GM kills Cadillac SRX turbo

General Motors has stopped making the Cadillac SRX turbo crossover because of low sales.

The turbo version made up 5 to 10 percent of SRX model sales since its debut in December 2009, Cadillac spokeswoman Robyn Henderson said Monday. In 2010, GM sold 45,229 SRX units through November, the most recent data available.

The SRX turbo has been removed from the dealer order guide but customers will be able to buy vehicles already on dealer lots, Henderson said. She said the company built enough turbo units to continue sales through 2011, based on previous sales projections.

The turbo option comes with a 300-hp, 2.8-liter V6 engine that gets an EPA-rated 15 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway.

Cadillac will keep building the standard SRX, which has a 3.0-liter V6 engine. It produces 265 hp and has slightly better fuel economy at 17/23 mpg.

The base SRX model starts at $34,705, while the turbo version has a starting price of $50,790. Both prices include shipping.

GM has other plans for the SRX's future.

GM plans to build a hybrid plug-in crossover based on the SRX platform, using Chevrolet Volt technology. It would be the first electric luxury vehicle from the U.S. automaker.

By Lauren Abdel-Razzaq- Automotive News