Even though General Motors never officially announced the car to be produced as an actual production vehicle, the Cadillac Converj program seems to have been given the red flag. The Cadillac Converj was introduced last year at the Detroit Auto Show as an extended-range electric vehicle based on the Chevy Volt. Naturally, whereas the Volt would be Chevrolet's electric powered practical commuter, the Converj would be the luxury version under the Cadillac badge.
However,
Autoblog reports that the Cadillac Converj program has been terminated due to business reasons.
Images: Autoblog
The figures that the Cadillac Converj were meant to produce did just not add up to a practical car. The car was supposed to be based on the Volt-platform and rebadged Cadillac with amenities that equated to Cadillac standards. Unfortunately, with the added amenities, the car would not be profitable even as a Cadillac. Further, the increased weight to the vehicle would only allow the car 20-miles between charges which defeats the purpose of having an extended-range electric vehicle. Even the high-end hybrid cars are slow to move.
The decision to cease the Converj program is probably a god-send for GM. Cadillac is said to be shifting their efforts towards the more cost-effective XTS concept. The XTS concept revealed at the Detroit Auto Show looks less futuristic than the Converj. Aesthetically, it is very similar if not more shy than the standard Cadillac CTS, and is a hybrid plug-in car. That being said, the XTS seems like the more logical point of focus for Cadillac to go green.
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