General Motors Bets On Hybrids For Chicago Auto Show
By Anthony Fontanelle

General Motors Corp. will pull the company’s car cover to unravel two powerful hybrids that are engineered to bolster its green lineup. At this year’s Chicago Auto Show which will open to the public on Saturday, February 9, the Detroit automaker will be showcasing the 2009 Sierra full-size hybrid pickup and Denali XT concept hybrid utility vehicle a sign that it is jumping on the green bandwagon.

The automaker claims the new Sierra hybrid uses 25 percent less fuel without compromising performance. The Denali XT concept, meanwhile, uses half the fuel of a comparable small pickup.

The automaker has launched a number of hybrids from what are tagged gas-guzzling vehicles. To name but a few, General Motors has set free hybrid versions of Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport utilities as well as the Chevrolet Silverado pickup. The sport utilities are set to arrive in showrooms early this year. The Silverado and Sierra pickups, meanwhile, will go on sale at the end of the year.

It can be recalled that last year at the Los Angeles Auto Show, general Motors’ two-mode system got a lot of buzz when hybrid Chevrolet Tahoe was named Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal. The car runs without the gasoline engine at low speed, like single-mode hybrid systems now used by Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Ford Motor Co. and other automakers.

The Detroit automaker said the Sierra can drive up to 50km/h on electricity alone, which is stored during braking and cruising in a 300V battery. When the gasoline engine is utilized, the hybrid system helps the six-liter, V8 run for longer in its more economical four-cylinder mode. The automaker added the hybrid Sierra can tow up to 2767kg compared with the 4763kg capacity of the conventional Sierra.

Rather than a truck chassis, the Denali XT concept is built as a monocoque for smoother

ride and better mileage. The said concept is General Motors’ first vehicle to combine a flex-fuel engine with a hybrid system.

The automaker will be watching closely whether pickup aficionados who have historically saved on fuel costs by using diesel will shift to hybrid systems. To note, they are more expensive than gasoline but they tend to cover long distances.

Mark LaNeve, GM sales vice-president, said the company expected about five percent of pick-up drivers to choose a hybrid but GM could increase production if there was more demand. The automaker sold 208 243 Sierras last year.

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.