GM to produce a 45mpg vehicle

[boxmonkeyracing]

Originally Posted by chevydude26

yeh and when the volt comes along toyota is going to have a 100mpg car...so there goes the advantage volt may have had...i can't believe that an american company is always a step behind...we used to be innovators...i don't know if its the unions killing these car companies actually it probably is...because there is no other reason that we're always a step behind other car companies that don't have a union problem

when has a prius gotten the claimed mpg? def not doing 70 mph on the interstate and the way most people drive. . .

if toyota can make a car get 100 mpg with the way most people drive then I'd be impressed. and 45 mpg is not a lot when considering I owned an 04 ion and got 40 mpg in it. gm needs to get it to 50+ before most people will really take notice.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by boxmonkeyracing

gm needs to get it to 50+ before most people will really take notice.

I'm not so sure...besides comparably expensive Hybrids, when's the last time you heard of a car getting 45mpg (under modern standards; Geo, etc. doesn't count)? If it's going to replace the Cobalt, then it needs to be Cobalt-cheap. Cobalt-prices + 45mpg means this car will be a knockout!!

If I've done my homework correctly, the next-best rating in the segment is the Ford Focus @ 35 mpg. Putting this car out, means that all the other manufacturers need to improve their cars by an incredible 10 mpg to retain any appeal! Talk about competition!

[BumbleBee]

Originally Posted by chevydude26

they need to make one thats 50/55 they need to start hitting prius territory...i'm tired of gm being a step behind toyota and nissan...it sickens me

The Prius is... how should I put this...

a WASTE OF MONEY, that is unless you like paying an extra $10,000 for the hybrid version, and spending $3,000 to buy a new battery every 18 months, which is not covered under warrenty. And the best part, most owners don't know about the battery.

[Nickdago]

Originally Posted by camaro_corvette

Yeah, If it was the camaro, I would would buy two, my friends would buy one, heck, my mom would buy one!

I just hope that what ever GM comes out with it doesn't look horrible. Because I don't care how good a fuel mileage it gets, i wont drive something that is butt ugly.

Agree, thats why the Volt is so appealing. It is a hot looking little car with the potential to get great gas mileage or use no gas at all. That is a combination we have not really seen with the import cars. That could be the American car companies answer to the times and the Japanese automakers. Cars that get great mpg and still look like something that gets your blood flowing something the Japanese have not really been able to do. I mean really who gets excited when they see a Honda Civic or Toyota Camry, etc

[Nickdago]

Originally Posted by BumbleBee

The Prius is... how should I put this...

a WASTE OF MONEY, that is unless you like paying an extra $10,000 for the hybrid version, and spending $3,000 to buy a new battery every 18 months, which is not covered under warrenty. And the best part, most owners don't know about the battery.

I did not know about the battery, good points

[Lucas718]

Originally Posted by jsenn

More than likely they were referencing the Beat. 1.4L turbo 4 banger= 45mpg highway. Also the new Chevrolet Cruze is supposed to be in that realm as well.

According to this article, we're not going to see the Beat in the US, at least not in its current configuration.

http://jalopnik.com/398548/bob-lutz-...es-powertrains

"—The Chevy Beat cannot be made compatible with US crash regulations without significant investment in time and money, and as such will not appear on these shores."

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by BumbleBee

a WASTE OF MONEY, that is unless you like paying an extra $10,000 for the hybrid version, and spending $3,000 to buy a new battery every 18 months, which is not covered under warrenty. And the best part, most owners don't know about the battery.

18 months? That's news to me.
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...r-wear-cga.htm

Toyota claims that not one has required a battery replacement due to malfunction or "wearing out." The only replacement batteries sold--at the retail price of $3000--have been for cars that were involved in accidents. Toyota further claims that the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery packs used in all Prius models are expected to last the life of the car with very little to no degradation in power capability.

According to Toyota, the life of the Prius battery pack is determined more by mileage than by time, and it has been tested to 180,000 miles. Supporting this are first- and second-generation Prius taxis in Canada that have reportedly traveled more than 200,000 miles without suffering any battery problems.

I don't love the Prius but let's use facts here, mmkay?

Edit: BTW, I got that quote by googling 'prius battery life' and clicking the first link that wasn't at a Prius or hybrid enthusiast site.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by theholycow

I don't think the Cruze is replacing the Cobalt. Adding as another car, sure. It would be bad for GM to do so much name changing / model destroying in so short a time; the Cobalt is still a new name, and seems quite popular. Also, it would be very confusing when they have models named "Cruze" in other markets that are not like the Cobalt.

I'm with theholycow on this for sure. This is a great observation.

GM could definitely retune the Cobalt and have a high-mileage version of the ECOTEC that runs in the Cruze. The Cobalt is a great option for sport-oriented first-time drivers. The Cruze could be more economical in terms of gas and low-performance.

I also agree that having multiple models by GM called the Cruze.

[Txturbo]

The Cruz and Beat aren't coming to the US according to info from Lutz today. So, there is some new model coming out other than those two that is in the 45mpg range. he also said "new" model, so its not the Cobalt with a different motor.

[Chevyrocker]

Originally Posted by BumbleBee

The Prius is... how should I put this...

a WASTE OF MONEY, that is unless you like paying an extra $10,000 for the hybrid version, and spending $3,000 to buy a new battery every 18 months, which is not covered under warrenty. And the best part, most owners don't know about the battery.

GM is actually putting an 8 year 100,000 mile warranty on ALL of their hybrid componenets...including the battery (which is actually more like $8,000). But yes, the prius is the ugliest thing on wheels next to the smart car.

[lafountain]

Considering the way gas prices are and the way just about everyone wants something more fuel economic, I am really surprised the Chevy doesn't try and bring back the Metro.

[Camaro Lives On]

Originally Posted by Txturbo

The Cruz and Beat aren't coming to the US according to info from Lutz today. So, there is some new model coming out other than those two that is in the 45mpg range. he also said "new" model, so its not the Cobalt with a different motor.

Am I the only one that caught this post?

[Mr. Wyndham]

no, I caught it too .
Txturbo...do you have a link? All I've seen so far today was that the Beat isn't coming. But the Cruze was still a go.

[Angrybird 12]

If these guys can build a $100,000 electric car that is already in production that will go from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds and also go 220 miles on a charge and can be charged for $4.00 in electricity then GM should be able to build the same thing for 1/3 the price. GM Forget the Volt, and build this!

I think it is a neat car and so does Jay Leno.

http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php