Video: Bob Lutz responds to Letterman’s mean Volt comments

Posted: May 02, 2009

Filed under: Chevrolet, GM, Hybrids, Green News

Earlier this week, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk made an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman to discuss the future Model S sedan. Letterman, impressed by Tesla’s Roadster and Model S, cracked a joke on GM’s Volt calling it a “golf cart,” saying the mileage was “insane” and “ridiculous.”

Letterman went on to say that the Volt’s 40-mile range wouldn’t get you down the driveway and back to pick up the newspaper.

Bob Lutz has now responded to Letterman’s comments. Writing over at GM’s FastLane Blog, vice chairman Bob Lutz said that GM “should do a better job of making sure that Dave and everyone else who is in position to comment on national TV about our products has the right information, whether they use that information or not.”

Lutz even invited Letterman to come to GM to learn more about the Volt.

“Dave may drive more than 40 miles a day on his commute from the palatial Connecticut estate, but about 80 percent of Americans don’t,” said Lutz. “And those people could conceivably drive the Volt every day and never use a drop of gasoline.”

Head over to GM’s FastLane Blog to read Lutz’s article titled “Stupid Human Trick.”

2011 Chevrolet Volt:

- By: Omar Rana

Anti-TV and Celebreties

Letterman should stick to read the script and jokes someone else does for him

D!

Letterman's an idiot. Tesla has a great vehicle in the Model S but to bash the Volt is completely unfair. The Volt is coming a bit late in the game but just about every person I know is able to get to work and back in 40 miles. The Volt is more or less and in between car. I live in Miami and couldn't drive to Disneyworld in Orlando in the standard Model S because those only come with batteries that provide a 160 mile range. I doubt in two years American will have the infrastructure to charge plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles outside of the home either so what am I supposed to do? I could make that trip in the Volt though and by the time the infrastructure is in place, if GM is still around, I'm certain they'd have made a fully electric vehicle.

The pokes at GM for destroying the EV1 is perfectly fine though. They shouldn't have done it. They were being greedy instead of forward thinking which is partially what put them in the mess they're currently in.

HyBrad

I just posted a comment carrying few typos; I apologize about that. I am reposting my comment + question for Mr. Rana with the due corrections.

Mr. Rana,

could you post a clip where Letterman actually calls GM's Volt a "golf car"?

In your article, you stated that Letterman calls GM's Volt a "golf car", and the clip associated with your article does not show that.

Thanks.

HyBrad

Mr. Rana,

could you post a clip where Letterman Letterman actually calls GM's Volt a "golf cat"?

In your article, you stated that Letterman calls GM's Volt a "golf cart", and the clip associated with your article does not show that.

Thanks.

HyBrad

Mr. Rana,

could you post a clip where Letterman Letterman actually calls GM's Volt a "golf CAR"?

In your article, you stated that Letterman calls GM's Volt a "golf cart", and the clip associated with your article does not show that.

Thanks.

(SORRY ABOUT THE TYPO)

GMfan87

Bob Lutz is the man, i don't care what anyone says. And Zermatt, he's the only one at GM standing between those 'greens' and their agenda

its a shame how ignorant people like Letterman can be. not only the ignorance, but the willingness to run their mouths and spread it...

zermatt

He isn't standing between the Greens and GM for much longer. The Greens and the UAW will officially own GM very soon along with the name change to Governmental Motors.

Maximum Bob lost his voice at GM the moment he announced his retirement. The tide has turned at GM and I would like for Bob to share his expertise with another manufacturer, but there is little available to him.

True car guys in Detroit are a vanishing breed.