On the surface..I want to say him still being there shows GM wants to stay serious about good product over beancounting. If he had nothing to do I think he would simply leave. That being said, just how relevent is he? I mean was he envolved in the decision to neuter Pontiac and get out of the mess moving forward? I would imagine his ability to force through some decisions relating to better product has severely been crimped due to the collapse of the market.

 

I would hope that he was involved... and I suspect his involvement is the only thing that kept Pontiac alive in reduced form, rather than eliminated.

 

VERY (let me rephrase that...)

VERY relevant..........

If the industry wasn't in such turmoil, there would be no talk about Pontiac -- it would be its own Division.........

.........the world, however, has changed.

I can tell you firsthand that Lutz and Wellburn are the two leaders of a cadre of car guys and gals -- and that's what brings you great cars like Malibu, CTS, ZR1, Camaro, etc..........

 

A car company can always use a car guy with some good ideas. That will never change.

 

And keep them coming...
Did they have any influence on the new LaCrosse? I might have to get one of those.

 

The question becomes, in difficult times, do the right people remember that fact?

Based on Scott's post, it sounds like in this case, the right people did indeed remember. Kudos to them for not forgetting the product while worrying about the finances!

 

Wonder if there is a chance Pontiac will make a comeback.

 

Lutz rocks!

 

GM's biggest redeeming quality today, several well designed an executed current cars plus an impressive slate of upcoming vehicles, wouldn't exist without him. Accountants know nothing about how to make an appealing car. I'm glad Lutz is there.

 

If anyone could bring me back to GM, I still believe it would be Lutz.

Too bad he didn't have dictatorial power - I suspect I'd be much happier today.

 

Not just accountants, many engineers as well. Six sigma will build you a car that is reliable and meets wants/needs very well... But six sigma has no slots for passion or aggressive styling.

Indeed, without lutz we would not be where we are today. As things in GM change, *we* need him there to protect the products we are interested in.

 

Just my personal opinion, but I think Lutz has been a breathe of fresh air for GM.

 

In a way, I suppose.

The Lacrosse was designed in China.

Welburne heads design globally, so he probally OKed it before it was released for development.

Lutz coordinates global products, so he OKed it to be sold in the US.


To answer the original question, Bob Lutz is alot more than just "relevent".... how about, "vital"!

It's Lutz that reminds GM's naysayers that cars like the ZR1 does make profits, Camaros are relevent and have a market, & interior materials can't be skimped on (though there's some instances where one has to wonder).

However, he's not infallable.

Killing the G8 ST after all the press despite it being profitable simply for product focus is questionable. The flip-flop-flip-flop on both the Orlando and Beat have no place to go other than his doorstep.

He's also become seemingly far less aggressive (dare I say timid?) than he was when he rammed through both the GTO and the Solstice shortly after his arrival once it was proven both made financial sense. I'm sure alot of it is politics and keeping his powder dry and his capital intact for bigger fish (ie: Camaro).

He's also gone into retreat like a scalded cat on North American Zeta and the Alpha, but at least one can imagine that a failing GM (they didn't get this bad overnight) had alot to do with both.

 

I wonder what has happened behind the scenes since he got there to make him more timid. I also wonder if he will change when the dust starts to settle and product becomes more important again.

In terms of the G8 ST, I cant understand why the G8 ST AND Sportwagon weren't brought over. Sales might be small, but every one of them would have been a quality vehicle with a profit margin - AND it would have put better vehicles into a Pontiac showroom. But then again, I love sportwagons and I always liked the el camino.

If Pontiac is reduced to the G8 Lineup as the cornerstone of its fleet, perhaps the Coupe/Sedan/Wagon/Ute will become present. We can only hope GMNA will see the light.