Skip to main content

Cadillac Converj

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."

Popular posts from this blog

Lamborghini Diamante

Thomas Granjard's Final year degree project at Coventry University Lamborghini Diamante University project (not developed with Lamborghini) Trailer We're in the year 2023. Oil is getting depleted on our planet. However, mobility will continue to exist, it needs to. Such mobility not only includes boring electric vehicles for the city but also supersportcars with alternative drive systems. Flat, fast, extreme – cars that still set everyone in the mood for mobility without having a bad conscience – such as the eco-friendly Diamante Concept Car. This concept combines exclusivity and extremes in one single supersportcar. The name says it all. The most valuable mineral in the world stands for luxury, but also for naturalness, pureness, hardness and beauty – exactly as the dream car with the white collar. Its extremely flat silhouette is flanked by sharply outlined edges, the curved surface appears to be unpolished, rough, precious. The aerodynamic system uses movable wings to ...

Maserati Ghibli vs BMW 6 Series : Which Will You Buy?

When considering vehicles like Maserati Ghibli and the BWM 6 Series Gran Coupe, both reflect an effort toward blending dignified luxury with exhilarating performance. Though beholding vehicles of this caliber is always an exercise most fruitfully left to the natural eye, the image above serves as a simple example of each sedan’s inherent dignity. In lieu of experiencing each vehicle’s performance profile from behind the wheel, the table provided similarly works to demonstrate what both Ghibli and BMW’s 6 series have been engineered to accomplish. Comparing the Maserati Ghibli vs. BMW 6 Series in this regard yields a number of important emphases. Local clients will notice that both vehicles develop their identity around six-cylinder engines with a pair of strategic turbochargers. Yet regardless of identical displacement and analogous induction technology, Maserati serves its Ghibli clients with significantly greater quantities of horsepower and torque. In addition to t...

Lamborghini Estoque

The Lamborghini Estoque (Spanish pronunciation: [esˈtoke]) is a concept car built by Lamborghini. Unlike current production Lamborghini cars, which are mid-engine two-seat sports cars, the Estoque is a four-door sedan. The Estoque was introduced at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The Estoque is the first front-engine vehicle by Lamborghini since the LM002 utility vehicle. It is described as a "concept for a $230,000 four-door sedan". It currently houses a 5.2 litre V10 engine, although there has been speculation that this could be replaced by a V12, V8, or possibly even a hybrid or turbo-diesel engine, as suggested by Lamborghini's Brand Director, Manfred Fitzgerald. As with other Lamborghinis, the Estoque derives its name from the sport and tradition of bullfighting: An estoque is a type of sword traditionally used by matadors. Speculation regarding production It was reported on 22 March 2009 that production plans for the Lamborghini Estoque were cancelled. Lamborghini ex...