New horizons for automobile companies in the New Year

Thinking is progress. Non-thinking is stagnation, Thinking leads to action Knowledge with action, converts adversity into prosperity.

The automobile industry, facing a crisis in which it fights for its very survival. But from this crisis comes development. A renewed effort to understand the needs of society and the market. The industry, collectively, is now concentrating on innovative and creative projects.

The top management of America's Big Three, Ford, Chrysler and GM are already announcing new products that are more efficient and durable.

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner has revealed plans to manufacture a mini car which will get 40 MPG and a Cadillac powered by electricity, the much talked about E-REV Caddy concept, similar to the Chevrolet Volt.

General Motors previously said that the Chevrolet Spark (the production version of the Chevy Beat) and the Chevrolet Orlando would not be marketed in the United States However, as consumer demand shifts to more compact and fuel-efficient cars, GM has changed its mind.

The 2010 Chevrolet Spark and the 2010 Chevrolet Orlando will both come to the U.S. market in 2011. The Chevy Spark will make its world debut in full-production form at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March - sales will begin in Europe starting the first-quarter of 2010. Production and availability plans for the 2010 Chevrolet Orlando will be released in the coming months

The new Cadillac Converj Concept made its debut today at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show showing off bold design and a range of interactive technology. Nothing has been said about a production version of the Converj but GM says that the concept is “intended to show how GM’s revolutionary electric propulsion technology – called Voltec – can power a luxury coupe with a typically Cadillac ‘no compromises’ design."
Chrysler Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli said its new fuel efficient product will appear next year but the more immediate goal is to survive 2009 as an independent company.

And just when you thought Chrysler was done throwing out E-REV (Range-extender electric-vehicles) concepts after the Dodge Circuit EV and the Jeep Patriot EC , the troubled-American automaker has pulled another one out of its ENVI bag of tricks. Chrysler says that the new 200C EV concept is influenced by the proportions of the Chrysler 300 to create a modern E-REV that appeals to both luxury and sports car enthusiasts.

After digging Chrysler’s press release, we managed to separate all the info about the design of the 200C EV and its Range-extender Electric Vehicle Technology (which was basically just a paragraph long). The Chrysler 200C EV uses a small gasoline engine and integrated electric generator that produces electricity to extend the driving range to 400 miles. it can do 40 miles with zero fuel consumption and zero tailpipe emissions.

Ford Motor Co has announced plans to bring pure battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), next-generation hybrids and a plug-in hybrid to market within the next four years

To start, Ford will introduce in North America: - A new battery electric commercial van in 2010 - A new battery electric small car in 2011 to be developed jointly with Magna International - Next-generation hybrid vehicles, including a plug-in version in 2012

Ford says that its new electric-vehicles will have a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge without using any gas at all.

Chrysler and GM took the loans from the U.S. government in order to remain afloat. Ford, which has greater cash on hand, is forging ahead on its own.

The management of these companies believe that they are on the way to recovery. They are presenting restructuring plans to Congress that includes new union concessions, lower costs and new products .