Cadillac Converj plug-in hybrid gets green light

When it comes to talk about GM’s future cars, the Chevrolet Volt gets all the attention. But the Volt isn’t the only extended-range electric vehicle General Motors has on its drawing boards, according to an article this week by the Detroit News.

According to the report, General Motors’s board decided to build the Cadillac Converj, a luxury coupe derived from the Volt. The company showed a concept of the Converj at last year’s Detroit Auto Show. Like the Volt, the Cadillac Converj will have batteries capable of driving 40 miles that will be charged from an electric socket. After that, small-displacement, four-cylinder gas engine will start to enable longer trips. It will undoubtedly offer luxury features unavailable in the Volt and sell at a higher price, allowing GM to accelerate the return on its investment in the Volt. The Volt is expected to sell for $40,000 and is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax rebate. The Converj could be expected to sell for significantly more. There was no target date announced.

A third version of the Volt, the Opel Ampera, is expected to be sold in Europe, starting in 2011.

—Eric Evarts