[Cmicasa the GreatXvX]

Source
Photo credit: General Motors
March 5, 2012
By: CF staff

Quote:Another factor: GM doesn't want to risk having a Cruze wagon cannabilizing sales of its hot-selling Chevy Equinox crossover. The wagon's dimensions are similar to the Equinox; it's just 3.7 inches shorter.

Jim Hall, principal of 2953 Analytics Inc., an automotive consulting firm in suburban Detroit, says U.S. demand for wagons is too weak to justify Cruze wagon sales here.

In Europe last year, wagons and hatches accounted for 51 percent of light-vehicle sales, according to IHS Automotive. In North America: 9 percent.

[Cmicasa the GreatXvX]

I don't think the Cruze needs a Plug-In. I think an E-Assist version on the already fuel miserly ECO would yield a car in the constant 50MPG range. Based on LAcrosse, MAlibu, and Regal E-Assist numbers... the yield is at least 20% better FE. That would push the ECO Cruze to about 52MPG.

And for the love of GOD.. please let them ditch the idea of the 130 concept and go with the Tru140. It's a Cruze already

[Thed]

Cmicasa the GreatXvX;185572 Wrote:I don't think the Cruze needs a Plug-In. I think an E-Assist version on the already fuel miserly ECO would yield a car in the constant 50MPG range.

I agree 100%. Chevy is going to need something to compete with the 50-mpg 3-cylinder Focus and that would be perfect.

[RougeRiver]

Cmicasa the GreatXvX;185572 Wrote:I don't think the Cruze needs a Plug-In. I think an E-Assist version on the already fuel miserly ECO would yield a car in the constant 50MPG range. Based on LAcrosse, MAlibu, and Regal E-Assist numbers... the yield is at least 20% better FE. That would push the ECO Cruze to about 52MPG.

And for the love of GOD.. please let them ditch the idea of the 130 concept and go with the Tru140. It's a Cruze already

E assist is a technology that primarily improves highway mpg. It would offer the same fuel economy as the diesel.

A plug in would merely require inserting the Volt ICE + transmission, going with a much smaller battery, and tweeking the software to eliminate the 100% EV mode. The Volt transmission was a product of the research that went into the stillborn Saturn Vue plug in.

[McLovin]

Fuel economy gains of the E-assist are benefitted by many specific engineered choices for optimization, like gearing, tire choices, aero treatments, reduced steel structures, etc.
These same optimizations already exist on the eco cruze . They are not exclusive and thus can't simply be additive as a net gain. I seriously doubt an additional 8mpg using an E assist add-on. But good luck with that, nonetheless.

And I am not sure that it requires much "discipline" to simply avoid offering the customer choices.

[Cmicasa the GreatXvX]

McLovin;185577 Wrote:Fuel economy gains of the E-assist are benefitted by many specific engineered choices for optimization, like gearing, tire choices, aero treatments, reduced steel structures, etc.
These same optimizations already exist on the eco cruze . They are not exclusive and thus can't simply be additive as a net gain. I seriously doubt an additional 8mpg using an E assist add-on. But good luck with that, nonetheless.

And I am not sure that it requires much "discipline" to simply avoid offering the customer choices.

I take what U say with the same care as I would what comes outta fuckin mouths of a whore and a dick sucker ... or what U refer to as your Mom and Dad

The discipline is that offering variants for the sake of offering them is a waste of money and time. I do think that the Coupe and Hatch should certainly be available.. but the wagon is ridiculous in this market... Especially when we all kno that the market for wagons in this country is deplorable.

[McLovin]

Believe what you want douchebag, but a phev makes more sense to really step it up and NOT just offer another variant, for "the sake of it."


Hybrids sell
GM needs hybrids like 10 years ago.

Deal with it.

[jspookss]

Hybrids sell? Did you look at the Feb hybrid sales?

[RougeRiver]

Hybrids are 3.5% of the vehicle market and about 350% of the vitriol spewed on internet forums.

[jspookss]

[The Voice of Doom]

McLovin;185612 Wrote:Believe what you want douchebag, but a phev makes more sense to really step it up and NOT just offer another variant, for "the sake of it."


Hybrids sell
GM needs hybrids like 10 years ago.

Deal with it.

Nonsense. Priuses sell, all other hybrids are small potatoes. They're necessary, but when mild hybrids like the Lacrosse sell like they do it makes you wonder just how serious you need to be with them. Better to develop Voltec IMO, especially now that it appears to be finding it's sales legs.

[The Voice of Doom]

Cmicasa the GreatXvX;185572 Wrote:I don't think the Cruze needs a Plug-In. I think an E-Assist version on the already fuel miserly ECO would yield a car in the constant 50MPG range. Based on LAcrosse, MAlibu, and Regal E-Assist numbers... the yield is at least 20% better FE. That would push the ECO Cruze to about 52MPG.

And for the love of GOD.. please let them ditch the idea of the 130 concept and go with the Tru140. It's a Cruze already

Actually don't mind the idea of a plug-in Cruze with a smaller, turbo Ecotec (or even a diesel) calling the shots. But if you're going to make a fuel-miser, go all-in with Voltec (and productionize it) or stick with E-assist (bang for the buck)... for better or worse, the Prius/Fusion ship has sailed.

As for the Tru140... no. The world needs a new BMW 2002. Bring on the C130!

[RougeRiver]

In the future, most cars will have some form of E-assist. It is a means to recover some deceleration energy and allow a small ICE to hold a very tall ratio for longer periods of time. I suppose it could be combined with a small GTDI engine to keep said engine in the first 50% of gas pedal travel for longer periods of time. Gas engines get better BSFC when they are near 100% load. The E-assist can avoid a transmission downshift to a poor BSFC point, by augmenting the fully loaded ICE.

In my opinion, the best form of E-assist would replace the torque converter with a motor. E-assist systems require a small batter that just gets smaller and cheaper as the "halo" electrics drive cost per kwh of storage down. Having a motor in the transmission solves a lot of little problems.

To get numbers like the Fusion hybrid, one needs two motors and an ICE tuned to the Atkinson cycle.

Like it or not, the hybrid systems used by Ford and Toyota are currently the best for getting the most usable work out of a gallon of gasoline burned by an ICE.

Yes, some of the conventional ICEs can approach hybrid numbers in the highway cycle, but they are well behind in the city. In all modes of operation, the ICE in either a Ford of Toyota hybrid is loaded such that it is in the sweet spot of the BSFC map.

[Cmicasa the GreatXvX]

McLovin;185612 Wrote:Believe what you want douchebag, but a phev makes more sense to really step it up and NOT just offer another variant, for "the sake of it."


Hybrids sell
GM needs hybrids like 10 years ago.

Deal with it.

Spook and Rouge are right... Outta 1.15 Million sales in February... only 37K were Hybrids. and 20K of them were Prius. Fuck percentages.. look at that number. 1.15 Million vs 37K. Let's state that in terms of cash... altho U seem perfectly fine with it, if I had to go back to only having $37K in the Bank.. I splatter my brains all over this LED Monitor.


what makes it worse hearing your tired BULLSHIT.. is that despite Ford being on the market with Hybrids 3rd longest behind Toyota and Honda.... they only managed to move about 2500 hybrids/alternatives this year... GM... just in Lacrosse, Regal, and BRAND NEW Malibu has already caught that amount.. Adding the Volt and Dual-Modes puts GM at the level of almost 4500 for the year

[iDream Theater]

+1000000000000

On the tru concept. Way way sexier than the other, ugly concept. Would make an amazing cruze coupe.