http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/ Autoblog Comments for Lutz sounds the alarm: GM puts RWD drive vehicles on hold http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/
But I love how Bob Lutz is such a straight-shooter. Doesn't sugar coat anything or dance around the questions.]]>Apr 10th 2007 1:49PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/Apr 10th 2007 1:50PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/
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.]]>Apr 10th 2007 1:58PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/
Hmm, that's some solid logic right there. People exhale, why can't cars. It'll even fit on a bumper sticker. ]]>Apr 10th 2007 1:59PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/Apr 10th 2007 2:01PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/
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. ]]>Apr 10th 2007 2:03PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/
What are his comments and threats supposed to accomplish? Not making those cars will accomplish nothing more then just sinking GM further and faster.]]>Apr 10th 2007 2:03PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/
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.

]]>Apr 10th 2007 2:11PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/Apr 10th 2007 2:11PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/Apr 10th 2007 2:12PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/Apr 10th 2007 2:17PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/
Did they plan on selling more G8V8 than GTOs? Or more Impala RWD than current Impalas?]]>Apr 10th 2007 2:19PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/Apr 10th 2007 2:20PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/Apr 10th 2007 2:21PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/]]>Apr 10th 2007 2:21PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/
GM has a very good mpg track record. Although they lack dual-mode hybrids, their vehicles in general rank at the upper end of mpg ratings in their classes.

Lutz is right though, increased mpg means fewer RWD vehicles. IMHO, this is a good thing. Not every person races their car, so putting in race features like RWD doesn't make sense. Cars need to be redesigned for better mpg, even if that means making some people understand that they need to buy a vehicle that is appropriate for what they do with it and not what they fantasize about doing.

As long as the CAFE requirements are fair (and they have not been in the past), there's no reason GM can't compete in the marketplace, RWD against RWD and FWD against FWD. It just means they can't jump in with nonsensical vehicles like the 1-series, and BMW will have to retract from this market too.

Something needs to be done. A friend buying a car accidentally stated the problem very well after I said the average HP in an American vehicle was 241. He said "I don't want my car to have average HP". Well, guess what? By definition not everyone can have a vehicle with above average HP.

Lutz, you have the tools. You've got efficient motors, large and small. And you've got the new direct-injection small gas engines debuting (starting with the Sky Redline/Solstice GXP) that do even better yet.]]>Apr 10th 2007 2:22PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/Apr 10th 2007 2:24PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/Apr 10th 2007 2:25PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/lutz-sounds-the-alarm-gm-puts-rwd-drive-vehicles-on-hold/
True, there are good reasons why aggressive driving is best done in a RWD car, but most people don't care whether their car is RWD or FWD which is easier to package into a lighter and more economical vehicle. Under some conditions, FWD is superior.

GM makes its money on volume cars--sporty sedans to be driven hard appeal to a small audience and their shrill cries for RWD sedans are best ignored.

What GM needs are stylish, solid, economical cars at favorable prices. If that means FWD instead of RWD, so what?
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