Lutz Speaks About Rear-Wheel Drive

[nsap]

(Almost) Summer Driving
By Bob Lutz


It’s been great to read all the Solstice comments in response to Lori Queen’s posts. I’ll just say that Lori and I appreciate your patience. You won’t be sorry you waited once you have one. I also noticed that amid the Solstice discussion, that issue of rear-wheel drive arose again, so I’d like to take the opportunity to address that one more time, along with a couple other questions I was asked previously.
About potential GM rear-wheel-drive products: First of all, for those who say GM is overcommitted to front-wheel-drive, I’d say that’s not quite true. We have the small rear-wheel drive architecture that will spawn the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. We have the Cadillac CTS, STS and SRX, three excellent rear-drive vehicles. And of course we have the Chevrolet Corvette and the Cadillac XLR. And the rear-wheel drive 2005 Pontiac GTO is practically sold out, despite initial worries of whether it would ever reach its targeted volume of 18,000 a year. Right now on the West Coast they just don’t have enough of them to go around, because it’s such a great car to drive. So there’s a whole host of rear-wheel-drive cars that we have already.

We’re fully cognizant of the advantages and disadvantages of rear-wheel drive versus front-wheel drive. We know that rear-wheel drive for the enthusiast driver produces a greater and more visceral sense of control. That isn’t to say that you can’t do a great front-wheel-drive car, and we certainly do a lot of those, with great vehicle dynamics.

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[GReekBoy]

Sure those are all nice cars, but the ones he mentioned are all priced 35k+.
Aside from the sky/solstice, but those dont sport a v-8.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

GReek BOy - Patience, my son, patience.

But granted, time does seem to be in limited quantity for GM these days.

[TaHoE]

Originally Posted by New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66

GReek BOy - Patience, my son, patience.

But granted, time does seem to be in limited quantity for GM these days.

We have been hearing this for 20 years, GM needs to get the ball rolling.

[RAVEN05649]

Bob, How is a platform specific to Caddy sopposed to spawn new non caddy vehicles?? I have heard the rumors of Sigma-lite, but really...

[FordWho?]

Hmmmmm, what would work here? HOW ABOUT A CAMARO!!!

[x2222]

You can't blame him too much though for being all talk and no action because if zeta were to go through it would have to compete with the comparable chrsylers and also some very well off models from foreign automakers in that range. As for a limited zeta for the camaro, i don't think that will materialize for a very very long time.

[IMPALAon20s]

lutz should do more listening, then talking, when it comes to RWD. we all know of the rwd products gm has, but so far, none are high volume and price in mid 20k range.

[saturnsteve]

Build a Camaro BOB!! We are getting tired of waiting on this thing

[KingElvis]

I think this rwd/fwd thing misses the point.

The future is four wheel drive. It can work in either transverse or longitudinal engine mounting. The Ford 500 has enjoyed much greater demand than imagined for its 4x4 version; people want this feature and will pay a premium of at least $3000 for it.

Now consider that, on say a FWD Monte Carlo, if you could add a rear electric motor and irs differential with half shafts, you would have a "triple play"

1. 4x4 traction/handling in both winter and 'performance' driving

2. More total power/acceleration via added DC motor torque

3. Increased gas mileage in stop/start city traffic.

Who wouldn't pay more for that? Suddenly the hybrid cost becomes 'rational' by adding performance and capability rather than just subtracting from the gas bill.

It could be added as an option easily, without the need to reconfigure the rest of the drivetrain. As Dodge showed with the Durango hybrid concept the DC power makes it so you don't have to mechanically link the two power sources. The equalization of front and rear wheel speeds simply comes "through the road" as Dodge pointed out.

Even on a conventional, mechanically linked, non-hybrid 4x4 systems, the current FWD cars would enjoy advantages.

If you have a transverse engine V8 Monte Carlo, splitting half the torque to go to the rear gets rid of the torque steer and oversteer problem, and allows lower gearing without breaking components. Wet surface handling is improved markedly of course, but Audi Quattro cars showed that even dry pavement handling can be better too.

[IMPALAon20s]

Originally Posted by saturnsteve

Build a Camaro BOB!! We are getting tired of waiting on this thing

yeah bob, go build a camaro, then i might be more inclined to listen. go put that on your blog bob!! oh, and sign me up for a rwd v8 impala, thanks bob!

[JVal14]

Originally Posted by TaHoE

We have been hearing this for 20 years, GM needs to get the ball rolling.

I agree. The things he speaks of - about GM knowing the advantages and appeal of RWD - we're all aware of. Of course GM knows that lots of people prefer RWD; but the brass doesn't care. I don't blame Bob for it, because we all know he would have 50% of GM vehicles be RWD if he could (the other half would be AWD ), but he's not really telling us anything new here. I think a new Camaro/Firebird and a solid RWD sedan platform would satisfy 90% of RWD advocates out there. Is that really so much to ask? GM built them for over a CENTURY, but now they can't muster the R&D to go back to what they have 100 years of experience in? I CALL BULLSH*T!!

[61BelAir]

Originally Posted by GReekBoy

Sure those are all nice cars, but the ones he mentioned are all priced 35k+.
Aside from the sky/solstice, but those dont sport a v-8.

You got that right. Thats great for all the people who can afford 35k+ but the average guy like me can't even dream of having a RWD car with a v8 or even v6 for that matter. If GM ever decides to build a nice RWD 2 door/4 door car with v6 and v8 option at a reasonable price they will do well. What I don't understand is if they can build a large full size truck with two v8 options that they can sell for 20k why can't they do that with a car?

[377Z]

Originally Posted by x2222

You can't blame him too much though for being all talk and no action because if zeta were to go through it would have to compete with the comparable chrsylers and also some very well off models from foreign automakers in that range. As for a limited zeta for the camaro, i don't think that will materialize for a very very long time.

[SARCASM] Yeah, we wouldn't want GM to actually, you know, be competetive. They should just continue building mediocre stuff only a loyalist would want.[/SARCASM]

Jeez, looks like Lutz has been completely assimilated by the GM suits. Just more of the same drivel: "we feel our high end cars are enough for you fans of RWD, so if you don't have $35K+ you better either: like low end pickup trucks, get lucky enough to be one of the 20K/yr Solstice (persuming you can live with a 2 seat roadster in the first place), or settle for FWD because we don't feel like making some affordable RWD offerings." Its scary when even "Mr. Car Guy" is towing the BS company line and resists building what is in demand. If Lutz was a car, he'd be a Pontiac Sunfire. Just like the only thing that sets a Sunfire apart from a Cavalier is gaudy styling, the only thing that sets Lutz apart from the typical GM suit is just a spun image.

[Swahili]

Before news about Zeta came out, everyone voiced their opinions about how the full size trucks and SUVs at GM were outdated, aged, just plain old. They've taken the steps to deal with that and I know, in a company the size of GM, they should be able to continue developing RWD cars at the same time. I do believe they are developing something. What that is, is anyone's guess.

It's time now, or WITHIN the next two years that GM introduces an affordable and attractive RWD sedan, or coupe. The hourglass is almost finished.