It seems that Buick will be the first to offer a commercially available factory equipped plug-in hybrid cross/utility vehicle, one with the potential to double the mileage of a comparably sized CUV.
GM Vice chairman of Product Development Tom Stephens says the new 2-mode PHEV compact CUV will be introduced in 2011 and aims to attract younger buyers to the Buick brand. It initially will undergo Department of Energy fleet testing, with retail sales to follow shortly thereafter, he says. Buick will introduce the still-unnamed CUV in 2010 with a 4-cyl., 182-hp, 2.4L DI Ecotec engine. It will add the 3.6L plug-in version in 2011. (SB)
