One of the biggest barriers the 2010 Chevrolet Volt will have to overcome will undoubtedly be its high cost of entry. Although General Motors originally targeted a $30,000 price tag for the plug-in hybrid, development costs have pushed that target closer to $40,000 – rather high for sedan wearing the Chevrolet Bowtie. However, GM may have a new plan to alleviate some of that sticker shock.
According to Automotive News, GM is currently considering giving Cadillac a version of the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. Although not officially approved for production, the Cadillac logo would allow GM to charge more for the E-flex vehicle and therefore possibly turn a profit on the new technology.
Such a strategy is not unheard of in the auto industry as many automakers debut their newest technologies in their top models or brands so some of the added costs can be hidden by the car’s already high price of entry.
It also remains unclear if GM would simply rebadged the Volt as a Cadillac – albeit with different styling and added features – or if GM would put the technology into an entirely new model. The forerunner to the upcoming Cadillac SRX – the Provoq concept – actually used a fuel cell version of the Volt’s E-flex system, so it could be possible to see a Volt-esque version of the SRX.
Whatever the case, the E-flex Cadillac model should hit the market in 2011 — if it ultimately gets the go-ahead for production.
08/26, 2:10 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
The VTS?
08/26, 2:10 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
The electric Cimarron.
08/26, 2:12 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Chevrolet, Opel and Cadillac all getting a version. Any more would be over kill. Not a bad move to make a Cadillac version, as long as it’s differentiated from Chevrolets and Opels…
08/26, 2:13 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
wtf???
08/26, 2:31 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
So if the Chevy costs 40k, will the Caddie cost 100k?
08/26, 2:34 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
IMO, if they can have this drivetrain as an option in all cars, I’m all for it.
08/26, 3:02 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
Already badge engineering a car that ain’t even out yet. Only GM would do that.
08/26, 5:22 PM
posted by:
t-ak-box
@HMD
That a good point. Now we know one variation of the sub-CTS that willbe coming.
@BM
Would you really expect any less from GM. I’m still surprise that we haven’t heard of the Camaro based model coming out for Caddy, Pontiac, Buick and/or Saturn yet. I guess GM still has time.
:p
08/26, 5:35 PM
posted by:
TomF
The last time Caddy tried to sell a rebadged Chevy with identical mechanicals, it also wiped Caddy out. GM has to bake more value into a Caddy Volt, not just slap a new emblem on it and say it’s worth $10,000 more now.
God, I hope these idiots don’t screw this up too…
08/26, 5:48 PM
posted by:
ktulu
Y do they keep doing this?
08/26, 6:50 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
I was thinking the exact same thing. Why do they keep doing this?? Do you ever see import companies doing this, by the way they are kicking GMs butts right now.
08/26, 7:21 PM
posted by:
THawkoo
LOL
And people are trying to find a way to spin this as bad….
Trolls: “Bubub…its too expensive for a Chevy….”
GM: “Ok, well make a Caddy version. Price won’t shock the Caddy buyer.”
Trolls: “Bububu…only GM would rebadge a car not out yet!”
08/26, 8:26 PM
posted by:
anti-believer
A Cadillac Volt…
not bad idea but I doubt if it would sell.
Good ‘ol GM
thank God for Honda!
08/26, 9:28 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Badging it a Caddy is a better idea than a $35k+ Chevy
DrFill
08/26, 10:17 PM
posted by:
F451
It’s a good idea if the core of what they are borrowing is beneficial to any of the GM lineup. I give GM high marks for this move.
08/26, 10:25 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
I can already envision the name of Caddy’s new Volt: the ACTS!
08/26, 10:26 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
..in case that wasn’t clear, how about ACTS!
08/26, 10:42 PM
posted by:
bigp
that helps spread the cost out
08/26, 11:37 PM
posted by:
sharpie
VRX or SRX-V?
08/27, 2:23 AM
posted by:
MasterYoda2005
Hey BrassMonkey you are actually wrong. Toyota is already looking to badge engineer its next Hybrid with Plug-In Tech and Lithium Ion batteries. I’m not jumping on either side, I’m just saying if you’re going to be on a car forum talking **** you better damn well have your facts in line buddy. Outside of that interesting dollop of info, GM making this move is a smart one. As most of us know being as fuel efficient as possible costs $$$$, also who better to eat up all these expensive ‘green’ cars other than all those pompous Hollywood types. Think of how many Hybrid Escalades you will see rolling the streets of LA. Going green is just as important as saying ‘hey i can also afford to go GREEN’
08/27, 5:06 PM
posted by:
megeebee
/\ /\ /\
Masteryoda2005 for President. Seriously, thanks for your post. The “Hate-the-domestics-and-especially-GM-even-if-they-don’t-deserve-it” camp that spends so m uch time posting here gets up around my chin sometimes.
Why is a 80-90% reduction in the amount of fuel used, and by extention emissions puimped in o the atmosphere, something to be sneezed at and insulted. I think GM and all domestic automakers should be encouraged to continue at the fastest possible pace. Yet to find a site like this you’d think the entire nation was just can’t WAIT for their last major manufacturing bases to implode.
08/27, 5:07 PM
posted by:
megeebee
/\ /\ /\
Forgive the awful typing, grammar, and syntax. I was a bit excited
08/27, 7:09 PM
posted by:
wHitE rL
Makes sense that they would decide to give it to Cadillac, but I doubt it will sell much at all.
08/27, 7:40 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
ACTS.. get it? AC current? Anyway, I would assume anything GM does to spread out the development costs will help to bring down the price of the Chevy model, so why not a pricier, more luxurious Caddy version? Fancy and frugal need not be mutually exclusive, right?
08/28, 2:48 AM
posted by:
MasterYoda2005
megeebee, thanks for understanding where i come from. I feel that sometimes I am on here talking to myself. But at any rate I do want to go ahead and put it out on the table that yes: 1) I am a GM fan 2) That I deliver unbiased factual based commentary 3)I can also give credit where its due. So please, dont refer to me as another mullet toting, gun slinging, American just because I happen to realize that the product that stems from the minds of my fellow country men is (for once in a long while) giving the imports a serious run for their money.