G.M.’s Mr. Horsepower Has an Electric Conversion

Speaking at a taping of “Wait Wait ...Don’t Tell Me!” the quiz program on National Public Radio, Robert A. Lutz, vice chairman at General Motors, 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, The New York Times reports.
Lutz has long been considered one of Detroit’s ultimate “car guys,” for whom no vehicle could be big enough, powerful enough or fast enough. He is the father of the V-10 Dodge Viper and has championed automobiles like the 1,000-horsepower Cadillac Sixteen.
Lutz said he was more excited about the Volt that he was about the Dodge Viper. “I think this can bring about the revolution and really make us independent of foreign oil and solve all the other problems," he said.

Posted by   at 10:03 AM | Permalink

Are we ready for Jeremy Clarkson?

The BBC is considering producing a version of its "Top Gear" program for the U.S., according to leftlanenews.com which cited the Sun newspaper of Britain for the news. Clarkson is a larger-than-life character who writes about cars for the London Times as was as hosting "Top Gear," a loud show with a live audience that indulges in everything from serious critiques to insane tests and commentary.

Posted by   at 11:33 AM | Permalink

What makes 89-year-old Kerkorian Run?

Bloomberg.com's John Lippert offers an overview of Kirk Kerkorian's $4.5 billion bid for Chrysler. It seems the 89-year-old - yes, that's 89 - billionaire from investing in airlines and casinos, still hasn't given up on his Detroit dreams, Lippert writes. He has sought a major role with a U.S. automaker since 1990.
His offer to buy DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler comes 12 years after his first attempt to buy the company and six months after his failed effort to pressure General Motors into an alliance with Renault and Nissan.

Posted by   at 9:32 AM | Permalink