2009 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Hybrid

Cadillac already offers both hybrid and Platinum variants of the Escalade, but this latest offering combines the 'green' powertrain of the former with the amenities of the latter. Platinum models add a number of distinctive touches both inside and out, including a unique grille, LED headlamps, Aniline leather seating, magnetic ride control, and unique 22-inch aluminum wheels.

The new model will utilize the 6.0-liter V8, just like the ‘lesser’ Escalade Hybrid, paired to General Motor’s 2-Mode hybrid system. Economy figures have not yet been released up to this time, but it is expected to be around 20 mpg city and 21 mpg highway which are the same figures that come with the two-wheel-drive Escalade Hybrid.

Cadillac’s plug-in hybrid - the Voltec-powered Converj

The ‘on the rise’ category of proposed luxury plug-in gas-electric hybrids has yet another addition – Cadillac’s concept Converj! The car’s low, sporty looking 2+2 coupe design is equipped with a 16 kilowatt-hour battery and a 40-mile all-electric range, like the Volt.

The technology behind the powertrain for the Converj and the forthcoming production Volt has been given brand name ‘Voltec’ by GM. This power train, giving 273 pound-feet of torque and a top speed of 100 mph, uses an electric motor to drive the wheels.