A BIG Buick with a Voltec power train would be awesome. And they already have have the best name in the world - ELECTRA.

I bet the current Gen II Voltec would net 43+ miles all electric.

 

Sure wish it had been a plug in instead. ;(

 

I'm with you. Making the LaCrosse and Malibu plugins should be easy, but I suspect GM is holding back until the $7500 tax credit limit is exceeded to maximize sales on the Bolt, Volt and CT6. After that they can sell as many elegible cars they want for the next 6 months and get 50% of the credit, after that any eligible vehicle gets 25% for the next six months.

 

Baby steps.

 

I don't think I see anything saying that the LaCrosse hybrid will be sold in North America.

 

Presumably this will be the Malibu hybrid powertrain, which is Voltec G2 plus improvements but minus the big battery. Pretty obviously, it 1) needs to come to North America, and 2) we hope they're working on a plug-in version. Otherwise Buick is going to find itself out in the cold as more and more consumers want the ability to plug in.

 

\Otherwise Buick is going to find itself out in the cold as more and more consumers want the ability to plug in.

Except in China, Buick is going to find itself out in the cold as more and more of their customers are in nursing homes.

In China (where Buick is quite successful), plugs will likely be required in a few more years. China has some ambitious vehicle electrification goals which keep getting expanded.

 

What we are seeing is the slow hybridization of ICE cars with light EV capabilities. From there it's a sliding scale to EREV's like the Volt, to full EV like the Bolt EV. Despite the news, there are still many, many people who don't understand EV's, but might dip a toe in the water with a Malibu or CT6 or now perhaps a LaCrosse. Getting Prius numbers in a full-size car will interest people, especially when gas prices start edging up again.

As El Dobro said, baby steps are need for many people to make the transition. Once they understand the water is fine, they will be more interested in taking a full EV plunge, or maybe something like the Volt, EV with ICE backup.

 

A few years ago, GM offered their mild hybrid setup, the eAssist, in two vehicles, the Malibu and the LaCrosse.

It seems only logical that these two vehicles will be the first with the new Gen 2-based hybrid transmission.

 

I think what's significant for me is the use of the Voltec electric transmission/propulsion and small battery in lieu of the more conventional automatic transmission in a mainstream vehicle. Its evidence of the beginning of a full scale transformation in cars and trucks to electrified power trains. As a person who appreciates the virtues of the Volt it is easy to view this as a baby step or a transition to a plugin EV, but in reality a full hybrid propulsion system in ordinary cars is all GM needs to meet future CAFE requirements. None the less, driving all electric is more pleasurable, and more efficient, so perhaps we will see both hybrid and plugin versions of many upcoming vehicles based on the Voltec system.

By the way, the LaCrosse occupies the same space in the market as the Impala, both use the same chassis and the same two ICE powertrains are offered. So I expect there will be an announcement of an Impala hybrid soon. These two trains are used throughout GM's lineup so expect to see similar Voltec based powertrains in many other vehicles and SUVs. Anyone want to venture a guess which, and will we see more plugins??