Shrug, Atlas, Part II

February 10, 2009 – 8:14 pm

Lost amidst the news of the poktulus piracy on the Potomac was the announcement that GM’s design guru, Bub Lutz, was stepping down. http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090210/AUTO01/902100382/1148 He made his name with Lee Iacocca at Chrysler, where, as lee’s design lieutenant, he helped them become the idea leaders on the American auto scene. The Iacocca/Lutz era saw the invention of the minivan, the first mass-market convertible in 10 years, the Viper, and ‘cab-forward’ engineering.
Lutz came to GM to turn them around. The $20,000 Pontiac Solstice and the 2010 Chevy Volt were among the fruits of that decision. By all accounts, Mr. Lutz is the best car guy in Detroit since Iacocca, and he is universally respected in the industry. He recently won the 2008 Lifetime Design Achievement Award: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS133639+07-Dec-2007+PRN20071207
Why is his departure significant? His reason: He wants to design card people want, not ones that the government mandates. In other words, Solstice si, ‘Smart’ no.
Click on the link, look at the photo. The old Marine does not look like a quitter, or like someone who is tired of life. He is the classic car guy, who wants to make cool stuff. That he would take this moment, GM’s hour of existential crisis, to retire, is evidence that he sees the end of the era, and that future cars will more resemble the Yugo than the Detroit iron we’re used to. Thanks for the memories, Mr. Lutz, and best wishes on your retirement.