REPORT: Cadillac Converj has a new lease on life, maybe
Cadillac Converj Concept - Click image above for high-res gallery
Last we knew, the fate of the Cadillac Converj vehicle was unknown and remained "a concept vehicle undergoing a review that has not yet concluded." Resistance to putting the Voltec plug-in powertrain into a Cadillac apparently came not only from the Treasury Department (when General Motors was still in bankruptcy) but also some executives within the company.
BusinessWeek names the resisting execs as GM North America President Troy Clarke and Mark McNabb, who ran Cadillac, Hummer, and Saab. Note the past tense there: both Clarke and McNabb no longer work at GM. One of the Converj's strongest proponents, Bob Lutz, remains with the company. While nothing has been officially decided – some inside GM think the Volt should have been a Caddy all along while others don't think that luxury car buyers care about being green – don't count the Converj out yet.
Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj
[Source: BusinessWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shipey 11:37AM (8/25/2009)
For the love of all that is good, get this car on the production line NOW.
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a.blackwell 3:45AM (9/20/2009)
The following the letter I sent GM before they went bankrupt... the new GM had better start listening...
Dear Rick, Bob, and the GM board of Directors,
I am 51 year old male empty nesters. I make over $100k per year. My first vehicle was a 72 Chevy pickup. Six of my last 8 vehicles have been GM products, i.e., 3 Chevys, 2 Cadillacs, and Buick; I even my bought my daughter a new Chevy for college. I can truly say I am and others like me are your loyal customers and therefore your boss, not the nuts on Capitol Hill.
I was truly excited then disappointed, when the production version of the Chevy Volt didn’t live up the concept design, which was stellar. It was to be my new dream car vs. the Corvette (I still want and will buy one). However, I was pleased that you guys decided to build it, even though you threw away its cool points (styling).
Now here you go again with the “Cadillac Converj” I love this concept. It has everything, beauty, luxury, eco-friendly and perfect for my daily commute of less than 20 miles round trip to work. Not to mention it’s a heck of a status symbol, because it a Cadillac! If you don’t want to be back on Capitol Hill again begging for a bailout, build this car and make Voltech propulsion the core drive train of your fleet for passenger vehicles! 274 lbs of instant torque is better that most cars on the road today except sport sedans and sport cars. If you build them we will buy them!
Loyal GM Customer
Alvin E. Blackwell
PS: And don’t let eggheads for a few mpg kill a great design. i.e., Volt concept! What a lame reason, you had 30k plus on a waiting list wanting to buy it based on the concept! Dude that’s over a billion dollars in sales revenue! Don’t rethink success!
Steve Lopez 7:11AM (8/26/2009)
Of course you should build this car. Lexus has the 250H and it's in short supply. The rich would buy one I'm sure.
The two door and four versions need to be made. Both for the US, Canadian and Mexican markets, as well all the other markets throughout the free world.
Just do it!!!!
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Motor_Yakuza 11:47AM (8/25/2009)
I don't care if it's green, yellow, blue or black, just make that awesome looking car already. This can be the ATS Coupe and the hybrid may be just a version of it.
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katatonics 11:48AM (8/25/2009)
See the Volt concept versus the Volt production model. Totally different cars. Now imagine this concept turned into a production model. It will look just as bland and terrible.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:55AM (8/25/2009)
Have you not seen the CTS coupe? It already got the styling of this car, and it largely got it right.
http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/cadillac-cts-coupe-concept/
The Converj will have to have new styling, if it's going to be a separate car from the CTS coupe. Maybe they'll just offer the CTS with a Voltec hybrid option?
steve clark 12:21PM (8/25/2009)
Yeah, because this looks SOOOO much like the original Volt. Can you not see that this concept is built on the real Volt's mechanicals????
Jei 2:47PM (8/25/2009)
The Converj has a much better chance of going to production looking 80% like the concept.
And if some of the naysayers have been paying attention, Lexus is marketing a small luxury hybrid. Just like many of the rich and famous had jumped on the last-gen Prius, those that dragged their feet on buying "hybrid", can do so in Lexus-garb.
Jei 2:49PM (8/25/2009)
Heck, look at the next article in the Autoblog --- The Lexus HS250h is in demand and in short supply.
amiguet 11:51AM (8/25/2009)
" some inside GM think the Volt should have been a Caddy all along while others don't think that luxury car buyers care about being green" ?
Are they kidding? Driving a "green car" is the latest fashion accessory for the ultra-rich. It's another way they can prove they are "greener than thou".
Driving range doesn't even matter because they are only driving it to be seen getting out of it for the cameras.
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Mike K. 11:51AM (8/25/2009)
Funny how this article with the line that "luxury car buyers don't care about being green" is right after an article that the Lexus H250h luxury hybrid is selling very well... hmmm. I think those execs need to get their heads out of their asses.
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IrrelevantMoralizing 11:54AM (8/25/2009)
You took the words right out of my mouth
why not the LS2LS7? 11:57AM (8/25/2009)
The same article indicates government incentives drove up the sales of the HS250 in Japan. That's not something within Toyota's control in the US.
Steve_S 11:51AM (8/25/2009)
How better to be able to turn a profit while upping you CAFE by putting high cost components into cars that traditionally cost more. You have a better chance of turning a profit on a Cadi than a Chevy. It also spreads the tech around making it cheaper overall.
+1 on making the ATS coupe look like this concept, stunning! Put in some LS3 love and I'll get lin line now.
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adam1drift 1:39PM (8/25/2009)
I'll agree with that 100%
Who 'Dis? Who 'Dat? 12:01PM (8/25/2009)
There's no drama here. This car could (and should) easily be produced in both hybrid and conventional versions. Let the buyers decide which model they want. For those who want to go green, there you go. And for those that prefer the rumble of a gasoline engine, enjoy yourself.
Two words: Bring it!!!
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steve clark 12:20PM (8/25/2009)
+1. Exactly.
David Wiles 12:03PM (8/25/2009)
"others don't think that luxury car buyers care about being green"
Funny that this post follows the one which mentions a shortage of Lexus Hybrids.
Luxury car buyers seem to like high tech products. The Converj will be that. It also looks great. Assuming the interior quality is up to the new GM standards, my guess is it will sell and sell well.
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Torrent 12:14PM (8/25/2009)
Make it!! If the volt is as good as the reviews I've read, they have nowhere to go but up with the converj. They can OWN the segment!
Guess that's not what they want....
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P.V. 12:17PM (8/25/2009)
Good. Make it!
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