General Motors reportedly approves Cadillac Converj for production *UPDATE
Cadillac Converj - Click above for a high-res image gallery
At the Detroit Auto Show in January, General Motors surprised the crowd with a concept coupe called the Cadillac Converj. Built on the same Voltec platform as the Chevrolet Volt, the Converj was seen as a way for GM to leverage the pricey ER-EV drivetrain in a vehicle that could sell at a premium price, recovering some of the development costs. According to Motor Trend, the Converj has been given the green light for production in 2011, a year after the Volt launches. When we talked to GM's Bob Kruse at the Detroit show, he indicated a production Converj would likely use the same powertrain as the Volt, although it could have different calibrations to allow somewhat higher performance than the Chevrolet.
If the Converj does move forward, the proportions might have to change in order to use the same under-structure as the Volt. However, the larger stumbling block to building the Converj is money – or a lack thereof. Unless some kind of deal is struck between the Treasury and Energy Departments to allows GM to tap into ATVM loans, there won't be enough cash in GM's coffers to build the Converj.
*UPDATE: GM spokesman David Darovitz has just told us: "The status of the Cadillac Converj concept has not changed - it's still a concept vehicle undergoing a review that has not yet concluded. "
Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj
[Source: Motor Trend]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Sektor 9:02PM (4/14/2009)
This car's styling looks so Asian.
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My RX-8 SS 10:12PM (4/14/2009)
in what way?
Mazda FTW! 10:39PM (4/14/2009)
Everything looks Asian because the Asians copied all the designs in the first place.
It's like going to Mexico and saying it looks like Spain.
reddy 10:39PM (4/14/2009)
like...
chinese - copying volt technology (though not exactly copying here)
japaneese - looks ugly at first then get used to it
Mrmeku 10:49PM (4/14/2009)
He just meant that it looks Asian because the headlights are so thin... you know like Asian's eyes.
Taglane 11:05PM (4/14/2009)
Mrmeku:
That's racist, man. Straight ignorant.
Sektor 1:53AM (4/15/2009)
@reddy:
> chinese - copying volt technology (though not exactly copying here)
Yeah, they created a time machine, went to the future so they could the Volt to release it before the Volt was released - and with a better range.
tekd 2:03AM (4/15/2009)
I don't think it looks Asian at all...looks like a more futuristic version of the Cadillac design language, but it's still filled with all the sharp corners and edges that far as I know no other manufacturer anywhere does.
But reddy's retort makes no sense...how did the Chinese copy the volt if their plug-in hybrid has been on the market for months already with their own proprietary battery technology? Pretty ridiculous.
PJ 3:12AM (4/15/2009)
Highbrow thread, this one...
I can definitely see the Asian influence. Big fascias; hints of TL and LF-A in the trapezoidal grille and angular flanks; nose-down, cab-forward stance recalls a Civic Coupe more than any Cadillac I've ever seen.
the_MVP_X 8:05AM (4/15/2009)
I love the looks of the car, I'm really looking forward to it oh and Taglane this it's not a democrat party propaganda forum, so drop it.
oldraven 9:30AM (4/15/2009)
GM didn't steal the Volt technology from the Chinese. This is pretty much the same system used in Diesel Electric trains, which GM has been building for ages. The Diesel Electric pretty much replaced the Steam Locomotive, if that's any indication of how old the technology going into the Volt is, minus the batteries.
reddy 10:40AM (4/15/2009)
@sektor
you lost the sarcasm there.. refuting a different point altogether
Dave 11:24AM (4/15/2009)
"GM didn't steal the Volt technology from the Chinese. This is pretty much the same system used in Diesel Electric trains, which GM has been building for ages. The Diesel Electric pretty much replaced the Steam Locomotive, if that's any indication of how old the technology going into the Volt is, minus the batteries."
And if you want a system that includes the batteries, look at pre-nuclear submarines.
So, maybe the Chinese got Voltec from a cold war Russian submarine.....
LimeDaiquiri 9:05PM (4/14/2009)
Uhm...Are General Motors head's in the clouds or somethin'?
Also, if the proportions are changed on this thing. I think that means turn for the worse.
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AMcA 12:00AM (4/15/2009)
I don't think its proportions have to change all that much. I think the front wheels, cowl and hip point all look pretty much right. So, OK, maybe the roof's been trimmed down a spot . . . .
I really, really hope that they have the nerve to use hardtop glass. It'll really set this car off.
Quantumphysics 12:08AM (4/15/2009)
I think Cadillac has reached the level BMW and Mercedes are at. They SET the style. They set THEIR OWN style. All of Cadillac's cars are awesome if that's the design you are into and according to JD POWER and ASSOCIATES, GM's new models starting with the Buick and continuing to Cadillac have better reliability than Lexus and the German's.
That's just awesome.
Eric Bandholz 8:45AM (4/15/2009)
I'm sure it's Obama Motors that is pushing this move.
Parkerman 9:07PM (4/14/2009)
Hmm... So... look at the concept volt.. and the "production" volt...
Now think.. what will this actually look like after they dull it down.
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Taglane 9:14PM (4/14/2009)
This car is designed for aerodynamics this time around- where the Volt Concept was basically designed looking like it did for the wow factor. It was about as aerodynamic as a Chevy C-10.
Parkerman 9:19PM (4/14/2009)
^
Lets hope so.