When Cadillac unveiled its Converj concept at the Detroit Motor Show in 2009, it drew a lot of attention thanks to its cutting-edge styling and equally impressive hardware as it was powered by the firm’s Voltec hybrid system that comprises of a 16 Kw, T-shaped battery pack and a four-cylinder gasoline engine range extender.

A production version would be a perfect “halo” car for the brand: stylish and at the same time eco-friendly.

Recently, word got out that Cadillac gave the green light for the production version of the Converj and that the company had awarded a production contract to A123 Systems for the development of the Nanophosphate lithium-ion batteries to be used in future electric vehicles.

“GM is committed to offering a full line of electrified vehicles – each of which calls for different battery specifications” said Micky Bly, GM’s executive director in charge of Global Electrical Systems. “A123’s system offers ideal performance capabilities for a future electrified vehicle application”.

The company’s executive, Jason Forcier, described the newly developed unit as “a large battery pack, bigger than the 16 Kw pack used in the Volt”. He also said that it would be ready for production at the end of 2012.

Many people put two and two together and came to a -rather logical- conclusion that the production version of the Converj, which is expected around that time, would use A123’s new generation, performance-oriented lithium-ion batteries.

However GM’s spokesman, Rob Peterson, e-mailed The New York Times that this was not the case: “No final decision has been made on the Converj and the A123 pack is earmarked for another program”. When contacted on the matter, Forcier replied in a similar way: “It would be a surprise to me if the Converj was the launch vehicle”.

This could mean that, contrary to reports, the Converj’s future is still undecided. Or, even better, that it will enter production before the end of next year therefore it will use the Volt’s hybrid system.

GM’s CEO Dan Akerson has already expressed his intention to launch a whole family of vehicles based on the Volt hybrid system, increasing production and reducing its cost due to economies of scale.

The first one will probably be the Volt-based MPV5 crossover that was presented as a concept at last year’s Beijing Auto Show. Who knows, maybe the Converj will be the next in line, even if it uses the “old” system.

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