This from Auto week online…..
Driving Sequel turns out to be unremarkable, which is the most remarkable aspect. It drives much like any crossover vehicle, only without engine roar or conspicuous transmission shift points. Push on the accelerator pedal and it surges up to 60 mph in about 10 seconds. Stomp the brake pedal and it stops like a car—no goofy reactions as it switches back and forth between regenerative and friction braking. And it steers just like a car, complete with road feel. The suspension could use a little dialing-in, but only because the electronically controlled shocks were installed just a couple days before we drove it.All this is remarkable because the previous generation version we drove in France three years ago—the Hy-Wire—felt like a corporate-funded science fair experiment, laden down with weird control interfaces (twist the steering grip to accelerate or brake, for instance) and different-for-the-sake-of-different attributes meant to emphasize the technology more than to serve a potential customer. It was limited to 40 mph and felt slow and cumbersome.
This latest prototype from GM looks very promising, it shows that GM is ready to play and isn’t willing to let the likes of Honda get to market first with this kind of vehicle and technology. To say this looks very promising would be an understatement, the automakers have to move fast to establish more alternative fuel vehicles before the next Oil shock sends car and truck sales into the dumpster again.
It ‘s this kind of innovation and forward thinking that will save the American automakers, instead of being reactive, general motors’ is being proactive and showing the there is
Still creativity and passion in the halls of GM.
J.
Find out more from AutoWeek
Driving Sequel turns out to be unremarkable, which is the most remarkable aspect. It drives much like any crossover vehicle, only without engine roar or conspicuous transmission shift points. Push on the accelerator pedal and it surges up to 60 mph in about 10 seconds. Stomp the brake pedal and it stops like a car—no goofy reactions as it switches back and forth between regenerative and friction braking. And it steers just like a car, complete with road feel. The suspension could use a little dialing-in, but only because the electronically controlled shocks were installed just a couple days before we drove it.All this is remarkable because the previous generation version we drove in France three years ago—the Hy-Wire—felt like a corporate-funded science fair experiment, laden down with weird control interfaces (twist the steering grip to accelerate or brake, for instance) and different-for-the-sake-of-different attributes meant to emphasize the technology more than to serve a potential customer. It was limited to 40 mph and felt slow and cumbersome.
This latest prototype from GM looks very promising, it shows that GM is ready to play and isn’t willing to let the likes of Honda get to market first with this kind of vehicle and technology. To say this looks very promising would be an understatement, the automakers have to move fast to establish more alternative fuel vehicles before the next Oil shock sends car and truck sales into the dumpster again.
It ‘s this kind of innovation and forward thinking that will save the American automakers, instead of being reactive, general motors’ is being proactive and showing the there is
Still creativity and passion in the halls of GM.
J.
Find out more from AutoWeek
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