- Cadillac Converj
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Cadillac Converj 
Manufacturer Cadillac Production 2009 (concept) Body style 2-door coupe Layout FF layout Platform GM Voltec platform Wheelbase 108.0 in (2,743 mm) Length 182.0 in (4,623 mm) Width 74.0 in (1,880 mm) Height 55.0 in (1,397 mm) The Cadillac Converj is a plug-in hybrid concept car developed by General Motors, to be mass produced as the Cadillac ELR.[1][2][3] It was first shown at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and made its West Coast debut at the 2009 Orange County Auto Show.[4]
Incorporating the propulsion system from the Chevy Volt—the battery pack, the 120-kilowatt electric motor, and the four-cylinder engine-generator, collectively dubbed the "Voltec" electric propulsion system—the Converj has an all-electric range of 40 miles (64 km) and a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h). The two-door, front-wheel-drive coupe recharges in only three hours using a 240-volt outlet, the type commonly used for large electric appliances.[5]
Awards
The Converj design has won several awards, including:
- Best Concept Vehicle of 2009, Eyes On Design Awards[6]
- Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2009, North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards[7]
- Specialty Concept Vehicle of the Year 2009, Southeast Automotive Media Organization (SEAMO)[8]
Production version
The Converj did not have a straightforward path to becoming a production model:
In April 2009 Motor Trend reported General Motors had approved the production version of Cadillac Converj in 2011 as 2012 model year vehicle.[9] However, GM refuted this report and stated that the Converj was "a concept vehicle undergoing a review".[10]
An August 2009 BusinessWeek report stated that GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz wanted to see the Converj go to production, possibly as early as 2014,[11] and it was reported that while delivering the keynote speech at the 46th annual Northwood Auto Show Lutz "hinted that an announcement on production for the well-received Cadillac Converj concept car may be forthcoming."[12] At the 2010 Detroit auto show, Lutz told the Society of Automotive Analysts “The Cadillac Converj is cleared for production,” but that "It won’t be next year or the year after that.”[13] These hopes were dashed when Bloomberg reported that GM had in fact decided in late January to end work on the Converj, due to an 'inability to create an acceptable balance of luxury appointments and battery range'.[14]
The production Converj was later "un-canceled" in August 2011, when General Motors announced that the Converj concept will go into production as the Cadillac ELR, with details on performance, price and timing to be announced later.[3] Bloomberg reported that GM plans to price the ELR "less than the $57,400 Model S by Tesla Motor Inc." and that the ELR will be "about the same size as the Volt" and manufactured in the same plant as the Volt. [15]
References
- ^ "GM to produce Cadillac Converj with Volt's plug-in technology" (Automotive Week) January 11, 2010
- ^ "GM Will Produce Volt-Based Cadillac Converj Plug-in Concept" (Motor Trend) January 11, 2010
- ^ a b "Cadillac Converj extended range EV concept officially headed for production". Green Car Congress. 2011-08-17. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/elr-20110817.html. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
- ^ "NADAguides.com Names The Top Five Vehicles of the 2009 Orange County Auto Show". Reuters.com. http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS173558+15-Oct-2009+PRN20091015. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ GM to Buy Lithium-Ion Batteries for the Chevy Volt from LG Chem January 14, 2009 - EERE Network News
- ^ Shawn Maynard. "Cadillac Converj Named Best Concept Vehicle of 2009 Detroit Show". Automobile.com. http://www.automobile.com/cadillac-converj-named-best-concept-vehicle-of-2009-detroit-show.html. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ Blanco, Sebastian (2009-06-24). "Fisker Karma Sunset, Converj, BlueSport Roadster win Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards". Green.autoblog.com. http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/24/fisker-karma-sunset-cadillac-converj-vw-bluesport-roadster-win/. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ Biel, John (2009-07-01). "Converj "Emerjes" as Top Concept Vehicle". Consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com. http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2009-north-american-concept-vehicle-of-the-year.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ "Report: Production of Cadillac Converj Approved". Dailytech.com. http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=14869. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ Abuelsamid, Sam (2009-04-15). "Cadillac Converj reportedly approved for production". Green.autoblog.com. http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/cadillac-converj-reportedly-approved-for-production/. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ Welch, David (2009-08-21). "At GM, Dreams of an Electric Cadillac". Businessweek.com. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/aug2009/db20090821_978464.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ "Lutz sings praises, quality of 'new' GM's new auto line". Ourmidland.com. http://ourmidland.com/articles/2009/10/03/local_news/doc4ac6ea628b4f0292131596.txt. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ Post a Job (2010-01-10). "GM to Produce Cadillac Converj Electric Vehicle, Lutz Says". Businessweek.com. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-10/gm-to-produce-cadillac-converj-electric-vehicle-lutz-says.html. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ Post a Job (2010-03-01). "GM Said to Drop Volt-Based Cadillac to Focus on Plug-In Hybrids". Businessweek.com. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-01/gm-said-to-drop-volt-based-cadillac-to-focus-on-plug-in-hybrids.html. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ "GM Plans to Build Plug-In Cadillac ELR That’s Similar to Chevrolet Volt". 2011-08-17. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-17/gm-plans-to-build-plug-in-cadillac-elr-that-s-similar-to-chevrolet-volt.html. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
Categories:- Cadillac concept vehicles
- Plug-in hybrid vehicles
- Hybrid electric cars
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