GM's Lutz kills Buick Bengal concept roadster

DETROIT, Dec 19 Reuters reported that General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, who said last week that there is ``turmoil and change'' in GM's future product lineup, has killed plans for the Buick Bengal, a roadster that drew widespread praise when it was unveiled as a concept earlier this year, industry sources said on Wednesday.

The Bengal, inspired by golfer and Buick spokesman Tiger Woods, was the latest in a number of concept vehicles from Buick that were trotted out as part of GM's plans to turn around the struggling brand.

The sleek Bengal, which featured a small third door on the driver side, faced too many potential production problems and escalating cost estimates, the automotive web site TheCarConnection.com reported on Wednesday.

Some General Motors personnel held out hope that the automaker would reconsider once DaimlerChrysler AG launched the Chrysler Crossfire, a sports coupe scheduled to go on sale in 2003.

Lutz, the former Chrysler executive credited with reviving the automaker with distinctive vehicles, said last week in an interview with several reporters that one or two products have been canceled, others deferred and still more pulled ahead or added.

His hiring stirred hopes within GM that he could help bolster the automaker's lineup, which has been criticized for being too conservative.