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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."

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