New 2007 Vue hybrid
Jaguar D-Type
09-08-2005, 07:25 PM
RICHARD TRUETT | Automotive News
Posted Date: 9/8/05
The new Saturn Vue Green line gasoline-electric hybrid coming next summer will add a twist to the hybrid equation: a more affordable price.
Value, along with better fuel economy and lower emissions, will be the key selling points of the vehicle, says Tom Stephens, GM's group vice president of global powertrain.
The 2007 model will be GM's first high-volume gasoline-electric hybrid.
Stephens says GM won't charge as high a premium for the hybrid Vue as some competitors ask for their models. GM has not released the price.
Ford Motor Co. charges a premium of about $3,300 for the Escape Hybrid; Honda Motor Co. tacks on about $4,000 to the price of the Civic Hybrid sedan, and Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus Division charges more than $5,300 for the hybrid powertrain in the Lexus RX 400h SUV.
The Vue hybrid is less expensive to produce because, unlike Ford and Toyota hybrids, the Vue's electric motor won't propel the vehicle by itself at low speeds and won't require expensive drivetrain modifications. The Vue is a mild hybrid, which uses the electric motor for start/stop and for a boost upon acceleration. The Civic Hybrid operates in the same manner.
Although GM will save money on the Vue's powertrain, the fuel economy gains are not as big as they are on full or strong hybrids. GM expects the Vue hybrid to deliver between 12 and 15 percent, as opposed to the 20 percent gain of a full hybrid, which uses an electric motor to propel the vehicle at low speeds.
But Stephens says GM believes there are customers who want hybrids but won't spend extra money to buy one.
GM is working on a full hybrid system with DaimlerChrysler AG for its larger SUVs that will be available in the 2007 model year.
Posted Date: 9/8/05
The new Saturn Vue Green line gasoline-electric hybrid coming next summer will add a twist to the hybrid equation: a more affordable price.
Value, along with better fuel economy and lower emissions, will be the key selling points of the vehicle, says Tom Stephens, GM's group vice president of global powertrain.
The 2007 model will be GM's first high-volume gasoline-electric hybrid.
Stephens says GM won't charge as high a premium for the hybrid Vue as some competitors ask for their models. GM has not released the price.
Ford Motor Co. charges a premium of about $3,300 for the Escape Hybrid; Honda Motor Co. tacks on about $4,000 to the price of the Civic Hybrid sedan, and Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus Division charges more than $5,300 for the hybrid powertrain in the Lexus RX 400h SUV.
The Vue hybrid is less expensive to produce because, unlike Ford and Toyota hybrids, the Vue's electric motor won't propel the vehicle by itself at low speeds and won't require expensive drivetrain modifications. The Vue is a mild hybrid, which uses the electric motor for start/stop and for a boost upon acceleration. The Civic Hybrid operates in the same manner.
Although GM will save money on the Vue's powertrain, the fuel economy gains are not as big as they are on full or strong hybrids. GM expects the Vue hybrid to deliver between 12 and 15 percent, as opposed to the 20 percent gain of a full hybrid, which uses an electric motor to propel the vehicle at low speeds.
But Stephens says GM believes there are customers who want hybrids but won't spend extra money to buy one.
GM is working on a full hybrid system with DaimlerChrysler AG for its larger SUVs that will be available in the 2007 model year.
Jaguar D-Type
10-17-2005, 08:44 PM
The new Vue will likely use technology from the new BMW, DaimlerChrysler, and GM development.
BMW, DaimlerChrysler, and GM team up for hybrid drive development
- gm.com
DETROIT/MUNICH/STUTTGART (Sept. 9, 2005)
The BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler AG and General Motors Corporation today signed a "memorandum of understanding" governing the formation of an alliance of equals for the joint development of hybrid drive systems.
The three global automakers are cooperating in order to pool their expertise for the accelerated and efficient development of hybrid drive systems. Objective: Development of a two-mode hybrid drive system
The objective is to jointly develop a two-mode hybrid drive system that reduces fuel consumption while not compromising vehicle capability. While the base two-mode hybrid design will be common, each company will individually integrate the hybrid system into the design and manufacturing of vehicles in accordance with their brand specific requirements.
"The participation of the BMW Group has allowed us to gain another expert partner for the development of this advanced two-mode hybrid system," says Tom Stephens, Group Vice President at GM Powertrain. "This cooperation paves the way for extensive hybrid collaboration among the three companies. We also continue to discuss additional partners for this alliance."
"By pooling the development expertise of the three automakers -- BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors -- we are making it possible for all companies to bring to market appealing vehicles with convincing performance, comfort and environmental features for the benefit of our customers," says Dr. Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler Board of Management member responsible for Research and Technology as well as for Development at the Mercedes Car Group.
"The creation of a shared technology platform for hybrid drives will allow us to more quickly integrate the best technologies on the market and will therefore exploit and strengthen the innovative potential of all participating companies," explains Prof. Burkhard Göschel, Board of Management member for Development and Procurement at BMW AG. "Because the technologies will be adapted to the individual vehicle models, the participating brands will retain their distinctive characters."
Joint development center
In Troy, Michigan, the new "GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW Hybrid Development Center" will develop the overall modular system and the individual components: electric motors, high-performance electronics, wiring, safety systems, energy management, and hybrid system control units. In addition, the Hybrid Development Center will be responsible for system integration and project management.
key factor in ensuring optimum development is the focus on a high bandwidth architecture system that can be adapted to the needs of the various vehicle concepts and brands. The extensive sharing of components and production facilities, and the collaborative relationship with suppliers, will enable the alliance partners to achieve significant economies of scale and associated cost advantages, which will also benefit customers, thanks to an outstanding cost-to-performance ratio.
The two-mode concept
Two-mode hybrid technology further enhances the performance, fuel efficiency and range of conventional hybrid drive vehicles. In city driving and in stop-and-go traffic, the vehicles can be powered either by two electric motors or by the combustion engine, or the two drive systems can be used simultaneously. Regardless of which type of operation is chosen, the drive system's fuel saving potential is exploited to maximum effect.
When traveling at high speeds, for example on rural roads and highways, the two-mode system switches to a different driving mode. The two-mode system provides a number of benefits even when driving at such constant speeds. Because the hybrid drive's full power is available when climbing steep inclines, passing other cars or hauling a trailer, fuel consumption can be reduced and performance increased even when operating in the second driving mode.
GM and DaimlerChrysler signed binding, definitive agreements on August 22, 2005. BMW Group today signed a "memorandum of understanding" with the intent to enter into a definitive agreement with GM and DaimlerChrysler later this year.
BMW, DaimlerChrysler, and GM team up for hybrid drive development
- gm.com
DETROIT/MUNICH/STUTTGART (Sept. 9, 2005)
The BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler AG and General Motors Corporation today signed a "memorandum of understanding" governing the formation of an alliance of equals for the joint development of hybrid drive systems.
The three global automakers are cooperating in order to pool their expertise for the accelerated and efficient development of hybrid drive systems. Objective: Development of a two-mode hybrid drive system
The objective is to jointly develop a two-mode hybrid drive system that reduces fuel consumption while not compromising vehicle capability. While the base two-mode hybrid design will be common, each company will individually integrate the hybrid system into the design and manufacturing of vehicles in accordance with their brand specific requirements.
"The participation of the BMW Group has allowed us to gain another expert partner for the development of this advanced two-mode hybrid system," says Tom Stephens, Group Vice President at GM Powertrain. "This cooperation paves the way for extensive hybrid collaboration among the three companies. We also continue to discuss additional partners for this alliance."
"By pooling the development expertise of the three automakers -- BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors -- we are making it possible for all companies to bring to market appealing vehicles with convincing performance, comfort and environmental features for the benefit of our customers," says Dr. Thomas Weber, DaimlerChrysler Board of Management member responsible for Research and Technology as well as for Development at the Mercedes Car Group.
"The creation of a shared technology platform for hybrid drives will allow us to more quickly integrate the best technologies on the market and will therefore exploit and strengthen the innovative potential of all participating companies," explains Prof. Burkhard Göschel, Board of Management member for Development and Procurement at BMW AG. "Because the technologies will be adapted to the individual vehicle models, the participating brands will retain their distinctive characters."
Joint development center
In Troy, Michigan, the new "GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW Hybrid Development Center" will develop the overall modular system and the individual components: electric motors, high-performance electronics, wiring, safety systems, energy management, and hybrid system control units. In addition, the Hybrid Development Center will be responsible for system integration and project management.
key factor in ensuring optimum development is the focus on a high bandwidth architecture system that can be adapted to the needs of the various vehicle concepts and brands. The extensive sharing of components and production facilities, and the collaborative relationship with suppliers, will enable the alliance partners to achieve significant economies of scale and associated cost advantages, which will also benefit customers, thanks to an outstanding cost-to-performance ratio.
The two-mode concept
Two-mode hybrid technology further enhances the performance, fuel efficiency and range of conventional hybrid drive vehicles. In city driving and in stop-and-go traffic, the vehicles can be powered either by two electric motors or by the combustion engine, or the two drive systems can be used simultaneously. Regardless of which type of operation is chosen, the drive system's fuel saving potential is exploited to maximum effect.
When traveling at high speeds, for example on rural roads and highways, the two-mode system switches to a different driving mode. The two-mode system provides a number of benefits even when driving at such constant speeds. Because the hybrid drive's full power is available when climbing steep inclines, passing other cars or hauling a trailer, fuel consumption can be reduced and performance increased even when operating in the second driving mode.
GM and DaimlerChrysler signed binding, definitive agreements on August 22, 2005. BMW Group today signed a "memorandum of understanding" with the intent to enter into a definitive agreement with GM and DaimlerChrysler later this year.
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