Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Original Dodge Viper Concept shows up in new Chrysler video]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/original-dodge-viper-concept-shows-up-in-new-chrysler-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/original-dodge-viper-concept-shows-up-in-new-chrysler-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/original-dodge-viper-concept-shows-up-in-new-chrysler-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

1989 Dodge Viper Concept

Got 13 minutes to spare? Of course you do - it's a Friday. Then we've got just the way to burn them.

Chrysler has posted three new SRT Viper videos, the first being a nice seven-minute documentary about Viper history, from its origins to the present.

We're happy to see the automaker make no attempts to distort the truth here, wisely including period footage of both Carroll Shelby and Bob Lutz, despite the fact that those two automotive legends currently work for its most bitter rivals, Ford and General Motors, respectively. The inclusion of a clip from the Viper TV series, however, was perhaps a less inspired choice. We'd have left that on the cutting room floor in favor of more racing footage, like maybe something from Le Mans.

The second video is three minutes of Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of SRT Brand and Motorsports at Chrysler. Gilles walks us around a static Viper, explaining some of the details in the design that might escape a casual observer - and help the new Viper hit 206 miles per hour.

The final video goes inside Conner Avenue Assembly in Detroit where Chrysler builds the Viper. So maybe Chrysler employees like Shelly Brown Alore, the operations manager at the plant, aren't quite the celebrity that Gilles is, but then again, we're exactly the type of car nerds that actually find this stuff interesting.

Scroll down to watch the videos.

Continue reading Original Dodge Viper Concept shows up in new Chrysler video

Original Dodge Viper Concept shows up in new Chrysler video originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 srt viperbob lutzcarroll shelbyconnor avenue assemblydodgegilleslutzralph gillesshelbysrtvideoviperviper srt10Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20220765/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/20/original-dodge-viper-concept-shows-up-in-new-chrysler-video/20220765/article-detail.xml 20220765 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/1989-dodge-viper-concept-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/1989-dodge-viper-concept-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz praises Leaf and Volt, says national security requires going electric]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/bob-lutz-praises-leaf-and-volt-says-national-security-requires/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/bob-lutz-praises-leaf-and-volt-says-national-security-requires/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/bob-lutz-praises-leaf-and-volt-says-national-security-requires/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

2011 Chevrolet Volt - front dead-on view

Bob Lutz is not going to take attacks on the electric car lying down - the closest he'll come to that is doing push-ups on The Colbert Report. After spending a few of his Forbes columns laying into right-wing pundits for their attacks on the Chevrolet Volt, he is switching to a positive message about how plug-in cars can help with American national security. It is not surprising that Lutz, a former Marine, co-authors the article with two former U.S. Marines commandants and the CEO of FedEx (the three are all members of Securing America's Future Energy's (SAFE) Energy Security Leadership Council). The gist? Well, here's part of the opening paragraph:

When ... threats exist because the United States is the protector of the world's global oil supply lines, it is a clear illustration of how our nation's over-reliance on a single, globally priced fuel impacts our national and economic security.

America's addiction to gasoline costs the government billions of dollars a year, an estimated $80 billion, in fact, to guard the sea lanes, including one little area by Iran:

From a national security perspective, the U.S. military is forced to protect the world's vital oil infrastructure. The single greatest chokepoint is the Strait of Hormuz, through which 17 million barrels of oil per day passed in 2011 - 20 percent of global supplies. Protection of the sea lanes of commerce has become an American burden and will remain so, costing the United States Treasury an estimated $80 billion per year while taxing our military, which is already engaged on multiple fronts.

It's arguments like this that have made the recent right-wing criticism of the Volt such a mystery. If we use less gasoline, we can spend fewer lives and less treasure importing the fuel (of course, we don't lose many lives at the Canadian border, which is where most of our imported oil comes from). The Army says that today's soldier uses an average of 22 gallons of gasoline a day.

Lutz and his co-authors are quite clear that high gas prices are hurting Americans' pocketbooks, "essentially" wiping out tax cuts that Presidents Bush and Obama put into place. That's why, they say, "government action is needed to mitigate the risks of oil dependence, because there is no free market for oil." This intervention contains both expanded domestic production and - surprise - plugging in our light-duty transportation fleet as much as possible and feeding our big trucks lots of natural gas. To that end, they write:

Regarding electrification, the beauty of plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf is that they are powered by electricity, which can be generated from many sources: nuclear, coal, natural gas, and renewables. Best yet, these are all domestic energy sources, meaning OPEC won't be able to corner the market. And the retail price of electricity is far less volatile that the price of oil.

Hard to disagree with that. There's more at Forbes.

Bob Lutz praises Leaf and Volt, says national security requires going electric originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 chevrolet volt2012 nissan leafbob lutzchevroletchevrolet voltenergy independencegmleafnational securitynissanplug-in hybridstraights of hormuzvoltTue, 17 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20217607/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/17/bob-lutz-praises-leaf-and-volt-says-national-security-requires/20217607/article-detail.xml 20217607 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/2011-chevrolet-volt-front-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/2011-chevrolet-volt-front-628.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz wins push-up contest on <em>The Colbert Report</em>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/bob-lutz-wins-push-up-contest-on-the-colbert-report/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/bob-lutz-wins-push-up-contest-on-the-colbert-report/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/bob-lutz-wins-push-up-contest-on-the-colbert-report/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Bob Lutz takes on Stephen Colbert in a push-up contest

Former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz went bicep-to-bicep with "America's ballsiest pundit," Stephen Colbert, last night - and came out ahead. Ostensibly, Lutz was on Colbert to talk about his new book, Car Guys Vs. Bean Counters, but as one might expect, the discussion veered into Mitt Romney vs. President Obama territory pretty quickly.

The actual car industry part of the discussion, though, revealed more potential good news for the Chevrolet Volt, the car that Lutz is obviously trying to make his legacy and called "a huge success." Sure, Colbert talked about what his friends over at Fox News have been saying, but Lutz responded by predicting that sales would be "about 3,000 a month from here on out." This would not only set a new record (Volt sales for March 2012 were 2,289, the highest so far) but would also put GM's plug-in car into the 36,000-a-year range. That's commendable, but still not where GM CEO Dan Akerson said last December things would be this year. Of course, Akerson's 60,000 number could have included the Opel Ampera and its Vauxhall twin. In any case, things are looking up for the Volt, and that's something Lutz is more than happy to tell Colbert or anyone else. Watch the video - including an impromptu push-up contest between the two - right now by scrolling below.

Continue reading Bob Lutz wins push-up contest on The Colbert Report

Bob Lutz wins push-up contest on The Colbert Report originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 chevrolet voltamperabob lutzchevroletchevy voltcolbertcolbert reportlutzstephen colbertvideovoltTue, 10 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20212216/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/10/bob-lutz-wins-push-up-contest-on-the-colbert-report/20212216/article-detail.xml 20212216 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/lutz-vs-colbert-push-ups_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/lutz-vs-colbert-push-ups.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz: Hey right-wingers, stop attacking Chevy Volt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/bob-lutz-hey-right-wingers-stop-attacking-chevy-volt/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/bob-lutz-hey-right-wingers-stop-attacking-chevy-volt/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/bob-lutz-hey-right-wingers-stop-attacking-chevy-volt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Bob Lutz rolls Chevrolet Volt onto stage

In the wake of last week's bruising hearing on Capitol Hill about the safety of the Chevrolet Volt (which itself followed an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that concluded plug-in vehicles do not "pose a greater risk of fire than gasoline-powered vehicles") former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has written a column for Forbes that strikes back against the media (especially conservatives) who are attacking the car he thought would be one of his most important legacies.

Politicians and members of the media on the right, from Mitt Romney to Neil Cavuto, have talked smack about the Volt, and Lutz says this "has attracted my attention and ire." In typical Lutz fashion, he doesn't mince words, writing:

The Oscar for totally irresponsible journalism has to go to The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News, with, as its key guest, Lou Dobbs. Amid much jocular yukking, the Volt was depicted as a typical federal failure. ... Boiled down to the subtext, Dobbs' message was this: "All Volts catch fire, and therefore all Volts have been recalled." That simply isn't the case. ...

To top it off, these two media pros lamented the fact that the same government that had forced GM to produce the Volt was now extending $7,500 tax credits towards its purchase, thus squandering even more of "our taxpayer" dollars on this failed Socialist-collectivist flop. Truth? The $7,500 tax credit was enacted under the Bush administration!

Don't let Lutz's words make you think he's taking a left/liberal stance. He's still a self-declared "conservative Republican" who hates that right-wing talking heads are spiraling downward into this sort of "deliberate misstatement of facts." They "have managed to make me embarrassed to describe myself as a conservative," he writes, adding, "Let's leave the 'invention of facts' to the left-wing climate-change alarmists." There - that should offend pretty much everyone who's not in the dead political center.

Bob Lutz: Hey right-wingers, stop attacking Chevy Volt originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 chevrolet volt2012 chevy voltbob lutzchevroletchevyfox newsoreilly factorvoltvoltecTue, 31 Jan 2012 15:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20160261/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/31/bob-lutz-hey-right-wingers-stop-attacking-chevy-volt/20160261/article-detail.xml 20160261 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/bob-lutz-introduces-chevy-volt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/bob-lutz-introduces-chevy-volt.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz: "I honestly think Tesla's going to make it."]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/11/bob-lutz-i-honestly-think-teslas-going-to-make-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/11/bob-lutz-i-honestly-think-teslas-going-to-make-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/11/bob-lutz-i-honestly-think-teslas-going-to-make-it/#commentsFiled under:

bob lutz

Back around 2006, GM's Bob Lutz was spurred to action by Tesla Motors. Unable to get The General to move forward on a plug-in car, he pointed to the California start-up as a reason to get the Chevy Volt project going. This is all made pretty clear in the Revenge of the Electric Car movie, which is opening in theaters nationwide this fall. In a new interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Lutz describes how Toyota also played a big role in getting the Volt on the road: he didn't want GM to fall behind in the public eye.

The key point is that Lutz doesn't get behind plug-in cars for their fuel efficiency or environmental reasons - he's famously said that global warming is a crock of sh*t and that a CAFE standard of 42 mpg is "totally ridiculous" - but he can still strongly support them. This is because they can be good cars. Plain and simple. Speaking to the Chronicle, Lutz said that Tesla's long-term prospects are uncertain but that:

[Tesla's] stock's doing well and everyone's got a buy on it. Meanwhile, they're losing a ton of money. My philosophy always is, if you have a desirable product, you can muddle your way past the financial problems. Elon Musk and the team were smart enough to get, without question, some of the world's finest designers on the Model S. The car is so beautiful that you look at it and say, "I don't care what drives it, I just want one." That's really the secret of this business. I honestly think they're going to make it.

Lutz and Musk were both interviewed on Charlie Rose last night, and you can watch that video here.

Bob Lutz: "I honestly think Tesla's going to make it." originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzcharlie rosechevroletchevy voltelectric vehicleelon muskmodel splug-in hybridteslatesla motorsvoltFri, 11 Nov 2011 17:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20104671/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/11/bob-lutz-i-honestly-think-teslas-going-to-make-it/20104671/article-detail.xml 20104671 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/lutz-keynote-la-09_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/lutz-keynote-la-09.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz joining EV maker VIA Motors]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/26/bob-lutz-joining-ev-maker-via-motors/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/26/bob-lutz-joining-ev-maker-via-motors/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/26/bob-lutz-joining-ev-maker-via-motors/#commentsFiled under:



Bob Lutz is apparently planning to keep busy in his retirement. In addition to snapping up an advisory role with General Motors, the former automotive executive has just announced that he is joining up with VIA Motors, an electric vehicle manufacturer responsible for converting full-size GM products into extended-range hybrids.

At this point, it's unclear exactly what kind of role Lutz will play in the company or what his duties will be. For that matter, Lutz didn't say whether his new position with VIA Motors will conflict with his advisory role with GM.

Lutz says that of all of the feats he accomplished during his illustrious career across multiple manufacturers, helping usher the Chevrolet Volt to market is his proudest achievement, making the new position at VIA Motors a convenient fit.

Bob Lutz joining EV maker VIA Motors originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzgeneral motorsgmvia motorsMon, 26 Sep 2011 09:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20066266/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/26/bob-lutz-joining-ev-maker-via-motors/20066266/article-detail.xml 20066266 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/lutz-solstice-sunglasses-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/lutz-solstice-sunglasses-630.jpg <![CDATA[GM announces Bob Lutz retained as advisor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/02/gm-announces-bob-lutz-retained-as-advisor/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/02/gm-announces-bob-lutz-retained-as-advisor/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/02/gm-announces-bob-lutz-retained-as-advisor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bob Lutz, General MotorsThe man nicknamed "Maximum" isn't completely retired yet.

General Motors has announced that it has retained Bob Lutz as an advisor. Executives at GM will be able to reach out to Lutz and tap into his knowledge base, which was garnered from a career in the automotive industry lasting over four decades.

Since retiring from GM in 2010, Lutz has supplied information to executives on an informal basis. Now the assistance will be provided on an official retainer, presumably on a more frequent (or at least regularly scheduled) basis.

Click through to the jump for the official press release.

Continue reading GM announces Bob Lutz retained as advisor

GM announces Bob Lutz retained as advisor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzgeneral motorsgmlutzrobert lutzFri, 02 Sep 2011 14:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20033709/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/02/gm-announces-bob-lutz-retained-as-advisor/20033709/article-detail.xml 20033709 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/bob-lutz-headshot-200_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/bob-lutz-headshot-200.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz briefly considered Michigan gubernatorial run [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/06/bob-lutz-briefly-considered-michigan-gubernatorial-run-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/06/bob-lutz-briefly-considered-michigan-gubernatorial-run-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/06/bob-lutz-briefly-considered-michigan-gubernatorial-run-w-poll/#commentsFiled under: , ,

bob lutz

The man they call Maximum Bob had visions of becoming Governor Maximum Bob. When the former vice chairman of General Motors saw his tenure with automaker drawing to a close, Bob Lutz considered running for governor of Michigan. It appears this was merely a brief consideration, ahead of the 2010 election.

A gubernatorial run faded into an afterthought once Lutz was informed of the sheer volume of cash he would need to spend on a campaign. Couple the amount of money with a never-ending sea of meetings and appearances along the campaign trail, and Lutz apparently realized this wasn't a pool he felt like diving into.

Since it's nothing more than a thought exercise at this point, why not take a moment to cast a completely meaningless vote in our poll below. Come on, Lutz, we're pulling for ya.

View Poll

Bob Lutz briefly considered Michigan gubernatorial run [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzbob lutz gubernatorial rungeneral motorsgmgovernorgovernor of michiganlutzlutz for governormaximum bobWed, 06 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19984572/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/06/bob-lutz-briefly-considered-michigan-gubernatorial-run-w-poll/19984572/article-detail.xml 19984572 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/bob-lutz_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/bob-lutz.jpg <![CDATA[Lutz dishes dirt on GM in latest Autoline Detroit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/20/lutz-dishes-dirt-on-gm-in-latest-autoline-detroit/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/20/lutz-dishes-dirt-on-gm-in-latest-autoline-detroit/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/20/lutz-dishes-dirt-on-gm-in-latest-autoline-detroit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

bob lutz on autoline detroit
Bob Lutz sits down for Autoline Detroit - Click above to watch video after the jump

Autoline Detroit recently played host to Bob Lutz, and, as is always the case, the former General Motors vice chairman dished out some great commentary. Lutz was promoting his new book Car Guys vs. Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business, and talk quickly turned to his role as it related to product development and high-level decision making at GM. While on the topic of brand management, Lutz revealed a few rather interesting tidbits about his former employer:
  • All Chevrolet vehicles were required to have five-spoke aluminum wheels and a chrome band up front, as part of the Bowtie brand's overall image.
  • Pontiac was required to utilize "see-through" headrests, despite the fact that they cost more to produce while offering no consumer value.
  • All Buicks required a sweep spear in the exterior design language.
  • Cadillac considered building a 550-horsepower supercharged Escalade.
  • Saturn was working on a seven-passenger Vue.
  • Many of the non-car person GM board members preferred to drive imports.
  • Proportion and shape didn't matter as long as all the brand-image boxes were checked.
Lutz provides an interesting look at the type of decision making that forced GM into a position of bankruptcy. The automaker was being run solely by folks focused on techniques and ideals that don't work in the industry. We don't want to give away the entire interview, but it's worth watching all 26 minutes. Click past the jump to see for yourself.

Also, judging solely by the above screenshot, we'll cast a vote for Robert De Niro to play Lutz in the inevitable movie about this period in General Motors' history.

Continue reading Lutz dishes dirt on GM in latest Autoline Detroit

Lutz dishes dirt on GM in latest Autoline Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline detroitbob lutzbuickcadillaccadilllacchevroletescaladegeneral motorsgmlutzpontiacsaturnsaturn vuesupercharged escaladevideoMon, 20 Jun 2011 19:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19971881/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/20/lutz-dishes-dirt-on-gm-in-latest-autoline-detroit/19971881/article-detail.xml 19971881 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/bob-lutz_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/bob-lutz.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz illustrates GM's decline in a Christmas card]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/13/bob-lutz-illustrates-gms-decline-in-a-christmas-card/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/13/bob-lutz-illustrates-gms-decline-in-a-christmas-card/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/13/bob-lutz-illustrates-gms-decline-in-a-christmas-card/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Bob Lutz is in The Wall Street Journal this week, and the former Vice Chairman at General Motors discusses what he sees as the reason for the automaker's previous failings. His illustrative example? A company Christmas card. Sounds weird, but Mr. Lutz's example hit home nicely.

Lutz tells the story of Cadillac then-boss Jim Roche, and a drawn-out mission to get the Wreath and Crest's Christmas card just right. After countless versions, a simple painting of a boy with a sled turned into a Cadillac driving to a mansion along a snow-covered drive.

The point? Lutz's example shows in glaring detail the level of corporate waste and inefficiency that characterized GM through much of the post-war period. That culture, and the lack of an iron-fisted leader, are what Lutz blames for dragging the company down. Check out Lutz's full thoughts here.

Bob Lutz illustrates GM's decline in a Christmas card originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bobbob lutzcadillacchristmas cardgeneral motorsgmjim rochelutzMon, 13 Jun 2011 15:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19964871/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/13/bob-lutz-illustrates-gms-decline-in-a-christmas-card/19964871/article-detail.xml 19964871 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/bob-lutz-fist-pump_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/bob-lutz-fist-pump.jpg <![CDATA[Majority of Americans want 62 mpg CAFE standards; automakers don't]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/majority-of-americans-want-62-mpg-cafe-standards-automakers-don/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/majority-of-americans-want-62-mpg-cafe-standards-automakers-don/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/17/majority-of-americans-want-62-mpg-cafe-standards-automakers-don/#commentsFiled under:

cafe 62 mpg

If you want to find examples of ways Americans disagree on politics, all you need to do is turn on any cable news channel right now. But here's a curious case of the majority agreeing on one important point: 62 percent of Americans support an increase in the average fuel economy mandate in the U.S. to 60 miles per gallon by 2025.

That's around the level currently under loose discussion in Washington (which is 62 mpg), and the strong, bi-partisan support is the finding of a survey released today by the Consumer Federation of America, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation under commission. The current CAFE rules, announced in April 2010, require 35 mpg by 2016.

There is one group that's against the 60+ mpg level, though: automakers. As former General Motors vice chair Bob Lutz told us the other day when talking about a CAFE increase that wasn't quite 62 mpg, "Nobody knows how to do a full-line fleet with the equivalent of 42 miles per gallon. That's ain'tgonnahappen.com."

More broadly, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents many major automakers, asked the Obama administration to not consider a 62 mpg standard until more studies on this level's impact on the industry are completed. It warned that such a high level might negatively affect safety, sales and jobs.

Majority of Americans want 62 mpg CAFE standards; automakers don't originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>62 mpgalliance of automobile manufacturersbob lutzcafecafe mpgcafe standardsconsumer federation of americampgobama mpgTue, 17 May 2011 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19942090/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/17/majority-of-americans-want-62-mpg-cafe-standards-automakers-don/19942090/article-detail.xml 19942090 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/abg-cafe-cup_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/abg-cafe-cup.jpg <![CDATA[Report: GM trying to re-hire Bob Lutz]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/15/report-gm-trying-to-re-hire-bob-lutz/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/15/report-gm-trying-to-re-hire-bob-lutz/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/15/report-gm-trying-to-re-hire-bob-lutz/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bob LutzGeneral Motors is reportedly looking to re-hire none other than Bob Lutz as a consultant to vehicle development. Lutz, 79, left GM in May of 2010 after leading the company's product development efforts for many years.

The push to rehire Lutz reportedly comes from GM CEO Dan Akerson's initiative to rush development and reduce cost of its new crop of vehicles. The United States government, which currently owns one-third of GM, has apparently opposed Lutz's re-appointment, with The Daily Beast saying that the U.S. Treasury is reluctant to re-hire Lutz on the grounds that paying him so close to his retirement could look like a "sweetheart payout."

GM recently promoted Mary Barra, 49, to senior vice president in charge of global product development, even though she has very little experience in the field. By bringing Lutz back, GM hopes to regain an intelligent eye into strategies for quick product development, as well as marketing and design. Thanks for the tip, Phrime!

[Source: The Daily Beast]

Report: GM trying to re-hire Bob Lutz originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzgeneral motorsgmlutzTue, 15 Feb 2011 16:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19845427/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/15/report-gm-trying-to-re-hire-bob-lutz/19845427/article-detail.xml 19845427 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/lutz-solstice-sunglasses-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/lutz-solstice-sunglasses-630.jpg <![CDATA[How Bob Lutz made four auto journalists his "Secret Weapons" at GM]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/25/how-bob-lutz-made-four-auto-journalists-his-secret-weapons-at/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/25/how-bob-lutz-made-four-auto-journalists-his-secret-weapons-at/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/25/how-bob-lutz-made-four-auto-journalists-his-secret-weapons-at/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Can His Arsenal Survive New Management?

Bob Lutz

When Bob Lutz ran General Motors' product development efforts, he did something that no other car company has done in the history of making cars. He hired four automotive journalists to assess all of GM's new vehicles before they were OK'd for production. And their word was law. Everything had to be developed to their satisfaction.

That didn't go down well with GM's traditional engineering staff, at least not at first. They didn't like the fact that four outsiders, four media critics with no product development experience, could force them to make changes on a new-car program. But because the journos reported to Lutz, they had all the protection they needed.

[Lutz] personally asked me not to write anything about them. That's how much of a competitive advantage he felt they brought to GM.
Lutz hired them as full-time employees because he wanted an independent, third party voice to evaluate GM's cars as they went through their development stages. "These are four guys who made a living out of critiquing cars," Lutz says, "and they made a pretty good living at it." Since the four didn't hold any allegiance to the design, engineering or manufacturing staffs at GM, they could feel free to critique any car just as they would when they were full-time journalists.

Lutz tells me they were his secret weapons. He credits them with the reason why GM's cars are now tuned to world-class standards. These guys didn't design, engineer or develop any vehicles. That was done by GM's long-standing employees. But the journos brought an enthusiast magazine mind-set to the evaluation process to make sure there would be very little for the press to pick apart.

I've known about Lutz's secret weapons for several years. But he personally asked me not to write anything about them. That's how much of a competitive advantage he felt they brought to GM. He didn't want to see any other car company copying this approach. Since these guys are friends and colleagues whom I've known for years, I also didn't want to jeopardize their jobs. So I didn't write about them. Until now. And now I think it's important that I do.

Continue reading...
John McElroyJohn McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading How Bob Lutz made four auto journalists his "Secret Weapons" at GM

How Bob Lutz made four auto journalists his "Secret Weapons" at GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzdan akersonfeaturedgeneral motorsjack keeblermary barranick tworkrich cepposron sessiontom stephensTue, 25 Jan 2011 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19813421/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/01/25/how-bob-lutz-made-four-auto-journalists-his-secret-weapons-at/19813421/article-detail.xml 19813421 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/bob-lutz-eyes-2-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/bob-lutz-eyes-2-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz joins electric scooter maker Current Motor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/19/bob-lutz-joins-electric-scooter-maker-current-motor/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/19/bob-lutz-joins-electric-scooter-maker-current-motor/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/19/bob-lutz-joins-electric-scooter-maker-current-motor/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bob Lutz Current Motors

Bob Lutz rides again. And again. Everyone's favorite former auto executive has saddled up with a new electric scooter company, investing a sizeable chunk of change into Current Motor and taking a spot on the company's advisory council.

As of right now, the scooter maker offers a total of three different two-wheeled rides with varying top speeds. The base model, the Economy C124E, carries an MSRP of $6,499, maxes out at 55 mph with a range of around 30 miles, and supposedly charges in just four hours from a standard 110-watt home outlet. The lineup tops out with the Deluxe 130 which goes for a shave under $8,000, though its top speed of 65 mph and range of 50 miles makes it a slightly more appealing option.

Lutz says his work with Current Motors makes perfect sense given his dedication to bringing an EV to market throughout his career. He's already championing a pilot program that will offer buyers $2,000 off the sticker price if they commit to providing feedback about their machines via Twitter and Facebook. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

[Sources: Motorcycle, Current Motor | Image: @JeffreyNRoss]

Continue reading Bob Lutz joins electric scooter maker Current Motor

Bob Lutz joins electric scooter maker Current Motor originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzcurrent motor companycurrent motor scooterselectric scooterev scooterscootersWed, 19 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19805063/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/01/19/bob-lutz-joins-electric-scooter-maker-current-motor/19805063/article-detail.xml 19805063 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/lutz-current-motors-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/lutz-current-motors-630.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Bob Lutz gives Lotus a 60% chance of success]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/15/report-bob-lutz-gives-lotus-a-60-chance-of-success/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/15/report-bob-lutz-gives-lotus-a-60-chance-of-success/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/15/report-bob-lutz-gives-lotus-a-60-chance-of-success/#commentsFiled under:

Bob Lutz in front of reporters

If anyone knows about turning things around, it's Bob Lutz. After all, he was a naval aviator, and those guys can pull some serious G forces. He's also widely credited with keeping Chrysler alive for longer than it might have been otherwise. But what's he up to these days?

Well for one thing he's sitting on the senior advisory board for Lotus, giving Dany Bahar and company some guidance as they endeavor to usher the House that Colin Built into a new era. And an ambitious endeavor it is, rolling out five new models all at once while expanding its motorsports program tenfold and then some.

So what does Lutz think of Lotus' chances? Well he's optimistic, but cautiously so. Lutz reportedly gives the prospects at least a 60 percent chance to succeed, but importantly, he thinks it's more viable than the company's current path. According to Lutz, "It's a risk. But I'm quite certain it stands a better chance than the Lotus status quo, which for sure would eventually lead this great brand into terminal decline."

In other words, while there are no guarantees, it's a good plan - not a perfect one - and it'll take some good ol' fashion elbow grease to make it work - something Lutz knows all about.

[Source: Autocar | Image: Stan Honda/AFP]

Report: Bob Lutz gives Lotus a 60% chance of success originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzgroup lotuslotuslotus carsrobert lutzWed, 15 Dec 2010 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19760483/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/15/report-bob-lutz-gives-lotus-a-60-chance-of-success/19760483/article-detail.xml 19760483 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/was2997002_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/was2997002.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Bob Lutz, Tom Purves to advise Lotus?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/28/report-bob-lutz-to-advise-lotus/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/28/report-bob-lutz-to-advise-lotus/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/28/report-bob-lutz-to-advise-lotus/#commentsFiled under: ,



Two anonymous sources have told Automotive News that Lotus is courting both Bob Lutz and retired BMW executive Tom Purves to become advisors to the British brand.

As previously reported, Lotus' Malaysian parents at Proton are on a kick to increase both volume and model mix to take on its exotic rivals at Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche. In order to boost production to around 8,000 units annually, Lotus needs to take a long, hard look at what it's offering and how it can expand the brand to take on Europe's elite - possibly at the expense of Lotus' core values. Or not.

To that end, Lotus could be looking at both Lutz and Purves for their product knowledge, which in the case of Maximum Bob is as wide and varied as it is successful. Lutz has already said he's open to future gigs and he's already accepted a board position at Transonic Combustion. But at this point, however, formal bids for both retired execs have yet to provided by Lotus.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Report: Bob Lutz, Tom Purves to advise Lotus? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzbob lutz lotusBobLutzBobLutzLotuslotuslutzpurvestom pruvestom purvesTomPurvesMon, 28 Jun 2010 17:22:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19534370/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/28/report-bob-lutz-to-advise-lotus/19534370/article-detail.xml 19534370 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lutz-solstice-sunglasses-630_thumbnail.jpeg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lutz-solstice-sunglasses-630.jpeg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz in presumptive plane crash? [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/17/bob-lutz-in-presumptive-plane-crash-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/17/bob-lutz-in-presumptive-plane-crash-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/17/bob-lutz-in-presumptive-plane-crash-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Officials search for a downed plane - Click above to watch video after the jump

We've been a little curious as to what good old Bob Lutz has been up to after retiring from General Motors. While the former auto exec had said that he would be busy slaving away over his latest book, the truth may be a bit more exciting. Several locals in Pinckney, Michigan called emergency services when they spotted a small jet flying at low altitude, believing that the aircraft was going down. Officials didn't find anything, but said that they discovered that a "retired gentleman" had been previously flying his personal aircraft in the area.

No one is officially saying whether or not it was Lutz who was spending the afternoon reenacting his favorite Top Gun scenes, but we have a hard time imaging imagining how many other auto exec retirees would be buzzing church towers with a decommissioned jet in rural Michigan. By all accounts, the pilot landed safely without incident, and since neither the plane nor the pilot were positively identified, no one is being charged for the search and rescue operation. Hit the jump for a quick video of the search effort.

[Source: Livingston Daily via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Bob Lutz in presumptive plane crash? [w/video]

Bob Lutz in presumptive plane crash? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bob LutzBob Lutz Plane CrashBobLutzBobLutzPlaneCrashlutzLutz Plane CrashLutzPlaneCrashMaximum BobMaximum Bob LutzMaximumBobMaximumBobLutzpinckneyrobert lutzRobertLutzThu, 17 Jun 2010 17:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19520921/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/17/bob-lutz-in-presumptive-plane-crash-w-video/19520921/article-detail.xml 19520921 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lutz-search-and-rescue_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lutz-search-and-rescue.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Bob Lutz signs on for board duty at fuel-injection startup]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/25/report-bob-lutz-signs-on-for-board-duty-at-fuel-injection-start/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/25/report-bob-lutz-signs-on-for-board-duty-at-fuel-injection-start/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/25/report-bob-lutz-signs-on-for-board-duty-at-fuel-injection-start/#commentsFiled under:



When the now-retired General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz joined us on the Autoblog podcast, he told us that he was looking to get on some company boards. Not even a month into retirement, Maximum Bob has added yet another notch to his belt, accepting a position at fuel injection supplier Transonic Combustion. The company, which has offices in Camarillo, CA and Bloomfield Township, MI, is working on more efficient fuel injection systems.

Lutz hasn't yet made any public comments about his new board role outside of a prepared statement that reminds us that "for the foreseeable future the internal-combustion engine will remain the dominant propulsion system for automobiles, and there is still a lot of room to improve its efficiency." Beyond his board job with Transonic Combustion, Lutz is working on a book that we're desperately interested to get our hands on.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images]

Report: Bob Lutz signs on for board duty at fuel-injection startup originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzbob lutz gm retiredbob lutz transonic combustionBobLutzBobLutzGmRetiredBobLutzTransonicCombustionTue, 25 May 2010 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19490295/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/25/report-bob-lutz-signs-on-for-board-duty-at-fuel-injection-start/19490295/article-detail.xml 19490295 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/gyi0059258400-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/gyi0059258400-630op.jpg <![CDATA[Self-proclaimed "irritant" Bob Lutz honored by GM]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/19/self-proclaimed-irritant-bob-lutz-honored-by-gm/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/19/self-proclaimed-irritant-bob-lutz-honored-by-gm/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/19/self-proclaimed-irritant-bob-lutz-honored-by-gm/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Bob Lutz is now officially into the swing of being retired. The former General Motors Vice Chairman has been living the life of leisure since the end of April, but the company he helped steer through Chapter 11 took some time to honor the living automotive legend in a number of receptions held yesterday. Lutz took the occasion to hand out a little wisdom to his fellow workers by telling them not to be afraid to be an irritant or point out deficiencies in the company, saying the philosophy worked for him throughout his career.

Lutz received a number of keepsakes during the celebration, including a set of aluminum versions of the cars he helped bring to market while at GM, including the Chevrolet Volt, Malibu and the Pontiac Solstice, as well as a small diecast engine. He spent his time signing autographs and shaking hands between speeches. Lutz also spoke to the theme of his next book - a tome that he's been working on since walking away from the automaker last month.

The text will focus mainly on the troubles that riddled GM before the meltdown and what the company can do to avoid falling into the same pitfalls in the future. His advice? Don't abandon common sense, and don't try to outthink the industry. It isn't one that requires "a huge intellect."

[Sources: Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News | Image: AP Photo/Seth Wenig/Getty]

Self-proclaimed "irritant" Bob Lutz honored by GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bob LutzBob Lutz retirementBobLutzBobLutzRetirementChevroletChevrolet MalibuChevrolet VoltChevroletMalibuChevroletVoltGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMMalibuPontiac SolsticePontiacSolsticerobert lutzRobertLutzSolsticeVoltWed, 19 May 2010 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19483290/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/19/self-proclaimed-irritant-bob-lutz-honored-by-gm/19483290/article-detail.xml 19483290 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/bob-lutz-smile-ap-getty-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/bob-lutz-smile-ap-getty-630.jpg <![CDATA[Bob Lutz says farewell, talks GM success]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/30/bob-lutz-says-farewell-talks-gm-success/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/30/bob-lutz-says-farewell-talks-gm-success/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/30/bob-lutz-says-farewell-talks-gm-success/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Today is Bob Lutz' last day at General Motors, and as such, the industry's iconic car guy has written out a long farewell to his readers over at the company's Fastlane Blog. In his final post, Lutz says he's confident that the company he helped usher back from life support is on the right path. Why? Because he says that each of the GM brands now has a solid product line up under its belt that's capable of competing against the best the auto world has to offer.

Lutz says that GM has finally let its designers out from under the corporate thumb, and that move is beginning to pay dividends in the look of vehicles like the Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Malibu and Equinox. Combine that with ever-improving quality and lower-than ever inventories, and on the whole, Lutz says his company is beginning to get its legs back under it.

Yes, it does appear GM is on the mend, but the company and the industry as a whole is going to be a lot less interesting without Lutz around. You can read the full piece here.

[Source: Fastlane Blog]

Bob Lutz says farewell, talks GM success originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bob LutzBobLutzBuickCadillacChevroletChevrolet EquinoxChevrolet MalibuChevroletEquinoxChevroletMalibuEquinoxGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMGMCMalibuFri, 30 Apr 2010 19:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19460643/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/30/bob-lutz-says-farewell-talks-gm-success/19460643/article-detail.xml 19460643 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/lutz-1272652150_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/lutz-1272652150.jpg -1 2