Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

GM Longs to Build Electric Cadillacs

Car could boost brand's image but hurt automaker's bottom line

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 22, 2009 6:00 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Old dreams apparently die hard at GM. For months, the automaker has been yearning to build a gasoline-electric luxury Cadillac, but the Treasury Department and naysayers within the company say the price tag would be too high. Now, with the company dramatically reorganized, the Cadillac Converj could be coming to a showroom near you—if funding is ever approved, BusinessWeek reports.

The Converj would use the same fuel-efficient engine as the Chevy Volt, which will hit showrooms next year—and likely lose money for a decade. Still, supporters like Vice Chairman Bob Lutz insist the Converj would make Cadillac a leader in high-tech luxury. “It’s like a BMW Z8: You do it for the brand,” one consultant says. And most wealthy greenies are paying a mere $25,000 for Toyota Priuses; surely the Converj could lure some away.

General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz unveils the Cadillac Converj concept car at the North American International Auto Show on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 in Detroit.
General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz unveils the Cadillac Converj concept car at the North American International Auto Show on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 in Detroit.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Cadillac Converj concept is introduced at the North American International Auto Show on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 in Detroit.
The Cadillac Converj concept is introduced at the North American International Auto Show on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 in Detroit.   (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Spectators view the Cadillac Converj at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009.
Spectators view the Cadillac Converj at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Newser001
Aug 23, 2009 12:18 PM CDT
It will NEVER be cost effective nor be profitable as it appeals to few too many. More inefficient feel-good bullsh!t from GM for profits and an add-on price tag of upwards of $10K+ for a gain of a couple mpgs...? I average 56-62 (after new tires) on my '05 Prius. Its time to move away from conventional hybrids - Make it all electric with combustion engine running the power plant at 30% of its ability, efficiently, creating electricity and charging batteries to power the vehicle...
countchoculate
Aug 23, 2009 6:24 AM CDT
It's a shame that it took all this to bring ANY innovation out of these companies. Where's the patent for the 100mpg car??? Where did they bury the inventor?? It was never the guy on the assembly line, it was always corporate. I bet the flying car is right around the corner.
timeandagain
Aug 23, 2009 5:31 AM CDT
sorry. FORCED you to buy them...

 
General Motors • fuel efficiency • Toyota Prius • Cadillac • Fritz Henderson

More Newser Stories

Here Comes the Plug-In Cadillac

GM Recalls 47K Cadillac SRXs Over Faulty Air Bags

GM Recalls 1.5 Million Cars After Reports of Fire

Whitacre to Be GM CEO

GM CEO Henderson Resigns
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne