Anyone with a little background on this subject knows that with complexity and new technology come added cost.

You invest in it or you get blown out the back. Real world US CAFE is not competitive in a world of increasing oil prices. To Lutz I'd say "Cry me a river", except that I know he's jockeying for political position. I prefer his less disingenuous, politically incorrect statements that it will take more expensive gasoline to change American habits (he comes mighty close to calling for it).

I don't understand, why can they make concept cars that get 80-100 mpg US but somehow, when production comes around, all that is impossible? Why can Loremo make a car that consumes so much less than any other in the market? What is the driving force behind this obsession with defying efficiency? Just shut up Lutz and get to work, we're sick and tired of your BS! And stop with the "we have more cars that get 30mpg than any other company", where? In Europe? Certainly not in the USA.

Schmeltz-

CAFE regulations were totally necessary. Unfortunately The US government (Congressional and Presidential) was swayed by relatively low gas prices and intense lobbying by the auto industry to subvert CAFE standards.

Lutz’ comments sound an awful lot like what car companies said about removing lead from gasoline “Oh my- it will be too expensive- it can’t be done!”

And tightened emissions: “We have no idea how to do this- it will cost thousands of dollars per vehicle!”

And safety regulations: “Why should we be required to do this- it will drive up costs and be too expensive!”

The fact is GM and the other members of the big three were given billions by the Federal Government for just this purpose in exchange for not tightening CAFÉ standards during the Clinton administration. That was *10 years ago*. And here we are, facing the same crappy excuses years later. They have no shame.

Lutz can save the crying and whining for someone who buys it. Not me.

The fact is heavy rear wheel drive cars were alreasy getting iffy anyway. Why would gm waste money on them rather then look for a new design maybe even do away with the transmission abd engine entirely yet still provide the car a rear wheel drive provides.

BTW- RWD cars can make sense if they are electric or hybrids:

http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061010/FREE/61009008&SearchID=73277758047656

Some of you might know that GM is sourcing at least one of its' RWD cars from Australia - the Holden Commodore is being rebadged as a Pontiac in the U.S, and we've previously exported the two - door Monaro to the US (Pontiac again), Middle East (Chev) and U.K (Vauxhall VXR).

Lutz has gone on record as saying Australia is arguably THE centre of excellence for RWD within GM. We're still in the position of having large, RWD cars as our best sellers. If you get the chance to drive the latest Commodore (whatever it is badged in the US/Middle East/UK), you might be pleasantly surprised -