Filed under: Coupes, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Paris Motor Show, Chevrolet, GM
Bob Lutz on Volt: "no reasonable doubt... this is going to work"
Bob Lutz has come out and said it again: "I would say there's almost no reasonable doubt in our minds anymore that this is going to work." And that isn't just that the Chevy Volt will work -- it's that it will work on time and as promised. In spite of the difficulties GM has had getting Volt technology up-to-speed within its timeframes, the man upstairs is apparently as confident as ever.
Lutz said that engineers have driven the car to and above its 40-mile pure electric range already. Two companies are still trying to win the lithium-ion battery pack contract, although LG Chem says it has a 3rd-gen unit that's ready to go. Another hurdle is the car's internal combustion range extender starting up, which Lutz described as "noisy and still a little rough."
And of course, it wouldn't be a Lutz piece without him taking a shot at something. Speaking of Toyota's delay in rolling out lithium-ion batteries (although there could be another reason for that), Lutz said Toyota should have faced a bit more scrutiny for that decision. "They told the world that GM was taking a huge risk, that lithium ion batteries were prone to explode and that we were putting our customers at risk and that they would stay with the tried and true. When it comes to Toyota, let me tell you, the press has a short memory." After all of this, if the Volt doesn't show up on time and as promised, GM will need to retool one of its plants to make humble pies.
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt - spy pics
[Source: Reuters UK]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Michael 7:35PM (6/17/2008)
Yeah, at this point, it damn well better.
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SITEiNK 1:59AM (6/18/2008)
I am expecting success on this.
Toyota is just a bad sport right now.
Josh E. Oliver 7:37PM (6/17/2008)
Nice shot at the end, toolbox.
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Allan 7:38PM (6/17/2008)
As much as I'd like to see this thing succeed and really make some sort of difference... I still think it would be hilarious to see it fail and see what he can come up with after that.
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2004m3driver 7:51PM (6/17/2008)
That's what happens when you talk to much. They could make humble pie and Lutz could have a slice. 2010 Can't come fast enough.
tankd0g 10:44PM (6/17/2008)
Can we some how get the Volt but still have Bob fall flat on his fat face?
SITEiNK 2:00AM (6/18/2008)
maybe bob could buy the media, then he could recall and write whatever he wants.
perception is as good as reality to most people.
Aprime 7:55PM (6/17/2008)
"When it comes to Toyota, let me tell you, the press has a short memory."
Even if you're a Toyota fan, you've got to admit that this one's true. There's unwarranted bias in the media towards the imports. I remember constantly hearing about the domestics recalling vehicles but I have yet to hear (I'm talking about televised media here) anything similar regarding the imports. The frame-rot issue on the last-generation Tacoma has been linked to the death of two individuals, yet we haven't heard anything about it. -_-
This sadly also applies to outlets I respect. They'll report every little piece of bad news regarding the domestics in their economy segment but I've never heard them say anything negative regarding any foreign brands.
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zamafir 7:59PM (6/17/2008)
Man, so true, it's nothing but rainbows and teddy bears when it comes to VW.
BWAHAHAHAHAHA. I love the comment section for gems of gross generalization such as yours.
Tad 8:16PM (6/17/2008)
I could not of said it better. This is still a very biased society towards the domestics, and peoples own ignorance is the only thing to blame.
Aprime 8:07PM (6/17/2008)
I don't recall seeing anything negative in the major press (this doesn't take into account reputation and Internet press, but televised media and sometimes newspapers, though they rarely give this kind of news a lot of importance, usually it's just a column, while televised media will spin it until the horse has been beaten to death - and I'm mostly referring to recall news, now, as many of us know, recalls don't equate to unreliability, but average Joe thinks it does... Or that it's a poor excuse to get your ass into their showrooms as my step-father believes.
I think I remember hearing something about VW's latest recall on the news, though. But still, major Toyota 200K plus recalls? Never see any news regarding them on TV, heck, not even in the newspapers.
Anyway, enjoy my comment section all you want, I'm not going to set it to private - I don't succumb to the sayings of a troll.
Red 8:12PM (6/17/2008)
Toyota is extremely good at making things disappear. They pay their lawyers, their PR and marketing individuals a lot of money to make it so. This is--or at least, should be--pretty common knowledge.
That said, I'm not entirely confident that this will work. Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. If your product is really that good, you shouldn't have to hype it up. We all know what's riding on this. Instead of Lutz carrying on and on and on about two or three vehicles that are going to "dominate" its competitors (Volt, ZR1 and Camaro) perhaps he should bring a bit more attention to some of their other worthy vehicles, like the Buick Enclave (a beautifully done vehicle and I'm not even a fan) or the Malibu (better than the Aura, but still not winning a large number of people over, although if things continue on this path, the next gen. definitely will). The more you talk, the bigger the shame face should you fail. At this point, the technology is really unproven to the general public, there are a number of conflicts with upper management, the development keeps starting and stopping and starting up again because of other obstacles. I'd really like to believe this is going to work, but all of the above have spelled disaster for a number of individuals and companies before.
Aprime 8:18PM (6/17/2008)
"Toyota is extremely good at making things disappear."
Oh, like those rusting Yaris nobody's talking about?
Yes, some owners are already reporting structural rust on their vehicles, believe it or not. The problem appears to be limited, but regardless, I've never heard of it anywhere. I guess Toyota's taking care of it appropriately.
I get laughs from hearing Nissan salesmen badmouthing Toyota, especially well, because they're using their hybrid technology in the Altima. XD
zamafir 8:39PM (6/17/2008)
"I think I remember hearing something about VW's latest recall on the news"
I don't recall replying to recalls but rather ur statement:
"This sadly also applies to outlets I respect. They'll report every little piece of bad news regarding the domestics in their economy segment but I've never heard them say anything negative regarding any foreign brands."
I've heard many stories in economic segments about VW being pinched by the dollar and contemplating not bringing the golf over, and of how expensive their cars are vs the competition. Actually, damn near every outlet, magazine, or car show will highlight that fact :).
Aprime 8:47PM (6/17/2008)
You misunderstood what I said.
By economy segment, I wasn't referring to the automakers' (why would Toyota be facing negative news in that regard, anyway?), but rather news' show financial/economy segment.
Aprime 8:53PM (6/17/2008)
Just to clarify something regarding the Yaris - by "anywhere" I meant medias, Internet or not. I know I pointed out I heard it from a number of owners already but who knows, you can never make something clear enough here it seems.
jg 9:31PM (6/17/2008)
'by "anywhere" I meant medias, Internet or not. '
'medias' isn't a word. Media is plural of medium.
tankd0g 10:44PM (6/17/2008)
Are you kidding? The unprecedented offer Toyota is giving owners of worn out pickup trucks is news everywhere. People are praying their truck fails inspection so they can get more than double it's trade in value out of Toyota and go back to buy another one!
Matt 10:54PM (6/17/2008)
Red:
I think Lutz' idea behind these kinds of things is to shed a little insight, in car-guy speak nonetheless, regarding the project.
Bob KNOWS we are excited for the Camaro and ZR1, and everybody's looking at the Volt, so he KNOWS we'll eat up any information on it we can. This is part PR, and part giving insight into future products, because he is like us, and seems to genuinely get uniquely excited about every major new launch.
Red 11:02PM (6/17/2008)
@Aprime,
Or the whole "my Tacoma/Tundra's accelerating without my foot on the gas pedal." Ironically, that practically killed Audi (yeah I know, different time, different things going on), but a week after it's announced, where is it? Even though most companies who've been involved in this situation before will argue there's nothing to prove of the incidents, there's absolutely nothing going on about it. It's business as usual.
@tankd0g,
Basic business 101: Put a spin on a "minor issue", so if it gets passed all the people you pay to keep it a "minor issue" or make it go away, and it becomes a "bigger issue", you can say you were already pro-active in taking care of your customers' "minor issue".
Basic business 101 part 2: Get customers in the door to purchase your product by telling them what they want to hear, even if it's stretched, false, or misleading information. Sound familiar? Here's looking at you, Prius.