Post Tagged with: "Bob Lutz"

Cadillac Coupe Confirmed: CTS Goes 2-Door

BMW, Audi and Infiniti have compact coupes in their lineup so it seemed reasonable to assume that Cadillac would make a production version of its CTS coupe concept.

Confirmation of production was going through an off and on phase as the restructuing at GM carried on, but now it’s official. The new coupe will join the sedan and wagon in the CTS lineup.

GM calls it Cadillac’s “most radical design”, whereas I call it the best you can do only having a ruler at your disposal. Too many sharp edges. But hey, that’s the new design direction, and there is definitely no mistaking it for anything else on the market.

More below.

GM’s Cadillac CTS-V Challenge at Monticello

In case you’ve been living in the dark for the last few weeks, GM has been pumping up its Cadillac CTS-V Challenge at Monticello Raceway just outside New York City. The “May The Best Car Win” campaign is spearheaded by none other than Maximum Bob Lutz, who will be behind the wheel of a CTS-V. Challengers from across the (American) blogosphere were challenged to bring their fastest 4-door production sedans to go head-to-head with the CTS-V. Jalopnik brought a Mitsu Evo X, TTAC/SSL’s Jack Baruth used a CTS-V because he couldn’t get anything else, and there’s also an M3 and a RS4, but an auspicious lack of Porsche Panameras.

Well today is the day. So follow all the action on something called Tweeter, or something. Click here to follow it live.

Anything under 3 minutes is quite strong on the wet and twisty track. So far, the best time I’ve seen is 2:48 by some guy named Aron L. in the CTS-V.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the layout of the track, follow below to see a map of Monticello.

Volvaab or Saalvo?

I’d like to welcome Kevin to the CarEnvy.ca writing team. He is an exceptional writer who is probably overqualified to write for us, but don’t tell him that or it’ll go to his head. Kevin enjoys writing for the Chronicle Herald, fighting with East Link e-mail service and will be a great addition to the staff. -Peter Dushenski, Editor

Here’s a crazy idea. What if Sweden’s two major competitors in the automotive industry merged? Sound as crazy as the idea of Ferrari and Lamborghini merging? Well, our boy Bob Lutz has suggested just that. The Swedish merger, that is, not the Italian one. It’s no secret that automakers are struggling but the Swedish duo seem to be in the ‘more screwed than others’ category. Lutz thinks having the two merge will save both brands….um, and offers to explanation of exactly how. It’s a bit like telling someone to button up their jackets in a hurricane. You’re still going to blow away. 

So Long Bob, And Thanks For All The Fish (GM’s Bob Lutz Retires)

Vice Chairman of Global Product Development, Maximum Bob, will retire from General Motors by the end of 2009. This will occur following a demotion to an advisory position on April Fool’s Day. Seriously. I’ve got mixed feelings about this because Bob brought some great products to the GM stable but he was (is) also a clueless twit. Follow the jump to see some of the cars that Bob was responsible for. 

GM and Saab file for Divorce

GM, which is itself a horribly run company, has decided to drop off their poorly performing and even more horribly run subsidiary, Saab. As such, they have been making moves to turn Saab into a separate business. The Saab board will no longer be on the GM-Europe board’s leash, they will then be given their own budget, and the freedom to make their own more European mistakes. This will, of course, require GM to give Saab a chunk of money which they don’t have. More after the jump.