Cadillac and Lincoln, the luxury divisions of GM and Ford, seem to be fairly well aligned in new introductions at the Detroit Auto Show. Both offered what we called station wagons as kids, the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon and the Lincoln MKT, now referred to as crossovers. On the concept side, Cadillac showed the Converj and Lincoln displayed the Lincoln C, and, as you can see, with differing perceptions for future small luxury vehicles.
The Cadillac Converj is a four-passenger concept with a top speed of 100 miles per hour using GM's electric propulsion technology, called Voltec, that enables up to 40 miles of gas- and emissions-free electric driving with extended-range (E-REV) capability of hundreds of miles. The Cadillac Converj's Voltec electric propulsion system is made up of a 16-kWh, T-shaped battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. When the battery's energy is low, the Converj switches to extended-range mode using a flex-fuel-powered engine that operates much like a home generator to create electricity so that it's always propelled by an electric drive unit. An all-glass roof incorporates solar panels that help offset power drain from the vehicle's accessories.
The Lincoln C concept, a smaller, C-sized car, features a 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine and Ford's all-new dry, dual-clutch PowerShift six-speed transmission, achieving 43 mpg on the highway, while offering 180 horsepower and 180 ft.-lbs. of torque. The Lincoln C has the overall length of a Ford Focus and the overall width of a Lincoln MKZ. "Lincoln C is about efficiency without compromise," said Freeman Thomas, director of Ford's Strategic Concepts Group, who says the aim was "go kart" visual stability combined with elegant lines and surfaces. The Lincoln C has bench seating in the front and back rows made from chromium-free leather and filled with soy foam. Where does your future lie?
Subscribe
Recent Posts
Archives
Categories
Links
Leave a comment