In addition to announcing that General Motors plans to have invest heavily on research of driverless vehicle technology in the coming decade, GM CEO Rick Wagoner will also debut a concept vehicle tomorrow at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas called the Cadillac Provoq. While very few details were released, GM says that the Provoq will be "free from petroleum fuel and emissions." That means the Provoq could be either an all-electric vehicle or possibly another variant of the automaker's E-flex platform that has spawned the Chevy Volt and Opel Flextreme. Those two concepts are both series hybrids with a gas engine and diesel range extender, respectively. While GM did show off the E-flex platform with a hydrogen fuel-cell range extender at last year's Shanghai Motor Show, we've yet to see it paired with a body. Perhaps then the Provoq will be the hydrogen fuel-cell series hybrid concept that we've been waiting to see. There's one more day to go before Wagoner takes the podium in Vegas and reveals all. [Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE:
Cadillac To Showcase Future Design And Performance Technology
DETROIT - Cadillac extends its ongoing design and technology momentum with tomorrow's debut of the Provoq Concept, a vision for a petroleum-free future of luxury transportation. GM CEO Rick Wagoner will present the Cadillac Provoq concept vehicle January 8 at the influential Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, beginning a showcase of Cadillac's future performance technology and design that will continue at next week's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
The Provoq Concept continues Cadillac's remarkable heritage of landmark concept vehicles, this time in a vehicle free from petroleum fuel and emissions, the ultimate luxury. Provoq will make its world premiere at one of the world's leading technology showcases at CES, appearing again at one of the foremost automotive stages in Detroit on Jan. 14.
Cadillac accelerates into Detroit with another dramatic demonstration of its design and performance technology, the world premiere of the 2009 CTS-V. Cadillac's high performance V-Series represents the ultimate expression of the brand's performance and luxury, and the much-anticipated new CTS-V will include many significant technical and design enhancements aimed at placing it within the elite group of the world's most capable cars.
The 2009 CTS-V extends the momentum created by Cadillac's 2008 CTS Sport Sedan, which is earning wide acclaim from critics and consumers alike. Since September, CTS sales are up 59.5% in the U.S. CTS was recently named 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year, headlining a long list of accolades that also includes positions on Car and Driver magazine's 10Best list and as a finalist for 2008 North American Car of the Year.
Also appearing in Detroit next week will be the Escalade Hybrid, featuring a fuel-saving Two Mode Hybrid system combining a gas engine with electric battery power. The Escalade Hybrid, beginning production in mid-2008, extends the desirability of the leading large luxury SUV.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Carlos @ Jan 7th 2008 10:54AM
Very interesting....... I like where GM is headed, I just pray that they don't rest on the laurels and allow these wonderful products to age not so very gracefully.
zamafir @ Jan 7th 2008 11:38AM
I just pray that they actually release them.
rwcmick @ Jan 7th 2008 10:56AM
The Provoq concept is powered by a fuel cell.
markf @ Jan 7th 2008 11:04AM
The Provoq concept is powered by a fuel cell ..
.... and released during Chelsea Clinton's 2nd term as President as GM's market share dipped into single digits for the first time. markf
Mike @ Jan 7th 2008 11:29AM
Mark, you are an idiot.
J.Crew @ Jan 7th 2008 12:13PM
Maybe this is what will replace V8 power since the new CAFE rules executed it.
oby @ Jan 7th 2008 12:28PM
Sigh! more smoke and mirrors talk from GM. Wagoner is nearly as bad as Bobus Maximus, however he might be much cleverer than we think. Talk up the future, 'we're gonna do this and that' and 'we're gonna invest in this or that or whatever'. Just keep the hype going (cos that's all it is), meanwhile make preparations to move everything offshore. Prepare the corporation for a financial and technical separation of GM NA and the rest of the world. Then when your offshore assets are good and safe file for CH11 on the NA operations only. Bang goes Saturn, bang goes Buick (good riddance), bang goes Pontiac and GMC, bang goes the NA dealer network. Take Chevy, Cadillac with you and build them in Korea or China for the US market. You GM fanboys just dream on cos you ain't seen nothing yet!
Mike @ Jan 7th 2008 12:57PM
oby, you are an idiot.
Mark Van Patten @ Jan 7th 2008 1:46PM
Way too little, way too late. Markf was snarky about it, but his point is valid. This could take another 20 year's a the automaker's pace of innovation (or lack thereof) to even be close to reality.
Sounds like PR crap to me.
Bob Zeliff @ Jan 7th 2008 7:59PM
Cadilac has shown it has the ability to do new things. CTS case in point. The energy crunch is here. While Cadilac are not as sensitive to gas prices as chevy and ford, they MUST show their buyers that they lead technology. Hybrids are a dime a dozen. Fuel cells are a better complement to an electric car. They do not have to be hydrogen for essential no emmissions. It might be their best choice.
I'd like to see a 300hp diesel, smooth and quiet like BMW, Aud and Benz makes soon as an interium to the next big things which may well be fuel cells