AutoblogGreen

Just to be clear: sixteen hybrids does not mean you get to count the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado as two models, or the Tahoe, Silverado, Sierra, Avalanche and Suburban as five. I'll give on the Aura and Malibu, but that's it.

I'd have been happier if the announcement was "one hybrid per EPA size class" or "one hybrid per distinct platform". Coming from the Master of Rebranding, this isn't a thrilling stat.

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They can be counted as different models, because every other automaker does so. I don't see anybody making these distinctios for Lexus & Toyota. GMC & Chevy are not targeted towards the same end consumer....i am sure you knew that already though.

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@VP

Nice Red Herring on the Toyota and Lexus thing, but we're still not letting GM off the hook, here:

Putting aside the fact that, compared to GM, Toyota has very little overlap in it's product matrix, we're talking about hybrids, not the full model line. Toyota has the following hybrids
Purpose-built: Prius
Mid-size FWD sedan: Camry
7-Seat CUV: Highlander
Luxury CUV: RX
Luxury Midsize: GS
Luxury Fullsize: LS
I don't see any overlap there. By comparison, GM has:
Mid-size: Malibu, Aura
1/2 Ton Truck: Sierra, Silverado
Small SUV: Vue

That's three classes of hybrids for GM (I'm not differentiating between BAS and two-mode) and six for Toyota. You could say GM has seven hybrids now, but I don't think you, or anyone else, could say that there's enough difference between the Sierra and Silverado to warrant such a claim. GM isn't selling seven hybrids, they're selling three under seven brands. Toyota is selling six distinct platforms.

The planned sixteen future hybrids, Volt aside, are going to be rebadges of these cars (the next G6, the Torrent and Equinox, the Avalanche/Escalate/etc). If I'm wrong and they're actually different platforms, I'll eat my hat.

Please, the Sierra and Silverado appeal to different markets? What markets would those be, people who buy GM pickups from a division with three letters in it's name versus one with nine letters in it's name?

I want to believe that GM intends to sell a hybrid Aveo, Cobalt, Malibu, Impala, G8, HHR, CTS, Vue, Solstice, 9-3, etc, etc by 2011, but I have doubts that's what we'll get.

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A more honest response could be that the whole line of GM vehicles is going hybrid. I am suspicious that GM cares anyway (Corporations have no heart.)
I would love to see a Sierra or Silverado going hybrid or whatever but better mpg instead of bluffing about powerful motors, plastic chrome everywhere or misleading claims about dual power. I think Toyota has an excellent product but they only release what is necessary to compete, maybe they have better technology, who knows. Ford is falling behind losing money on the F Line selling their trucks cheaper just to claim they are stronger vehicles. Chrysler is not trying anymore to tattoo HEMI on our foreheads, at the end I wonder if they really understand what the average consumer wants, an efficient, simple, good product.

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