- LSX Magazine - https://www.lsxmag.com -

GM President Imagines “Ultimate Car” From Parts Bin

[1]There are a lot of perks that come with running a major car company. Access to all of the coolest and newest cars, for one. Then there’s the multimillion dollar bonuses, corporate jets, and all the brilliant minds employed by your company carrying out your every whim (at least within the limits of what the board of directors will allow…) With that in mind, what kind of car could you build if you had an unlimited budget and access to the latest automotive technology? Car & Driver [2]asked GM’s North American President, Mark Reuss, what kind of car he would build with from GM’s “parts bin,” it’s entire collection of cutting edge technology. The car he came up with really is “ultimate” in many ways.For looks, it would be the 2002 Cadillac Cien concept, shown above, but with a lot of modifications to the drivetrain, and a lot more new technology. What Reuss would build is a plug-in hybrid supercar, utilizing the Chevy Volt’s T-shaped battery and electric motors. The electric motors would power the front wheels, providing up to 149 horsepower, and instant torque.

The rear wheels, meanwhile, would be powered by a mid-mounted 2.8 liter turbocharged V6. This would replace what the Cien concept had, a powerful V12 engine. Reuss thinks he can wring 440 horsepower and 450 ft-lbs of torque from the whole setup.

For brakes, Reuss’s ultimate car would get the carbon ceramic pads from the Corvette ZR1, and tires from the Camaro ZL1. The suspension and rear end would also be borrowed from the Corvette, and noise cancellation technology could keep the Cien’s cabin whisper-quiet in EV mode. The target weight? Just 3,800 pounds including goodies like Recaro seats and night vision windscreen technology.

Perhaps one day, Mr. Reuss will get a chance to build his ultimate car. If you had access to GM’s parts bin, what would you build?