Here's another cool move he made - How Bob Lutz made four auto journalists his "Secret Weapons" at GM
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/25/how-bob-lutz-made-four-auto-journalists-his-secret-weapons-at/
Lutz tells me they were his secret weapons. He credits them with the reason why GM's cars are now tuned to world-class standards. These guys didn't design, engineer or develop any vehicles. That was done by GM's long-standing employees. But the journos brought an enthusiast magazine mind-set to the evaluation process to make sure there would be very little for the press to pick apart.
I fear Ackerson will look at costs more than product.
Here's a rebuttal to that puff piece....
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/01/this-is-the-feel-good-article-of-the-year-if-youre-an-autojourno/
Oh....and the 4 companies Lutz last worked for (GM, Exide, Cunningham, Chrysler) all went bust....must just be bad luck, huh? Wonder if this means goodbye Lotus too with his golden touch....
What an incredible amateurish, juvenile article. Schoolboy "journalism" at its best. Likely, he just got his panties in a wad because he didn't get chosen for the job.
If nothing else, Rich Ceppos is about the finest automobile journalist I have ever had the pleasure to read. With more than 20 years experience driving near enough anything, and a hellacious good driver too, I can't imagine a man better placed to comment on if the new vehicles GM was producing were competent or not. An absolutely inspired choice.
Chrysler was the most profitable, per vehicle, car company in the world when he was one of the top guys. He effectively ran the product side. No bankruptcy when he was there.
He was hired by GM to turn the product around, not run the company. GM's product has quite obviously been turned around. GM's latest cars are likely the best they have ever produced.
Exide was in a world of hurt when he signed up. He reorganized the company like crazy, and yes they did have to enter and be reorganized under the bankruptcy laws. But they are still in business now.
So what?
I guess BMW and Ford should be worried, huh?