G. David Felt

Great write up very informative. Who is that in the rear view mirror?

I do not expect an update to the Northstar but I would expect an exclusive new V8 for Cadillac.

Road Runner?

By G. David Felt Be for or against EV autos one cannot help but acknowledge that they are here to stay. California has long been one to push the industry in one direction or another. With change often came some interesting observations such as Tesla who has been funded and helped by government grants and yet for being in a state that pushed auto companies to build EV autos they lack a solid growing infrastructure for the Electric Highway in comparison to other states. Electric Highway Map Washington & Oregon Electric Highway Map California While Tesla has done wonders for pushing their own charging stations, what about support for non-Tesla EVs? This is where a quick study of the Electric Highway Map shows that Oregon and Washington State has surpassed California for making much of the state and the major highway usable for electric road trips. The map shows an easy to understand network of charge points for going on an EV road trip. I-5 is essentially the backbone of the EV highway on the west coast with the map showing the various supported state and federal highways with charging locations and type. California, while focused on San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego loves to show off that they have an electric system, much of it is still in a planned stage leaving really only Tesla with a solution of getting around long distance. The focus of the West Coast Green Highway project which is funded by Federal, state, city and business dollars is to give “Range Confidence” to those that choose to purchase an EV auto. This project is an extension of the Federal’s current and long-running EV Project which was funded in August 2009 and covers 9 states with chargers installed in Major cities and Metropolitan areas. The Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF are partners in this long running project. Owners of these autos could apply and those that qualify could get a free residential charger at no cost. As of March 11 2013, the EV Project had met it currently funded goal for residential charging units and is no longer accepting applications. EV Drivers can still sign up and join in the monitoring project of the public charging units to help better understand the use, need, and type of chargers. Click to Enlarge Map via WestCoastGreenHighway.com The layout of charging stations show that most are 20 to 30 miles apart with some being 50 to 60 miles apart which would require one to carefully and efficiently plan their driving. The one item that this map does not show is topography. The Pacific Northwest is a mountainous area that is also home to strong winds of which both can and do affect range of these autos. Fortunately many will find that the West Coast Green Highway site covers all of North America with alternative Fueling station locators. The Electric Highway is a part of a broader effort by the Department of Transportation for Washington, Oregon, and California to expand the use of Natural Gas, Biodiesel, Ethanol, and Hydrogen options along the 1,350 miles of I-5 from the US border with Canada to the US border with Mexico. In a drive for those that wish to help reduce greenhouse gas, clean up the air we breathe and give mother earth a break, the West Coast Green Highway project is a solid step in the right direction supporting many alternative transportation fueling options. View full article

WOW what an idiot and posts it to the web. Eventually they will get caught. Take it to the track where it can be done safely.

Nobody

Market dynamics have changed with technology and people want to have their friends and be face-booking even when cruising. 2 door Coupes are out of date except for pony cars I think.

I will take Luxury Brands now Walmart Brands for $100 please. What was a luxury maker who badge engineered every lowly manufacture product out there to grow market share destroying their luxury image? Answer Nissa-Benze Welcome to the 21st Century.

That is very cool to hear so AWD for more challanging weather and terrain but for flat highway cruising FWD mode for EV Efficiency. That is smart and will truly start to change the way people see auto's. I like the 240 mile range if that is real world results along with the supercharging. Now to get this to recharge like a petrol auto and we are there.

Will be interesting to see how the other luxury brands respond to this with their own products.

Interesting and I totally agree with him on Cadillac and the 130R. I know there are those that would love a sporty 2 door 130R but the market is not supporting it. Leave it to Miata.

Thanks Ocn for the laugh. I agree it would be wicked if it did happen for a compact pickup that City and Suburban peeps would love with High Gas mileage.

WOW, This truly makes Mercedes Benze another Toyota / Chevrolet / Ford competitor further eroding their luxury status.

Chevy Cavelier?

Sucky Photo shop that I am, wish I could figure out how people keep the background and edit the car but this is what I think the standard cab would look like for a Jeep Renegade Truck

Only selling better in product lines that the ATS and CTS does not compete in yet. Coupes, Convertibles, Hybrids. In the Apple to Apple comparison they compete very strongly. Sales Numbers prove this. But then you will still point to the over all numbers and say the Germans are better.

I am a fan of the XTS and I find many others who like it as well. So I think it works. Here in Seattle I have seen a black and a white Cadillac Hearse based on the XTS. I have also seen a couple limo's and will snap a pic next time I am out at the airport as they seem to be there all the time for private car service.

Nice but a not a Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. MPG is pathetic, exterior is just bland, agree the interior looks nicer. Over all much better options to this. For Lemmings who buy based on what they hear about past models it will sell but I do not see this as a conquest car.

If they build a truck based on that van pick I can only see it as a Failure. Plus MB continues to show it is not a Luxury brand but now a true Toyota / Chevy Brand. WRONG MOVE MB to even do a luxury truck. Look at the failed Lincoln Blackwood. If you build a truck like the Escalade EXT then yes I can see it being successful. Still feel GM F'd Up in killing the Avalanche \ EXT truck.

I doubt GM would loose the Presidents Cadillac due to stupid thinking like this. I bet that the CT6 or Escalade like Drew states can be used but they do not want to advertise it yet. I expect this business to continue.

G. David Felt Alternative Fuels & Propulsion writer www.CheersandGears.com Tesla Sales up 55% for Q1 Time Frame. Record Tesla Sales reports on ABC. Tesla sold 10,030 autos for Q1 and is reported as expecting to have over all sales of 55,000 auto's this year up from 31,000 last year. Tesla is focused to bring costs down via lower battery pack cost and the new SUV Model X to be released in 2016. This will come through reduced costs with their own battery factory and using main stream parts that can reduce costs. Course it is interesting to hear about the states that have passed laws to ban like West Virginia that says auto manufactures cannot sell direct to the public and must use a dealership franchise. Worth a listening / watching of the video. April 30th Tesla to release a new product that is not a auto. Interesting to see what it is. Tesla Tweet about new product My gut tells me a new EV Motorcycle. Some are saying a home storage unit for Solar power and quick DC Charging. 2014 Energy Storage Symposium - JB Straubels Keynote - YouTube

This is where the Compact pickup truck could excel. Forget the mid size and build a true compact pickup truck.

That is good to know so then a $20 64GB usb thumb drive and your all set for music if you do not want to use your phone of pay for the XM radio.

I highly recommend Jet Chips. They really give GM small Blocks some amazing improvements over OEM Chips. http://jetchip.com/