|
Browse by Tags
All Tags » Chevrolet » Bob Lutz ( RSS)
-
|
After GM product czar and vice-chairman, Bob Lutz, appeared on the Colbert Report the other night , he's decided to give his own take on his "non-outrageous" responses to Stephen Colbert's "outrageous" questions on topics like... global warming (or global toasting). He believes he and Colbert "connected." We don't know if that's the type of rapport we saw the other night on the Report, but whatever helps "Maximum" Bob sleep at night, ya know? We're just disappointed he didn't send us any pictures from his Treo . If you missed the show the first time, we've got the full clip below the jump — and no — it's not from "Hulu." [ FastLane ]
|
-
|
At GM's "blogger town hall" at the end of yesterday's Chevy Volt unveil , the General's Vice Chairman and product czar, "Maximum" Bob Lutz , made mention to a Volt feature we hadn't yet heard about, and is even more techie-cool than the iPod-like interface on the center stack. Apparently, the Volt will "know how far you are from home" using what we're assuming is an on-board GPS system. The plug-in electric extended range hybrid's computer will then use that distance, along with route information, to determine how long the car needs to run the gas engine to charge the on-board battery pack, allowing the vehicle to truly maximize fuel economy. Even if you're not drinking the GM Kool-Aid, you've got to be wow'ed by a system like that — as long as it actually works. Read the full quote from "The" Bob after the galleries and the jump below. "with the Volt, you never have to worry you use the full 40 (mile...
|
-
|
Following word this morning the production version of the Chevy Volt will be shown in September, we hear the rocking-down-electric-avenue Lutz-mobile will also be featured in Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen . Although there's no official word if the Volt will actually be a Transformer, but given its guts and looks, it's just begging to become some kind of electric-themed Autobot. The Volt would join the Trax and the Beat as not-yet-available Chevy vehicles featured in the movie. Jalopnik Snap Judgement : This may be the reason why they're hurrying up the production look of the car. They've got to beat set filming times, right? [ Reuters via TFW2005 ]
|
-
|
General Motors is lobbying for a $7,000 tax credit for buyers of the $30,000 $40,000 2011 Chevy Volt — more than double that originally offered for Prius buyers. The automaker's arguing the credit should be based on battery capacity. "What we favor is actually a sliding scale depending on how much battery you have on board," said Jon Lauckner, GM VP for global program management. "When I talk about $6,000 to $7,000, we're talking about a battery that's at least two times the size of a typical conversion plug-in or even a plug-in hybrid that we would offer." Of course, since new Chevy products apparently now command 4 times their MSRP , we predict the Volt will cost $153,000 after the tax credit. If congressional leaders agree to GM's recommendation, the Volt could have a "real" price to consumers closer to the originally reported $30,000. However, since GM is suggesting basing the tax credit not just on battery size, but also on the potential...
|
-
|
BusinessWeek's David Kiley had a fun idea to spend some time talking with some industry heavy-hitters about CAFE and fuel economy. He spent a few minutes talking to both former Toyota USA President and current #2 at Chrysler, Jim Press, as well as GM Vice-Chairman "Maximum" Bob Lutz. The topic was the fuel efficient topic of choice among greenies, hybrids. In the article, Lutz claimed the upcoming Chevy Vaporware Volt might end up with a sticker price at around $48K. Normally that would make a pretty spectacular lead for us, especially given it's a price tag that's betwen 33% and 60% higher than originally stated by the brand all about the 'merican revolution and the GM exec born from jets. Fortunately for him, his comments were eclipsed by Press on the Prius. And why not, as Press noted the inherent unfairness of competition from Toyota in the hybrid game, saying "...the Japanese government paid for 100% of the development of the battery and hybrid system...
|
-
|
Don't break open those piggy banks yet, Volt fanatics. The Greatest Car Not Quite Yet on Earth isn't close to being ready, and that $30,000 price tag we told you about is a crock, but not that kind of a crock . The latest price figure is putting the Volt mystery mobile at $35,000. The reason behind this $5,000 price hike originates with the stereo and the windshield wipers. Wait, what? galleryPost('chevyvoltpr', 3, 'Chevrolet Volt'); The Volt engineers have apparently had to dump a lot of money into redesigning the audio set-up, windshield wipers and similar systems so that they won't drain the Volt's super magnificent lithium-ion 40-mile battery. See, what happpens when you ditch the alternator, kids? All hell breaks lose and GM's gearheads get stuck in triple-overtime with Bob Lutz's hot breath on their necks. [ Autopia ]
|
-
|
We've heard numbers , seen the commercial , heard about production and seen the live pictures , but the idea of the Volt being the real deal remains questionable to a lot of industry observers. Definitely not Martin Eberhard, however. Tesla's founder and former bossman is a believer. In a post on the "Tesla Founders Blog," Eberhard was quick to throw his full support behind the alleged electric wonder known as the Chevy Volt. He continues to praise the vehicle, its chief evangelist Bob Lutz and all of the technology involved in the conceptual design of the car, especially the battery. And yes, Eberhard did indeed say that he would drive a Volt if it were available today. Nevertheless, the original posting on the Tesla Founders Blog was quickly removed. Fret not: Google has done its job saving the cache and making it available for the world to ponder and/or mock. [ Google Cache via GM Insider News ]
|
-
|
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/2009_Chevy_Camaro_front_end_revealed_2'; The front end of the 2009 Chevy Camaro's just been revealed. The back Camaro's backside is already all over the web, but really, this is what everybody has been waiting for. We'll just let you tell us what you think without any wasteful editorialization. Not with this car pr0n in front of us. Go ahead, talk amongst yourselves. galleryPost('2009ChevyCamaroExt', 6, '2009 Chevrolet Camaro Spy Photos');[ GM Fastlane ]
|
-
|
Strange bedfellows, indeed. Newsweek has a tidy little article about Chevy's upcoming Volt. Maximum Bob explains how his initial proposal for an electric car was shot down by engineers working on fuel cell cars and still smarting from the Saturn EV1debacle experiment. However, Lutz says it was Tesla Motors announcing they would build a lithium ion powered electric car that set the Volt in motion, "That tore it for me. If some Silicon Valley start-up can solve this equation, no one is going to tell me anymore that it's unfeasible." Chris Paine, the director of Who Killed the Electric Car? is so impressed with Lutz's commitment... ...to the Volt, that he wants VP Lutz to appear in the sequel, Who Revived the Electric Car? Having spent a bit of time with Mr. Lutz, we think this is a great idea. In fact, drop the crap about reviving electric cars and just follow him around with a camera. The only question is, do you bleep the cussing, or go for the R rating? [ Newsweek...
|
-
|
Why You Should Buy This Car: Very impressive performance, especially for the price. We love the 260 hp by 260 ft-lb Ecotec mill, as it's as lag free as the BMW twin-turbo I-6. Mated to a 3,280 car, that's enough power to make the HHR SS fast. Compare its 0-60 of 6.3 seconds with a manual GTI's 6.9 seconds. Even with the DSG, the Volkswagen turns in 6.7 seconds. Despite the wrong wheels doing the work, the HHR is quick and confident through corners. The chassis is composed and confidence inspiring, while remaining Swiss in its neutrality. In Competitive Mode, the HHR SS feels like it's oversteering. No torque steer. 29 mph on the highway. Great shifter. Excellent highway manners. Big, low-load trunk. Personally, I like how it looks. $22,995 is a smart price. And that proboscis hanging off the front? That's the cover for the huge intercooler. galleryPost('hhrsstest2', 9, 'Chevy HHR SS'); Why You Shouldn't Buy This Car: You can't see out of it; the...
|
-
|
Chevrolet is pretty serious about their new HHR SS, so they schlepped out the biggest gun in their arsenal to introduce the fast wagon to us; Maximum Bob Lutz. While he did admit that SS is "an unfortunate badge" in Europe, Lutz's talk was your standard corporate hyperbole. Chevrolet has reinvented the wheel, put a man on the moon, cured cancer and figured out a way to slice bread better. Most of the other journalists were busy writing taking notes while I was deep in thought trying to figure out how many point font to make our "Yeah, right " headline. After all, it's just a hopped up HHR, right? Suddenly my ears perked up as I heard Bob say, "A stock HHR SS lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 8 minutes and 43 seconds." Alarms start going off in my head. What? More accurately, "Yeah right." Here's what I'm talking about. A Lotus Exige goes around the Nordschleife in 8:42. A Honda S2000 laps it in 8:39. An NSX does the deed in 8...
|
-
|
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/The_260_HP_2008_Chevrolet_HHR_SS_Priced_at_22_995'; "I woke up this morning in Arizona and spent the day happily hooning the go fast Nurburgring-tuned version of Chevrolet's HHR on freeways, twisty mountain two-laners and the Bondurant Road Course. How does the car drive? How's the Launch Mode? How do 260 horses and 260 ft-lb of torque feel through the front wheels? How much does it cost? Why did Bob Lutz call me a "pinhead?" We'll answer a few questions -- and show you the Chevy press release -- after the jump. galleryPost('hhrssaz', 9, '2008 Chevrolet HHR SS'); First up, price: The 2008 Chevy HHR SS will set you back $22,995. That's for the manual, and trust us, you're going to want the manual. If for no other reason than the slushbox sucks up 25 hp. As for Maximum Bob, before taking to the track he and I both made a beeline for the extra large helmets. "I have a big noggin, 7 3/4,"...
|
-
|
We don't know what's worse -- this picture of GM design guru hugging the new Chevy Camaro down under. Or the fact it was taken by Bob Lutz with his Treo. Seriously. If you don't believe it, we've got some shots below of "Maximum" Bob taking some shots with his Treo at the GM reveal at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Oh Bob, you tech geek, you! [via GM FastLane Blog ] galleryPost('boblutztreo', 4, 'Bob Lutz And His Treo');
|
-
|
We may have gotten the scoop on the old, dead Malibus GM will use to test the Chevrolet Volt , but the New York Times Detroit Free Press gets the scoop on where the Chevy Volt will end up being built: "Among G.M.'s commitments to the union was a promise to build the Chevrolet Volt , a hybrid-electric car, in its Hamtramck, Mich., plant, beginning in 2010. G.M. has said production of the car could start a year later, however. The Volt is a pet project of G.M.'s vice chairman, Robert A. Lutz, who said today that G.M. was pleased with the contract." That's right folks -- now Hamtramck will be known for both Paczkis and the Chevy Volt. How electric! [ Freep via New York Times ]
|
-
|
This video of GM product czar Bob Lutz talking with the new media folks at GM Europe about the importance of "global product development" was just released onto YouTube today. In it, Bob Lutz wants Europe not to worry about being part of GM's global product development plan -- it won't hurt them. They'll get all sorts of great vehicles like -- umm -- the Chevy HHR. And then there's the -- umm -- Cu-marr-o, or however "Maximum" Bob pronounces it. All we know is -- isn't it a bit late for the web media folks at GM Europe to still be putting out videos from the Frankfurt Auto Show ?
|
More Posts Next page »
|
|
|