G.M.’s First Hybrid-Electric Concept Car
“I think it could be one of the most important things we’ve ever developed.”
Robert A. Lutz, vice chairman at General Motors, has long been considered one of Detroit’s ultimate “car guys,” for whom no vehicle could be big enough, powerful enough or fast enough. Now Mr. Lutz, known by his “Maximum Bob” nickname around Detroit, says he has a new dream car. Mr. Lutz declared Thursday night that the Chevrolet Volt, the hybrid-electric concept car that G.M. unveiled at this year’s Detroit auto show, may be among the most important vehicles that G.M. has ever developed. With the same enthusiasm that he has long used to describe high torque ratings and engine displacements, Mr. Lutz touted the Volt’s mileage, which he estimated will reach 151 miles per gallon, fueled by a combination of electricity and gasoline.
The prospect of Mr. Lutz going green represents a sharp reversal. After all, he has often mocked environmental advocates, saying that except for “a few nuts in California,” no one cared about the impact of cars on the environment. In 2003, he described Toyota’s hybrid-electric Prius as a public relations stunt — although he admitted he wished General Motors had a similar model — and declared G.M.’s most important car to be the Chevrolet Corvette. Hah! Who’s the biggest nut now?
