Volt Birth Watch 112: GM Car Czar Bob Lutz: "No Stumbling Blocks"
What is it with this PR conference speech? Why are we getting GM Car Czar Bob Lutz’ bon mots in les dribs and drabs? In this latest instalment from the spinmeisters ho’ down [via T he Detroit Fress Press], Maximum Bob almost breaks his arm, patting himself on the back for being so open with the press about the Volt’s progress– or lack thereof (although he doesn’t say that, obviously). “In the unlikely event that we were going to hit some huge stumbling block, we wanted the world to kind of see how we got to that stumbling block and what that stumbling block was. As it happens, luckily, we don’t seem to be encountering any stumbling blocks.” Wow! Has Bob forgotten that the Volt blew past its original deadline like a Dodge Viper passing a Chevy Aveo? Meanwhile, the car is a raging success. “Volt has received 95% hugely positive coverage and has become really an iconic vehicle, which is strange to say about a vehicle that is not out yet.” Strange, and wonderful, really.
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Well I have my doubts about the success of the volt. But the use of series technology to have the gas engine charge the batteries instead of pushing the car is genius in my opinion. The volt may not make it but the lessons learned from it's failure will push the ball forward big time.
From the FreeP article: "One of the reasons that we are being so open with the Volt and permitting the media to participate in the development is that this is uncharted territory for us," Lutz said. Ummm... how "open" was it to keep showing pictures of and even advertising the original concept when you knew damned good and well that the real Volt looked nothing like the concept?