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You have a big family, or maybe you often tow a large boat, camper or some other trailer around. Or maybe you just feel safer in large SUVs. Regardless, you like and/or need the power of full sized SUVs.
But gas prices are making you reconsider your love of large SUVs.
Enter the Chevy Tahoe hybrid.
The Tahoe hybrid was almost just a mild hybrid. Fortunately, GM instead
developed the Tahoe hybrid as a full hybrid using its
dual mode hybrid technology.
So what?
Say you often take the 4 kids, the dog and a few weeks worth of clothes and rations, plus your large boat up to the lake several times a week. However, several other days of the week, you need a vehicle for your city commute.
No problem with the Tahoe hybrid, which offers full-sized SUV functionality, but with the fuel economy of an average sedan. That means towing is a fuel efficient breeze, but more important, the Tahoe hybrid can achieve more than 20 mpg in city driving - in the same ball park as even a Mini Cooper.
Full-sized SUV functionality and Mini Cooper-like fuel economy. Music to an SUV lover's ears.
Overall, the Tahoe hybrid offers a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy, but a whopping 50 percent improvement in city fuel economy.
How the Tahoe hybrid does it
GM's
two-mode hybrid technology places two electric motors
mounted inside the transmission to assist a
300-horsepower V-8. So, the hybrid Tahoe should have the
power most large SUV consumers need.
Another
benefit of GM's dual mode powertrain, such as with the hybrid Tahoe,
is the ability to lock
the electric motors out of the drive train when extreme
engine power is needed, such as when towing. This
capability enables the Tahoe hybrid and the Yukon
hybrid to tow up to 6,000 pounds - something Toyota
hybrids cannot do at this point in time.
And why
the heck are you getting a Tahoe if you aren't going
to pull something heavy?
In terms
of the dual mode hybrid drive, essentially, one drive
mode will assist with slow, city driving, the other with
highway driving. This helps GM dual mode hybrids achieve optimal
fuel efficiency based upon driving conditions, and it makes GM's hybrids superior to Toyota's single-mode
hybrids in some driving conditions, particularly highway
driving - at least technologically speaking.
In
addition, the hybrid Tahoe is 300 pounds lighter
due to the use of aluminum in the hood and front
tailgates - another fuel economy lifter.
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