gmc suv hybrid

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Mar 5 2007, 10:51 AM) [snapback]400449[/snapback]</div>

It must be very lonely.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusenvy @ Mar 5 2007, 01:36 PM) [snapback]400482[/snapback]</div>

Yup, I laid my cards on the table already... since the 4-cylinder hybrid platform is *ALREADY* in the hands of consumers.

Whether or not it is available in Highlander later is actually somewhat trivial, but he just can't accept that reality. Both Camry-Hybrid and Estima-Hybrid already use it. RAV4 easily could too, which is actually the proper comparison SUV for the original post subject: Vue

 

If GM's Hybrids can make Toyota launch a 4 cylinder Highlander or the Estima then I'm all for it. What's lacking is a good fuel efficient large car. I hope GMs car is good enough to make this happen.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ Mar 5 2007, 12:44 PM) [snapback]400522[/snapback]</div>

:lol:

I am buying myself a hybrid 4-cylinder Sienna tomorrow then.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Mar 5 2007, 07:49 AM) [snapback]400243[/snapback]</div>

And how much will 2008 EPA test take away? Think about it. Maybe only 12-15% improvement will be left.

08 HH mileages remain the same as 07 due to the new HSD system.

Oh and comparing I4 economy SUV (VH) vs. V6 performance SUV (HH) is just silly.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Mar 5 2007, 07:40 PM) [snapback]400595[/snapback]</div>

The VH is going to have a TwoMode version, which is going to be a 3.6L V6 (which features cylinder deactivation).

Care to bet on the '08 HH mileage?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ Mar 5 2007, 09:49 AM) [snapback]400277[/snapback]</div>

The new HH has been out for about a month now. Its heavier then the last version by 500lbs and would not be a canidate for a 4cyl engine. There will be no 4cyl HH.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Mar 5 2007, 09:38 PM) [snapback]400642[/snapback]</div>

It will be interesting if VH AWD Two-Mode version ever come out. '08 HH will have the edge in the city and VH on the highway. Combined MPG would be very close and I say HH AWD will have the edge over VH AWD even though HH AWD might be 600-800 lbs heavier.

Edit: When they announced VH 2-mode back in Nov 06, they claimed 45% improvement. Now they claim 25% improvement with Yukon.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hampdenwireless @ Mar 5 2007, 08:50 PM) [snapback]400644[/snapback]</div>

I wondered if the pattern could be broken, if the typical vague, focus on estimates, and pretend there won't be an upgrade type replies would be all we'd get... And I did ask for scope with the hope that something constructive would shake out. I even dropped the hint about RAV4 size. With the identical discussions elsewhere, it was to good of an opportunity to see the same thing from another perspective. Sadly, nothing worthwhile resulted.

A larger Highlander with only a 4-cylinder engine won't be practical for awhile, but it certainly is possible. The magic ingredient is greater dependence on electricity. In time, that could become realistic. Right now, that's far too expensive. Of course, so is a series hybrid. But there are others that have already sworn by them simply by changing scope.

Getting directly back on-topic, the Two-Mode design seems fairly competitive for larger vehicles on-paper. But so have other hybrid designs. It's what the automaker does after the initial rollout that really matters... a point almost always forgotten and not asked about. So, what are GM's plans afterward?

For years, Toyota has clearly stated the 300,000 to 600,000 to 1,000,000 production objectives, while also spreading the technology along their entire line-up of passenger vehicles.

 

after reading a few paragraphs, i conclude exactly what i read and that is nothing. they said as close to nothing as they possibly could. its not a tech article, its not a car enthusiasts article, its not even a serious car shoppers article, its nothing but a commercial. all the info could be presented in a 30 second slot.

so how can i come to a conclusion other than to say, well we shall see...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 4 2007, 07:55 PM) [snapback]400078[/snapback]</div>

I've been waiting a very long time for clarification about the modes too. Those explanations provided (below) certainly didn't help. They're so ambiguous I'm not sure what to make of them. The 6 mechanical options (further below) are far more straight forward, but a name like "multi-mode" makes way too much sense.



First Mode: Used at low speeds and light loads. The vehicle operates in three ways: electric power only, engine power only, or a combination of electric and engine power. Fuel consumption is reduced in stop-and-go traffic by shutting off the engine for extended periods and running exclusively under electric power at low speeds.

Second Mode: Used primarily at highway speeds. Full V8 engine power is used when conditions demand it - such as passing, trailer towing, or climbing steep grades. But the electric motors and electronic controls also help reduce fuel consumption even at highway speeds.



• Input-split EVT range (continuously variable, "mode 1")

• Compound-split EVT range (continuously variable, "mode 2")

• First fixed gear ratio with electric boost/braking (two motors)

• Second fixed gear ratio with electric boost/braking (one motor)

• Third fixed gear ratio with electric boost/braking (two motors)

• Fourth fixed gear ratio with electric boost/braking (one motor)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IAO @ Mar 4 2007, 05:42 PM) [snapback]400056[/snapback]</div>

GM has failed to produce any significant hybrids at this point. Their failure to adopt the technology in the early 1990s when Toyota and Honda did has left them 10 years behind the competition. The Saturn Vue and upcoming Saturn Aura/Chevy Mailbu 'hybrids' rely on a small NiMh battery pack and a glorified alternator start/stop system. They pride themselves for being affordable hybrids, but all are more expensive than a base Prius yet lack automatic climate control and the Prius high technology/quality/style features. The Chevy/GMC truck hybrids (which are gone now?) had heavy and weak Lead Acid batteries under the back seats that really offered little fuel economy improvement given their weight and lack of plug-in capability. Even the new Volt concept really pisses me off. It only gets 40 miles of EV range (under 70mph) using new (and as GM put it: non-existent) Li-ion batteries (which do exist and are becoming affordable and safe). The EV1 had 150 mile EV range on older NiMh batteries. What happened? Have they used such a small battery pack in the Volt to leave lots of room for profits? Gasoline motors are very inefficent electric generators and the Volt is basically a series hybrid where no mechanical linkage from the wheels to the motor exists, so the Volt's mpg falls to 50mpg on highway treks and range per tank is only 500 miles. My Prius tops that with oodles more storage space, and My EV has longer pure electric range than the Volt. If GM really wanted to excell in the 'green' vehicle market they would bite their tongue and build what they did best: EVs. They learned alot with the EV1 and as such are ahead of the Japanese to some extent if they would sell them again in significant numbers. Add new safety/tech features+LED lights to the EV1 and call it the EV2. Keep everything else like the EV1; don't make it look like some tough Chrysler 300/Cobalt bastard child with poor aerodynamics(re:Volt). Maybe even do a 4-door variant (EV4?). GM could even use the EV1 parts and tooling, mass produce it ASAP, and they could have the reasonably priced hit they need to stay competitive in the global market. Also GM should make their mild hybrid technology available and standard equipment on all the vehicles they sell; it adds so little to the price and complexity of the vehicle ($1500ish), partially reduces oil consumtion and pollution, and would be great PR.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Mar 5 2007, 06:09 AM) [snapback]400263[/snapback]</div>

Nope. When I went to the Los Angeles are for a trip to Disneyland in December 01, we were AMAZED by gasoline BELOW $1/gallon! (If memory serves, it was in the mid to high 90 cents range.) It wasn't even that cheap in Nor Cal.

I posted about it at http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showt...001#post4260284.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(toyotablackbox @ Mar 6 2007, 12:04 AM) [snapback]400729[/snapback]</div>

I agree with most of what you are saying BUT an EV40 range will make a significant impact for most as the average ride is around 20 something miles. Sure, the prius might beat it on cross country rides, but I rarely do such trips. For me the EV40 volt would reduce my monthly gasoline consumption to almost 0 and while it wouldn't help most people that much I'm still convinced it would beat the (current) prius.

I assume that "your EV" means a Toyota RAV IV EV, and I agree that it's spec is much better then the Volt. That said why is Toyota not selling it if it such a great car?

That said I agree that the specs for the Volt are not as great as they seem. I guess it's about making it affordable. I wish they provided an option of opting out of the engine and gas tank and instead install a 2nd battery back.

GM feels pressured to do the volt. This is good, it shows that the hybrid movement is working. If GM does the Volt it will in turn force Toyota to respond with a true plug-in or EV only Prius. This is GREAT for us consumers. If GM doesn't do it then I hope Phoenix SUV or Tesla's Whitestar will do the same (less likely). Still we live in interesting times, with gas prices going to $2.89 this summer (I think AAA estimate) the demands for the Prius will continue to be strong. Maybe we're actually seeing the start of a revolution?

 

when i ordered my first Prius, gas was $1.39. during my LOOONG wait time (6½ months) gas went to $1.07 a gallon in mar 04 which made ridicule from co-workers an easy thing to participate in (hehehe...they dont think its so funny now@!!@) so gas has hovered at a buck (except the Katrina aftermath, we always are higher than the national average) more recently than we would like to admit. (gas here is now $2.659 for the best price in town)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Mar 6 2007, 02:35 AM) [snapback]400763[/snapback]</div>

I guess it's just my Mid-Atlantic mentality then... Gas hasn't been under a dollar a gallon here in ages.. probably close to a decade.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Mar 6 2007, 08:59 AM) [snapback]400920[/snapback]</div>

The crazy part is that the avg. price of gas in the Los Angeles area per http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/CAmetro.asp is now $2.89/gal and it's $2.97 in San Jose. What a difference ~5 years makes...