Posted on 04/17/2012 9:20:26 AM PDT by kcvl
He makes no bones about being a Republican. Yet Bob Lutz, even though he might not work for General Motors anymore, still has plenty of choice words for some fellow Republicans, specifically “the right wing talk show guys,” whom he feels helped put a real kink in the Chevy Volt’s sales curve.
During an interview with Plug In America’s Jeff U’Ren, Lutz gave his two cents on a number of Volt related subjects, saying that in his eyes, early marketing was a bit tepid, which reflected in early sales numbers, though he did say that even then, demand was on a steep upward curve.
But that was until the NHTSA crash test and subsequent probe, which saw, as Lutz mentioned, “the likes of Lou Dobbs, Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh even the beloved Reverend Huckabee, all talking about the highly flammable Chevrolet Volt.”
However, despite the aftermath of all this, namely a shutdown of Volt production to balance output with inventory, Lutz said that based on information from GM, March is expected to have been a record sales month.
He also said that earning European Car of the Year honors was the first time an American designed, and built car has ever won the prestigious accolade.
“You would think that would get a little attention in the media,” he joked, “but don’t wait for O’Reilly to say it.”
(Excerpt) Read more at hybridcars.com ...
Freepmail "Lazlo in PA" to be added or removed.
Worked wonders for the Cadillac verson of the Chevy Cavelier, i.e. the Cimarron.
I’d like to slam bob lutz’s head in the door of a volt.
LLS
Is there any way Lutz can be forced to drive only a Chevy Dolt for at least a year and force him to park it in his garage?
I would like to take responsibility for this too!
Ever since 2009, I have been telling anyone who will listen I will not buy a GM or Chrysler of any kind. I won’t support the UAW-Obama Motor Company.
Soetoro’s WHORES reap what they sow. ROFL. Over my dead body will I spend my cash on a GM vehicle.
Is that anything like a Bill O'Reilly Republican?
Bob, don't piss down our backs and tell us it's raining. The Volt is just an overpriced variant of the Chevy Cruze, which was mostly designed and tested by Daewoo and Opel.
Camaro.
“However, despite the aftermath of all this, namely a shutdown of Volt production to balance output with inventory, Lutz said that based on information from GM, March is expected to have been a record sales month.”
Well Bob, lemme tell ya the reality is this. If if weren’t for the recent GE order for corporate use the volt would be DOA. No life support, nothing.
Isn’t it funny. GE the biggest Corporate Wefare whore going is now ordering hundreds of Volts that my grandkids get to pay for because of those nice little 10k tax breaks for each car they purchase.
Mabe Imelt should cough up his “fair share” and cover the full cost. Given he’s one of those filthy rich people and GE hasn’t been paying their fair share of taxes lately.
You left out oldsmobile.
Yet Toyota dealers can’t keep a Prius C on their lots. Yeah, it’s those right-wing talk show hosts.
Again my "gnome" notes his "gnomes" tell him the Volt is the real deal engineering wise, but price point, weight, marketability and market acceptance? It has fallen on it's face.
However, electrification of the drive-train vs. Plug-in is a completely different subject. Their maybe some real good reasons for the Series Hybrid type Volt drive-train with regeneration, but IMHO a 435 lb battery is a big problem.
Watch for the Electric Ford Focus with the gear-less electric motor that I think is playing with the sine wave to get varying torque so a CVT is not needed. I repeat a Transmission is not needed. IMHO this is a huge breakthrough that no one sees...
Imagine 2 of these electric motors/knuckles, one front, one rear, with a small pony motor mid engine. Poor Mans 4WD Lotus Elise Anyone?
I can dream can't I?
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/11/ford-focus-electric-motor-extracted-split-asunder-coppery-guts/
Why does he care what a right wing talk show host says? He’s selling to the greenies, not to conservatives.
Who cares, it is an over-priced, under performing, early foray into alternamotive technology. Until better power storage (weight, capacity, refresh rate), or power generation (fuel cell, fusion, efficient solar, steam, gunpowder, dual cylinder power stroke ICE, etc)are realized, these hybrids, electric scooters, smart (read dumb) cars are interim.
Call a spade a spade and let the market decide. Get the government out of the market and let the market grow.
I’d like to know what kind of CVT can transmit enough torque efficiently to move a production car heavy enough to pass the safety tests.
The ones I am familiar with use belts on cones or are hydrodynamic.
I’ve seen some new concepts but I wonder what type will be the first one commonly used in everyday cars?
I just answered my own question, Nissan has them now.
Will that be the type every auto maker uses when the patents expire?
Yes, it's the only trans available in the current Maxima. A bad fit in a "sport sedan", IMO. I've driven rental Altimas with CVTs, didn't like it at all. The fact that Nissan has "gears" in the form of programmed upshift/downshift overrides of the CVT's normal operation tells me that they *know* that people generally dislike it.
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