Cadillac Converj is a Go?

At last January’s Detroit auto show press preview, Bob Lutz rode onto the stage in a Cadillac Converj concept. The car was based on the same platform as the Chevrolet Volt and Lutz promised that a car like the Converj, and possibly others, could be coming on line in the near future.

Turns out he may have been right. A GM insider told The Detroit News that the Converj is part of Cadillac’s future production plans, though no specific timetable has been determined.

My Take:

This is being reported as news, not rumor, so don’t bet the farm on it but it looks pretty solid. GM has to amortize the development costs of the Volt which, even at the $40,000 price tag they’ve been hinting at, could a money loser for them. Adding a premium brand model on the same platform could help recover R&D costs. Besides, Cadillac buyers are less likely to wince at the price and might be more interested in buying leading edge technology than Chevrolet buyers. Not to mention, the Converj was one of the hottest concepts at the show.

--M.D.