While it’s not typical for programs to be shut down so close to a launch date of a new vehicle, that is just what General Motors is doing. The word out there is that the hybrid program for General Motor’s full size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUV) is shutting down. As it stands right now the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, GMC Sierra, Yukon and Cadillac Escalade all use the two-mode hybrid. This leaves us wondering just what General Motors might have up their collective sleeves, although they are remaining very quiet about their upcoming plans.
What we do know is the hybrid models have not been selling well at all, probably due to disappointing results in the overall fuel economy they offer. The two mode hybrid system is rated at 20 city miles per gallon and 23 highway miles per gallon. While that actually isn’t bad mileage for a full size vehicle, apparently when you tie it in with “hybrid” it comes out looking not so great when you could just opt for a standard model instead.
It is rumored that the Escalade Hybrid may still be offered in the next sales year. The idea of having celebrities driving around in “Green” vehicles is most likely what General Motors is banking on with this new model. This should launch in January of 2014 which will give the automaker plenty of time to develop a hybrid version of their famous Escalade.
It seems this all started when recent spy shots were leaked of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. The reaction those received managed to shake up the entire new truck program. We’ll have to wait and see what moves General Motors makes for these new generation vehicles. With only ten months to go for the launch dates, we hope they are hard at work to bring us something amazing.
Source GM Inside News