Hybrid Commodore by 2010

[2fishingdogs]

Interesting read, what will Ford's reply be?
hybrid commodore

[boss-290]

Originally Posted by 2fishingdogs

Interesting read, what will Ford's reply be?
hybrid commodore

A diesel Falcon.

[JACK250]

Check out the caption under the picture, current top-selling?

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by JACK250

Check out the caption under the picture, current top-selling?

Not current or top selling!

[dom_105]

There are enough Hybrid/Diesel engines (either floating around now or in the final stages in development) in the Ford family for el presidente to go overseas and hand pick one.

The 2009 Ford Fusion update is getting a Hybrid option - http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car...d_fusion_spied

[davocol]

Green stripes on gts? We could have already been steps ahead with diesel, hopefully it will come before this hybrid.

[asusdragon]

hehehe just reading further down a 4 cylindrr commodore anyone hear camria there lol wondering how well it will do next time round.

if i had to choose between hybrid or diesel i would be going diesel at least you would still have some power to use, i could see a hybrid commodore as being quite weighty

[Fairlane]

Ill believe it when I see it- One of Holden's chief engineers said the future was LPG. And as for Diesel, well weve been hearing the rumours for years.

4 Cylinder Commodore... Shudder. Does anyone else remember the Starfire?

The power of a 4 with the economy of a 6. Ive had the misfortune to drive a Corona fitted with one, made my Hillman feel quick.

[BHDOGS]

Hopefully ford dont waste there time building a hybrid engine and build a big and better v8 for my to thrash

[Rodp]

I don't think Ford need to do much to reply to that. I'd expect the price of a Commy hybrid to be at a premium, sure to offset petrol prices for a number of years.

[Bossxr8]

Why do journos take what someone says and turn it around. Nowhere did they confirm thats its going to happen, the GM guy said they were looking at it and it might become available in a couple of years. Suddenly its been confirmed for 2010. No chance. It would be a pretty huge engineering job an they would be lucky to have it on the market by 2013, where do they fit the batteries. Structural engineering changes would be required.

Hybrids aren't the answer anyway, who's going to pay another 5-10k for a Hybrid Commodore, it would take 20 years just to make the fuel savings back, and by then you would have probably needed to replace the batteries anyway nullifying the savings. I find it hard to see how tens of millions of dollars in R&D is ever going to be payed back by limited sales of Hybrids. Hybrids are a con that only attract hippies that want to look they are saving the planet. Diesel is a much better proposition, easier to implement and potentially higher selling too.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Why do journos take what someone says and turn it around. Nowhere did they confirm thats its going to happen, the GM guy said they were looking at it and it might become available in a couple of years. Suddenly its been confirmed for 2010. No chance. It would be a pretty huge engineering job an they would be lucky to have it on the market by 2013, where do they fit the batteries. Structural engineering changes would be required.

Hybrids aren't the answer anyway, who's going to pay another 5-10k for a Hybrid Commodore, it would take 20 years just to make the fuel savings back, and by then you would have probably needed to replace the batteries anyway nullifying the savings. I find it hard to see how tens of millions of dollars in R&D is ever going to be payed back by limited sales of Hybrids. Hybrids are a con that only attract hippies that want to look they are saving the planet. Diesel is a much better proposition, easier to implement and potentially higher selling too.

Geez. People are going to start to think we're the same person. Agreed 100%. Reminds me of a rather apt Soutpark episode. The economy you can get from Peugeots or Volkswagen diesels is astounding. You'd feel hard done by if you weren't getting 1000kms out of a 55 litre tank. Their emissions are also exceptional.

I'll go further than my last post and suggest a Hybrid large sedan Commy would be financial suicide.

[Need_a_V8]

Originally Posted by Rodp

I don't think Ford need to do much to reply to that. I'd expect the price of a Commy hybrid to be at a premium, sure to offset petrol prices for a number of years.

Its the same deal with the Prius mate. If you've driven one you'd agree that they are a POS and are quite expensive also. Yet they've sold 1 million of the things.

Holden are appealing to the government for a tax break as a hybrid commodore would be 20-30% more expensive than a standard commodore. (7-10 grand).

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by Need_a_V8

Its the same deal with the Prius mate. If you've driven one you'd agree that they are a POS and are quite expensive also. Yet they've sold 1 million of the things.

Holden are appealing to the government for a tax break as a hybrid commodore would be 20-30% more expensive than a standard commodore. (7-10 grand).

I think the Prius captured the imagination of the gullible public that thought they were going to save on fuel to justify the higher initial outlay as well as leave a smaller carbon footprint. It's since been proven to be bollocks. It'd be a ballsy manufacturer to expect another gullible wave.

[2fishingdogs]

Well holden would be gutsy enough. They just have to make some bull and the general public would eat it up.

[DoreSlamR]

I can see the Smug clouds coming already!!!

[whales]

Originally Posted by 2fishingdogs

Well holden would be gutsy enough. They just have to make some bull and the general public would eat it up.

Spot on

[Need_a_V8]

Originally Posted by Rodp

I think the Prius captured the imagination of the gullible public that thought they were going to save on fuel to justify the higher initial outlay as well as leave a smaller carbon footprint. It's since been proven to be bollocks. It'd be a ballsy manufacturer to expect another gullible wave.

Most sales are fleet sales I believe, trying to portray a green front.

GM are already sending the Chevrolet Volt here, so they are expecting it to sell (despite Mooney saying himself it just doesnt make sense).

The technology has come a long way from the Prius though, the second gen prius and chevrolet volt should make it slightly more viable and if Holden get a tax break from the government that will help alot.

If the diesel and hybrid options were the same price, I would see alot opting for the hybrid.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by Need_a_V8

Most sales are fleet sales I believe, trying to portray a green front.

GM are already sending the Chevrolet Volt here, so they are expecting it to sell (despite Mooney saying himself it just doesnt make sense).

The technology has come a long way from the Prius though, the second gen prius and chevrolet volt should make it slightly more viable and if Holden get a tax break from the government that will help alot.

If the diesel and hybrid options were the same price, I would see alot opting for the hybrid.

Any word on prices? Compare the price of a new Prius to that of a diesel Focus. You're looking at ~6k in favour of the Focus. I'd suspect the economy between the two also wouldn't be that far off. I know I'd be opting for the Focus.

If the GM offering is roughly the same as the price of a comparable diesel then it probably will sell well to those ignorant to the economy and performance of diesel. If it's more expensive, then a decent marketing campaign from any company that offers a small diesel could sink the car before it even hit our shores.

[Yellow_Festiva]

There has already been a hybrid commy i'm certain.

It was done as a promotion during the 2000 Olympics, called the ECommodore, it used modified shell (think cross between the coupe and the 4dr), but still was a 4 dr sedan, just sleeker looking.

It had low profile / large diameter wheels, but had stoopidly thin tyres, like a 185 or 195 (special one of size perhaps?) this was to reduce rolling friction.

Also think it was a 4cyl with a battery pack.....

Wonder if they went ahead with further R&D where it would be now.. but then again with petrol being what it was 8 years ago there would have not been a market for it.

Edit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecommodore

Edit again:

http://www.fastlane.com.au/News/Holden_ECOmmodore.htm

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

There has already been a hybrid commy i'm certain.

It was done as a promotion during the 2000 Olympics, called the ECommodore, it used modified shell (think cross between the coupe and the 4dr), but still was a 4 dr sedan, just sleeker looking.

It had low profile / large diameter wheels, but had stoopidly thin tyres, like a 185 or 195 (special one of size perhaps?) this was to reduce rolling friction.

Also think it was a 4cyl with a battery pack.....

Wonder if they went ahead with further R&D where it would be now.. but then again with petrol being what it was 8 years ago there would have not been a market for it.

Edit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecommodore

Edit again:

http://www.fastlane.com.au/News/Holden_ECOmmodore.htm

4 door Monaro anyone?

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by Dezza!

4 door Monaro anyone?

Oops. Look here:
http://www.netcarshow.com/holden/200...odore_concept/

[ieatsports_cars]

i wonder how many times that will be recalled in 2010

[csv8]

Batteries
in a PRIUS cost $3500 to replace and if you have a
major accident and cables are exposed
you cann't go near it !

[Dezza]

Speaking of hybrids, I saw a Prius Taxi on Saturday!

[atec77]

Originally Posted by 2fishingdogs

Interesting read, what will Ford's reply be?
hybrid commodore

A decent Diesel which is much more interesting after all the toyo offering is ugly gutless and nothing that I would own so I expect the same from gmh being a yank company

[uranium_death]

People who buy the Prius mean well and want to help the environment. I have no complaints there.

However, these are the same people who leave lights on when they aren't in a room, leave their TV on overnight and forget to turn it off, burn off leaves when it can be used as mulch - which helps to limit evaporation around plants...

My point is that saving the world starts in your own home and not in the car yards.

Anyway, the Prius is superficially a green car, but I have heard that just to produce one, the amount of rubbish released is so great, that there is no benefit in driving a Prius.

If people want to be green, then take public transport, ride a bike, or walk!

If Commodore released a green option, it will sell well as they'll put on the green front and people will be attracted to that. It might be ugly, sluggish and boring like the Prius, but people won't care.

It's sad, as am I.

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

People who buy the Prius mean well and want to help the environment. I have no complaints there.

I have some complaints with Prius, I'm a bit worried with a million of them and more with other hi-breds on the road.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_oxide
&
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_nitrate

May have more to worry about.

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by Burnedout

I have some complaints with Prius, I'm a bit worried with a million of them and more with other hi-breds on the road.

My point was that I think the gesture is right, but the Prius is not the answer.

[Need_a_V8]

Originally Posted by Burnedout

I have some complaints with Prius, I'm a bit worried with a million of them and more with other hi-breds on the road.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_oxide
&
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_nitrate

May have more to worry about.

There are some massive increases in carcinogenic emissions (180% of some chemicals) using Ethanol based fuels, but you don't see that slowing down either.

Its quite funny how people are paranoid about global warming and carbon emissions, so instead we're pumping huge amounts of cancer causing chemicals into our atmosphere. Heres hoping we develop a cure for cancer too :p