General Motors, FCA announce awards, pricing, availability for electric, plug-in hybrid vehicles

Cleveland, Ohio – All-electric, plug-in hybrid, and gas-electric hybrid vehicles all made news Tuesday with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announcing pricing on the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivan, the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle taking Car of the Year honors from Motor Trend magazine, and Cadillac announcing pricing and availability of its upcoming plug-in hybrid version of the CT-6 sedan.

Chrysler Pacifica

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid starts at $41,995, not including destination. With the available $7,500 federal tax credit, customers can get the Pacifica Hybrid is for as low as $34,495, not including any state or local incentives. The minivan delivers an estimated 30 miles of all-electric range, 530 miles of total range and 80 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in city driving.

Tim Kuniskis, head of passenger car brands, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler, and Fiat, FCA - North America, says, “With a starting price under $35,000 after the available $7,500 federal tax credit, the Pacifica Hybrid provides efficiency, versatility, technology, an advanced hybrid powertrain, and is priced in the heart of the segment – a combination that no other seven-passenger vehicle delivers.”

In car-talk vernacular, the Pacifica hybrid would be known as a plug-in hybrid because driv-ers can expand the vehicle’s all-electric range by plugging it into a charging station at home. Tra-ditionally, the word hybrid would refer to vehicles such as Toyota’s Prius that have a much smaller batteries, enabling about 10-15 miles of electric-only driving. FCA officials said at the Pacifica’s launch at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January that they chose to drop the “plug-in” part of the hybrid name because it could be off-putting to some buy-ers.

Chevrolet Bolt

Motor Trend editors chose General Motors’ Chevrolet Bolt EV as 2017 Car of the Year based on six evaluation categories: advancement in design, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, value, and performance of intended function.

It is the fourth Motor Trend award for Chevrolet in three years, with the Camaro recognized as the 2016 Car of the Year and Colorado named the 2015 and 2016 Truck of the Year.

“Chevrolet is on a roll with new and compelling vehicles that have reset the bar for trucks in 2015, trucks and sports cars in 2016, and for 2017, electric cars,” says Ed Loh, Motor Trend editor-in-chief. “The Bolt EV is certainly a game changing vehicle and we look forward to seeing whether we’ll be recognizing another Chevrolet next year in our annual awards.”

With an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles, Bolt EV owners can expect to go beyond their average daily driving needs with range to spare, when charging regularly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $37,495 includes destination and freight charges, and with the $7,500 federal tax credit, buyers could pay less than $30,000.

Cadillac CT-6 plug-in hybrid

Cadillac’s 2017 CT6 Plug-In Hybrid prestige sedan will go on sale in the spring of 2017, with a total driving range of more than 400 miles. Starting price is $75,095 plus a $995 destination freight charge, and buyers could qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit.

The CT6 Plug-In Hybrid system is designed to provide responsive, all-electric driving for most daily commutes, while maximizing fuel efficiency by providing blended power from the engine and battery at higher speeds and higher loads. All-electric range for the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid is an estimated 30 miles. However, the car’s combination of efficient engine and battery power enables drivers the freedom of more than 400 miles of total driving range, with no requirement to find charging stations along the way.

“The CT6 is a technological showcase throughout, and by far the lightest car in its class, mak-ing it an ideal platform for electrification,” says Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. “The advanced Plug-In Hybrid system is a key addition, providing a combination of exceptional fuel economy, crisp acceleration and strong electric-driving range.”

Cadillac’s prestige plug-in hybrid entry achieves the same zero to 60 mph performance as its V6-powered competitors, while achieving roughly twice the full EV range and MPGe figures. The CT6 Plug-In Hybrid is expected to have fuel economy estimated at 65 MPGe.

The CT6 Plug-In Hybrid has a two-motor, rear wheel drive electric variable transmission (EVT) combined with a 2L turbocharged 4-cylinder gas engine to produce an estimated total system power of 335hp (250kW) and 432 lb-ft (586N-m) of torque. This helps propel the vehicle from a zero to 60 mph in an estimated 5.2 seconds.

Sources: General Motors, FCA US LLC