GM Researching 2-Mode Hybrid System for RWD Cars

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Laugh all you want, GM?s 2-Mode hybrid system is pretty impressive. When equipped with an electric motor and batteries, the Chevrolet Tahoe 2wd jumps from a mere 12/17 mpg (city/highway) to a more tolerable 21/22 mpg (city/highway). Not too shabby for an eight-passenger leviathan. Now it looks like The General is investing plenty of time and money into slimming the system down for use in its rear-wheel drive platforms. As of right now, GM keeps its hybrid wares to massive SUVs. Those platforms offer up plenty of space for batteries and electric motors, and the big V8 engines have no problem toting around a little extra weight.

GM says its next generation of hybrid systems should be significantly smaller while producing quite a bit more power. The stats say Detroit?s shooting to cut the size by up to 25 percent while boosting power by 20 percent. If that?s true, the tech could make its way into the significantly smaller Cadillac CTS and ATS. Considering the base CTS isn?t exactly boring to hustle around a track, we could imagine a CTS Coupe Hybrid would push all the right buttons.

Unfortunately, we?ve got a good long time to wait for the tech to show itself on the streets. Early word is the new two-mode system will reach our greedy little hands by around 2013. That?s a long time to wait, to be sure, but it?s at least reassuring to know GM isn?t turing its back on hybrid technology despite lackluster sales.

Source ABGreen