Proof that GM is getting the word out

[HoosierRon]

How many of you could have imagined just one year ago (before the introduction of the Volt) that you would see the following story on a non-car related website? Note that this is a wire story.

GM to Fashion Chevrolet as Environment Leader, Taking on Toyota

By Greg Bensinger and Jeff Green
c.2007 Bloomberg News
Nov. 1, 2007 11:52 AM

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Corp. wants to make Chevrolet, its largest brand, an environmental leader as the U.S. automaker invests in fuel-saving systems in a challenge to Toyota Motor Corp.

GM will use hybrids, fuel cells, more efficient gasoline engines and other technologies to vie for mileage and environmental bragging rights against competitors such as Toyota in each U.S. market segment, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told reporters this week in Memphis, Tennessee.

"There is no environmental technology that will be untouched by Chevrolet," said Lutz, who was introducing a redesigned Malibu sedan in Memphis. Details of the effort will be announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show in two weeks, he said.

The Chevrolet initiative follows Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner's pledge at last year's Los Angeles show that the Detroit-based automaker would use some of the billions of dollars saved by closing plants and cutting labor costs to pay for new technology and narrow a decade-old environmental image gap with Toyota.
...
GM, with the Chevrolet Volt car, is racing against Toyota to develop the first hybrid model that recharges at an electrical outlet. GM has also begun rolling out 100 prototype Chevy Equinox sport-utility vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Chevrolet vehicles such as the Silverado large pickup truck and Corvette sports car already lead their segments in fuel economy, GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan said.

The division is inviting reporters to drive Chevrolet models next month in San Diego as part of the Fuel Solutions campaign. That event includes a gasoline-electric Tahoe SUV; the Aveo car, GM's most fuel-efficient model at 34 miles per gallon in highway driving; an Impala sedan that uses 85 percent ethanol fuel; and prototypes of the fuel-cell Equinox and the Volt electric car....

[minnfang]

"There is no environmental technology that will be untouched by Chevrolet," said Lutz

I hope this includes finding a good way to reduce the weight of some cars. I sure hope EppyII isn't a porker.

[GMCSonoma]

My sales manager states just about every new vehicle customer comes in and asks if all our new GM's are flex-fuel...

People are assuming...GM = Flex-fuel.....IMO every gasoline powered GM should be flex-fuel capable...

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by GMCSonoma

My sales manager states just about every new vehicle customer comes in and asks if all our new GM's are flex-fuel...

People are assuming...GM = Flex-fuel.....IMO every gasoline powered GM should be flex-fuel capable...

I think GM should go with it, if every GM vehicle being sold is e85 capable then thats an every increasing market for the gas stations to provide to. Knowing that volume exists more stations will be willing to offer it.

There is a station on the way to where I used to live that now offers it, $1.99 vs $2.69 for regular 85 gas (low grade for Colorado) and $2.99 for diesel. If nothing else I'm sure a few Chevy drivers will give it a go for a tank or two.

[jtrav91]

Define what "LEADER" means.

Is it measured based upon technological achievement or actual sales?

There's a huge difference.

[steverino]

Originally Posted by GMCSonoma

My sales manager states just about every new vehicle customer comes in and asks if all our new GM's are flex-fuel...

People are assuming...GM = Flex-fuel.....IMO every gasoline powered GM should be flex-fuel capable...

Great, but where are they going to find the fueling stations. The Gov't & States that are demanding fuel efficient vehicles better get their collective heads out of their a$$es and pitch in and help the auto industry (who's doing their part by finally producing the fuel efficient vehicles) by providing the infrastructure

[MrMax]

Sounded good until they got to the part on how the Aveo's paltry hwy mileage paces the company.

Yet... it still sounds good. Because the future is so bright for GM right now, that it makes even the Aveo look good.

[HoosierRon]

Originally Posted by steverino

Great, but where are they going to find the fueling stations. The Gov't & States that are demanding fuel efficient vehicles better get their collective heads out of their a$$es and pitch in and help the auto industry (who's doing their part by finally producing the fuel efficient vehicles) by providing the infrastructure

GMCSonoma is in Wisconsin. There are 96 E85 stations in Wisconsin. There are 7 in Milwaukee. There are 1370 nationwide.

[eaton53]

No problem here... all I gotta do is go down the hill to the FS downtown.
They've got E85, B11 & E10 and business seems to be pretty brisk.... I get all my gas (E10) there.

[hrcslam]

Yeah the Aveo is less than impressive with it's fuel efficincy ratings. But, the real world numbers are supprisingly high. My nieghbor in Washington (State) bought an Aveo when he found a job that required a 100 mile daily commute. He has a Tahoe and an Aveo. He told me his Tahoe was getting about 13 mpg's which is about right. Then he told me his Aveo is averaging about 42-44 mpg's with about a 70% highway routine. 42 mpg's is much higher than the rated 34. Even he was suprised with the difference. He is a diehard Chevy fan and that is why he baught the Aveo. He was expecting the 34 mpg rating but not 42-44. And my wifes Ion averages about 38 mpg's on the highway and about 29 in the city with me driving; I am a very spirited driver. I know not all cars responed like this in relation to their respective ratings, but this is impressive non the less. The best I have ever gotten in the Ion was 42 mpg's on an all highway trip on I-25 (avg. speed limit is 75mph) in Colorado; I sure as hell wasn't expecting that high of a number. With all the advancements GM is making in the fuel economy segment I wouldn't be supprised if their cars and trucks actually perform better than advertised in the coming years. And that would be exactly what GM would need to change perception. Imagine if 90% of all GM car owners tell you their cars are actually doing about 5mpg better than advertised. I believe that would sell cars on its own.

[ragingfish]

i vaguely recall reading somewhere GM planned to eventually make every vehicle off the line E85-capable, but i can't find anything. But according to http://www.livegreengoyellow.com, by 2012 they plan to have at least half of their annual production capacity be capable.

[Randiglio]

Originally Posted by jtrav91

Define what "LEADER" means.

Is it measured based upon technological achievement or actual sales?

There's a huge difference.

Technological achievement will most likely lead to actual sales.

[roteague]

I posted this in another thread:



Pacific Harbour, Fiji.

[jtrav91]

Originally Posted by Randiglio

Technological achievement will most likely lead to actual sales.

That pattern hasn't emerged in the computer industry. There are some impressive breakthrus that are simply still too expensive for widespread adoption.

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by hrcslam

The best I have ever gotten in the Ion was 42 mpg's on an all highway trip on I-25 (avg. speed limit is 75mph) in Colorado; I sure as hell wasn't expecting that high of a number.

When i do the drive from Aurora (SE Denver) to Fort Collins for the Aussie get togethers on the flat/slightly down hill segments I can get 35-40mpg in my 9-3 Aero ..the 2.8 Turbo V6. Have done the drive a few times now and normally see around 36.5mpg there and about 33mpg back as it is more uphill.

And even if the in car computer is off by 10% I can still see over 40mpg on the highway.

When i have the 04 Pontiac Grand Prix i did a road trip, Colorado - New Mexico - Nevada - Utah - Colorado. I was seeing 29.5 mpg the whole way and that was doing the manual calculations miles driven/gallons used.

My experience with GM vehicles if you get what they say on the sticker and occasionally better on the highway.