Like the upcoming Chevy Volt, the release of the Chevrolet Equinox
will be closely watched as GM desperately needs popular models to boost
sales at dealerships and put consumer perceptions back on track. The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is almost here, but already a new hybrid model is said to become available for the 2011 model year.
With General Motors facing major financial challenges, it has been
forced to get rid of a number of brands under its huge umbrella. One of
these brands is Saturn, which includes the Saturn Vue Hybrid SUV. As
one of the most affordable hybrid SUVs available, the Salt Lake City service and parts
specialists believe that GM realized the same system should also be
implemented within the upcoming Equinox to better provide the fuel
efficiency that consumers demand.
With Saturn’s sale to Penske Automotive Group,
GM realized they needed the technology behind the Vue hybrid, and
upcoming Volt plug-in hybrid, to reduce fleetwide fuel economy and
appease eco-conscious car buyers. Luckily says Louisville Auto Loans,
even despite Saturn’s sale, the automaker will retain the technology
and utilize it quickly for the upcoming Equinox and other vehicles.
For 2011, the Chevrolet Equinox will feature a 3.6-liter V6 engine
and a two-mode hybrid drive system. The new system will differ slightly
from the existing system featured in the Saturn Vue according to one used car dealer Hartford because the Equinox’s engine is a larger than the Vue’s 3.0-liter unit.
The engine for the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox hybrid will be mated to an
Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT). This transmission us
currently used by other hybrids within GM’s lineup, such as the Chevy
Tahoe and Silverado pickup. With hybrid SUVs costing significantly more
than gasoline-only models, it’s hard to predict how successful the
Equinox will be. After all, just look at the Vue hybrid’ sales.
Joe Kent is a writer for TK Carsites, an automotive website design and marketing firm in Orange, CA, that specializes in car dealer SEO and working with car dealers nationwide.
