The "Car Guy" Has been Busy at G.M.

December 27, 2001

Sacramento - The influence of "Car Guy" Bob Lutz at General Motors is being felt throughout the company's design studios much sooner than anyone thought it would. The General announced last Friday that it would take the wraps off four new concept vehicles next month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and one in particular represents a landmark event.

That one is a Saab, the Saab 9-3X to be exact, and described as a crossover vehicle with all-wheel drive and capability to be an off-roader. When was the last time you saw a Saab concept vehicle? We can't remember one and this could well be the first.

Also, G.M. will unveil the Cadillac Cien (100 representing the age of the Cadillac division) and a retro concept of the 1955 Chevy Bel Air. Also on the stand for the first time will be a Pontiac roadster that hopefully will be easier to build than the Buick Bengal, that got the axe last week.

At the show G.M. will showoff production versions of its new Hummer H2, which we told you about a week or so ago, the Cadillac XLR luxury roadster and the Chevrolet SSR, a vehicle that doesn't know if it's a roadster or a pickup truck. We're not sure either.