Bob Lutz and GM ambivalent about the Volt?

[ModerateRight]

The Washington Post has just published one of the most intensive and thoughtful articles about the Chevy Volt and what it means for GM I have ever seen. The story is based on an interview with GM vice chairman Bob Lutz.

The story begins pointing out that the Chevrolet Camaro SS is GM’s latest muscle car that flies in the face of all the environmental talk going on these days. “Sexy with charisma,” says Lutz, but admits “Some people don’t care for those kinds of descriptions today — it’s a different time.”

Lutz counters “But we have new vehicles, too. We have the Volt. We are committed to the electrification of the automobile. We know this is the time.”

Read more.

[doctsompdo]

GM turns to Volt to revitalize its image
But automaker shows ambivalence about its car of the future

WARREN, Mich. - Even now, as General Motors fights for survival, there is something ambivalent about its prescription for saving itself, a conflict implicit in a bit of symbolism that recently greeted arrivals to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport even before they reached baggage claim.

One of GM's touted new automobiles sat on display in the center of the automaker's airport gift shop. It was not the coming electric car, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, championed by Bob Lutz, the GM executive most identified with the Hail Mary that the vehicle represents for the bankrupt company, which faces the immediate future as a ward of the federal government. It was not one of the relatively new GM hybrids. It was not even a mid-level sedan called the Chevy Malibu, which has received flattering reviews and awards, in part for its better-than-average fuel economy.

It was instead a car that flies in the face of all the worries about the American automotive industry, all the calls to make it more environmentally responsible and therefore more viable: the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS with a V-8 engine, General Motors' version of the fast and powerful model that automobile enthusiasts commonly call a muscle car.

MORE:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31146562

Why not put the VOLT out there as well! Yes, the Camaro is "eye candy" but the VOLT spreads the new message....just my two cents

[ModerateRight]

Original Washington Post article

Even now, as General Motors fights for survival, there is something ambivalent about its prescription for saving itself, a conflict implicit in a bit of symbolism that recently greeted arrivals to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport even before they reached baggage claim.

One of GM's touted new automobiles sat on display in the center of the automaker's airport gift shop. It was not the coming electric car, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, championed by Bob Lutz, the GM executive most identified with the Hail Mary that the vehicle represents for the bankrupt company, which faces the immediate future as a ward of the federal government. It was not one of the relatively new GM hybrids. It was not even a mid-level sedan called the Chevy Malibu, which has received flattering reviews and awards, in part for its better-than-average fuel economy.

It was instead a car that flies in the face of all the worries about the American automotive industry, all the calls to make it more environmentally responsible and therefore more viable: the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS with a V-8 engine, General Motors' version of the fast and powerful model that automobile enthusiasts commonly call a muscle car.

With an estimated 25 miles per gallon on the highway, the 400-plus-horsepower Camaro SS is not a car renowned for being fuel-efficient. It is another Bob Lutz car, a monument to Lutz's and GM's enduring hope that even as the company struggles to escape bankruptcy as a smaller, leaner producer of fuel-efficient vehicles, the glory days can somehow be resurrected.

Read more.

[GG_TECH]

Yea I agree they should display the Volt the "holy grail" of the auto. As for the display of the new Camaro, I suspect it's an "in your face" attitude towards the feds. Soon Government Motors will come to their senses. They have to.

[flobeelicious]

would be nice if the article got right the fact that the one in the store is a 1ls, not an ss. cloth seats, little rims, no tech package, etc. its there for a reason. unfortunately, like seemingly every other camaro i've seen, its silver. nothing like choosing the most boring color possible, than making sure that every dealer and display opportunity has that color.

[Beau]

Well if the Camaro is the face of the new GM, it spells good and bad.

Good because they might be committed to decent fact cars...

But bad because Car and Driver just came out with an article where a POS live axle 315 horsepower Mustang just beat the PANTS off it point wise...

So that means again GM is like YEAH WE'RE THE BEST! But in reality, its only partially competitive.

Same old GM means, I look elsewhere.

Not that I can afford $30K for an RS V6 that is only partially competitive in the first place. Car prices are getting f'ing retarded.

[PAULSTS1]

Just another reason to replace the Executive Suite with Engineer/Transportation experts. Build a Volt with the performance and look of a Camaro; for the road today, but with the future in mind.

GM or whatever it's name will be must be transformed from a same old thing; to new technology with style. All with an eye on making money;with all of the loans outstanding--the company must make money!

[Evo69]

Originally Posted by PAULSTS1

Just another reason to replace the Executive Suite with Engineer/Transportation experts. Build a Volt with the performance and look of a Camaro; for the road today, but with the future in mind.

GM or whatever it's name will be must be transformed from a same old thing; to new technology with style. All with an eye on making money;with all of the loans outstanding--the company must make money!

Exactly! Its time the engineers and other technical specialists retake their rightful place at GM and the rest of the automotive industry.

[rsbaker]

Why not put the V6 RS with a sign on it screaming 29 mpg.

[GMFAN85]

There's a perfectly good explanation for this:
They want to turn a profit on a car that is just rolling into dealerships not a vehicle that is still in the middle of product testing.

The Volt is still more then a year away. The Camaro is out now. The V8 is not expected to bring in as many sales as the V6 so they at least want to not have a loss.

Another point about the Volt: GM doesn't want overexposure on such an important halo car before it's even out. It will lessen the impact when it does arrive in dealerships. I'd like to think they learned their lesson with the Camaro.

[zete]

It would appear the author of the article at GM-Volt.com obviously doesn't know the definition of "ambivalent". Lutz's comments aren't ambivalent but realistic and pragmatic. The fact is that not everyone wants a Volt, or a hybrid or a 4-cylinder or a bicycle. Some folks want a Camaro or an M5 or a Corvette or a 911. Some need a truck or an SUV. We live in a capitalistic, market driven economy so the market dictates what the automakers make. It seems the ecofreaks forget this constantly.

It's best to look at this the way Jay Leno looks at this. The best reason for cars like the Volt or fuel-cell cars is that it allows those of us with a passion for a v8 to have a v8. There should be a look at the overall impact and not some boneheaded determination to dictate market. This is the problem with many eco-freaks. They think they have the right to dictate to everyone what they should drive, how they should eat, what they should wear, etc. It's why I have little time for them.

Lutz knows the future of cars is electric in one way or another. He's so stated numerous times. GM has so indicated through the amount of money they're expending on the Volt project. However, he is right to lament the possible loss of great cars if the ecofreaks have their way.

Even today, when one truly looks at the larger picture, the number of high-powered cars like the Camaro SS, G8 GT, CTS-V, M5, AMG models, Corvette, the Ferraris, the Porsches, etc., all amount to a small fraction of overall world auto sales. Destroying a passion for some by enforcing the types of vehicles allowed to be sold is retarded. Thus, Lutz doesn't show ambivalence but rather disgust that those shrieking about fuel economy don't comprehend that the automobile industry responds to the market. And that the ecofreaks account for but a small fraction of that market.

The ecofreaks truly need to comprehend what Lutz has called for repeatedly: higher gas taxes. This would change the market's dynamics. Forcing the automakers to build fuel efficient cars is pushing the string. To pull the string requires higher gas prices, which can easily be accomplished with higher gas taxes. Those taxes could then be pumped into the automobile industry to create more fuel efficient cars, research new technologies, etc. However, that is politically unpalatable and thus no US politician will implement higher gas taxes, no matter how much sense that ultimately makes. I do remain totally flabbergasted that the ecofreaks aren't pushing a higher tax as it would most benefit their cherished desire to get more people into fuel efficient transportation. The side benefit that such a move is good for US national security would be a bonus mention for them. But I digress.

Ultimately, ambivalence has nothing to do with the realistic stance GM and Lutz are taking. They need the green halo in this day and age. That's just pragmatism. Obviously the author has confused ambivalence with pragmatism.

[Rick 2000]

Chevrolet Volt is for people that view the car as an appliance .
Chevrolet Camaro is for people that can do math and realice
that the price differnce doesn't make sense .

[zete]

Originally Posted by Rick 2000

Chevrolet Volt is for people that view the car as an apliance .
Chevrolet Camaro is for people that can do math and realice
that the price differnce doesn't make sense .

No, the Volt isn't for those that want an appliance. It's for those that want to make a statement. Putting it at Chevrolet is brilliant marketing.

Thus, Volt is there to change perceptions, allow Chevrolet to gain a huge halo, and GM can then leverage Volt over at Cadillac with Converj and at Buick for something like an Electra crossover.

For those that do math, it'd be better to buy the Cruze, which is more an appliance and thrifty with fuel. The Cruze will be what saves GM. The Volt will save GM's reputation and change perceptions.

The Camaro is also a statement car.

[CJ Thunder]

Cars people get excited about...isn't that how you sell cars or is it all talk now?

[Slideways]

Thank you, Zete, for injecting some logic into this POS article.

Again, let me point out that the Camaro, the big, thirsty, evil car for people who drown kittens and vacation in south America to slash-and-burn the rainforest, outsold the Honda Insight, the car with seats that feel like butterfly kisses from a unicorn and exhaust that nourishes hummingbirds.

Heaven forbid GM display one of their best cars that people can actually buy today, one with seven years of pent up demand. They should definitely put out hollow non-running Volt mules instead and assume that everyone and their cousin will wait a year to buy a car.

I am so sick of the GM-hate being spewed by every dim-wit "journalist' with half a brain. I didn't think newspaper reporters were supposed to editorialize so much.