Doubt Emerges Over Hybrid Commodore
James Stanford
14 July 2008
www.goauto.com.au
Petrol-electric Commodore no longer a certainty as Holden boss questions hybrid tech.
GM Holden chairman and managing director Mark Reuss has cast doubt over the hybrid Commodore program, indicating last week that the petrol-electric large car in development might not be brought to market.
Responding to questions at the release of a CSIRO report into future fuels last Friday, Mr Reuss also questioned the viability of hybrid technology.
The position contradicts GM Asia Pacific president Nick Reilly who told GoAuto and other Australian media in May that the Commodore would be “one of the first hybrids you see” with a timeframe of “a couple of years.”
However, Mr Reuss made it clear that Holden’s priority was to develop dedicated-LPG technology, as well as leading with cars that run on E85 ethanol fuel (85 per cent ethanol, 15 per cent petrol).
When asked specifically about a hybrid Commodore, Mr Reuss indicated the car was far from a production certainty.
“We aren’t going to provide a solution, we are going to provide many solutions here,” he said. “One of the many solutions may or may not be a hybrid Commodore.”
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