New GM Hybrids Will Hit Market In Late 2007 - A Hybrid Tahoe And A Hybrid Yukon - MSNBC

[hatrack]

General Motors took a major step forward last week in its bid to boost its fading fortunes, but it’s probably not the one you’re thinking of.

True, GM clinched a new four-year labor contract with striking United Auto Workers that, if ratified by union members, could put the automaker on more even footing with its Asian rivals. But in a less noticed-move that ultimately could prove nearly as important, GM provided new details about the industry's first full-size hybrid gas-and-electric-powered sport utility vehicles, which will appear on dealers’ lots in late December.

The new hybrid versions of the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon will offer an impressive 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 miles per gallon on the highway, according to official mileage estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency, issued Thursday. That’s a 30 percent gain in overall fuel economy and 50 percent for city driving, making the new SUVs as fuel-efficient in the city as a four-cylinder Toyota Camry.

EDIT

The hybrid Tahoe and Yukon could even revitalize sales in the SUV segment, said Aaron Bragman, an analyst at consultancy Global Insight. “Given Americans’ historical love affair with large vehicles, offering SUVs that achieve mileage comparable to a midsize sedan could be just the ticket to breathing new life into a segment many had written off as doomed,” he said in a research note.

EDIT/END

Ed. - emphasis added.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21016575/

[againes654]

1. I work for a GM dealership

I will be looking for these.

[robinlynne]

2. why SUVs? They are dying a natural death. let them go! I dont think this is very good.

20 miles per gallon is supposed to be a progressive thing?
I say plug=in electrics NOW!

[rurallib]

3. To me that shows how bad their management is

a hybrid SUV still doesn't get good mileage and the majority of people want good (50+) mileage. So this will be yet another mistake. Somehow GM management will try to blame it on the workers.

[liberal N proud]

4. Because the SUV is still a huge market

The small women in the upper class neighborhoods want huge SUV's to cruise to the lifestyle centers (formerly shopping centers).
Mini Vans are so soccer mommish

[reggie the dog]

7. no kidding

I had a car that got that good of gas mileage since I started driving in 1995. Today my 17 year old opel corsa gets me 40 mpg and my peugeot 206 gets me 60 mpg. opel burns gasoline, the peugeot diesel.

[Dawgs]

5. "impressive 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 miles per gallon on the highway"

Is that a joke?

[robinlynne]

6. exactly.

[eppur_se_muova]

11. We're almost starting to catch up to the 1970's. nt

[ramapo]

15. Is this a joke???

Unbelievable...the only thing impressive about this announcement is how absurd it it is.

[Kolesar]

17. The fuel savings from this truck can be used to fuel someone else's little car

That's something, isn't it?

[CRF450]

21. For an 8,000 pound vehicle, that is impressive.

My Trans Am weighs less than half that and gets around 22 or 23mpg and up to 30mpg hwy. My dad's Crown Vic weighs around 4,000 pounds and get the same fuel milage, both have v8 engines.

[reggie the dog]

8. with small cars

you can easily get 60 mpg in a small car that can fit 45 adults or 2 adults and 3 kids without even having a hybrid. I would love it if I could get a hybrid peugeot 206, the diesel version gets 60 mpg already.

[kestrel91316]

9. A hybrid gas hog is still a gas hog. Lipstick on a pig.

[madrchsod]

10. not everyone in america can use a small car

and not everyone in america can fit into a small car. there is a market for large vehicles in this country and the auto companies will provide them.

[depakid]

13. This is why I have very litttle sympathy for most Americans

They've chosen wasteful lifestyles and think that things will just keep going on as they have been. It's as if they have some sort of entitlement to be irresponsible and extravagant- that that entitlement is reinforced by the American auto manufacturers.

Time will come- and not long from now when they'll pay the price- and it won't be pretty,

[CRF450]

19. Do you realize how many jobs are out their that needs a large vehicle?

LOTS and LOTS of them! I drive a Dodge Dakota 4x4 4 door model and it gets around 16mpg while I'm working cleaning pools and hot-tubs. I can get by with a 4cyl truck just fine but I hate those underpowered things.

[Nihil]

22. Not as many as there are SUVs.

On the other hand, there are absolutely shitloads of Americans who
have the "I hate those underpowered things" attitude ...

:eyes:

[robinlynne]

16. I am a photographer, and need a large car to caarry equipment around. i did a

little bit of research and have a 1991 cadillac which gets much better mileage than any SUV. i just read all the concumer reports about interior space, mileage, etc. But I can't wait to get a plug-in. I dont care what it costs. I don't want to use gasoline at all anymore. zilch. I don't want to give them my money anymore. We just don't need gasoline run cars. period. All the technology is available; it is just a matter of common sense to switch over.

[bbinacan]

12. I'd consider buying one because

of the nature of my job.

[NMDemDist2]

14. my Envoy corporate cousin gets better than that now n/t

[hogwyld]

18. Stupid decisions like this one

Make me glad the GM is headed for the trash pile of history. They should quit making trucks and SUV's, and concentrate on small, fuel efficient cars.

[CRF450]

20. Then that means Toyota and Nissan will pick up the slack for that market.

Face it, their are lots of jobs out their that requires a large vehicle, they're not going away, and never will.