Extreme Interest

This is all great news! I can't wait to hear more!! I knew GM had some tricks up your sleeve! Glad to hear it...keep up the great work!

See also what Daniel Howes of Autos Insider has to say at
http://www.detnews.com/2005/insiders/0506/16/D01-216346.htm

If this is all true about GM's next 30 months, it shall be an exciting time for all! I hope the cars are really as good as AutoExtremist says they are. Good job on the Solstice and Sky!!! Keep 'em coming!

Dear Bob:

Corvette and Cadillac are my aspirational cars. I'm still more mid-market or more passengers, so the promise of design leadership beyond the pinnacle cars is an exciting promise. I'll be watching.

Some good info about new GM products, for sure!

Now please rename this blog
'GM NEW PRODUCTS BLOG" as that is obviously all it will talk about?

Great. That's what we've been asking all along, true, you're about 15 years overdue on this one, but practice makes perfect, patience is a virtue, and good things come to those who wait. We, the consumers, fans, enthusiasts, owners and shareholders feel we've waited long enough.

Good for GM, Good for America, and Good for you Bob Lutz. I knew the Lutzian Era could not be done, not when there's so much more you and your designing can offer. Keep up the good work. Don't keep us waiting much more and unveil.

Mo

Dear Bob;

I think that showing the media you new products is a good idea to seek an "impartial" review.

I am a little troubled by the "SELECT" part of the media you decide to invite.

Are these only people on soem "special insider" list?

I do not want to be cynical about the choice but....Hmmm.....

AND seeing that I am often offering my opinions for Free(lol...) how about you including ME on one of you FUTURE "Select" lists???

Just musing...

Derek Goldthorp, Editor
Torque and RPM.com

good work gm! now if the competition isnt a step ahead of you, maybe you can make a comeback!

Please bring out some nice stuff for buick! no more protect cadillac crap!

I read that the large utes are more efficient than the ones they are replacing, getting 20 mpg in one of those beasts would be great, and then the hybrid models! I'm glad GM is finally putting its resources to good use. I'm looking forward to being challenged on which best in class GM product to purchase next.

I saw this post on GMI. It may sound good in words, but where's the proof?

Be sure to let us know when you take the wraps off. This fastlane blog seems more up to date than the GM "official" website.

In 1980 I was 7 years old when the oil embargo started the cascade of bad news for GM and the American auto industry. I started watching GM then and all my life I have waited for a rebound.

Studying the automobile industry in college in NJ and abroad in Belgium I found that there was no American slide, it was a GM slide. Up till that point Chrysler and Ford had lost little market share. Throughout the last 20 years I was always optomistic and saw GM rack up sales and profits with the GMT800 and I saw setbacks particularly with product gaps and cloning of brands.

The worse decision made going forward is now that the products are getting differentiated, the outlets are becoming clones.

Everywhere there is a Buick/Pontac/GMC dealer there is a dealer that you can not find a Buick. Visit a Toyota dealer, its chock full of new Toyotas and the Scions are nicely placed to the right in front where you can actually see them. They had some Pre-Owned stuff on the other side but in the middle was all Toyota.

Go to your GMC/Pontiac/Buick dealer, some are so small forget about displaying all your divisions and cars.

By the time you add the used cars and the parking lot the place is so jumbled it might as well be a GM/International Makes Outlet Center.

Please!!!! Enouph with that.

Some dealers are so small they will have to remain with one make and sometines we prefer small dealer lots.

Pair car and truck brands like Pontiac and GMC, and Hummer and Buick and tell the dealer only new cars in front, Buicks to the left and Hummers to the right.

Don't suffocate Buick between Pontiac and GMC after spending so much to differentiate its coming product Buick will loose its identity at the dealer level.

At the same time Infiniti just remodeled its dealers and is enjoying increased traffic.

If its broke don't fix it with tape. If it is not a better plan do not execute it. As the REAL new Buicks come out put them on a red carpet in a Hummer dealership where it will have some breathing room.

I waited all my life for this rebound, don't mess it up on the court.

I am a 26 year old law student who has never owned a new car. But, all my life, at least for cars, my heart has bled gm blue. You can't imagine how exited I am to hear about Auto extremist's comments on thier sneak peak at the future cars. I hope its all true!!!!

Sounds very promising.
I just hope I don't keep reading reviews that mention numb steering or old powertrains.
The cars look better but............
They have to be a slam dunk in the way they drive also.

"..a stunning new CTS,” that is what I have been waiting for. But please make sure it features:
- 6 speed auto transmission (dump all remaining 4-speed auto transmissions in the company out of the window)
- Efficient V6 engine with 250+ HP (Gas will remain expensive)
- Best in the class safety features (I will compare it with top-of-the-line imports)
- Fantastic interior design (a joy to look and touch the pieces)
- Excellent handling but not a neck jarring ride (Highways in CA are very bumpy)
- Well placed exterior sensors for backup and blind spots (Good to have)

That is it! See, it is not very hard to compete in California.

You guys must have a lot of confidence if you're pointing readers of this blog to Autoextremist.com. I've been reading them for years and their archive section is not real warm toward GM and it's decisions over the last 25 years.

Getting DeLorenzo excited about your upcoming products is the best news I've heard about a GM resurgence. I can't wait to see what your future products are.

Ho hum... I'll wait for when these new products are revealed to make my own judgements. I'm glad that AE is impressed, but I try to avoid hype as it usually always lead to disappointment.

AE writes a nice puff piece. Unfortunatley he left out the part where the beancounters and GM execs get a hold of a great car, cross breed it with an import and water it down to another boring jelly bean look-alike. Can you say GTO? Don't count on any of these cars ever making it to production.

It's great that your future models are promising and all, except that all GM future models always sound great. That's because the PR people don't have to deal with a car that actually came off the mass production line and can be sat in and test driven by the average individual.

How about designing some great models and then not saying word one to the press until 30 days before they show up in the showrooms?

That way, if they're great, word of mouth will cause people to buy them, and they'll actually be available, and if they're not so great, at least you won't have spent 3 years overbuilding people's expectations.

We all know what GM can build and sell, namely a new line of entry to middle market RWD cars with decent horsepower. Come out with a coupe, a sedan, and a minivan on the same RWD chassis, and make a stick available in each model, and you'll have the enthusiast crowd on your side. Make them as reliable as some of GMs top notch existing cars and you'll have Consumer Reports on your side. With the enthusiasts and Consumer Reports on your side, you can't lose.

A RWD, stick shift, decent HP, SS badged minivan - Walter Mitty daydreams for the soccer moms and dads, party wagon for the kids.

Seriously, keep your new cars secret until 30 days before launch. Good product doesn't need advance notice, and bad product doesn't need the spotlight.

Best of luck!

I agree with Steve G.'s remarks that fancy styling, though long overdue, will only get you so far. If the cars still handle like typical GM cars handle, then the cycle of mediocrity and falling market share will continue.

Is GM listening?

What is wrong with some people!! The General puts a a 400HP engine into a two door RWD platform with a 6spd manual tranny, and what the response? "it's boring.","It's a jelly bean look-alike.". What do you guys want!?! Rocket motors? Hover capabilities?

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=19&article_id=9638

Yup, better keep studying that affordable mid-range RWD performance phenomenon. Take all the time you need. Who knows if that's really what people want anyway, could just be a fad. RWD? V8s? Stick Shifts? Affordable prices? You're right, they could all just be fleeting trends. Overweight, bland, front drivers with no steering feel? They'll be in demand forever.

Nevermind that the new Ford Shelby Cobra GT 500 is likely to have 75 more HP than the the C6 Vette, seat two more people, and cost $10,000 less.

No no, you guys keep studying the phenomenon. I think you'll need years of research to answer the question of whether or not the average American car enthusiast would be interested in an affordable, high performance, manually shifted, fun to drive, RWD car made by GM.

Yeah, PHDs are defnitely required to answer THAT question.

Seriously, just take a page from Mallett Cars, and make the V8 a $5-6k option for the Solstice.
http://www.mallettcars.com/news-5-26-05-v8solstice.htm

Make a car the average guy who can't afford a Vette can be PROUD TO OWN, without having to justify it. (e.g., not - "Yep, that's my new GTO. Yeah, I know it looks like a rental car, and the doors put dents in other cars every time someone tries to get out of the back seat, and yeah, it's not really American, seeing as it was made in Australia and all, but it sure does have a nice engine.")

COME ON GM!!! You've got the best designers and the best workers in the world. Just let them design and build something great!

You have shown that you can design the best vehicles in the world.

Sky, Aura, Solstice, Velite, Centieme and H3T.

"True, they take a back seat to no one."

You have shown that you can make the highest quality vehicles in the world.

Top three plants in initial quality. The most appealing vehicles. The best interior award. Buick beat Toyota.

You have shown that you can get the word out with a great marketing campaign for the "employee discount" that pushed your market share up 7 points to over 30%.

You have shown that you can launch your Chevy and Cadillac brands around the world and find great interest and success.

And you proved that even from the touphest critics from the media that your future product will be winners.

Now can you prove to yourselves that you can turn Buick's fortunes around. Your sitting on a gold mine of heritage with Buick, what is that HHR designer doing now? I hope he is beginning work on a Buick 8. And Buick can stand alone in dealerships or with Hummer with a well rounded product line.

And Pontiac can have a well rounded product line also. I am not saying the Pro-Racer division should make high performance minivans. But don't step forward with Saab and Saturn to take steps backward with Buick and Pontiac.

The idea that Buick or Pontiac will have a selection smaller than Porsche in the future is not a vision and without a vision the people will perish.

You can afford to bring out great product, look at Daimler's $40 billion it is investing over the next 6 years. You should be investing $80-100 billion over the next 6 years for your size.

What you can't afford is swiss cheese sized holes in your product selection (which Holden RWD, Astra, Corsa, BLS and Zafira can answer nicely now).

I believe in GM and I believe that America will respond to your great new product.

It just seems to me that the failing vision for your dealer outlets don't seem to agree.

Come on, stick with the GM's signature 5 strata program at your dealerships.

Chevy
Pontiac/GMC
Saturn
Buick/Hummer
Cadillac

If the dealership is big enouph combine anything you want. Oh, and by the way leave Saab alone.

Bob:

I've heard nothing but positve reviews from the writers that were given the opportunity to see the upcoming products. This is good news! However I must remind you that if we fail this time, no-one will ever believe us again and we may be doomed as a result. I would like to include that I do feel we are on the right track and look forward to the future more than I have for a long time. I want to be proud of GM not make excuses for it.

Mr. Lutz,

Thank you for the continual input into this blog...and listening to all of us. It was great to read such excitement from Auto Extremist about GM's future. And, it was good to read in an earlier blog that you aren't letting the more reasonably priced rear-wheel drive performance car(s) die. I'm still waiting for news on the American made GTO for '07. How long before you let the word out?? Thanks again.

I agree with one of the other bloggers, keep your designs a secret until launch. Seeing a car 6, 8, or even 12 months before introduction makes it old looking before it's time.
Not to mention the bad press of launch delays.
Sure, there will be spy photos and things like that, but keep em guessing. And, have everyone involved committed to it. It can be done. We saw Chrysler do it with the stow away seats in the mini van. Everyone on the project was sworn to secrecy. It will require a culture change, but hey, isn't that what you want?

Is anyone else hearing crickets?

This blog seems to be dying faster than Paris Hilton MC'ing a Mensa convention.

Mr. Lutz:

The MTV music giveaway is a great idea for Pontiac to achieve a better connection.

Mention the sport shift and MP3 audio systems. They are popular options.

Why not also make a better connections with GM products through fashion/clothing catalogues/magazines/stores?

GM needs to take better advantage of its promotions and events to emphasize style and lifestyle. Why not televise the FASH BASH fashion show at the RenCen and feature cars along with fashion?? It would be a great opportunity for people to see more of GM and connect.

Seriously, consider consulting with other fields like clothing buyers, teachers, coaches, event promoters, on ways to better connect with your target audience.

Feature some GM safety and environmental public information in college newspapers and alumni magazines, as well as ads for new products. Its low cost advertising too! These publications reach a large audience.

The GM employee discount ads lately are great, they are showing GM products, facilities, and people. Keep up these type of ads.

Agree with those who are urgin to keep designs more secret until you are closer to launch. Its too risky letting foreign competition see GM designs early. Throw them a few curve balls instead.

Pay very close attention to what you competition is offering on interiors in terms of materials. GM has the edge in ergonomic interiors, with much better posture and feel, don't forget to tell customers. Don't let competition undercut by whipping up some perceiveed trend in materials or appearance, even on base cars. Keep a close eye on how the competition seems to try to fake a trend with substandard synthetic materials, almost like a shell game.

Be mindful conversion features like fold down seats, oversized sun roofs, whether in hatchbacks, sedans or coups. Emphasize displaying Pontiac and Chevrolet products with appealing conversion features so no one will say foreign competition has something on you. Keep GM on the cutting edge of these "have you seen" and "have you heard" features in the small stuff so the foreign competition does not try to undercut you. And make custom tail fins available, especially for Pontiac and Chevrolet.

GM is doing great things. People seem very supportive of GM management taking on the tough issues, so don't back down. A more competitive GM is better for America.

I see that you are changing the front end of the Malibu, not only the SS model.
Good, maybe you are listening to us. Unfortunately it will still have the electric steering.
I hope you at least changed the steering wheel.

To Buick's marketing department:

Can you use other background music other than Aerosmith? They are pretty old band you know. No one uder 40 years old would dig that.

BTW, nothing against using female model in TV commercials. It seems like all the Buick commercials I seen, I have not ever seen one male driver. Are Buick's cars intended for female car buyers only?

>The company's offer of employee discounts for all comers is helping raise sales through the first part of June. J.D. Power & Associates reports that its data shows that the new incentive offer has helped boost GM's market share to a level the automaker held as a lofty goal a few years ago. Information from the Power Information Network indicates GM's retail share of the new-vehicle market has increased to 30.3 percent through the first twelve days of June. The jump left GM's retail market share up eight points from where it was month ago.

You see this?
People are buying your cars again because they know what price they are going to pay right up front. Thats why the employee pricing plan is working. thats why Saturn has been able to sell subpar cars for so long.

No haggle pricing works!
Now throw in a longer warranty and GM is set to gain market share permanently.
Not so hard, is it?
Now that the improved products are going to come, things could get even better.
Then, when the UAW comes to its sense, GM will ensure that it remains number one for eternity. As long as you guys dont fall asleep again.

1. Better vehicles
2. No haggle pricing
3. Longer Warranties

Gee Thomas, Cadillac uses Led Zeppelin and they are much older than Aerosmith. Seems to have gone a long way towards reviving Cadillacs stodgey image. Aerosmith is the perfect band to use for Buick.

CodyS,

I think what revived Caddy's stodey image mostly is its edgy CTS.

Can Lacross(spelling?)be the CTS of Caddy? I highly doubt that.

Maybe it is a great product, but not until I hit 70, I won't consider buying a Buick.

I wish I could have an hour-long conversation with Bob Lutz about future GM products: I like gee-whiz styling and "fresh" sheet metal as well as anyone, but if it were offered for sale today, I'd prefer a 1953 Chevy pickup, or a 1950 Buick Sedanette over today's offerings, especially if they were offered in gas/electric or diesel/electric hybrid form.
************
On another note: one of the most successful tire dealership chains I know of has a simple strategy for winning loyal customers: they fix flat tires for free. Not just the tires or the tire brands they sell, ANY flat tire. (I know this kind of PR works, because eventually I bought two complete sets of tires from them.)
In a similar manner, GM (or any other carmaker) could capture customer loyalty by offering free oil changes and tuneups for 100,000 miles.
Is there a more cost-effective, GUARANTEED way to get a paying customer back into a dealership 4 times a year, or more often?
With oil changes every 2,500 miles, that's 40 oil changes over an approximately 6-to-8-year period, 40 chances to sell to someone who's already demonstrated an ability to buy. That kind of sales lead is "golden."
After its traded in, with a transferable oil change policy, the used car (which, because of timely oil changes, retains its value even more) continues to bring in even more potential buyers over its lifetime....

Re free flat tire fixes, and oil changes: It can be even simpler than that. There is a car dealership that offers free car washes.

I just had to give my 2 cents.
Here's the good:
1)Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky; Both cars look sporty and a thrill to drive not to mention lower price.
2)Corvette Z06; No matter what Corvette enthusiasts say about the lights more people will find this car head to head with the vipers of the world.
3) Buick Lacrosse and the new cadillac's. The Lacrosse definitely will compete with the lexus in its new sporty look. The cadillac triangle lights set their look apart from other luxery cars.
The bad:
1)Pontiac in general. Look,.. people like BMW, everyone looks at a BMW and says nice car. What catches there eye, is the front end. Fix the grill and make it more like the BMW, pontiac needs to move away from the "triangle" front end. Its old, move on. Don't get started on the vibe and the aztec.
2)GTO? What makes this car a GTO? Under the hood its impressive, but I don't see it in its styling. Why would I buy a car that is as fast as it is and not get some looks from people as I drive buy.
3)Saturn: boring. good cars but nothing that gets your blood pumping. Hopefully the saturn sky will improve that.
4)HHR? Why is GM making this car? I see only the "mid-life" crisis types purchasing it. Is this a big market?

In Summary, Stop weeding through data on market segments and lets rely on your most valuable asset. Your people. Most of the people that work for GM, really know cars, they work their because its exhilarating, because they know what is fun to drive, they know what looks cool and what doesn't. Let them decide or at least have input. This is how it was in the old days, where trends were set. ***Note: I do not discuss interiors and powertrains. Where these items are important, most people do not rely on these for purchasing vehicles. If it's as good as the competition they're happy.

I recently spied on an HHR media event in Toronto, and the press was, as much as they ever are, full of praise for the HHR. They also had a 1949 Suburban & an SSR to illustrate the HHR's inspirational forebears. When i saw a picture of the '49 suburban (white, with cherry red fenders and sunshade over the front windshield) beside a cherry red HHR, it struck me what -- in addition to brilliant accessories -- the HHR needs FROM THE FACTORY: killer colour combinations, so killer that they'd put Smart & Mini to shame. Please tell me two-tone HHRs (ie, front & rear fender bulges a different colour than body) are in the realm of possibility and desirability.

One underlying theme needs to be the focus of every car GM brings to market- "Gotta Have Appeal!". Completely abandon the idea of 3 to 5 versions of every car for each GM nameplate.
It's been years since GM had any/many.
Interiors?- put me in any GM car blindfolded, remove it, and instantly you know it's a GM car. Turn your interior designs on their ear and the old out the window. Benchmarks?- Audi, VW Phaeton are good starts.
Focus groups- where were they for the Aztek, Malibu, etc- can't believe they would or should have come to market had anyone asked.
Lutz- you've got a huge job, and turning around a bemmoth the size of GM has been tried before. DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. You can do it!

I see some encouraging things from GM these days. Though I fear that GM still hasn't learned that brand management doesn't work for a car company. For other products, that don't really change much, it works just fine, but for an auto company, who'se products change every three to five years, the dymanics just don't allow for that type of marketing. auto companies must be product driven. Mr Lutz knows from his years at Chrysler that this is fact.

That said, I would like to see GM do a bit more thinking outside the box with their products. Holden has an excellent RWD platform which could be made in greater numbers here in North America for the North American and European markets. There are a number of great opportunities for each division to have a somewhat low volume car from the platform and spread the costs around more. Pontiac can still have the GTO and maybe add a RWD sedan, Chevy could finally have an Impala SS and a new Monte Carlo that people wouldn't complain about. Buick could have a new Wildcat and GNX. With the wide variety of powertrain, styling ans Suspension options out there, the cars would have their own individual character. Something to think about.

Another thing to think about is selling the entire Opel/Vauxhaul line through Saturn. It seems that the new Opel Vectra will arrive with the only meaningful change being it's name. That's fine. Opels haven't been sold here in decades and so there really isn't an overlap. However, if the next small saturn is going to basically be an Astra built at spring hill, then I'd suggest all body styles be sold. I'd also like to see the Corsa sold here. As small cars go, that one is really pretty cool. About the same size as the original VW Golf/Rabbit, it can be quite fun with the bigger engines.

Mr. Lutz,

Mr. Tage's comments above regarding color combos bring to mind the current exterior color palette for Buick, especially the LaCrosse. Frankly, it's boring. I can't believe the cashmere was dropped this year, leaving sandstone as the only color in that range of hues. I suggest dropping the sandstone--ugh!--as well and replacing it with a gold tone. Nissan/Infiniti offer one right now that looks terrific.

And speaking of Buick...the Lucerne is awesome! I drove a rental some 1,000 miles in April and came away highly impressed.

I was equally impressed by the Enclave concept at the Chicago Auto Show. By all means build it...and make it "Buick only" if you are serious about rebuilding the brand. In other words, no "badge-engineered" low-budget versions for Saturn and/or Pontiac, please!