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As of this month GM is adding a third model to its family of Two-Mode hybrids as the Cadillac Escalade hybrid becomes the first luxury SUV so equipped. The Escalade is of course built on the same GMT900 platform as the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. As such much of what goes in the places you can't see is exactly the same on all three vehicles including the entire powertrain. All three SUVs get the same 6.0L V8 paired up with the Two-Mode transmission. Unlike Chrysler's new hybrid SUVs all three GM trucks are available in either rear or all wheel drive.

The Escalade distinguishes itself from its siblings with unique front and rear styling and a significantly more upscale interior. If you thought the first two hybrid SUVs were expensive you haven't seen anything yet. The rear wheel drive Escalade price tag tips the scales at a mere $71,685 some $20,000 more than the Tahoe. That makes the Escalade the world's second most expensive hybrid behind the Lexus LS600h. Unlike the earlier hybrids GM is actually declaring that the Escalade hybrid commands a $3,600 price premium over a comparably equipped conventional model. We had a chance to take a short drive in the Escalade around Birmingham MI today.


Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

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This summer, Chrysler hits the market with the 2-Mode hybrid Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen. Chrysler and former owner Daimler partnered with General Motors and BMW back in 2006 to help bring the 2-Mode hybrid system to light-duty vehicles. The setup was originally developed for use in buses by Allison transmission when it was a part of GM.

The 2-Mode transmission made its passenger vehicle debut last year in the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Built by General Motors at its Baltimore, MD transmission plant, the GM and Chrysler systems have identical internals, but there are some packaging differences where the units mate up to the two manufacturers' engines and transfer cases. We attended Chrysler's New England launch event for the hybrid Aspen and Durango. Read on to see our initial driving impressions.


Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

The EPA has posted the official mileage numbers for the new Two-Mode hybrid variants of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks. The open bed crew-cab hybrid trucks scored the same numbers as their full bodye SUV siblings. The rear wheel drive models came in at 21/22 mpg city/hwy while the four drive models achieved 20/20 mpg. The conventional model with the same 6.0L V8 only manages 14 mpg in town and 19 on the highway in rear wheel drive form. The hardware on the pickups is the same as the existing 2008 hybrid SUVs although the powertrain engineers kept plugging away at the control software after releasing the SUVs. The updated software will also be incorporated into the upcoming Saturn Vue Two-mode and the 2009 Tahoe/Yukon.



[Source: EPA]

In the course of developing hybrid vehicles, automakers typically try to minimize parasitic losses wherever possible to maximize the fuel efficiency numbers. For Chrysler's first production hybrids, the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen, the struggling automaker has incorporated a new sensor that measures temperature and humidity. Like GM's two-mode hybrids, the air conditioning system in the Chryslers is electrically driven off the hybrid battery. As those of us who live in areas with hot humid conditions are aware, the moisture level in the air has as much to do with perceived heat as the ambient temperature.

The new integrated temperature humidity sensor factors this in to the climate control to use only as much A/C as needed. If the temperature outside is 80F and the humidity is 80 percent, the system will control the temperature to a lower level than if the humidity was only 30 percent. While this has absolutely no impact on the EPA (because the air conditioning is turned off during testing) numbers, it will benefit drivers in the real world. The ITHS has been patented by Chrysler and Daimler and will only appear in vehicles from those companies for the time being.

[Source: CarList.com]

Now that Chrysler is getting ready to launch the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen hybrids into the world in a few months, the question of what's next arises. We already know about the Dodge Ram getting the Two-Mode hybrid system in 2010. About this time last year at Chrysler's 2008 model year preview EVP-product development Frank Klegon indicated that there would be additional hybrid applications coming in the next few years. Mike Accavitti, Dodge Brand director told the Detroit Free Press that the Dodge Journey crossover is one of the possible candidates that is being looked at. The Journey seems an obvious candidate and could see the Two-Mode hybrid soon. GM is actually supplying the two-mode transmissions for the Durango and Ram and has a front wheel drive version that will debut this fall in the Saturn Vue. It's possible that GM could supply that same unit to development partner Chrysler for applications like the Journey. Since the Journey shares a platform with Chrysler's mid-size Sebring and Avenger they could also see hybrid versions. The minivans would also seem like a good application since many drivers of such vehicles use them around town to shuttle munchkins and businesses use them as delivery vehicles.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]