Former GM Exec Bob Lutz Joins Wheel Supplier Carbon Revolution’s Board
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Carbon Revolution made waves across the automotive industry when it was announced as the supplier of the carbon fiber wheels available on the C8 Corvette Z06 and Ford Shelby GT500. Now, former GM Executive Bob Lutz is to join Carbon Revolution’s board.
According to a report from Automotive News, age is just a number to 91-year-old Bob Lutz, who is joined by a plethora of other former U.S. automotive executives. These appointments will be made effective upon completion of Carbon Revolution’s SPAC merger, which is expected to take place in October 2023. More specifically, the wheel supplier will merge with Twin Ridge Capital Acquisition Corporation.
“I have full confidence they will bring to the company a high degree of additional experience, skills and insights that will be invaluable following our U.S. listing, as we pursue new growth opportunities globally,” Carbon Revolution Board Chair James Douglas claimed in a prepared statement.
The idea behind this appointment, despite Lutz’s age, is to bring several high-profile faces to Carbon Revolution. Moving forward, the wheel supplier company is transitioning to manufacturing carbon fiber wheels for electric wheels. In fact, due to the decreased weight of these wheels, Carbon Revolution claims that EV range will get a positive bump.
To this point, General Motors claims that the carbon fiber wheels save 41 pounds of unsprung weight as compared to the Corvette Z06’s standard aluminum wheels. These weight savings serve to improve the Vette’s lap times by as much as one to two seconds over a two-minute lap, assuming all other factors are equal. As such, weight savings are a strong driving force for Carbon Revolution to expand its operations into other areas.
Despite this exciting prospect, the wheel supplier recently updated its financial forecasts to reflect lower revenues and higher expenses.
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This is the same clown that said about 7 years ago that Tesla would never survive.
If it wasn’t for them selling credits they wouldn’t have survived. They survived as an automaker by not selling cars. It was only recently did they become profitable through vehicle sales.
Lutz is no clown, but he is old and should maybe call it a day… or run for president
I feel sorry for Lutz. He apparently needs to work to justify his existence. At 91 he needs a job to prove his worth. So sad.
No need to feel sorry for Mr. Lutz, as he doesn’t need to justify anything to anybody. At 91, he enjoys working and that’s a good thing. Staying active and enjoying what he does is likely one factor in his making it to age 91. Not everybody wants to retire and play golf or travel extensively or whatever. In fact, Mr. Lutz wrote and intelligent, frank, and funny automotive column for Automobile magazine until he was in his late 80s.
That’s fine. I just believe there is much more to life than merely having a job which consumes our limited time on earth…time that I could spend with friends, family and contemplating our eternal lives via literature, etc.
He’s got my vote!
The Electric car can reduce remission within the but what about the battery range must be greater than just 300 miles. If we are to go all electric car than some person needs to invent a electric/generator/engine that does need a electrical charge ever 300 miles that you the customer travel?
You mean a hybrid or EREV??
TIME TO PACK IT IN.
Bob Lutz was one of the best things to happen at GM. Can’t thank him enough for bringing us the last generation GTO. Great car,still enjoying my 2006! ..
Why? Because he’s not a politician? Go tell your geriatric political representatives that.
Why? He’s still the bright, funny, brilliant man he’s always been. If his health remains good and he enjoys his job, what’s wrong with that? Not everybody likes traditional retirement. It is boring for some.
Find somebody under 50 years old that will contribute a token as much as Lutz has to the automotive industry! He isn’t perfect but has worked hard and delt with his mistakes quite well. Those who condemn contribute nothing!!
I saved 46# total of unsprung weight and a far better ride, not to mention hazard resistance, when I swapped my 20″ XTS rims for 18″ CT6 wheels. Same overall diameter and width tires. Maybe auto makers should end the big wheel insanity. How much will carbon wheels add to an already bloated price?
Lutz was famous for saying climate change and rising seas was a hoax.
And he is correct.
According to the Petro Chemical Industry & dead Limbaugh.
Bob Lutz would still be an asset at GM, his knowledge of the industry is priceless. He has always had a good pulse for car enthusiasts, GM was fortunate to get him in 2001, he helped develop the Volt during the bankruptcy. Too bad he couldn’t be used as a consultant, he was GM’s best asset. Kudos Bob Lutz!
I am all for weight savings using CF, but don’t trust CF wheels longevity/reliability, esp. after several tire changes…i.e., I’m scared that when they fail there’s no warning and could easily lead to a nasty crash. Added EV weight and torque on CF wheels would scare me even worse.