General Motors is taking a multi-prong approach to higher mileage and "clean tech," and publicly anointed Chevrolet as the lead division for this worldwide effort. Underscoring the mission for L.A. audiences were five enviro-friendly Chevy models, highlighted by the formal debut of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid large pickup. Due to start sale in late 2008, the gas/electric Silverado uses the same Two-Mode drive system as the recently announced Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon Hybrid SUVs and a soon-to-be-launched Cadillac Escalade version. A 6.0-liter V8 with GM's Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation works in concert with a special automatic transmission, twin electric motors, and a high-capacity battery pack.

2007 L.A. Auto Show
GM forecasts that the Silverado Hybrid will experience a 40-percent boost in EPA city fuel economy and a 25-percent gain on the highway versus a comparable truck with a conventional 5.3-liter V8.

GM says the Silverado can accelerate up to 30 mph on electricity alone and will do 500 highway miles on a tank of gas. Horsepower is quoted at 332, maximum towing capacity at 6100 pounds with either rear drive or four-wheel drive. As with the SUVs, GM forecasts a 40-percent boost in EPA city fuel economy and a 25-percent gain on the highway versus a comparable truck with a conventional 5.3-liter V8. The Silverado Hybrid will be available only as a crew-cab model with standard stability control and curtain side airbags, plus various styling tweaks to reduce fuel-wasting air drag. The related GMC Sierra will apparently not get a hybrid due to its lower sales volume.

2007 L.A. Auto Show
The redesigned-for-2008 Chevrolet Aveo5 hatchback should get around 35 mpg on the highway.

In other L.A. news, GM unveiled an updated version of the Chevrolet Aveo5 small hatchback. Sharing most of the changes seen in 2007 Aveo sedans, it's expected to earn five-star government crash-test ratings and get up to 35 mpg on the highway. Sales begin almost immediately.

GM also said it will introduce another dozen or so hybrid vehicles under various brand names over the next two years, and announced an evaluation program involving 100 fuel-cell-powered Chevrolet Equinox SUVs. Finally, GM promised a production version of the concept Chevrolet Beat mini-hatchback. The Beat is one of three designs created at GM's South Korean branch for the 2007 Detroit Auto Show and the top vote-getter in an online poll (still active, by the way), hence the decision to build it for sale. GM says the production Beat, to be built in Korea, will be similar but not identical to the concept, and is aimed mainly at overseas markets, though it might be sold in the U.S. if conditions warrant.

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