Cadillac Converj to be built

The Cadillac Converj hybrid is to go in to production

Cadillac are going to put in to production the Converj – a Chevvy Volt based hybrid – although not until 2012.

The Cadillac Converj (daft name) was shown as a concept at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year and signalled a new direction for Cadillac – it was decent looking and smaller than an aircraft carrier. And it was a hybrid. How things change.

But with all the woes that GM had it seemed like it was produced as a concept more in hope than reality. GM where in a big mess and the Converj seemed as if it may just be a bit of show-boating. But if reports by the Detroit Press are true GM has decided that the Converj is a go – or at least it is for 2012.

With GM seemingly back on its feet this is a very sound move. The underpinnings of the Converj are basically those of the Chevvy Volt /Vauxhall Ampera. In other words, it’s a hybrid. With a 16kwh bank of lithium ion batteries powering a 120kw electric motor generating 161bhp it is about as far away from the big V8 Caddies as you could imagine. In fact it gets a four-pot 1.4 litre engine that is in effect a range extender. The Converj is a plug-in hybrid with a 40 mile electric only range which then turns to the 1.4 litre engine to charge the batteries and run the electric motor.

It’s said that GM will dial in a bit more performance in the Converj than in the Volt. Whether that means a more sporty setup or bigger electric motor and battery bank – or both – is still not known. But margins on the premium priced Converj are going to be much better than those on the Volt, so this is a good way to get back the Volt’s development costs in a higher-end car.

You never know, the Americans might just fall in love with an economical Cadillac.