National Public Radio has a quirky quiz show called "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." GM Vice chair Bob Lutz was a guest on Saturday's show. And he said something interesting... in the spirit of the show, we're not going to tell you. Instead you have three choices:
- A. His own personal transportation will be the next car featured on "Pimp My Ride"
- B. He secretly likes the break room at Chrysler more than GM's
- C. He ranks the soon-to-be Volt over the legendary Viper he helped create. Not only does he like it better, it's his dream car.
Give it a listen for yourself here.
Thanks, Christina, for the tip!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
nst101 @ May 21st 2007 9:36AM
I am actually listening to this right now! I always listen to Wait Wait, it's a funny and informative show. I recommend it.
British_Rover @ May 21st 2007 9:45AM
Everyone should be required to listen to a few hours of NPR a week.
Todd @ May 21st 2007 9:52AM
Put your money where your mouth is Bob and make your wife drive a Volt....oh wait she drives a 7 series BMW, she won't go for that. Oh well.
JusForKix @ May 21st 2007 10:02AM
I am a huge fan of "Wait Wait". I did make use of this opportunity. I was in the audience during this particular recording and I must say - Bob Lutz was a big hit even with the liberal Ann Arbor audience.
When he gave the Volt a plug (no pun intended), and mentioned the 40 mile battery range and 150+ mpg FE (if your travel was 60 miles a day), the crowd gave him a huge applause.
Attached is a review of his comments by Michele Maynard (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/19/business/19auto.html?ref=automobiles
Dr. Greenthumb @ May 21st 2007 10:07AM
Pretty cool show, wish I could get it in the NY area. Other than on the PC. I'll bookmark it anyway.
Pretty sharp old man. Keep up the good work Bob.
Krzysztof @ May 21st 2007 10:14AM
11 minute of my life that I will never get back! All to find out that he was plugging GM and worse yet Chevy! The Volt what a joke as per usual from Chevy ugly and boring! By the time it reaches production it will just be another GM wallflower with cheap seats that'll hurt your back within 2,000 miles of driving, cheap plastic dashboard that will blister and crack from the sun and a headliner that will be flapping in the wind within a couple years of service. The only resemblance to the concept will be the metal bar in the grill. Move over GM Toyota's here to stay!
emor8t @ May 21st 2007 10:37AM
@British_Rover,
No, no they shouldn't.
*Watches Pete Schweaty SNL Skit.
FThorn @ May 21st 2007 10:44AM
everyone should be required? That's the stance communism took, iirc. Not saying they are crap shows, but required? Land of the free, except for when we're cramming our agenda down your throats.
queenmab @ May 21st 2007 10:53AM
Aww, I love "Wait, Wait..." but I missed this show. You do have to appreciate the irony of a guy who owns two jet planes pushing a "green" car, though.
Jeremy @ May 21st 2007 11:27AM
WOW!! Sweet number 6. You're a moron and now everyone knows it. If you have nothing useful to say then just don't say anything. And BTW, the most uncomfortable seats I've EVER sat in were from a 2007 (or maybe 2006 Civic) with their cheap corduroy interior. It's painful even to look at. So PLEASE, if you hate GM, then prove it and boycott their bloggs because those of us that do care, don't give a damn what your opinion is.
DDL @ May 21st 2007 11:45AM
Doesn't really sound too excited about solving "all the other problems" but it played well to that crowd.
Trek @ May 21st 2007 11:52AM
#6 - go f*** yourself. You are one of those that have not even given GM a chance in recent years! You are stuck in the 80's - get real - GM is building quaility products. Too bad you are one of those that listen to the media rather than check it out for yourself - you'd be impressed. Why didn't we hear about Toyota's 2 million engine sludge problems? Is it because Toyota hides their problems?
The Other Bob @ May 21st 2007 11:55AM
Since "hybrids" came on the scene, I have wondered when the electric motor would replace the transmission as it does in trains.
The Volt is new technology that will actually reduce the number of moving parts in a car instead of doubling them like the Prius and Escape do. Plus, since the engine is used as a generator, it will not have the huge up and down swings of RPM like a conventional car does, which is hard on the engine and inefficient. An engine that runs at a near constant rpm can last forever.
I just hope GM puts a huge warranty on the batteries. That will be the Volt's weak link.
rrr @ May 21st 2007 12:09PM
Well ofcourse he will say that he loves Volt.....what do you expect him to say...i intend to keep making cars that get 15 MPG?
Name one CEO that has not talked about the need to make more fuel efficient cars..............every CEO says he wants that...........but none do.
And Bob has a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong standing record on that issue.
Anyone who actually belived him is an idiot.
Rob Huck @ May 21st 2007 12:10PM
The funny thing about current hybrids is that if you figure in the energy used to produce and ship the batteries, a Prius uses more energy over its lifetime than does a Hummer. Now, if you want to buy a hybrid to save money at the gas pump, that's fine. But don't buy one thinking you're doing the environment any favors. You're not.
Tim @ May 21st 2007 12:14PM
#14 - you will be proven the idiot, mark my words. Oh wait - you already are!!
Bob @ May 21st 2007 12:25PM
its a nice show so if you are a zapping person you should watch it
http://clubvaio.blogspot.com/
rrr @ May 21st 2007 12:34PM
#16 BOB LUTZ has a record, is this the first interview with him you ever read about?
There were at least ten within last two months where he has trashed hybrids.......but not just hybrids.....he has trashed anything that is fuel efficient.
Stop beliving all this PR crap, look at the record. He talks about fuel economy yet he also talks about V8 Pantiac.
Bob Lutz is also behind Acadia....a so called CUV. This CUV is begger than a full size Ford Explorer in EVERY CAPACITY, Wheelbase, Lenght, Width, Height. How about that for fuel economy?
All all those who trash Prius, #1 it uses less gas so there's less polution ( not CO2 polution, other polution) and #2 Name the only country that fight agains a deadly enemy and at the very same time finances that very same enemy......US in Iraq by financing jihadists who ...and this will shock all Detroit groupies....are financed by oil money.
eliot mcdonald @ May 21st 2007 12:38PM
lmao, i love chevy and doge the most, but would u expect him to say, "the viper is better than this", no. I really doubt it is cooler than the viper, it doesnt look near as cool I can say that right now, it still looks good, but the Viper is king in the comparison
Tim @ May 21st 2007 12:49PM
#18 With V6 and 2WD:
Ford Explorer city/hwy 15/21
GMC Acadia City/hwy 18/28
Hope that answerers your question. gee, bigger in EVERY capacity EXCEPT fuel economy. Guess you forgot to look that one up.
Not sure where you are reading your information other than a pro-Toyota media but I don't recall him bashing everything with low mpg. GM has more vehicles that get over 30mpg than does Toyota. In fact, those small block V8's - ALL of them do better then Toyota's V8's. Look it up.