Hong Kong Witnesses First Aston Martin One-77 Crash

2013 Volkswagen CC Gets Sporty R-Line Trim

Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix Weather Forecast
Sarrazin Gains Final Seat For Toyota Racing At Le Mans

Indy 500 Carb Day Practice To Franchitti; Dixon Takes IZOD Pit...

Volkswagen Golf R Cabrio Patent Photos Revealed
2013 Cadillac XTS Configurator Launched

BMW Zagato Coupe Unveiled At Villa d'Este

New Firestone Indy Lights Formula For 2014

Cadillac SRX Plug-In Hybrid Cancelled Due To Inefficiency?

Nelson Ireson

Editor BIO

Nelson is an Editor at High Gear Media focusing on reviewing cars and covering the hottest topics in luxury and performance cars, car culture, and... More

LATEST ARTICLE
Volkswagen Golf R Cabrio Patent Photos Revealed
What to do if you love the Volkswagen Golf R, but just can't do without a drop-top car for summer?... Read More

#3LEADERBOARD RANK
5443ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
205COMMENTS POSTED

1,780 views Jun 2, 2011

Follow Nelson

Add to circle

2011 Cadillac SRX

HI-RES GALLERY: 2011 Cadillac SRX

Nearly a year ago, buzz about a plug-in hybrid Cadillac SRX stirred the automotive Web, and early this year GM CEO Dan Akerson said a plug-in SRX was "likely." Then this week Cadillac, seemingly out of the blue, reportedly killed the program. Why?

According to Nick Saporito at GM Inside News, the answer is efficiency, or rather, a lack of it. The SRX plug-in hybrid was to use a variation on the jointly developed Two Mode hybrid drivetrain, equipped with a lithium ion battery pack in place of the standard nickel metal hydride pack. But the efficiency gains from the battery change weren't as great as hoped, and the model, along with the hybrid system, was scrapped.

GMI says there's already a new hybrid system in development to take the upgraded Two Mode's place, but it won't be ready for production use until the 2015 model year.

Earlier reports said the SRX hybrid project was canned because it couldn't meet its price point without selling at a loss. Combining the two, perhaps the lack of efficiency sought meant Cadillac thought the vehicle wouldn't justify the price required to sell at a profit--too few mpgs for the money.

The next plug-in hybrid system in the works is expected to use much of the knowledge gained in development of the Volt's hybrid system, though likely with modifications for parallel operation as opposed to the Volt's series arrangement.

[GM Inside News]