing with technologies that shut down 4 cylinders under light loads.

Amazing that on Feburary 1st they announce a new group to build cars and trucks like this and at the same time. Odd that these cars are revealed right after the independent, silicon valley backed, auto makers show real progress in electric and plug-in hybrids. Almost seems like maybe they had this technology in their back pocket and were simply waiting until they had a business reason, like a competitor, to announce their presence.

But I digress into conspiracy theories… back to reality… because this is great news, no matter the catalysts for this sudden change. To see the big auto makers announcing advanced hybrids is wonderful news. It would be even better if they could also be plugged in, but I suspect any car or truck that has enough battery power on board to sustain a few dozen miles of travel on electricity could easily be converted to be a plug in hybrid.

As details of these new GM vehicles is available I’ll post more.  This is also more reason to wait to buy a new car until 2010 or so, when you’ll be able to buy a 100 MPG car and now maybe a truck too. We’ll see, but the evidence is mounting that this will come true.