Can hybrid technology save large SUVs

So big it's scary?

Not only are the sales of largest SUVs declining, resale value is also racing downward. All of this as happened as GM's large hybrid SUVs have hit the road, but are these hybrid vehicles the solution to high gas costs for SUV drivers?

Probably not. In the last two months GM has sold a combined 1000 such hybrids combined.

It's not that hybrid SUVs, such as the Chevy Tahoe hybrid or the GMC Yukon hybrid, don't offer a huge increase in fuel economy, they do. With a 50 percent improvement in city fuel economy, these hybrid SUVs provide a great increase in fuel economy over their conventional counterparts. But they are still huge, and they cost $50,000+.

For those needing a large SUV, these hybrid SUVs are a good deal. For everyone else, however, smaller vehicles seem to be looking better by the minute, or at least every penny that gasoline prices increase.

Ready to check out the dual mode Saturn Vue

A Saturn Vue hybrid at the LA Auto Show

I haven't been a big fan of GM's Saturn Vue mild hybrid, however, today GM is officially debuting the Saturn Vue dual mode hybrid vehicle. Expected to achieve 50 percent better fuel economy than a conventional Vue, the new dual mode Vue hybrid should hit the streets at the end of this year. With such an improvement in fuel economy, the Vue hybrid will be an excellent addition to the hybrid suvs segment.

The Toyota Prius: The Little Car that Could

The world will never be the same

A few years ago on the blogosphere, the disdain for the Toyota Prius often seemed to out-weigh the support for the Prius. It seemed you either loved or hated the Prius, and the haters were just as vocal, if not more, than the lovers.

These days Prius haters are much more silent, or they've changed their focus. Instead of calling hybrids a niche technology, or an over-rated technology, many have instead begun to support the hybrid vehicles of their favorite automaker.

For example, some of the biggest hybrid haters have been GM fans, probably because many fans of GM have enjoyed SUVs and seemed to feel that the Prius was a threat to their SUV lifestyle. And, let's be fair, many Prius drivers do hate SUVs. So, the attacks seemed to become almost personal. Read more....

Greenwashing: Will the Saturn Vue dual mode hybrid be small enough?

Smaller than the Yukon, but small enough?

A few weeks ago I posted the article Greenwashing: GM's dual mode hybrid vehicles based off an article by LA Time's writer Dan Neil. Basically Dan wondered what was bigger, GM's hybrid marketing budget or their hybrid production budget.

To some extent, GM answered that question recently at the GMnext event, "a global communications initiative celebrating the start of our second century."

Still, what we know is that GM is focused on nothing but hybrid SUVs until the Chevy Volt and that the Saturn Vue hybrid will be GM's smallest full hybrid. Can these vehicles really compete in the hybrid segment? Read more....

Yukon hybrid picks up best engine award

Another award for GM's hybrids

GM's hybrid SUVs are on a role. First, the Chevy Tahoe hybrid picked up the Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show, then it was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year. Now Ward's has named the GMC Yukon hybrid a 10 Best Engine for 2008.

Focusing on engines that improve fuel economy without compromising performance, the 6.0-liter OHV V8 hybrid that powers the Yukon hybrid was the only hybrid engine on the list. Both the Tahoe hybrid and the Yukon hybrid will be coming to a dealer near you soon.

Can GM turn SUV drivers green?

The face of the devil according to environmentalists?

Following the Detroit Auto Show last January, my hosts, GM, gave me a ride to the airport in a Cadillac Escalade. As an SUV-hater, this simple trip to the airport was a profound moment. I realized that I had probably never been more comfortable in a vehicle as I was in that Escalade.

I had a similar moment, again provided by GM, when I was asked to test drive the Chevy Tahoe hybrid back in August, after which I penned my thoughts in the post, The Devil Drives a Tahoe hybrid.

Now I didn't come up with such a title because I think such full-sized SUVs are evil, which I kind of do, rather I compared the Tahoe hybrid to the devil because the Tahoe hybrid had caused me temptation. Like the Escalade, the Tahoe hybrid was a joy to drive, unlike the Escalade, however, the Tahoe was a hybrid SUV. Read more......

Dude, that hybrid got a Hemi?

What a hemi-powered hybrid is all about?

One of the most interesting displays of hybrid technology happened at the Chrysler section of the LA Auto Show. Both the Dodge Durango hybrid and the Chryser Aspen hybrid made their debuts connected to big boats and campers.

I'll post a picture later, but seeing Hemi and hybrid badged together onto some large SUVs just didn't seem right. All that I could think of when looking at these hybrid SUVs was, 'Dude, that hybrid got a Hemi'?

Still, a Hemi-powered hybrid SUV is better than a Hemi-powered SUV.

American hybrids: SUVs versus Cars, Part 3.333

Where is an American-made Prius fighter?

I've made no bones about it. I'm a car fan, especially a hybrid car fan. That doesn't mean I hate SUVs, but I'm not a fan, especially of large SUVs when not functionally needed. Nonetheless, I agree that hybrid SUVs are a good step forward for Detroit.

The other day I addressed many of these issues in "Where is my American-made hybrid".

Today, I was again thinking about American-made hybrid SUVs versus hybrid cars, and here's another stab at why I think hybrid cars are as important, if not more important, than hybrid SUVs.

First, I'm not aware of one single mass-produced vehicle made by the American Big 3 that - if all Americans drove them - provide the kind of fuel efficiency that could end foreign oil dependency. The Toyota Prius, on the other hand, is very close to this capability.

To me, that's a huge problem. More important, it underscores the absolute need for more fuel efficient vehicles of all sizes. If America wants to end foreign oil dependency, we can't do this fast enough.

Second, just as there are many SUV fans, there are many car fans, and Detroit has ignored these consumers, to a large extent, for decades. Thus, for American automakers to be more successful in the U.S. market - via increased marketshare - hybrid cars, not SUVs, I believe, are more important.

Where is my American-made hybrid?

Chevy's foreign oil dependency fighter?

Many SUV fans believe that hybrid SUVs are more important than hybrid cars. These SUV advocates argue that converting the most inefficient vehicles into hybrids results in the greatest fuel savings.

While I see the logic in this belief, I don't agree. Yes, hybrid SUVs are extremely important, but they are not more important than smaller hybrid cars.

For instance, if I'm single, and I want to have the greatest impact on foreign oil dependency, it is far better to buy a Toyota Prius or a Civic hybrid, rather than a Tahoe hybrid.

--> Finish: Where is my American-made hybrid?

Really? Why we need big hybrid SUVs?

Because Americans can't get over big is better?

Some of the biggest hybrid fans out there are hybrid SUV fans. Yes, they feel guilty about the gas they are guzzling, but they love their SUVs, and many of those fans are extremely interested in GM's upcoming hybrid SUVs, the Yukon hybrid and the Tahoe hybrid.

For SUV fans, a hybrid SUV is like having your cake and eating it too.

Consequently, Peter Valdes-Dapena wrote yesterday that large hybrid SUVs are actually more important than hybrids, such as the Prius.

--> Finish: Really? Why we need big hybrid SUVs?