January8
General Motors has unveiled its Cadillac Provoq concept car, which serves to showcase the company's latest hydrogen fuel cell technology, while also providing a preview of the forthcoming BRX crossover's exterior.
Fuel Cell Technology
The concept can drive 300 miles when fully fueled — 280 miles from hydrogen and 20 miles on pure battery power. The latter figure is important because it means many drivers would be able to make their daily commute without consuming any fuel. While the hydrogen system can charge the batteries, a plug-in feature would also allow owners to recharge the system overnight.
A pair of 10,000 psi (700 bar) composite storage tanks beneath the rear cargo floor hold 13.2 pounds (6 kg) of hydrogen to feed the fuel cell stack, located under the hood. The system can generate 88 kW continuous power and the batteries can provide an additional 60 kW for acceleration.
The electricity generated by the fuel cell is distributed to a 70 kW co-axial drive system for the front wheels and individual, 40 kW wheel hub motors on the rear wheels, giving the Cadillac Provoq its all-wheel-drive. Zero to 60 mph takes 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 100 mph is possible.
BRX Previewed
With all this talk of high-tech powertrains, it would be easy to overlook the most important aspect of the Provoq in the short term — its exterior design. Cadillac is widely expected to launch a new crossover called the BRX for the 2009 or 2010 model year. The Provoq apears to provide a good indicator of how that vehicle will look.
The new crossover is said to be a smaller, more economical replacement for Cadillac's slow-selling SRX and will ride on long-wheelbase version of the Theta II platform — the same that underpins the Saturn Vue.
Sources say engine choice will include a range of V6s, as well as a diesel. All the models will be made in Mexico and exported to the U.S. and Europe.
Improved interior likely to see production
While many of these so-called design preview concept feature production exteriors with wild and adventurous interiors, the Provoq actually has a very market-ready cabin.
The interior seats five and incorporates the latest trends in Cadillac's interior design department. Similarities to the new CTS sedan are plain to see, including much better seating, ergonomics, and materials than those found in Cadillac models of past years.
The interior has a contrasting, dark gray and light gray color scheme, with chrome and satin-chrome accents throughout. Ambient lighting extends across the instrument panel and into the door panels, as well as the foot wells, sills and under the seats.
A unique instrument cluster with large, reconfigurable LCD displays offers a multitude of vehicle information readouts. Like the CTS, the Provoq has a prominent center stack that houses the audio and climate systems, as well as a navigation system that rises out of the top of the instrument panel. Also like the CTS, there is an integrated hard drive that stores navigation maps, thousands of songs and so on.
Very Slick. Cadillac does this Art And Science thing well. Love that front end and its a very handsome C.U.V. too!
GM is truly ona role design wise..at the moment, each division is scoring hit after hit. Well done for getting back to producing cars that inspire people..this thing looks production ready with merely a smattering of showcar details to disguise it
gm on a role design wise? maybe, but do you really state that this car is proof for that? just looks like an overblown dodge caliber with a cts-frontend slapped to it…
No I don't state this car as just proof of that. Its yet another great car after a string of nice new models. We've had Malibu, CTS, Enclave, The AUra and Astra, the other Lambdas, the Sky and the G8. All great cars…thats plenty proof.
This is a very well done design, in my opinion. Interesting and good to see some of my own personal friend's designs still are in these. Too bad he is not still with them.
That being said, I tire of a roofline that slopes from the zenith that is usually directly above the driver's head, then proceeds to slope downward to give the rear a tapered look. Couple that with the C or D pillar (whichever is final on that style) has a sloped/thickening/hoff-kink and it just adds to ever diminishing rearward visibility. Given that teenage offspring can often supersede their parental-units' height, it would seem to me that having a sloping roofline would diminish the second/third row's headroom just when the situation might call for more headroom.
I recall the previous generation of Dodge Durango's had a hump in the room to INCREASE 2nd/3rd row headroom. That actually makes SENSE to me. Especially in the third row, where the seats is often times located immediately above the rear axle, which in turns offers even more encroached seating room. They 'hid' this hump by integrating the roof-rack's horizontal tracks onto the outwardly-facing sides of the hump.
But, then I am a much more utilitarian, sensible auto buyer. As a design purely from aesthetic judging, I like this concept a LOT. It progresses the Saturn Vue's design into a more balanced look, again in my opinion.
Ok - the gray is ugly, but the design is a pleasant surprise. It looks pretty good.
That is sek say! I've always been baffled by the slow sales of the SRX, it's a great vehicle with good powertrains, a nice interior, and to me a good looking exterior design. It's won numerous comparisons and if it doesn't win it's usually in the top 2 or 3. Surrounded by the CTS & the Escalade I just couldn't figure out why this CUV wouldn't sell?
I like the interior and overall the vehicle looks good. It'll look unique on the road.
WOW!!!! that is soooooooooo nice!! Cadillac keep them coming……
Note…. are those tail fins hmmmmmmmm????
soon all GM's will be hydrogen or electric.
Only until "someone" builds a dedicated nuclear electric plant to produce hydrogen will a hydrogen infrastructure make sense, and I'll tell ya, that ain't gonna happen. Unfortunately, the production of hydrogen is very energy intensive, making it probably less efficient and less clean than oil using conventional power. I wish the domestics would spend all the money they spend on this wishful technology on clean diesel. Same goes for plug-in Hype-rids. Where do you think that power comes from? For me, it'd be a COAL plant! Yeah, THAT's gonna clean up the planet.
And the BRX…reminds me of the Cimmaron all over again…just a dressed up Vue. C'mon, GM, at LEAST use the CTS platform!
Love child of CTS and FX35, which is a good looking baby!
why build a dedicated nuclear plant? How about onboard nuclear power? The car will literally run forever. Accidents would be a bitch, however…
I like, The SRX was a good attempt by Cadillac for the luxury crossover market, but it's starting to show its age. I think something like this will do nicely. Especially if priced right.
Is this built on the same platform as the new Saturn VUE? If you look at it it has the same lines on the window as the new Saturn VUE and the fender accent.
The exterior is a mixed bag, but I LOVE how the CTS's design language translates to a larger interior. It looks fantastic. Redesign the STS already!!
Cadillac sure has their mojo working.
This thing can become a lot of things - All of them good.
It looks great. The only thing I would change is those taillights. The tail fin theme just doesn't work on a modern looking crossover, and they look out of place on this vehicle. Just have the taillights flush like on the CTS, and it will work great.
The only thing that bugs me is the fender vents. They're essentially the same as the ones on the saturn vue. Aside from that it looks pretty damn good.
Tail fins? Seems a bit like a despirate attempt at envoking once great passed. Other wise this rig looks 75% production ready.
This is one nice looking luxury crossover! If this is any indication as to the design direction of the BRX, then it will be one sweet ride. I think the fin treatment on the taillights looks appropriate and unique; I wouldn't change a thing on them. The only design element that I'm a little concerned about is the fender vent; it is too similar to the one on the Saturn Vue (this design element is also becoming too common and cliche'). If the designers believe that the BRX must have a fender vent, then why not install one that is similar to the one on the CTS? This would at least create a sense of cohesiveness across Cadillac's lineup.
I think the BRX should supplement the SRX, not replace it. The SRX needs a CTS-style redesign to make it more competitive. I think there is room in Cadillac's lineup for both crossovers.
Some of the other auto makers need to take notice, this is an example of properly executed platform sharing (except for the minor fender vent blunder). Hopefully this is a sign that GM has finally learned its lesson about how to do this without diluting the image of its brands. I don't expect to see any more badge engineered Cobalt/G5 or Equinox/Torrent clone products in the future.
Beautiful!
And do I see a small pair of fins on the back? Well-integrated fins? Excellent!
Very nice! Cadillac's design language sets them apart from the rest of the jellybean crowd. Both the interior and exterior look bold and upscale.
The hatchback design is reminiscent of 70s hatchbacks. This CUV does look like a Caliber with a hint of Vibe or Matrix. Not a bad looking, but the concept is getting boring.
I agree with golf4me: hydrogen is not the best fuel.
Amazing design. I was worried that the BRX will look way too much like a Vue, but it does not at all. Great interior as well!
Very nice design, handsome and well thought, and really nice interior. Nothing radical with the exception of the power train and a few design details, it looks very close to production ready.
Am I the only person to notice that behind the sunroof, there looks to be some sort of solar panel? Am I freaking crazy or is that complete genius? Great design though. They're really hitting their stride at Cadillac and i'm likin it. I'm still drooling over the CTS-V.
Looks very nice. Now we know what the next SRX is gonna look like. The future looks good.
I'm glad that kind of tire tread design doesn't make it to the market. The car would go sideways into a tree with slight precipitation.
OK. I dig this. I stand correct when I said I trusted this wasn't going to be another straight up rebadge job. Good Job GM.
FAN: Don't you mean, this is how Dodge should have made the Caliber look?
This is a winner. I like this better than the EX35 Great interior as well! The only thing is the taillights stick up a little too much on the top They should have smoothed that out
What size are these things? (This and the Saab) Are they compact like the x3 and Rdx or are they midsize ?
If this and the Saab are replacing the 9-7x and the SRX(which only needs a redesign) then they have to be bigger
Another great post 1115
This is based off the Saturn Vue so it is almost exactly that size. And yes, it replaces the 9-7x which was a Trailblazer rebadge. So if you compare the TB and the VUE, this should be about the same size therefore it is an approriate 9-7x replacement. Tail lights are just signiture Caddy design, if they smooth them out it will be more like the VUE and it would just be boring. I like them
Well the Vue and the Tb are two differnet sized vehicles. The Vue is a Crv sized truck and the Trailblazer is midsize. The Saab 9-7x was a copy off the Rainier more so than the Trailblazer
The GMT 360 and Cadillac SRX are larger so they are being replaced with smaller vehicles
It doesnt matter but I just thought they would make them bigger or the same size as their predecessors
Nothing about this car says Cadillac except the taillights. A freshening of the SRX would be sufficient.
this car says alot of cadillac, more then just the taillights, and the srx refreshening….why not come out with something better that would attract more people ………hence the brx.