| Make
|
Cadillac |
| Model |
Converj |
| Concept
year |
2009 |
| Production
year |
- |
| Engine |
Hybrid
|
|
The CTS Coupe's styling is based on
the sedan model |
 |
|
At first the Cadillac Converj concept which was revealed
at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show appears to be an even more
stylish version of the Cadillac
CTS Coupe concept. However it's much more than that.
Under the striking, angular bodywork is the a hybrid drivetrain
developed from the Chevrolet
Volt concept. This hybrid technology which GM calls
"Voltec" offers up to 40 miles of emission-free
electric driving with extended-range capability of hundreds
of miles thanks to a small displacement internal combustion
engine which can top up the batteries.
Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman of Global Product Development,
said the Converj concept has production substance. "It's
a logical extension of our plan to reinvent the automobile,"
he said. "It clearly shows what a Cadillac electric
vehicle could look like, and clearly indicates that global
luxury customers can have a car that has both strong design
and electric propulsion with a total range of hundreds
of anxiety-free miles."
The Cadillac Converj's Voltec electric propulsion system
is made up of a 16-kWh, T-shaped battery, a electric motor
which produces 160 hp and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque,
and a four-cylinder engine-generator. It uses electricity
as its primary source to drive the car.
A thermally managed battery pack contains more than 220
lithium-ion cells that provide the primary power to drive
the Converj electrically up to 40 miles without using
fuel or producing tailpipe emissions.
The battery is integrated into the Converj's chassis and
stores electricity from the grid when the vehicle is plugged
in. It takes less than three hours to recharge the battery
at 240V, or about eight hours from a 120V outlet.
Features of the Cadillac Converj designed to maximize
the all-electric range include a roof with integrated
solar panels which help top up the vehicles batteries,
a full belly pan which helps the car be more aerodynamic
and low drag rear view cameras. The wheels have also been
designed for optimum aerodynamic efficiency.
When the battery's energy is low, the Converj seamlessly
switches to extended-range mode. During this secondary
level of operation, electricity needed to power the vehicle
is created onboard by a flex-fuel-powered engine that
operates much like a home generator to create electricity.
The engine-generator ensures a constant supply of power
for hundreds of miles until the car is refueled or plugged
in to recharge the battery.
In the styling department the Converj concept is unmistakably
Cadillac from almost every angle. The angular lines and
vertical headlights and taillights immediately stand out
as belonging to a Cadillac model. Bob Lutz said of the
design. "An aggressive, forward-leaning profile hints
at a new, progressive theme and proportion in Cadillac's
design evolution," he continued. "The new proportion
showcases a uniquely shaped, modern vision of a personal
luxury 2+2."
Similar and related vehicles:
Chevrolet Volt
Cadillac Sixteen
Cadillac Cien
Cadillac Evoq
Cadillac CTS Coupe
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