Lutz sounds the alarm: GM puts RWD drive vehicles on hold
Bob Lutz is determined to rattle all the cages he can in order to be heard above roar of the CAFE and CO2 standards debate. First, he said that forcing automakers to raise CAFE standards 4-percent per year would raise the price of a new car by $5,000. That was in response to Bush administration proposals. Now he's putting car enthusiasts on notice, going on the record saying that GM's RWD models would be put on hold.
[Source: Chicago Tribune via Winding Road]
Telling the Chicago Tribune, "We've pushed the pause button. It's no longer full speed ahead," Lutz sounded the alarm. The new Camaro (due in 2008) and Impala sedan (2009) are meant to help GM out of its profit rut, but both are built on GM's large RWD platform and Lutz doesn't see a way to get 30% better gas mileage without a serious amount of investment (which would be passed on to consumers). Lutz declared it's too late to stop the Camaro, but said "anything after that is questionable," apparently including Camaro derivatives and the Impala sedan. Other cars that would be affected by the "pause" include a performance-oriented midsized Pontiac, the Buick Lucerne, a compact Cadillac, and high HP versions of the Solstice and Sky roadsters -- essentially, a full assortment of cars specifically meant to put GM back in the green.
All of the carmakers are waiting to see what the EPA does in response to the Supreme Court's ruling that the EPA can regulate CO2 standards (which they haven't done up to now), Lutz says GM will decide on its rear drive cars when the government settles the CO2 and CAFE debates.
Showing just how tense he is on the new emissions storm, Lutz said that "if we legislate CO2 from cars, why not legislate we take one less breath per minute since human release capricious amounts of CO2?" Even the new trio of compacts introduced at the show won't help -- Lutz saying "small-car mileage only counts toward CAFE if you build them here," and you can't build small cars here at a profit. . . . [The] domestic fleet is where GM needs help."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Matt Dell 1:49PM (4/10/2007)
This sucks!
But I love how Bob Lutz is such a straight-shooter. Doesn't sugar coat anything or dance around the questions.
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Nipplelesshorse 11:31PM (4/10/2007)
Someone put Lutz in time-out, he seems to be throwing a tantrum.
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Viv 1:50PM (4/10/2007)
What the hell???I am so sad that's all i can muster right now.
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Voice of reason 6:45AM (4/11/2007)
Ford did the same whining when smog control standards were introduced in the seventies. "We can't make cool Mustangs anymore because smog controlled cars don't go fast, so eat this piece of crap Mustang II!"
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Jason 4:32PM (4/10/2007)
That's a huge shame.
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Chris Miller 2:25PM (4/10/2007)
How can you just 'pause' car derivations on a platform you just invested billions developing. Now that seems a little wasteful.
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Michael J Nietzsche 8:25PM (4/10/2007)
Bob Lutz is STUPID! He's about to start putting the final nails into GM's coffin. The cars that he is cancelling are exactly the cars that GM needs to become profitable again. And another thing BOB, If you'd stop building all those f--king HUGE gas guzzlers it'd be easy to gain 4% additional mileage per year you dumb bastard!
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SWAT LAX 1:58PM (4/10/2007)
"small-car mileage only counts toward CAFE if you build them here,"
What???? Since when??? CAFE is broken down into 2 categories: cars & trucks. The OEM's numbers come from the average fuel economy of the cars sold in the US in that category. Porsche builds every one of their cars in Germany, and they pay millions every year to ignore CAFE standards. Isn't the Prius built in Japan?
Wow, I understand why GM is nervous about this, since people are ok paying for HP but not Green, but Lutz is off the rocker with that quote.
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jg 1:59PM (4/10/2007)
'Lutz said that "if we legislate CO2 from cars, why not legislate we take one less breath per minute since human release capricious amounts of CO2?" '
Hmm, that's some solid logic right there. People exhale, why can't cars. It'll even fit on a bumper sticker.
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Michael J Nietzsche 8:28PM (4/10/2007)
Bob Lutz is STUPID! He's about to start putting the final nails into GM's coffin. The cars that he is cancelling are exactly the cars that GM needs to become profitable again. And another thing BOB, If you'd stop building all those f--king HUGE gas guzzlers it'd be easy to gain 4% additional mileage per year you dumb bastard!
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waitingforvizzini 2:36PM (4/10/2007)
Bob Lutz is a putz. This is just pure posturing for political/PR purposes. But from what I've seen from autoblogs readers' 'a CEO can do no wrong' mentality I wouldn't be suprised if you people lap it up like kittens at a cow utter.
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matt 2:01PM (4/10/2007)
I dont buy it. For 5000 he could make every one of those cars a hybrid.
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tcc3 2:52PM (4/10/2007)
It looks like they haven't stopped production on thier Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh-mbulence model.
If they had made fuel economy a bigger priority instead of allowing the SUV loophole to lower their fleet economy maybe they wouldn't be in this fix.
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Yayaja 2:03PM (4/10/2007)
So after decades and decades of terrible decision making, Bob Clutz has the nerve to blame the government for the position GM is in now?
So the government tries to curb global warming and all anyone cares about is their rear wheel drive V-8's? Man, I remember a time when you could be proud to call yourself an American.
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Paul C. 2:03PM (4/10/2007)
Bob Lutz is a baby! Oh boo, they are telling us to make cleaner and more fuel efficient cars so I'm just going to start crying and not make any cars at all.
What are his comments and threats supposed to accomplish? Not making those cars will accomplish nothing more then just sinking GM further and faster.
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Todd 2:11PM (4/10/2007)
I hate to say I told you so....but I told you so!
Bob "Bait and Switch" Lutz shows you the new Camaro, then yanks it hoping you the automotive enthusiast will call your congressman and yell about emission standards.
This is how the domestic car market ends...not with a bang, but a whimper.
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reddsharkk 2:11PM (4/10/2007)
His comments are sad excuses for poor business planning. Blame everyone else! I wonder if GM makes the huge bus that lutz wants to throw everyone under. This is just pathetic. Funny that the some of the european makers are whining to the same tune. Its true you cant force customers to go green, but dont complain about it to the us! Come up with a way.
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Moose 2:12PM (4/10/2007)
Lutz is full of crap. If GM had embraces modern emissions reduction technology prior to now they'd have 0 problem adapting. It's GM's fault for sticking their fingers in their ears and going "naaa naa I can't hear you More Pushrods Please!" instead of listening when their customers spoke.
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Dodge 2:17PM (4/10/2007)
this is just what gm needs, more of their die hard fanbase pissed off, way to go lutz, and could he have presented this information in any worse way? sounds like a hissy fit!...pathetic
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Fabulo 2:19PM (4/10/2007)
It's a pretty specious argument. It never stopped them from building Suburbans w/6.0LV8 or supercharged pontiac that get 18 MPG. Why it would affect the RWD cars is a good question.
Did they plan on selling more G8V8 than GTOs? Or more Impala RWD than current Impalas?
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