Bob Lutz Debute Production Volt On Late Night With David Letterman

I will be the first to say, the Volt has been vindicated and a most wonderful way.
A few weeks ago Tesla CEO Elon Musk brought the Model S on Late Night with David Letterman and Dave misrepresented the car calling its 40 mile range “ridiculous.”
Last night after having issued a challenge to do so, Letterman invited Lutz on the show with the Chevy Volt show car. The result, in my opinion was wonderful.
First Letterman gave a 5 minute monologue explaining how he want to see this country achieve energy independence (FIRST VIDEO BELOW). He admitted he bought and drives the Tesla Roadster. He described himself as not being particularly tech savvy. And went on to say that when he deride the Volt and laughed about it with Musk, he was actually “woefully ignorant.” He admitted that he didn’t realize the Volt has a range extender. He even said he hoped he could get a free Volt.

In the next segment Lutz and Letterman had a 7 minute interview (SECOND VIDEO BELOW). It was clear that Letterman as a car buff has a great deal of respect for Lutz and it showed. He was kind, quiet, and polite and Lutz spoke most of the time.
Lutz talked about the EV-1 and why GM cancelled it, he talked about what hybrid technology is, and he explained how the Volt works.
Lutz again admitted it is his best estimate the Volt will cost “right around $40,000? before incentives which would bring it to $32,500, and that it wont be in showrooms en masse until 2011 although will be available in late 2010.

Dave asked for the first one. Lutz said there are 7 or 8 others who want it (I believe I am one of them).
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Agent001 - 5/21/2009 12:48:23 PM

-5 Boost

And why will anyone want this over a no-comprimise Prius for $25k or Insight for $20k?

001

Shredmo - 5/21/2009 1:06:04 PM

+5 Boost

If you want to simply save $, you would buy a Corolla. people buy the Insight or Prius as they are somewhat of a novelty. The Volt is pushing the tech envelope further than the Prius or Insight. Simple as that.

LACMAN - 5/21/2009 3:42:28 PM

+1 Boost

I hope 001 was kidding...

inspirion7 - 5/21/2009 3:58:22 PM

+2 Boost

Then the same question is why purchase a Telsa over a Prius? If for some, the environment means more than the financial output. The tech in the Volt by far will be worth it.

Agent001 - 5/21/2009 1:32:15 PM

-4 Boost

The Volt is a great visionary vehicle IF they already had a Prius competitor that gets 50MPG TODAY in dealers selling like nike's.

They have missed the sweet spot and by the time 2011 rolls around, in the words of singer/songwriter Carole King, "It's too late, baby".

001

993Turbo - 5/21/2009 1:52:11 PM

-1 Boost

I agree. If it was coming out this year it would stand a chance but late 2010, 2011 is a loooong time from now.

Anthony - 5/21/2009 2:46:41 PM

+2 Boost

This should have come out years ago, I agree, but they gotta start somewhere. The only problem is going to be how expensive it will be. Some people bought the last Prius and Insight models for novelty, sure, but now they are totally viable options in the general small-car segment that get impressive mileage. This Volt has to get over the novelty factor before GM starts to see progress.

LACMAN - 5/21/2009 3:45:55 PM

0 Boost

Yes. Like the diesel VW Jetta. MUCH more attractive and fun to drive than a Prius or Insight...

inspirion7 - 5/21/2009 4:20:52 PM

+2 Boost

What the Volt WILL have going for it:

No need for petrol up to 40 miles.

Tech that is far ahead of it's competitors ( who has a plug-in) and the same idiots that wanted to bash GM for getting rid of the EV-1, dogs out the Volt ( childishness)

A BEGINNING for GM plug-in architecture ( the Orlando, Opel Ampera, and Cadillac's Converj will share cost and tech)

Will run on the battery only (E-REV). Even though it has a petrol engine, the power is channeled through the battery supply.

Most advanced battery tech on the market.

Charging takes less than 3 hours (costing less than $3 per night to recharge)

The Volt has also forced GM’s arch-rival Toyota to speed the pace of its own plug-in hybrid program. With energy security, the price of oil, and climate change all rising in public awareness, the timing for the Volt seems perfect.

In green-centric areas like California, the ultra-clean Volt will be a hit with car buyers used to paying inflated prices for homes, who are willing to hunt out all things environmentally friendly.

A Volt would also be easily recognizable, loudly telling the world that you care about the environment and America’s independence from foreign oil, just by driving it around town. Factor in this emotional element, and GM’s goal of selling 10,000 Volts in 2011 and 60,000 in 2012 seems more than reasonable.

Anthony - 5/21/2009 4:34:21 PM

0 Boost

There are about three people here (so far) that would apparently sell their souls for the Volt to be successful.

Good luck to you three.

inspirion7 - 5/22/2009 12:46:10 PM

-1 Boost

No more that you selling yours for the Prius. We are even.

Anthony - 5/22/2009 4:20:19 PM

+2 Boost

The Prius is already successful, so FAIL there.

Look, the Volt looks like it will be a fine vehicle. Yes it will be on the forefront of technology. It will sell for its novelty, but that's just it. Why is GM banking on the success of a novelty vehicle? They are putting all their eggs in one basket and the eggs aren't even normal, solid eggs. They're toy eggs that kids get on Easter.

BigShow50 - 5/21/2009 6:11:44 PM

+1 Boost

So when the Volt comes out next year, and the statistics it has yet ot prove in the real world. It sounds like as if Toyota or any other brand for that matter will not be able to produce the same numbers as the Volt, if not even possibly better for the right price. Only company capable of that is Toyota. But I see where GM is coming from, since with all the years of fuel efficient ignorance, all of a sudden they one day have the solution...well that solution looks like putting all your eggs in one basket, and hope for the best....cause really GM really has no future if the Volt does not make it's mark!!!...Besides forget the Chevy Malibu or even the Chevy Cruze. Those are just fillers, and just compounding the problem...The Volt is where they used their last financial lifeline to even try to prove some point of the matter!!!

uaw_lax - 5/22/2009 11:17:40 AM

-1 Boost

"GM really has no future if the Volt does not make it's mark!!!...Besides forget the Chevy Malibu or even the Chevy Cruze. Those are just fillers, and just compounding the problem..."

The Malibu is better looking better performing and more fuel efficent than the Accord, Sonata, and Camry the Cruze will follow suite and with Toyota and Honda cutting each others throat trying to through the cheapest hybrid at America one can see that thier profit margins will be almost nothing. The will work period.

inspirion7 - 5/22/2009 1:07:08 PM

-1 Boost

BigShow, you really don't get it. The Volt is for the future of GM and like the Prius some 10 years ago or so, the cost to bring the first generation to market is costly. GM will not make a profit on the Volt at first. GM makes it money on the Malibu, Cruz and the other products slated to come out in the next year or so. As time goes on, the tech will be used throughout the various lines. GM has tons of new product the company has invested in beyond the Volt.

The new Opel Astra, Ampera (pending would use Volt tech) the Buick Regal/ La Cross, Chevy Orlando (pending would use Volt tech), Camaro, Cruz, Equinox, Cadillac SRX, CTS Coupe, Converj (pending would use Volt tech) and other models I'm sure I've missed. The product list alone here is more than 10 times the investment of the Volt and is profitable from the onset (it the vehicles sells and from the pulse of the public, the new product line is desirable). GM has done so well with the new portfolio, I would purchase almost any product listed.