Malibu SS and a return to Big Cars?

This article appeared in Auto.com today. It's pretty general & far reaching, but in addition to Kurt Ritter indicating a Malibu SS and the goverment possibly easing car fuel economy regulations to get people back into cars to save fuel over SUVs, it mentions Chevy's Gas/Electric Malibu Hybrid (2007), and the industry's general return to cars.

http://www.auto.com/industry/iwirf25_20030225.htm

I have not yet been able to grasp the fetish the manufactures have with hybrid cars. My VW is proven technology and it has no equal environmentally (with 4 seats and cargo room). I can use biodiesel and I only change the oil every 10,000 miles. Plus the car can actually get out of its own way. Some folks on TDIclub have 150HP/225TQ at the wheels with just a chip and still get 45+ MPG.

The civic hybrid does well in the city, but on the highway I couldn't have it. I can drive over 700 miles on a tank of fuel with my heated seats warming my rear end.

I hope that GM's first venture into the hybrid market is very well thought out. They need to bring the technology into the market in a way that will entice the consumer with economy, but will not leave a bad taste in their mouth due to expensive replacement parts, poor range, poor ride, etc...

I wish I could have purchased a product produced by GM instead of my VW, but they didn't have anything to compete...


Jason

Originally posted by dabear95
I have not yet been able to grasp the fetish the manufactures have with hybrid cars.





Jason


i think they're obligated to, im not sure, just going off memory, by the government .

That's correct. CARB (California Air Resources Board) has zero-emissions requirements that are driving the industry towards developing hybrids.

Originally posted by dabear95
I have not yet been able to grasp the fetish the manufactures have with hybrid cars. My VW is proven technology and it has no equal environmentally (with 4 seats and cargo room). I can use biodiesel and I only change the oil every 10,000 miles. Plus the car can actually get out of its own way. Some folks on TDIclub have 150HP/225TQ at the wheels with just a chip and still get 45+ MPG.

The civic hybrid does well in the city, but on the highway I couldn't have it. I can drive over 700 miles on a tank of fuel with my heated seats warming my rear end.

I hope that GM's first venture into the hybrid market is very well thought out. They need to bring the technology into the market in a way that will entice the consumer with economy, but will not leave a bad taste in their mouth due to expensive replacement parts, poor range, poor ride, etc...

I wish I could have purchased a product produced by GM instead of my VW, but they didn't have anything to compete...


Jason

This is precisely why I am seriously considering Jetta TDI.

Speaking of Malibu SS....anyone have any ideas on powertrain for it?

I wonder if it will have a supercharged HV 3.5 V6, similar to the G6 concept.