Lutz tells Forbes: the car business "ain't for sissies."
In a two part interview with Forbes magazine during the run-up to that NAIAS, Bob Lutz had a great deal to say about all things GM. The first part centered on CAFE and the costs of energy efficiency, the Volt, and what Mr. Bob would rather have lead consumer choice in the mileage debate. Hint: instead of politicians making laws, his suggestion rhymes with "tas gax." He also says the Volt "probably won't be a flawless launch."
The second part focuses global sales, the truck market collapse, and design, with Bob claiming that "Everything we're doing is to meet this new standard of [being the] absolute winner in its class in exterior design and interior design. When we put the vehicles against the competition in the clinics, they must win by a wide margin on exterior appeal as well as reach." But don't take our word for it. Bobus Maximus is always better in his own words, so click the link to check them out. For those of you hoping for a new RWD Impala, you might not want to read this if you're in a good mood.
[Source: Forbes]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Russell 11:03AM (12/26/2007)
"For those of you hoping for a new RWD Impala, you might not want to read this if you're in a good mood."
I wasn't in a good mood to begin with, thanks a lot.
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icu812ru469 11:10AM (12/26/2007)
It's good that a domestic has finally realized that driving is an experience, and that it's not just the exterior (which a driver typically sees for perhaps 30 seconds) but the interior (which a driver might sit in for over an hour) that matters. I think the Cadillac CTS is a great success for being a more "complete" product. Hope GM the best, and if they can do the same as Toyota with a price advantage, then I think they'll be #1 again in no time. Fortunately for GM (and other domestics), Americans are forgiving people, just look at all the junky Chrysler minivan's that get gobbled up each year.
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Kevin 12:28PM (12/26/2007)
I don't disagree with you at all, but I'd like to borrow one of your statements to make a point of my own...
"It's good that a domestic has finally realized that driving is an experience" Yeah, and with the all-but-certain demise of any return to a RWD model lineup, it will continue to be an awful one.
icu812ru469 3:01PM (12/26/2007)
Yeah, RWD "handles" better but FWD was created to combat the "issue" of driving RWD in snow, which unfortunately many of us in the north east have to combat every once in a while. For high performance vehicles, definitely RWD, but everyday vanilla sedans, FWD is here to stay, for EVERYONE, not just GM.
Mr. Oak 4:30PM (12/26/2007)
@ icu8***** "but FWD was created to combat the "issue" of driving RWD in snow."
Where the hell did you get this mouthful of drivel from? Please do your research.
Gräf & Stift built the first FWD car in the late 1800s (no mention of snow).
In the early 1900s there were a few experimental race cars built, looking for an advantage in racing. (still no mention of snow). That path was eventually abandoned.
Space was the primary concern for the transverse FWD configuration when Sir Alec Issigonis invented this form of packaging. P.S. The 1959 Mini Mk1 was the first car with this configuration.
When US auto makers finally embraced fwd, ecomonics was the primary reason. It was substancially cheaper to make than the standard RWD layout (rumored savings approx. $1500 per unit).
The weight of the engine & trans. on the drive wheel was a lucky coincidence that resulted in better traction in show and rain.
caddy dave 1:21PM (12/29/2007)
98% of the auto buyng public don't give a darn or a rats behind if the car is rwd, fwd, or awd. The major concern now is economy, price, and dependability. The Impala delivers on all three. My wife after being married to a car nut for over thirty years can't tell the differeced between my rwd STS and my fwd Impala co. car. The only thing she cares about is how much it costs between fillups.
Chevrolet, with one exception, the Corvette, is the entry and volume model of GM. Why would they sacrifice sales of their best seller to attract the few that would actually buy RWD? Maybe one model, the SS, but would that be cost effective? You just move up to the Next offering, the G8.
Mr. Oak, you did'nt mention the Deusenburg and Cord. American technology and luxury at it's best. FWD, paddle shift, and turn following headlights from 1926-1937. And then the 66 Toronado and 67 Eldorado that at the time, everyone thought FWD was the future. Albiet too expensive and too different from the norm. Now everyone has FWD and now think RWD is the wave of the future.
Avinash machado 11:16AM (12/26/2007)
Will not a FWD Impala take away sales from the Malibu?
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Andy 11:17AM (12/26/2007)
Blowhard. Retire already.
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Tim 11:18AM (12/26/2007)
"Don't be Automotive Girliemen"
Bob Lutz is right it takes real calhones to lose billions of dollars every year and every year proclaim a turnaround.
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zamafir 11:30AM (12/26/2007)
Tim I'm not sure if you heard but we're going to see tens of thousands of volts rolling off the GM production lines in just two years for around $30,000! Like, Lutz totally promises.
As an aside, anyone else with a degree related to gender studies find comments like 'ain't for sissies' uber entertaining? Or English majors, lmao.
Rene Curry 11:34AM (12/26/2007)
If GM goes with FWD for the Impala to improve fuel economy and use component economies of scale, how do they address the Malibu overlap? How can you justify a higher selling price for an Impala? The FWD drive Impala would need to be much larger than the Malibu to get higher pricing.
Myself I would still proceed with the RWD Impala, but make it smaller. It should be the size of a Lincoln LS. It would need to be sporty to be different from the Malibu while having higher pricing. The mileage could then be equal as a larger FWD version.
I wonder if the LaCrosse will be the China LaCrosse? The styling is great and it's FWD. If it were imported, the whole auto industry ballgame would change. Hopefully we can export a model to China as a win-win situation.
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Alpha 12:05PM (12/26/2007)
See bigger is always better is right where they fail. A car doesn't have to be bigger to be more upscale. Heck I don't think gm makes any upper class mid size cars do they? As a 26 year old male making 50k a year nothing in the entire gm portfolio really interest me other then their full size trucks. Big 3500lb + cars hold nothing for me. I want something 2500-3500lbs with a good looking sporty exterior, a little bit of balls 250hp-300hp and a nice interior.
Tony 11:49AM (12/26/2007)
Well, how about that! Old Bob says "The Volt won't be a flawless launch." That kind of lazy, non accountable thinking and speaking has led to your company's demise!! It it up to you to MAKE SURE the launch is FLAWLESS! If the engineers and rank and file hear the top dog setting low expectations, what do you think they'll design and build??
They are laughing at that comment in Germany and in Japan. Soon the Chineese will also join the chorus!
Hey Bob, some of us are rooting for the return of the American car dominance. Would someone put this mediocrity minded loser out to pasture already?
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EnviroBob 12:37PM (12/26/2007)
And if he said it was going to be a flawless launch, when the first minor glitch appears, people would be saying 'but Bob said it was going to be a flawless launch!'.
Lutz was being realistic and honest. New product launches are never flawless.
Whitie 12:59PM (12/26/2007)
Relax. I think Lutz was refering to the heavy dependence on technology that will be a major part of the Volt. He's not talking about assembly or component quality. The learning curve is a bit steeper when you are pushing the technology envelope.
Reality Check 2:15AM (12/27/2007)
What are you smoking? The Germans build the worst first years cars on the Planet. They pray that someone else will take the honors from them. And Bob has made the bigest change then anyone in the auto business (even than Goshen). GM is producing some great interiors just look at the CTS.........
caddy dave 12:43PM (12/29/2007)
Would you prefer that he used the skillful tactics used by Toyota when they launched the Tundra? You know, the truck that's changing everything. The truck that will be flawless, stronger, more powerful, better economy, able to haul Mack Trucks on it's tailgate and able to pull the USS Ronald Reagan out of the water and onto drydock all by itself and will never, repeat never have a recall?
I think not.
FThorn 12:12PM (12/26/2007)
I buy/bought for point A to point B, and budget. If I ever feel the need to be a little selfish an indulge myself, I'll care to look at other aspects. But with being sole wage-earner/bread-winner for a house of five, that'll have to wait...if I even make it that far. :)
So far the base-model buying has been good. An item can't break if it does not exist. So, I'll never have a power window, power door-lock, etc. problem since I don't have them. And luckily, never had any problems after 107k! go Dodge!
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500 12:13PM (12/26/2007)
Good to see that nothing has changed, and GM has learned nothing from their disastrous CAFE-driven downsizing of the 80's.
Can you imagine BMW saying "sure we make huge profits on the 7-series, but we just don't think it's wise to continue selling it with 35-mpg fuel economy regulations looming" or Mercedes saying "due to the new regulatory environment, we've decided to make the new S-Class FWD, 4 and 6 cylinder only?"
Sound like an absurd example? GM used to be far more successful than BMW and Mercedes, back when they made cars people actually wanted to buy.
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Jeff 3:31PM (12/26/2007)
BMW and Mercedes are luxury manufacturers. So is Cadillac. Cadillac is still moving in the all-RWD direction. Comparing the Impala to a Mercedes is silly.