There have been reports that General Motors is developing a new Buick-branded crossover that will have a two-mode plug-in hybrid system, the same one developed for the Saturn Vue.

GM had already expressed intent to adapt the two-mode hybrid system for other brands within the company. With Saturn’s impending sale to Penske Automotive, new technology slated for Saturn is fair game for GM to apply to its other brands. A confirmed recipient of the two-mode hybrid system is the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox.

Just like with the initial plans for the Vue and new strategies for the 2010 Equinox, expect a full plug-in hybrid system to follow the two-mode hybrid variant. Some are saying that GM could also be eyeing the Cadillac SRX crossover as another platform that will utilize the Saturn two-mode hybrid system. With either the Buick or the Cadillac, GM can apply the new two-mode system on higher-price-range products.

Production of either the Chevrolet Equinox plug-in hybrid or the planned Buick one isn’t slated until 2011.

In yet another effort to provide good fuel efficiency for bigger platforms, General Motors announced that the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox crossover will feature a four-cylinder Ecotec engine equipped with direct-injection technology.

The 2010 Equinox is said to give 30 mpg on highway traffic. The 2.4-liter engine produces 180 horsepower with 172 lb.-ft. of torque at 4900 rpm. Moreover, the engine has better numbers than the new Ford 2.5-liter I4 (170 hp at 28 mpg).

GM also announced that there might also be a 3.0-liter V6 with direct-injection for the 2010 Equinox. This engine is good for 255 horsepower and 214 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s engine will make use of an isolated fuel-injection to reduce noise.

GM Global Powertrain and Global Quality Executive Vice President Tom Stephens said that GM has “been rolling out the technology across our portfolio as quickly as we can so that our customers will have additional fuel savings options. Direct injection is a state-of-the art engineering solution because it enables improved fuel economy and lower emissions without sacrificing power.”

Source: Left Lane

And the fuel cell race escalates in intensity. So far it’s a heated battle between Toyota and General Motors and for every motor show that passes by, it seems that GM pulls ahead with all their new developments. And they aren’t pulling any punches with this latest update – the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell car.

GM has recently started the Project Driveway effort to test their fuel cell technology. 100 participants who live near the scant hydrogen filling stations are luckily chosen to participate in this. Guinea pigs in a sense but hey, free use of car and free fuel is quite a great “payment” for participating in a market test.

The Equinox runs from naught to sixty in just 12 seconds. Sure it sucks by today’s standards where you can get sub-6 numbers in family sedans. But hey, who cares about burning rubber when you’re saving the planet, right?

Source: Automobile Mag