CounterPunch: Bob Lutz To Bring Chevy Volt To Letterman Next Week
Filed under: cars-houses, film-tv, television, transport — Michael d'Estries @ 12:07 pm
May 15th 2009
After openly mocking General Motor’s Chevy Volt vehicle a few weeks back with a string of innacurate comments, David Letterman is getting ready for a counter-offensive from Bob Lutz. The former vice-Chairman of GM will be on the show next Wednesday night to refute Letterman’s claims and show off a (hopefully updated) version of the Volt.
During the earlier interview with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Letterman lashed out at the Volt saying, “The VOLT has a range of 40 miles,” Letterman said. “That will get you down the driveway and back. I mean, it’s insane. 40 miles is the range of the VOLT. That’s ridiculous.” In reality, the Volt has a range extender on-board that will boost that distance to more than a couple hundred. Not to mention the fact that 40 miles is more than enough for the average American’s commute to work and back.
Of course, Letterman may be a bit biased towards the Tesla. According to RemyC, the host has an all-electric Roadster which he drives to work from New Canaan, Connecticut to Manhattan every week.
With General Motors teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, it will be interesting to hear from Lutz on what the future of the Chevy Volt is — and if the current bad news might delay its 2010 launch. Fingers crossed. Oh — and Dave? Please don’t feign electrocution this time when you grab the steering wheel.
via ABG
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Tagged: david letterman
Oh speak of the devil. Sorry Bob you got to the party too late. GM should stand for get movin. Your time is UP! You fought SO hard for improved gas mileage standards… GM can suck it!
See I’m in a good mood today
E
From what I have seen and read, the GM Volt is a fine car. I look forward to test driving one late in ‘10 or in ‘11.
I think you are missing the point of what Letterman was saying when he said the Volt only has a 40 mile range.
As he said when the Tesla guy was on his show, he’s totally in favor of electric cars and the reason for him scoffing at a 40 mile range is that, if it hadn’t been for the oil companies and big auto manufacturers squashing this technology back in the mid 90’s, we’d have even more advanced electric vehicles today that would put a 40 mile range to shame.
We’ve lost about 15 years of development on and now we are playing catch up, and Letterman is simply saying shame on the auto industry for killing this technology when it was first released.
But yeah, his getting “shocked” by the steering wheel was pretty bad….maybe would have been better if he wasn’t hoarse.
Funny that I didn’t hear Letterman mention that his Tesla’s driving radius (how far you can travel and still get back home) can be as low as 110 miles,
which in Letterman’s world is apparently
down to the mailbox and back. The low end Model S Tesla promises (for $60,000)
a driving radius (get this) of as little as 70 miles. Have your favorite tow truck company’s phone number handy.
Actually, it’s child’s play to prove that a fleet of commuting Volts can eliminate over 95% of the need for gasoline. In fact, ethanol is all that would be needed. Letterman’s Tesla apparently is a few percent better at a cost three hundred percent higher (not to mention the Tesla’s exorbitantly expensive and obsolete 1st generation battery pack, which will last about half as long as the Volt’s). At least Letterman is consistent : his words are every bit as ugly as his face without the usual 10 pounds of makeup he normally sports.
Come on!
Does anyone truly believe we don’t already have the technology and knowledge to build cars with high mile range that don’t use any kind of fossil fuels?
They’re playing us as always!!
Just do some research on-line… There are dozens of alternative, renewable, clean fuels and technologies available right now.
All we need is political and public awareness.
Unfortunately auto makers are still ‘in bed’ with oil companies and therefore nothing will really change much during the next years!
That is, until people DEMAND cheap cars with high mile range that only use non-polluting fuels.
Amen Whoever.. You said it right!
I don’t trust GM or any of them. I know my car isn’t the best but at least its’ somewhat better. Go see who killed the electric car. Like I said GM.. Get movin. TIme for some change and new companies. They can hire the people back who will lose their jobs when GM finally goes under like they should have long ago.
I don’t want my tax payers money bailing them out…
E
Eric, exactly what I wanted to say!!