Cadillac Converj
At the Detroit Auto Show in January, Cadillac surprised the crowd with a gorgeous concept coupe called the Converj. Built on the same Voltec platform as the Chevy Volt, the Converj was seen as a potential way for GM to leverage the pricey ER-EV drivetrain in a vehicle that could sell at a premium price, hopefully recovering some of the development costs. According to Todd Lassa at Motor Trend, the Converj has been given the green light for production in 2011, a year after the Volt launches. When we talked to GM's Bob Kruse at the Detroit show, he indicated a production Converj would likely use exactly the same powertrain as the Volt although it could have different calibrations to allow somewhat higher performance than the Chevrolet.
Like the Volt, the Converj can go 40 miles on batteries alone, then a gas engine kicks in to extend the range. Recharging via a wall outlet is also possible. Head to CarandDriver and you’ll see an image of the beast up close. What you’re seeing is a Chevy Volt, in Cadillac casing. Reports suggest that the Cadillac Converj will be able to manage 40 miles just on batteries alone. Once you’ve used that up, you’ll then be able to make use of a gas engine to extend driving range further.
The Cadillac Converj may be one way in which General Motors can hope to generate some much needed revenue, following their ongoing financial problems. Still though, the Converj is lightyears away as a estimated arrival is set at 2012.
