Comments on: Audi North America President Says Chevy Volt is a ‘Car For Idiots’

By: AmericanInGermany

AmericanInGermany — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:00:31 +0000

Johan de Nysschen is actually correct. Short-term we need the highest fuel efficiency possible without sacrificing the size and performance of the vehicles we Americans buy. The Volt is an expensive in-between solution that will be obsolete before it even becomes mainstream. I for one would buy an Audi or VW diesel TODAY and get 50-60 mpg without sacrifice. This is how we wean ourselves off foreign oil while we concentrate on pure EVs.

What probably pisses off most people is that a foreigner has spoken his mind about a failure of a product (and the failure of a company) and that is real insult here.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:09:47 +0000

Even after tax credits this hybrid lawnmower is $32K? Good luck with that.

The real problem is that as a nation we still don’t have a comprehensive energy policy geared towards an abundant supply and energy independence.

In the event the EV dreams come true, what’s the plan? To have 40 million drivers plugging their cars into coal powered electric plants? (It should be noted that wind and solar REQUIRE conventional power plant back-up, so they actually require more old-technology plants to be built).

The answer is obvious- we need to concentrate on nuclear power for electricity. We need to explore for more domestic sources of oil and natural gas, and become a net exporter of coal.

Most of all, we need to get government OUT of the way and set this country loose to do what the market demands. We may want EVs, we may not. It’s not government’s role to decide.

By: wolf

wolf — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:29:26 +0000

I think for the first time in a very long time I will have a car made by GM that I will seriously consider. Partly because its made here in north america (and we need to consider that as we have become a continent of consumers), and partly because we are with out a doubt – running out of oil. ( If you have time, and interest, check out this 8 part video from a now retired physics prof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-QA2rkpBSY )

We are running into scary times, and from fear comes foot in mouth comments (or worse), the Volt will be the the second kick in the right direction (GM did it right also with the EV1) of migrating our economy away from oil – which will take decades of pain, fear, and likely blood shed of some kind. The alternative is to continue buying gas/diesel cars, and have a sharper pain when the cost/supply of oil will be unthinkable in a very short period of time.

By: lakeboy

lakeboy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:45:23 +0000

I own a 2007 Audi A4 and I adore it. I want a Volt because I am commited to Electric Vehicles. I am a lifelong Audi/VW guy and have owned a Beetle TDI which was very fun to drive, but a bit dirty as diesels are… If Audi made an electric car, I would likely buy it, but they don’t. I do not think the Volt is particularly good looking, as most of the cars that Mr. Lutz has had a hand in designing tend to have this overly macho (or I guess the automotive term, which is supposed to be a positive, is “aggressive”) styling. But the Volt is electric and it is leading the way. It will not be perfect and I would like to be done with a gas engine altogether (watch the Teslas go!), but I am very excited to get my hands on the Volt!

Btw, I have always lived by the rule of competing like hell, but never denigrating the competition, and certainly not the customers who, in my case, is also a loyal Audi customer…

By: DW

DW — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:09:02 +0000

Diesel! during the gas crunch of last year in this area the price shot up to( $5.00) five dollars a gallon.
I am sure that most remember that during the Presidental race the price of gas at the pump went down to an all time low. We elected our President and the prices started to climb slowly upwards.
By producing a vehicles that is energeny efficent we are sending a message to Opec and the Oil companies that we had enough.
I am looking forward to seing the Chevy Volt live up to all its hype and one day possible owning one.
Imangine if Henry Ford, Alexander Bell, The Wright Brothers and all the others, if they listen to those that were skeptical of their inventions Where would be now?