Hybrid Vette???

[Rob M.]

Interesting glimpse on the (near) future (or not)?

http://www.corvetteonline.com/news/gm-ceo-hints-at-hybrid-corvette-with-dont-laugh-comment/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gm-ceo-hints-at-hybrid-corvette-with-dont-laugh-comment

[Duke W.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

The onerous CAFE requirements beginning with the 2016 model year will require virtually every car that weighs over 3000 pounds to have some sort of hybrid technology. Since Corvette is a low volume model that has little impact on GM's CAFE it could probably get away without, but it's always been a GM technology leader. Look at the new Porsche 918.

The real issue for most Americans is that if they want to drive a SUV or even a mid-size sedan, hybrid will essentially be a defacto requirement that will add at least $10-20K to the 2014 sticker price.

Most American have no idea how the automotive landscape is going to change in two years, and when I try to explain it to them they go into denial.

Duke

[Bradley D.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

The onerous CAFE requirements beginning with the 2016 model year will require virtually every car that weighs over 3000 pounds to have some sort of hybrid technology. Since Corvette is a low volume model that has little impact on GM's CAFE it could probably get away without, but it's always been a GM technology leader. Look at the new Porsche 918.

The real issue for most Americans is that if they want to drive a SUV or even a mid-size sedan, hybrid will essentially be a defacto requirement that will add at least $10-20K to the 2014 sticker price.

Most American have no idea how the automotive landscape is going to change in two years, and when I try to explain it to them they go into denial.

Duke

What's the problem? Sounds like a good idea to me....

[Duke W.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

Reread the second paragraph.

Duke

[Bradley D.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

Reread the second paragraph.

Duke

Maybe, maybe not. Where did that # come from? I don't believe it due o the if they all have to have hybrid, then the cost will go down. We don't complain about seat belts, aribags, and other improvements that have occurred over the years. We now accept them. Things change, get used to it.

[Mike E.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

Duke,
I don't think that what Chevrolet calls eAssist or (Mild Hybird) will add that much cost to a vehicle. This technology is already used in several GM models. A mild hybrid should not be confused with a full hybrid like the Toyota Prius.

Mike

[Duke W.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

It will take more than "mild hybird" to meet the 2016 CAFE requirements, so it will cost more than the approximately $5K that a current "mild hybrid" is over the base gasoline only model. Few ever have or will ever recapture the capital cost of any hybrid system over their length of ownership, which reduces savings or other discretionary spending, and battery replacement represents a significant repair liability that reduces the value of hybrids when the battery warranty runs out or takes a good chunk out of your wallet if they need to be replaced on your watch.

Hey, I don't even have any skin in this game because I likely will never have to buy another vehicle unless I actually want to.

For the rest of you who will need to buy new vehicles in the future because you still have to drive to work every day, don't say I never told... aw never mind. You're all in denial.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

All-----


Battery assembly for Chevrolet Volt, GM #20979876, GM list price= $2,994.64

Battery assembly for Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, GM #19117171, GM list price= $2,500.00 + $1,000 core charge

[Richard N.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

If you've ever driven an electric car you'll be a believer. I had a Tesla 2-seater for a day. it was unreal. You get maximum torque at 1 rpm. I can see that in the future high performance cars will be electric. Porsche is committed to them. GM is just behind the curve right now. Surprise?

Richard Newton

[Floyd B.]

[Michael J.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

The onerous CAFE requirements beginning with the 2016 model year will require virtually every car that weighs over 3000 pounds to have some sort of hybrid technology. Since Corvette is a low volume model that has little impact on GM's CAFE it could probably get away without, but it's always been a GM technology leader. Look at the new Porsche 918.

The real issue for most Americans is that if they want to drive a SUV or even a mid-size sedan, hybrid will essentially be a defacto requirement that will add at least $10-20K to the 2014 sticker price.

Most American have no idea how the automotive landscape is going to change in two years, and when I try to explain it to them they go into denial.

Duke

Absolutely correct Duke. It is 1971 all over again, I never saw that coming either, but now I listen more carefully......

[Duke W.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

'68 (mandatory seat belts, I think), '71 low compression ratios with attendent lack of power, '75 catalytic converters and a huge loss of power, take your pick, and, of course, all added cost.

Ford tried to sell safety in 1955 by offering optional seat belts. There were few takers. I don't recall when seat belts were made standard in Corvette, but I do remember adding them to my '63 order list until I found out they were standard.

Remember the 1974 seat belt interlock? There was such and outcry that Congress actually repealed that requirement.Airbags were another non-starter with the public until Congress forced them on us, and it's interesting that airbags on US cars have a more stringent standard. They must protect an UNBELTED DRIVER. In the Eurozone they only have to provide "supplemental" protection to a belted driver.

The 2016 CAFE standards are similar with one exception. Instead of increasing the price of the car 5-10 percent the the hybrid technology required to make popular, but heavy vehicles conform will add 20-30 percent. I'm glad there's at least one guy around here who's not in denial. If you like big pickups and SUVs you would be wise to budget for a new one NLT than the 2015 model year.

Oh, yeah, a hybrid Corvette will be just wonderful. Five hundred extra pounds (A new record... the first Corvette to have a curb weight in excess of 4000 pounds!) and a $20K increase in sticker price and it might even be faster to 60..., but you can drive it to the grocery store for a six-pack without even starting the engine.

I'm glad my grocery store is less than a mile away so I can get that six pack using the same locomotion that our ancestors did for the last 149,900 years of modern humans' 150,000 year existance on this planet - my own two feet!

Duke

[Ronald L.]

Re: Hybrid Vette???

People where Duke lives are very unhappy with the new economy of these new oil crushers, hills kill a hybrid's fuel economy. So where are these people when it comes to telling congress to back off and get reason, no where.

I hope people caught on that not only is all these extra equipment costly, it weighs more too.

And Duke, that golf cart does just fine for your beer run, and you can even get it in a Vette body style too if you look at CL long enough.