[St00k]

Report: Audi of America Boss Calls Chevy Volt “A Car for Idiots” : Auto News (http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2009/09/report-audi-of-america-boss-calls-chevy-volt-a-car-for-idiots.html)

Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen couldn’t be more clear about his thoughts on the upcoming Chevy Volt, calling it “a car for idiots.”

De Nysschen made the comments to MSN while previewing a few of Audis upcoming electric cars. He believes that there just won’t be enough demand for a vehicle that is expected to cost $40,000, when conventional hybrids are closer to $25,000.

“No one is going to pay a $15,000 premium for a car that competes with a (Toyota) Corolla,” he said. “So there are not enough idiots who will buy it.”

He went on to say how a premium hybrid or electric car can command those dollars because of the added prestige or performance it delivers. And yet, cars like the Toyota Prius have somehow elevated to the status of prestige vehicles, based purely on their environmental record.

De Nysschen has an agenda though, and like his opinions he isn’t about to hide it. The Audi exec believes that the U.S. government has worked to promote these technologies while offering little help to diesel alternatives. He also points out the important problem that much of the electricity generated in the United States comes from burning coal. Increasing diesel sales, he says, would have a more immediate impact on reducing pollution.

De Nysschen even gave MSN a prediction, that the Volt will fail initially and that the federal government will have to subsidize the car in order for it to succeed.

Our prediction is that subsidies will be available right from the start, ensuring both GM and the government that owns it look good while promoting a specific hybrid-electric agenda.

http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/d/63646-3/volt-new-official-pics01.jpg

[hk20000]

and we'll see more and more people just buy the Prius with a plugin option because it's from a company that generally don't do epic fail things.

[Harvey Specter]

And only cocks drive Audi's..........

[shenmecar]

Hes just jealous cuz the cars he sells have electrical issues.

[Matsuda]

And only cocks drive Audi's..........

really? I thought they drove BMWs!

[Harvey Specter]

^
Nope, it's Audi drivers now according to TG.

[monkeywrench]

and M3 drivers have no friends

[ilvtofu]

Volt > Audi TT :haha:

[asian_XL]

and M3 drivers have no friends

SHUT UP, Hyde has two M3s

[hk20000]

^ and your point is?

[woob]

that Hyde has twice as many no friends

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

Hes just jealous cuz the cars he sells have electrical issues.


:thumbsup: good point

SHUT UP, Hyde has two M3s
:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
that Hyde has twice as many no friends

ok

[fliptuner]

Volt > Audi TT :haha:

Audi TT diesel > Volt :haha:

http://www.chrisabraham.com/diesel-audi-tt.jpg

[carisear]

SO FAR the volt looks really good, but we are in vancouver -- prolly the most 'progressive' city when it comes to more environmentally friendly products. i personally like the fact we aren't going to rely on fossil fuels forever.

yes i read that most places in the us still use coal, but we don't!

[ilvtofu]

Audi TT diesel > Volt :haha:

http://www.chrisabraham.com/diesel-audi-tt.jpg

sure... if you're a homo, and how much would that cost btw?

[!Tigger]

wait until that hydrogen car comes in vancouver.. everyones going to be on it like white on rice

[Nightwalker]

there just won’t be enough demand for a vehicle that is expected to cost $40,000, when conventional hybrids are closer to $25,000.

He's absolutely right. I actually REALLY wanted a hybrid when I bought new last year, I ended up not being able to afford it and getting a cheaper competitor with a normal gas engine with only marginally worse economy.

[fliptuner]

sure... if you're a homo, and how much would that cost btw?

HAHAHAHHAA you can keep your domestic golf cart!!!!

[!Aznboi128]

TT + diesel = fail

it's like that episode of TG of sirocco with diesel ... dumb

[hk20000]

He's absolutely right. I actually REALLY wanted a hybrid when I bought new last year, I ended up not being able to afford it and getting a cheaper competitor with a normal gas engine with only marginally worse economy.

except the fact that the hybrid cars have come down so much in price it's worth considering.

[Manic!]

wait until that hydrogen car comes in vancouver.. everyones going to be on it like white on rice

That will be at least 15 or 20 years.

[BNR32_Coupe]

This guy makes a good point about how most of americas electricity is generated by coal.

[elkayem]

Looks like a fucking Honda/Acura.

[SkinnyPupp]

This Audi guy sounds like my kinda guy! Thumbs up to him for not being an idiot, and letting everyone else know when they are idiots.

[Meowjin]

Audi Boss

http://images.thecarconnection.com/sml/audi-usa-ceo-johan-de-nysschen_100227814_s.jpg

[StylinRed]

sounds like all these companies are scared of the VOLT


im surprised TATAs Nano isn't all over th eplace yet it would kill all these companies

[Carl Johnson]

He's absolutely right. I actually REALLY wanted a hybrid when I bought new last year, I ended up not being able to afford it and getting a cheaper competitor with a normal gas engine with only marginally worse economy.

The Volt will come with a $7,500 government rebate I believe. So the that brings the total cost of owning the car to 32500 which is still reasonable considering it can do 230mpg.

[Carl Johnson]

sounds like all these companies are scared of the VOLT


im surprised TATAs Nano isn't all over th eplace yet it would kill all these companies

I kind of agree that a few car companies are getting a little bit nervous with GM coming out of bankruptcy and finally gets something right this time.

[nack]

And only cocks drive Audi's..........

whats wrong with audi's?

[nack]

Audi Boss

http://images.thecarconnection.com/sml/audi-usa-ceo-johan-de-nysschen_100227814_s.jpg

he actually looks like a younger hitler...

[Timpo]

I gotta have to agree with Audi boss here,

Volt: $40,000
Insight:$20,000

so who would pay $20,000 premium for a Volt?
It doesn't matter if it gets 230mpg, because I've seen articles saying the Volt is more appropriate to say 100mpg because of the cost to recharge the plug in electricity.

Also the insurance price, $40,000 car will be more expensive to insure than $20,000 car.
Not to mention the difference in depreciation rate.

How much gas money do average people spend on Prius or Insight?
Calculate the difference and see how long it would take to pay off.

Do the math and you will see that Volt is not worth it.

[StylinRed]

^^^^ you could always buy a used geo metro and save more money


you have to realize that price shouldnt be calculated here

its getting a new nice car that will save them gas money... or else there are countless other possibilities for ppl to save money when buying a car and thinking about gas

[Carl Johnson]

The thing is that the first 40 miles on the Volt is run purely on electricity. So say for an average person who goes to work and come backs home, if it he drives less than 40 miles per day that person essentially does not have to pay for gasoline at all.

So the concept of volt is definitely marketed towards city driving than going across states. The statistics I saw was like 95% of the population drives less than 40 miles in the city each day.

I think the way to think about the volt is you probably want to skip the first version and wait the Volt II or whatever they are going to call it. The cost of making those expansive batteries will come down significantly over time and also you will avoid some of the early technical problems.

[JesseBlue]

i think the bigger problem is the government subsidies if this doesn't sell...
we'll end up paying for this...

[BNR32_Coupe]

http://images.thecarconnection.com/sml/audi-usa-ceo-johan-de-nysschen_100227814_s.jpg

"Chevrolet Volt? The fuck's wrong with you?"
- CEO, Audi