First Look: GM's Hybrid SUV's : )
#1
10-22-2007, 02:49 PM
First Look: GM's Hybrid SUV's : )
[align=center]First Look: GM's Hybrid SUVs
AOL Autos Takes a Drive in The World's First Full-Size Hybrid SUVs
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid[/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align]
More than once, while negotiating bumper-to-bumper traffic on a recent three-hour nightmare drive to L.A. from my Orange County, Calif., home, I thought it strange that it took until the 2008 model year for car companies to introduce a full-size hybrid SUV.
I mean, SUVs just seem destined for fuel-efficient hybrid engines, right?
So, I drove to Santa Monica's oceanview Fairmont Miramar Hotel for a first look at GM's 2008 two-mode hybrid GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe.
What did I find? GM has really delivered one hell of an SUV. I discovered that GMC's 6-liter V8 hybrid Tahoe and Yukon are perhaps the most smooth-riding and least noisy hybrid models (car or truck) on the market today.
Although the gas mileage statistics for these models are not yet formally government rated, GM says its Tahoe and Yukon hybrids may get up to a 40 percent improvement in city fuel economy over their non-hybrid versions and possibly a 25 percent improvement overall. (The same engine will also be available on the 2008 Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado.)
[align=center][/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align]
GMC Yukon Hybrid[align=center][/align][align=center][/align][center][b]Aerodynamics were also a big consideration, Cieslak said, who also states that even the wheel spokes were redesigned by world-class aerodynamics specialists. In addition, GM took "mass reductions" in the SUVs' weight by creati
AOL Autos Takes a Drive in The World's First Full-Size Hybrid SUVs
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid[/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align]
More than once, while negotiating bumper-to-bumper traffic on a recent three-hour nightmare drive to L.A. from my Orange County, Calif., home, I thought it strange that it took until the 2008 model year for car companies to introduce a full-size hybrid SUV.
I mean, SUVs just seem destined for fuel-efficient hybrid engines, right?
So, I drove to Santa Monica's oceanview Fairmont Miramar Hotel for a first look at GM's 2008 two-mode hybrid GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe.
What did I find? GM has really delivered one hell of an SUV. I discovered that GMC's 6-liter V8 hybrid Tahoe and Yukon are perhaps the most smooth-riding and least noisy hybrid models (car or truck) on the market today.
Although the gas mileage statistics for these models are not yet formally government rated, GM says its Tahoe and Yukon hybrids may get up to a 40 percent improvement in city fuel economy over their non-hybrid versions and possibly a 25 percent improvement overall. (The same engine will also be available on the 2008 Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado.)
To hear GM's head engineers talk about this engine is like listening to a pilot talk about flying a plane. It's complicated.
Basically, there are three engines, one gas and two electric ... motors to be exact (one of which is located under the second row seats). All of the engines are highly interconnected machines, giving the Tahoe or Yukon (and the upcoming 2008 Escalade, Sierra and Silverado) a hefty 332 hp.
"This is a no-excuses hybrid," said GM's chief hybrid engineer Mark Cieslak. "We took a full-size truck to the next level by improving fuel efficiency and performance."
Sure, GM did bring better fuel efficiency to these utilitarian vehicles with seats enough for eight passengers and a 6,000-lb. towing capacity, but did their engineers really improve performance?
"GM looked at every single aspect of these SUVs, from the engines to the interiors and exteriors, to extract as much energy savings as possible, Cieslak said." For example, the electric variable transmission (EVT) was designed to take full advantage of the engine to maximize fuel efficiency. In conjunction with the EVT, GM is using Active Fuel Management , which shuts down four of the eight cylinders in the engine when needed, further increasing fuel efficiency. And, these full-size SUVs run on electric power alone up to 32 mph. To capture even more available energy, GM's engineers developed a "fully-blended regenerative brake system" that gathers energy every time you use the brakes and uses it to recharge the battery pack.
[align=center][/align]Basically, there are three engines, one gas and two electric ... motors to be exact (one of which is located under the second row seats). All of the engines are highly interconnected machines, giving the Tahoe or Yukon (and the upcoming 2008 Escalade, Sierra and Silverado) a hefty 332 hp.
"This is a no-excuses hybrid," said GM's chief hybrid engineer Mark Cieslak. "We took a full-size truck to the next level by improving fuel efficiency and performance."
Sure, GM did bring better fuel efficiency to these utilitarian vehicles with seats enough for eight passengers and a 6,000-lb. towing capacity, but did their engineers really improve performance?
"GM looked at every single aspect of these SUVs, from the engines to the interiors and exteriors, to extract as much energy savings as possible, Cieslak said." For example, the electric variable transmission (EVT) was designed to take full advantage of the engine to maximize fuel efficiency. In conjunction with the EVT, GM is using Active Fuel Management , which shuts down four of the eight cylinders in the engine when needed, further increasing fuel efficiency. And, these full-size SUVs run on electric power alone up to 32 mph. To capture even more available energy, GM's engineers developed a "fully-blended regenerative brake system" that gathers energy every time you use the brakes and uses it to recharge the battery pack.
GMC Yukon Hybrid
#2
10-22-2007, 02:54 PM
RE: First Look: GM's Hybrid SUV's : )
I'm sorry member's [X(]
I'm having a difficult time trying to get the pictures to stick to
the posts : (
Click on the links, on the above post 
to view SUV's
to view SUV's
#3
10-22-2007, 03:59 PM
RE: First Look: GM's Hybrid SUV's : )
I tried looking around in your link, and when I clicked on the Hybrid Yukon it gave me a price quote for a gasoline powered 2008 Yukon. Must be me and my horrible navigation skills. I guess that's why the tasmanian devil is alway going through trees instead of around them. 
Anyway... here's a link to info on the Yukon and Tahoe hybrids from GM's website.
http://www.gm.com/explore/fuel_econo...kon/index2.jsp
Anyway... here's a link to info on the Yukon and Tahoe hybrids from GM's website.
http://www.gm.com/explore/fuel_econo...kon/index2.jsp
#4
11-11-2007, 01:51 PM
RE: First Look: GM's Hybrid SUV's : )
Not worth the money. I'll take my $6000 2000 Blazer any day of the week... I don't think I'll go through over $30000 in gas savings.
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