No Apologies: Lutz Defends HHR

[ragingfish]

Quote »No Apologies: Angry Lutz defends Chevy HHR, says vehicle will be 'sensationally successful'RICK KRANZ | Automotive NewsPosted Date: 1/8/05 Some writers have derided the retro-styled 2006 Chevrolet HHR as a Chrysler PT Cruiser clone. And General Motors Vice Chairman Robert Lutz is hopping mad about that.He told reporters at the Los Angeles auto show last week: "I read a news story today that is the height of stupidity - 'GM's reply to the PT Cruiser but it comes to the party at least three years late.'"Who the hell says there is some magic period when you must absolutely introduce a heritage-derived vehicle for one of your brands? Who says that three years ago was the right time to do it? Who says the PT Cruiser sucked up all the demand for small front-wheel-drive cars that draw on the corporate heritage for their definition? By that definition, the new Ford Mustang came to the party 40 years too late because that was the last time they used that style!"I swear to God some of your colleagues just don't understand this business, which doesn't prevent their busy fingers from moving over the keyboard. Read my lips, the HHR will be sensationally successful. I don't apologize for it."GM aims to sell 80,000 to 100,000 HHRs a year.

[ColonelPanic]

(removed)! My message to Lutz: "Uh, settle down, Beavis!"Bob better chill a bit, or else he's bound to have an aneurism or something. But I think his comments were great... You don't see that kind of reaction from the big guys in Detroit that often... Too funny!

[redlava]

His comments were great, but unfortunatly they didn't answer the question that was given to him.

[damronjr]

They're all GM owned. Who cares. 1/2 of the GM and sister foreign manufacturers are based on the same designs. Why is this one so special?

[kostby]

IMHO "80,000 HHR's a year" - ONLY IF they sell in in big numbers to the rental agencies. The Vibe has barely sold 150,000 in 3 years. Retro-knockoff styling alone will NOT move that many vehicles, unless it's offered at -4.0 % financing for 7 years...The HHR lacks the simplicity and elegance of the original PT Cruiser. It's MUCH more 'industrial' post-modern looking.

[ColonelPanic]

I think that is a rather lofty goal as well... I don't see it happening. 50,000 maybe. But not upwards of 100,000 units! Who knows, I could be wrong - GM does let Chevrolet get the word out about their stuff.

[Kari]

If I was the reporter and he talked to me like that, I wouldn't be writing an article and that would be his last interview with me...

[ZubenElGenubi]

Um, right. It'll be as "sensationally successful" as their SSR retro-pickup they released into regular production in '03.

[damronjr]

This brings up a good point. It does look a lot more like the SSR than the Cruiser anyways. At least it looks like it is based on similar lines.

[drunkenmaxx]

im sure it will be successful. it's nice looking, and is aimed to be affordable, unlike the ssr, which noone has!

[ToolGuy]

I do like it but I am afraid the general public will not take to it that much. It is under powered though too.

[drunkenmaxx]

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »I do like it but I am afraid the general public will not take to it that much. It is under powered though too. that is probably why the curb weight is not disclosed yet!

[ToolGuy]

Yes even with the ECO Tec super charged it still does not have the HP and torque of my current PT. The 04 PT has even more and in my O the Eco Tec should have equal to the PT or more but not less! Come on! Cobalt too, supercharged should have more then the competition!!!!

[tnpartsguy]

We just got out 1st one, and Bob and GM should be ashamed. It's smaller that the Vibe, gets much worse fuel economy, and can't get out of it's own way. It's not a very good car.

[Mr. Poopypants]

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »Yes even with the ECO Tec super charged it still does not have the HP and torque of my current PT. Well aren't you and your PT just the bee's knees????? I'm thinking it is a great idea but poor follow-through. As far as the specs go, it is rather unimpressive, but that is just me, an outsider, I have not driven one so I wouldn't know from experience.

[Kari]

Quote, originally posted by desert_dweller »And there would be a line of reporters who would jump at the oppurtunity to fill your shoes.The moral of this article is if you can not handle the answer do not ask the question.That post is more than 6 months old, but anyway...I don't think the reporter asked to be attacked. Would you like it if someone jumped down your throat because of something a few other people in your profession, and not you personally, did?If he treated me like that, I would gladly let someone else take those stories from there on out, because I would have no interest in talking to him anymore. Respect is a two-way street. If he wants respect, he needs to show it to others, and no one should have to be attacked in such a manner for something that someone else did, just because they are in the same profession.What he said was funny, I won't deny that I laughed at it...I'm just saying that I felt it was inappropriate interview behavior, especially if the reporter he was talking to had not written an article saying the HHR was too late or going to flop. Now, if the reporter had written such an article, then Lutz had the right to say what he said. Otherwise, it should have been said a bit more tactfully if nothing else.

[Mavrik]

Looks like an SSR wagon IMO. but I like it. as for his comments, stick it to em. I don't see any reason why someone should not trash reporters when reporters trash others all the time.

[Kari]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Looks like an SSR wagon IMO. but I like it. as for his comments, stick it to em. I don't see any reason why someone should not trash reporters when reporters trash others all the time.Not all reporters trash others though, and no truly professional one should. There are far too many reporters out there who take their position as license to say whatever they want about anybody, unfounded or unresearched as it may be, and I can't stand that either. I am a reporter myself, and the last thing I want to do is trash others or write anything unfounded or unresearched. I don't think it's fair that all reporters should have to shoulder the blame and bear the punishment for the few who abuse their journalistic power.I've had a bad experience with my service advisor at my dealership, and James has had a bad experience with one at his dealership, and I'm sure others have had similar experiences with other service advisors. I know that's what you were doing at your previous job too, but that doesn't mean that I should or will take out my frustration with my service advisor out on you or any other service advisor just because you had the same job or even because there are several service advisors out there who treat people the way I was treated. You would probably say it's unfair to assume that all service advisors are the same, and I agree, it is. Just as it's unfair to say all journalists are the same.

[drunkenmaxx]

actually, if yall read carefully, he never actually blamed the reporter for anything. he referred to his "colleagues". i liken it to this; say something pisses you off: you call a friend and start yelling in their ear about it, not yelling at them, but yelling. kind of the same.in another article i read, he said that the HHR (Heritage High Roof) is meant to be an affordable blend of the suburban and the SSR.

[soldierguy]

Quote, originally posted by tnpartsguy »We just got out 1st one, and Bob and GM should be ashamed. It's smaller that the Vibe, gets much worse fuel economy, and can't get out of it's own way. It's not a very good car.That's too bad. I was hoping for a better reaction, because I like the idea of small FWD wagon/ute type things and was hoping I could add this to my shopping list. Guess I'll have to see what the car magazines say, and hope they get one on the lot here...even though I just bought my Jeep a few months ago, I'm still looking for a second car for when I leave here.

[drunkenmaxx]

there is a 2.4 version w/170 something horses too!

[Mr. Poopypants]

Quote, originally posted by drunkenvibe »meant to be an affordable blend of the suburban and the SSR.At a fifth of the price of the 2 combined. It's hard to draw a marraige of the 2 vehicles without the price being higher than it is.

[drunkenmaxx]

Quote, originally posted by desert_dweller »Reporters have a very thin skin when it comes to being called on something that they write. Journalist think they can write what ever they want. But when a CEO of a company snaps there (removed) and pretty much tells them that an English degree does not give them the training or knowledge to make a call on the marketing, advertising or business practices of one of the largest companies in the US they all take it personal.gee, why should they have to back their statements with actual knowledge? their job is to speculate and guess!!

[tnpartsguy]

Quote, originally posted by drunkenvibe »in another article i read, he said that the HHR (Heritage High Roof) is meant to be an affordable blend of the suburban and the SSR.He's on drugs. It's Vibe sized. PLUS, the one I drove had the 2.4. It's weak, or the car is too heavy.

[Kari]

If that thing drives anything like my GMC Sonoma with the 4 banger did, I can imagine how little power it must have...that engine did nothing for the truck, that's for sure. It had a hard time maintaining 45 mph going uphill.

[gargoyle]

Personally, I think the HHR is kinda ugly. Now, if you added a huge red wing, some pink fenders, some wacky exhaust pipes, and a giant cow catcher on the front...... now you're talking!

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