GM Will Offer Full-Size SUV Hybrids - In 2007

GM Broadens Hybrid Plan For SUV

By JOHN PORRETTO
AP Auto Writer

November 5, 2003, 4:45 PM EST


DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. is expanding its gasoline-electric hybrid lineup to include two full-size sport utility vehicles, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, GM sources said Wednesday.

The two sources, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the automaker plans to begin offering hybrid versions of the two SUVs in 2007.

The world's largest automaker is expected to announce the additions to its hybrid program Thursday.

EDIT

GM said in January it will offer several hybrid options on a number of vehicles in the next four years, starting at the end of this year with the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickups for use in commercial fleets. The hybrid versions of the trucks will increase fuel economy by 10 to 12 percent, the company said."

EDIT

Link to Newsday

I think that is a pretty neat idea. The trucks will have a definite marketplace with that feature. I just hope commuter consumers don't jump on it as a fad, though.

Given the minimal increases in fuel efficiency, making the vehicle into a portable generator is probably the best approach for a truck like that.

Otherwise, I don't see many people paying $2-3K more for a big truck that saves 1.5 MPG.

They could work on it with models that only sell tens of thousands per year. When they do design changes to the passenger vehicle fleet in the coming years, they could exploit the technology to make some very efficient passenger vehicles. Remember, the Chevrolet Citation led the way for a near total transformation to front wheel drive technology in the early eighties!

I had an expectation that the domestic automakers were going to have to by hybrid technology from Toyota or Honda.

Aishin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota, and provides their hybrid components. When the Escape hybrid debuts (now scheduled for fall, 2004), it will debut with Aishin parts under the hood.

a hybrid by 2010!!! The American Car Manufacturers are falling behind BIGTIME!!! This "symbolic gesture" by GM is all BULL unless they can get 40 MPG or better!