UPDATE: From Michigan to Le Mans

I am a Corvette road racer in a very small way. I have a good idea how hard it is, and have total respect for anyone who can win their class at Le Mans, Sebring, or the 24 Hours of Daytona. Anyone who can do that can do anything.

It's hard to believe that almost a year has gone by, but I commented on the Le Mans issue last time. If you would devote equal resources to developing a world beating high mileage car, you could drive Toyota back into the sea.

If my company was facing an existential threat, I would park my race cars and deal with it first.

If you took the likes of Katech, Pratt & Miller, and your own Corvette Racing staff (never mind the NASCAR side) and told them to develop such a car, because the very survival of the company is at stake (as it most assuredly is), they would do it in amazingly short order.

Priorities folks.

I can appreciate the amount of effort it takes to win at Le Mans and congratulate the Corvette team for a fine job. I will continue to cheer them on and hope they do well again this year. However, it would be neat to see a Volt entered and do well in class (how about LMP2?) much like some of your competitors are doing with diesel technology.
GM's racing program doesn't have to be all about advertising. It's nice to see some of the technology in the Corvette program trickle down to the consumer version of the Corvette and hopefully not just the Z06 version.

Noel - you forgot one big thing that consistently turns these types of good intentions on their ear. BEANCOUNTERS - GM has too many of them and they have infected the very fabric of GM. To develop a world class car takes money, and the beancounters only know how to take money out. They are not interested in whether anything sells, or that customers are dissatisfied, only that it costs less than last year. And the engineers are plagued with this infection as well. The monster from overseas will continue to focus on design improvements, high reliability and quality and WILL CONTINUE to gobble GM's dwindling market share. You think it's gone unnoticed by the monster that they've had recalls? That too will become a thing of the past.

Re: Vehicle Electrification

I know much of the recent discussion about the Chevy Volt has focused on the batteries.

However, I would enjoy hearing about other aspects of the Volt. For example, the breaking system, electric motor, and climate control systems. All these presumbably will be 100% electric in the new vehicle. Is a transmission required? Do you have designs for these? Are you and your suppliers already making suitable parts? Would these be the same parts as used on the fuel cell Equinox vehicle? What type of motor and controller seems best? (AC/DC, etc).

I agree with the previous post. GM needs to focus on what generates revenue, then try and win a race.

noel i have idea how old you are but if you are over 50 take my word for it people will still be driving cars powered by gasoline after you pass on.

I only wish there was real competition. Aston-Martin did put up a fight at first, but nothing seems to be able to take on Chevy or Audi in their classes. I wish there was more effort coming from Saleen, Ferrari, and Lamborghini to make Le Mans interesting again.

Is there a particular reason why some of the "plug-in" technology can't be incorporated into existing GM products. I know there are some new hybrid lines being added each year and could some of the plug-in technology be added to them. Also, is there a possibility of adding a solar panel to help charge the electric source in addition to the 1.0L engine. This would help cut more gasoline use when possible.

Corvette? The 1980’s called, they want their car back. I have great memories of Corvettes in my youth. They were all fading in the rear-view mirror of my Jetta GLI on twisty roads and entrance ramps. Despite having half the horsepower, the Jetta and I would make fools of these overrated, under-crafted things. No steering feel? Corvette’s got it. Nervous-jumpy chassis on all but mirror-smooth roads. Corvette’s got it. A feeling of herding a heavy, reluctant, unwilling machine? Corvette’s got it. The Jetta was the opposite; it was a delightful, precise, and refined. Your friend, not your adversary on real-world roads. It was a driver’s car, not a car for people watching on the curb. I’ve tested Corvettes from 1980 through today. GM’s learned little in this area.

motorman:

I have no doubt that you are right. I only hope that they will run on a little bit less of it.

Also, by the time I pass on, I wil bet you that it will cost a whole lot more a gallon, and that companies who do not rise to the challenge of fuel economy will cease to exist.

Pep Boys Sux:

Well, it looks like you got your wish. Still, finishing Le Mans at all, let alone 3rd in class, is nothing to sneeze at. Well done lads! I just hope they don't get discouraged and quit.

Racing is a metaphor for business. If you don't raise your game every day, you slip back in the pack.

I wonder where A-M got their budget? Certainly not from Ford, do you think?

I can't believe that we are still searching for the perfect battery.I am no scientist,but I came up with a design to power vehicles by electricity without the use of fuels or batteries.I just lack the funding to market my design.I am also hesitant to give someone else my idea so they can make millions.With the technology available today we should be able to market an affordable alternative to internal combustion engines,as well as the ever elusive "perfect battery".

Herman:

You can't be serious. Please. Post something with credibility. This is an obvious pejorative.

The Corvette has long been a benchmark among sports cars both less expensive and those costing tens of thousands of dollars more.

My theory? A bunch of 'Vette drivers were having lots of fun letting you make a fool of your teenage self on those back roads.

Cheers,
-Brent Skinner

check out this video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOFbsaNeZps. It is titled BBC Worldwide: Top Gear: Vegetable Oil for Diesel. A Volvo was run entirely on vegetable oil diesel. Just look how amazing it is to run our vehicle with little or no oil. And it is USED vegetable oil. I think with the availability of bluetec diesel it is entirely feasible to run our day without any oil in the near future.

Herman I can't believe you would compare a Corvette to a Jetta. Some old geiser must have been driving that vette that you saw in your rear view mirror. The Corvette is the Great American sports car and they have improved immensely from the 80's models. Obviously you've not driven a new vette. To compare the vette to the jetta - well you might as well live on Pluto my man.

Maybe the Corvette driver had to slow down to keep control while laughing so hard at a Jetta drivier trying to look cool passing him.

I have a few comments for those who think GM should dump their racing efforts and concentrate solely on high efficiency vehicles. The biggest comment is that I disagree.

In order to survive, and hopefully thrive, GM needs to build and sell excellent fuel efficient cars that the average consumer can afford. These vehicles should use whatever technologies are appropriate including gas/electric hybrids, diesels, fuel cells, etc. By giving consumers these options for their daily drivers, GM can help to save the planet, the country, and their customers’ pocketbooks. While some may argue that GM is not moving fast enough in this area, they are moving and taking this task seriously. The future of the company depends on it.

High performance cars are another story. While some people will buy a Corvette, Aston Martin, or Porsche to commute in, many of these cars are not purchased as primary transportation. These vehicles are bought by automotive enthusiasts as toys. In my case, I drive a MINI Cooper S every day, but I play with a Corvette on the weekends. I believe AutoWeek magazine (a weekly automotive enthusiast magazine with prominent racing coverage) gave the statistic that their average subscriber owns six cars. These people can afford to have a fuel efficient daily driver plus a toy or two in the garage.

Racing is one marketing tool that reaches these people. I won’t comment on the NASCAR racertainment show, but sports car racing is one way to make a direct comparison between the offerings of different companies. It shows who is serious about what they build and gives them credibility among car enthusiasts globally. I grew up associating Cadillac with grandparents, but seeing the CTS-V compete in the Speed World Challenge series has made me associate Cadillac with the likes of BMW and Audi, not Lincoln. It’s easy to ignore a magazine ad that says Cadillac is different now, but when GM puts their car on a race track and wins, it makes the car nuts say “hmm.” This year Corvette lost LeMans to Aston Martin, but Corvette was competitive. Yes, both the DBR9 and the C6-R are considerably different from the production models, but the message that gets across is that the production Corvette is competitive with vehicles costing twice as much.

GM is a full line auto company. They have the difficult job of competing and trying to win in every automotive segment. They will make a lot of money if they can capture the market on fuel efficient family cars, but there is profit to be made in sports cars and luxury cars as well. Don’t forget that a few other car companies are putting money into racing as well such as Toyota, Honda, Audi, Mazda, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Renault, Citroen, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Ford, Dodge, Mercedes …

Robert Wilson said:

Herman I can't believe you would compare a Corvette to a Jetta. To compare the vette to the jetta - well you might as well live on Pluto my man.

Brent Skinner said:

You can't be serious. Please. Post something with credibility. This is an obvious pejorative.
My theory? A bunch of 'Vette drivers were having lots of fun letting you make a fool of your teenage self on those back roads.

Robert and Brent,

I drive a Jetta TDI, and as fine a car as it is, I wouldn't compare it to a Corvette, but I think Herman may have a point on the twisty roads and entrance ramps he is talking about. It wouldn't be the first time a German sport sedan has humbled a Corvette. (Of course the Corvette will always be better for picking up chicks.)

Herman's story reminds me of a true incident:

The Air Force Academy Gymkhana

I graduated from a military academy where it was customary for graduating cadets to buy new Corvettes. In fact, the Chevrolet dealer in Colorado Springs offered special discounts to cadets because he could order them in such large quantities.

Anyway, in 1968, one of the cadets bought a new BMW 2002i instead of a Corvette. At the time BMW was a real oddity in the US.

There was also a sports car club at our school that held a gymkhana each spring. (A gymkhana is a car competition on a course with lots of turns, stops, starts, etc. It's a test of agility, handling, and driver skill and not just a test of pure speed or acceleration.)

My BMW-owning buddy finally got so tired of hearing all his Corvette-owning buddies talk about their cars, that he challenged one of the more vocal ones to run against his BMW on the gymkhana course.

The atmosphere was tense -- like the anticipation in Dodge City before a shootout at High Noon in front of the Longbranch. Cadets were arguing for the week before they were to run, with the Corvette owners saying there was no way the funny-looking BMW could win. "Why it doesn't even have a V-8." was one of the more common opinions.

Finally the day came for the showdown. Of course you know who won, or I wouldn't have bothered to tell you the story -- the 2002i blew the Corvette out of the water.

The moral: Don't discount European sports sedans.

You can read more about the Jetta GLI here, and actually it doesn't sound bad:Jetta GLI

To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind seeing one of you run against Herman on a gymkhana course. I have a sneaky hunch that Herman just might do pretty well.

Best,

Gary Dikkers

Hey Herman,

How about we get a comparo of a 2007 Corvette (base, not Z06) and a 2007 Volkswagen Corolla, ooops, Jetta (an honest mistake, since they look the same now) and you will see just how you lose any credability by making such ridulous statements ?

I guess all of the comparos that state that the Vette is better than imports costing tens of thousands more somehow overlook the Jetta ?

i autocrossed in the 1960s using corvettes and Z-28s and won over 100 trophies competing against XKEs and other foreign sports cars.i even came close to winning FTD,fastest time of the day,finished second against even corvettes with my Z-28. a lot has to do with car prep and driver skills.

this why GM races the C6-Rs

A GM brand-building success story? Look no further than Corvette at Le Mans.

Le Mans, France. With GM deep in the throes of the most sweeping product offensive in its history - one that rivals any in the company's heyday back in the '60s - it's ironic that General Motors has to go all the way to France in order to get some respect for its design, engineering and technical capabilities, but that's exactly what happens every year with Corvette Racing's annual pilgrimage to the world's greatest sports car race - the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The stark contrast between GM's image over here, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in the U.S. couldn't be more jarring. In the U.S., GM can't buy a break. Flush with excellent new cars, trucks and crossovers across a wide range of market segments, GM is having a terrible time convincing the American consumer that these products are even worth consideration - let alone getting them to actually buy or lease one. Not only that, the swirling maelstrom of negativity that hovers over GM and the other Detroit automakers is growing rather than receding, in spite of the domestics' competitive new offerings in the market.

It's clear that GM is paying dearly for the years when they weren't on the ball and when they took their customers for granted. To make matters worse, GM's image has taken relentless broadsides from the anti-car, anti-Detroit factions in the media and in the halls of Congress in Washington for sins real and imagined, which has had a negative cumulative effect on the American consumer's consciousness. And now that GM is in desperate need for an instant sales boost from its new product lineup, it's finding it to be painfully slow going and exceedingly difficult to gain any real, sustained momentum in the marketplace.

I'd like to contrast that GM - the company on the ropes and reeling from the "bad" years in spite of new product and the company that has to withstand withering criticism from any number of factions for being everything from not green enough to just not cool enough - to the GM I found here at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The GM here in Le Mans - in the form of Corvette Racing - commands tremendous respect from both its competitors and the ultra-critical French and European racing media and fans. GM's design, engineering and technical capabilities as manifested in the impressive Corvette C6.R racing machines entered in the GT1 class are considered to be formidable and world class in every respect (for a report on the race, read "Fumes and "The Line" below - ed.). And most remarkably, GM, through the Corvette, is actually considered to be - Qu'est-ce que c'est? - cool.

I couldn't get over the number of fans in the huge Le Mans crowd wearing Corvette Racing team items, or crowding into the merchandise tent to buy more. Or the Corvette banners all around the track, or the cheers that went up when the booming Corvette V-8s blasted by the pits in front of the grandstands. Or the Corvette owners from all over the continent who drove to the race and parked together at the track.

The Corvette at Le Mans is the kind of brand success story for GM the likes of which they just can't buy back in the U.S. Which to me begs the obvious question: Why not leverage that success to strengthen the global reputation of the company? And that means it's about time that GM builds a Corvette-based prototype and goes for the overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

An American-built racing machine hasn't won overall since Ford's glory days back in 1966-69, when the Dearborn-based automaker reeled off four straight wins in the French endurance classic. And GM's previous prototype effort from Cadillac in 2000-2003 lacked focus, commitment and the fundamental will to win, finally ending when GM wouldn't underwrite the cost of developing a direct-injection engine to beat the Audi juggernaut - just when the program was starting to show real promise.

But GM's Corvette Racing program has been a winning one from the start, with five GT1 class triumphs at Le Mans in seven years. Pratt&Miller Engineering, which runs the Corvette Racing effort for GM, has molded a superb team that rivals anything in sports car endurance racing - or even in Formula 1 for that matter - in terms of technical ability, expertise and organization (just poll its rivals). And the team is more than ready to step-up to the challenge of going for the overall win.

In the Corvette, GM has a winning brand that has earned respect around the world - which is the direct opposite of what's going on its home market - where it has trouble finding respect with both hands and a flashlight. Although the Corvette remains hugely popular to its aficionados in the U.S., GM still seems reluctant to use its world-class sports car to promote anything but Chevrolet - and I find that to be puzzling - especially when what they should be doing is using it as a technical showcase for the entire corporation.

Having a success in this business is one thing. Knowing what to do with it and how to maximize it is a completely different story.

I am absolutely convinced that through Corvette Racing GM has the tools, the talent and the technical ability to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall. And achieving an overall win in the most prestigious sports car race in the world would not only enhance GM's global reputation - it would have an immediately positive impact on its standing in its home market too.

Thanks for listening, see you next Wednesday.

Mr. Dikkers:

In my opinion, your last comment at once shatters your credibility and reveals your pronounced biases. Please refrain from posting these sorts of conflations. I probably speak for many hear in respectfully asking you to post only meaningful, well-thought-out comments; after all, you have in the past.

Let's look at this intelligently:

You used a story from nearly 40 years ago to pan the latest version of the Corvette, a car that beat everything but the Evo on a recent "Top Gear" track test (and, yes, it was an exceedingly twisty track).

As someone who obviously finds reasons to criticize GM publicly on a regular basis, you of all people ought to be more knowledgeable about one of the company's flagship automobiles. To marshal to Herman's side in this argument really does nothing but to reveal your leanings as unfounded.

Cheers,
-Brent Skinner

As we know, diesel is the hype in prototypes of Le Mans. GM recently released the new Duramax, compact enough to be mounted in any LS-able bay. Why not make a prototype powered by this new powerplant and try to blow Audi and Peugeot off? It'd be a great achievement for GM and also something equivalent of what Ford did in the 60s by defeating Ferrari in the same race.

now i really dont know why the CTS is a RWD, whereas the Aura and Malibu are FWD. The mid-size segment commands the largest market. In order to differentiate from Camry and Accord, it is very important to utilize a RWD strategy. RWD gives better handling and performance. Fuel efficiency is longer an issue with Bluetec diesel and hybrid technologies. There's also a lot of cost savings if Malibu and Aura are based on Zeta atchitecture with shorter wheelbase. You should also speed up the time-to-market of the Malibu. It's far too slow.

Brent Skinner said:

You used a story from nearly 40 years ago to pan the latest version of the Corvette, a car that beat everything but the Evo on a recent "Top Gear" track test.

You mistook my intent, Sir.

I wasn't panning the newest Corvette with a story from 39 years ago. However, as I watched you and Robert Wilson mock Herman, I couldn't help noticing the parallels with the incident I witnessed at the USAF Academy gymkhana course.

This is 2007, and the truth is, I would be surprised if the newest Corvette didn't do better than the Jetta GLI on a sports car race course -- much better in fact.

But just as 39 years ago when the Corvette-owning majority mocked my BMW-owning friend until he made them put up, the proof would be on the course, not on the electronic pages of this blog.

Cordially,

Gary Dikkers

Is it just me, or are the comments increasingly abrasive ? We are all here because we enjoy it and because we want GM to succeed.

Let's all play in the same sandbox nicely. Tact, diplomacy and respect all can be compatible with the sharing of honest opinions.

Cheers

Why hasn't GM produced a hardtop version of the Saturn Sky, Pontiac Soltice? Given the future emphasis on economy and CO2 emissions, it would make more sense to develope this platform than to produce a Camaro which likely will fade into history after 3 years or so.

The convertible version of the Sky/Soltice is cumbersome, difficult to deploy and has minimal storage space. Nice design, but impractical.