Three years ago, General Motors wheeled what looked like a giant silver skateboard onto a stage at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, touting the creation as a glimpse of the automotive future.
Some “oohed.” Some “ahhhed.” Some laughed and walked away, muttering something about a one-time “Star Wars” gimmick assembled to get attention.
But GM did not walk away from its concept, initially dubbed the AUTOnomy but later renamed Hy-wire. The automaker has upgraded the vehicle, now called the Sequel, and is parading it around the country.
The Sequel made its formal debut at last month’s auto show in Detroit, where GM officials and engineers outlined its array of high-tech features. Practical or not, the vehicle is a technological marvel, and it’s likely that some Sequel features will ultimately make their way into a car you will drive.
GM’s AUTOnomy and Hy-wire concepts touted interchangeable bodies; wire connections to control steering, brakes and acceleration, all managed by twisting, squeezing and guiding handles on a steering pod; electric motors; and a fuel cell that converted hydrogen to electricity.
GM Sequel attempts to go beyond what turned heads the first time.
GM engineers have doubled the vehicle’s range to 300 miles and cut zero-to-60-mph acceleration to less than 10 seconds — or about half the time it took the original fuel cell-equipped concept.
Other fuel-cell concepts that have published test results and participated in sanctioned competitions have demonstrated ranges of 200 to 250 miles and posted zero-to-60 times of 12 to 15 seconds.
GM also said it has tweaked Sequel’s electronic controls, added computer software and upgraded an advanced propulsion system. And with hydrogen/fuel-cell technology, Sequel is an environmentally friendly transporter — emitting only water vapor.
“Three years ago, our chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner, challenged us to completely rethink the automobile,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development and planning. “The AUTOnomy and Hy-wire concepts were the outgrowth of that challenge. … But, they were concepts. Today, with Sequel, the vision is real — not yet affordable, but doable.
“GM’s goal,” Burns added, “is to design and validate a fuel cell propulsion system by 2010 that is competitive with current internal combustion systems on durability and performance, and that ultimately can be built at scale affordably.”
Sequel still has the skateboard-like frame, but GM has topped it with more-conventional skin — giving it a look and size similar to the current Cadillac SRX crossover wagon.