"It is very clear that General Motors would like nothing more than to humiliate Toyota. At GM, it

 

I have read that GM is at the absolute cutting edge of battery and fuel cell technology. There could be very some interesting surprises from GM in the next several years, certainly if they can control union health care costs and start to invest more $$ into their vehicles.

It is amazing that GM can compete at all when Toyota pays their employees $27/hr plus a marginal additional amount for benefits and GM is saddled with $75/hr+ salary and benefits for their rank and file line workers. Imagine if GM could throw another grand or more into each vehicle it makes?

I own two Toyota vehicles (both Lexus) and they are great rides, but I've driven some very nice GM vehicles as well (specifically the Corvette, their new trucks/SUVs, and the new CTS). GM has gotten impressive lately.

 

I'm not buying the Volt idea. GM has done this same thing in the past. They build a lot of hype in a new vehical that will have world changing technology..... but they do it before the technology even exsists. The big thing with the Volt is the battery. GM says the battery is superior to anything else on the market. But the catch is that the battery doesn't exsist yet. They're selling an idea, Toyota is selling a product.

By the way, I don't like the Prius at all. Hell, I'm not even a fan of Toyota as a company. I think the only reason Toyots is such a powerhouse is because they market their cars correctly. I'm trying not to be biased, but I really think Honda is the best all around mainstream car manufacturer out right now. Their marketing just sucks.

 

For years I have underestimated GM. Two things are certain IMO. Those people know how to build trucks and a freaking sports car. I dont think they will give up the the number 1 spot for too long. I'm not going to get into a argue with anyone over the quality of GM vs Toyota but they dont seem to have many issues. Last time I checked Cadillac wasnt too far from Toyota in many different consumer reports.

If anybody can stand up to Toyota in this new technology race, I'd like to think it would be General Motors.

 

I hate the Prius (the South Park ep where they referred to the Prius as the PIOUS is pretty much spot-on.) People think they are hip and cool and saving the environment while going 0-60 in something like 17secs and taking up space in the fast lane, with their windows down.

I don't mind them too much in the city, but they are shyte on the highway.

 

1 word EV-1.

 

Why the Prius is having all the glory, and people seem to ignore the Civic hybrid or the old Insigt ?

 

Yep, EV-1 was way ahead of its time. Too bad they don't get as much credit for trying.

The Prius has a cult following. I imagine GM would kill to have that for a machine other than the vette or Escalade.

 

The EV-1 was way ahead of its time. It was a hard sell due to the fact that well...gas was really cheap at the time, hence no market. If the EV-1 was here today with up-to-date technology....it would be right there with the Prius being touted and driven by all the greenies clogging left hand lanes everywhere.

However, I think diesels are the wave of the future here in America. I am personally excited about the Honda diesel and will get one when it arrives stateside.

 

I never saw the "what ever happened to the electric car" movie, but the 2 people I met that had EV-1s loved them.