The Bob Lutz Exit Interview

Bob Lutz, one of the auto industry's most charismatic executives, has officially retired from the car business, marking the end of a career that included stints at BMW, Chrysler and, finally, General Motors. Popular Mechanics caught up with Lutz at his home in Ann Arbor, Mich., for this exclusive interview.

[@joekurtz8303]

When I was working at a Dodge subcontractor in Whittier, we were told some Suits are coming tomorrow for a walk-thru, so be sharp. Mr Lutz and a couple others toured our facility. Was proud to meet him, as I have met other Leaders in industry before. A genuine Car guy who had a hand in all the Big3 during his career. Friendly & Professional Shelby V8 Dakota 89' last year of affiliation there, it was a very good year.⚙

[@TheDumpbin]

He sure was right about the Chrysler Imperial

[@MrBobbykole]

Take a good look at this car cuz you'll never see another Chrysler like this again 😂😂🤣🤣

[@vassa1972]

Great video

[@Jonathan-dq8hb]

Should have been asked about the Chrysler Imperial Lamborghini Edition. He talks about it in his book "Icons and Idiots" . It's fate is unknown.

[@AndrewEG]

And prior to Lutz being appointed to chairman. GM were producing cars that looked like they slid out of the diseased arsehole of the automotive industry. He has done the company wonders

[@Rconn1982]

@KatiePuckrik Lutz was one of the guys involved in many of the innovative leaps forward that car manufacturing has gone through in the past. The bailout, while very unpopular, was necessary. There was NO private money option at the time. Today, GM is again the top car manufacturer in the world. The volt, while time has yet to tell whether this will be a commercial success, is the beginning of the electric car revolution. Thanks to Lutz, GM has a bright future for the first time in a long time.

[@mvd4436]

There was a Russian guy who wanted opel

[@wspeed657]

@KatiePuckrik Why does Lutz have to be a free market extremist? Why is there no grey area? It seems there is no use using facts or common sense with you. You already have your mind made up, and you want to hate and vilify. I can see you have little understanding of the automotive development world. FAILURE WAS ALREADY HAPPENING before Lutz came. Why are you placing the majority of the blame on him? He helped change the mentality at the businesses he was at. He is product focused not financial.

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

Got that. On you for understanding that auto in Retardistan was fucked by 1970. Japan set the cost effective armchair on wheels and cheaper to feed by then. Detroit believed it could sell obsolescent junk every three years to its marketing driven bullshit fan clubs forever. They rusted out and drank fuel like water for so long. Fuck fashion. Cadillac ended as GM product like the rest of its range, Fancy selling a poxy GM Jcar as a caddy. Cimarron. And CADDY hasn’t recovered. American business is a fucking lie.

[@KTPurdy]

Sorry, but I still think that Nissan's cars are still the ugliest.

[@2023awakening]

The GTR is ugly? The infiniti x60 suv is ugly? the new maxima is ugly? the old skyline, silvia, 300zx, 240z, 350z, and 370z are ugly? I just named all types of offerings from nissan from all generations in recent times across multiple vehicle classes. half of which are iconic. The other half being extremely common here in NYC as a preference for style and reliability. Nissan is Known for their legendary v6 engines not styling. but somehow, some of the most iconic cars of the 90s and 2000s belong to Nissan. Thats the opinion of pretty much any car person who isnt a JDM hater.

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

Nissan unfortunately don’t even know who they are, or what they are doing. 1 Dumping the brand DATSUN, a mistake. 2 Deciding on a stupid name, a mistake. 3 Getting in with Renault, a French mob, a mistake, 4 Take a look at the latest iteration of Maxima, a mistake. Scrap all you have done since the Datsun 280z, start over.

[@drm9979]

The GTO is an awesome car, the best thing Bob did. Unfortunately, it got a lackluster start in 2004, should have begun with the stock 18s which were already available in AU, hood scoops etc. 2006 should have had an LS7 option. A $30,000+ car in 2004 is equivalent to $50,000 today so it is clearly a niche market. I disagree with his assessment of the bailouts though I understand why he liked them. First, they were not a political loser, they won Ohio for BHO. If they had not happened, GM would have re-org’d to a form that makes sense. but what the heck, we are only 34 trillion in debt and counting.

[@AndrewEG]

Seriously Katie, yes GM has cost the US government a lot of money. It had to be bailed out as not only the workers who design, engineer and assemble the cars would be out of work but also many industries who engineer and design production equipment and many small component systems within the vehicles. Yes overall the company started losing money when bob gained control but that was due to fact GM started spending billion on development. Read bobs book Car guys vs bean counters.

[@MrBobbykole]

Ah yes, the 2009 Chevy Equinox, what an amazing car, receiving "raved" reviews //s 😭😫 Lutz is lucky Obama was forced to bail them out. The Volt was not the game changer Lutz is ballyhooing it to be here because GM let it die on the vine, just like the EV1. if they were serious about lithium ion like he says the entire GM lineup would have been hybrids 10 years ago.

[@mvd4436]

It had some hits and misses. He liked the Solstice too. The panel gaps and paint quality improved on GM cars due to him. He single handedly preserved the BMW logo.

[@vinceanthony7046]

Good Riddance!

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

Fuck off vince. What have YOU done in life?