GM (and Segway) announce GM PUMA

[Statistical]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123906731177395605.html



General Motors Corp. is teaming with Segway Inc., maker of the upright, self-balancing scooters, to build a new type of two-wheeled vehicle designed to move easily through congested urban streets.

The machine, which GM says it aims to develop by 2012, would run on batteries and use wireless technology to avoid traffic backups and navigate cities.

The Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility) prototype is shown in Brooklyn April 4. GM and Segway say the vehicle could allow people to travel around cities more quickly, safely, quietly and cleanly, and at a lower total cost.

The struggling auto maker, surviving on a government lifeline, is looking to generate enthusiasm for its increasingly uncertain future ahead of the New York auto show this week.

GM has slashed product-development programs, advertising and spending on auto-show events. But it will take to the streets of Manhattan on Tuesday to show off a prototype of the vehicle, called PUMA, for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility.

[GoesTo11]

1. GM's new 2-wheeled vehicle adds excitement to a stodgy product line

[EOTE]

21. Bring back the Grand National and GNX!

If Buick had any RWD cars left in their line-up, it would so be my next car. Perhaps the G8 will be a decent substitute.

[tekisui]

2. Motorized wheel chairs for everyone!

That looks like a disaster.

[screembloodymurder]

3. I love the Segway, but ...

:puke:

[harun]

4. More vaporware.

[KharmaTrain]

5. That Sure Doesn't Look Too Comfortable

Hopefully those things won't be allowed on streets with speed limits higher than 25mph. I can't imagine it fairing too well in any type of accident. Also, I sure hope there's some kinda covering for rain or snow...not to mention the thought of my aching hemeroids if that thing hit one of the many potholes that are a spring ritual in these climes.

Now will the promotion campaign won't resemble this PUMA campaign...



:rofl:

[TheBigotBasher]

36. I have to borrow an image from the great peeps at Rumproast

also - it kind of reminds me of Mr Garrisons' invention on South Park.

[Stevenmarc]

6. I drive in NYC and this will make the streets a more target rich enviorment

[Ikonoklast]

7. Does it fold up into a coffin on the inevitable impact?

Seems it would be a two/fer if it did.




Funny how Capitol Hill shuts up shop and now PUMA's are seen all over the place again.

[Mari333]

8. LOL

[pnutbutr]

9. and people wonder why GM is failing

:rofl:

[BobRossi]

11. I thought it was because they make SUVs?

What could they do to please you?

[pnutbutr]

13. build a quality car that people want

and actually promote it instead of the gimmicky trash they are doing now.

[EnviroBat]

15. Build a car of this caliber.

I looked at many of the offerings from Ford and GM. I looked for similar vehicles with similar features. Nothing came close in features, or feel of quality and performance. Sad, but true. When the big three can learn to engineer a car to these standards, people will buy them. So, shame on me. I've destroyed the US Auto industry by spending my hard-earned money on a vehicle that will outlast the fucking loan.

[Stevenmarc]

20. Ford tried, it was called the Merkur XR4Ti

[EnviroBat]

22. Yep, I used to work on them repeatedly.

One of the biggest failures ever created by Ford. Turbocharged 2.3 litre 4 banger. Turbo's starved of oil. Blown head gaskets. Piston rings eaten alive. Sloppy transmissions. In other words, junk... I did see one at an Autozone store last weekend. The poor kid who owned it was dumping about three quarts of oil in it, and it looked like one of the front wheels was about to fall off.

[Stevenmarc]

23. The interesting side story of the Merkur was that it caused Honda to create the Acura line

and of course Lexus and Infinity followed after Acura's success. So 1 Ford failure created 3 highly successful competitors, way to go Ford.

[EOTE]

24. You can get a 300HP Camaro for about 3 grand cheaper than that WRX.

Granted, it's RWD vs. AWD (I prefer rear), but the Camaro is more powerful, doesn't have the turbo lag of the WRX, looks a lot more attractive and is cheaper. So it's really hard to say that domestics aren't offering good value in the performance market.

[Xithras]

44. Yeah, but the Camaro handles like a brick.

The problem with American muscle cars is that they've always been designed to go fast in a straight line. Put them into a real world performance situation (tight curves at higher speed) and the smaller AWD performance cars eat them up. RWD is great off the line, but give me an AWD car ANY DAY for a fun ride in the hills. Or in the snow. Or in dirt. Or anywhere other than a long straight ribbon.

FWIW, my first car was a '72 Camaro. My current car is a 2006 Subie. I love them both, but you really can't compare their relative "performance".

[EOTE]

45. You must be stuck in the 70s and 80s, because the new Camaros

are very capable pony cars. The new Camaro SS is exceeding the performance of the C5 Vettes on the Nurburgring (not exactly a straight line) and those cars had no problems embarrassing many a Porsche 911. Sure, in low traction conditions AWD is preferable, but 99% of the time, RWD is the way to go. I had no problems taking on my friend's WRX in the twisties with my V6 Lincoln LS manual even though my Lincoln was 600lbs heavier and had a far weaker power to weight ratio. AWD is still plagued with understeer (controlled to an extent in the STI with its user selectable differential) and torque steer (I've yet to drive an AWD car that didn't have a good amount of it). RWD is still superior for those reasons and for weight reasons. AWD certainly has its place, but performance cars can do very well without it.

[CRF450]

50. You need to check up on what the new ones are capable of.

I own an 01 Trans Am, and the 2010 Camaro would hand my car's ass on a silver platter when it comes to the tight curves!

[tabbycat31]

28. you just posted my dream car

[Mopar151]

43. Standards of a Soobie?

It is to laugh..
Look - they ain't necessarily bad, and they are a LOT better than they were - but check your reality...
My buddy's WRX eats brakes, and the dealer told him (after a big messy frozen caliper) to avoid carwashes with undercar rinse - and he is anything but a car killer. And it still eats pads...
I hear my friends at Vermont SportsCar have transmission changes down to 28 minutes, and new transmissions come in by the palletload.
The Big 3 and their worldwide brethren employ legions of competent engineers. it's the marketing and finance people who decide what gets built, and how well it is built.

Look at what people in the car business put their family and friends into, and you'll get a much better picture of where value lies in this market.

[havocmom]

49. there is a lot of ground between this orthopedic motorcycle and an SUV

GM should stop swinging wildly and pay attention to what people actually buy. Oh, and they (along with all other CEOs) need to get it through their heads that laid off, outsourced workers don't buy product. Reasonably paid workers who are not abused by constant threats of job loss DO buy product. FACT

[Xenotime]

25. This is the new Corvette, right?

[B Calm]

52. GM is failing only because of cheap labor conservatism has kept

our wages so low that we can't afford to buy their product anymore.

[bunnies]

10. I hope they paid that poor guy enough to compensate for the fact that...

he's never ever going to get laid again. Ever. :rofl:

[kickysnana]

12. That is just a wheelchair with a frame. n/t

[FudaFuda]

14. This reminds me of the scene in "Roger and Me" where ..

the local politician (in Flint, MI) is explaining that even though the town has lost the gigantic auto factory, they still have the factory that makes "The Lint Roller"

[Mopar151]

16. Nobody wants a Segway

except Dean Kaman. Bicycles, motorscooters and the like do fine for most of us, at a fraction of the cost

[Hugabear]

33. I want a Segway

But there are lots of things that I want that aren't really practical.

[Mopar151]

17. The racin' guys were first

http://www.flyingbarstools.com/flyingbarstools/index.shtml
And yes, Ive seen electrics.

[Occam Bandage]

18. The turbowheelchair! Fun idea, but unfortunately I don't see much of a market.

There's no room for a briefcase or backpack, to say nothing of your groceries, it can't go on a highway, you're limited to a 15-mile radius, there's no room for a passenger, and you're fucked in a crash. It's basically a motorized bicycle, which already exist.

[Blue Diadem]

37. They actually had a passenger in one on TV. Cramped and crunched.

Chrysler has the GEM. At least you can buy doors and a heater for that one and there is a bit of a front end to it.

http://www.gemcar.com/models/

I like the GEM but they still have a long way to go to increase speed and distance on a charge.

[MrCoffee]

19. April Fool's Day was last week, GM

This has to be a joke.

[blogslut]

26. WANT!

n/t

[hughee99]

27. So it's a segway that costs twice as much as a moped

and looks half a cool. I wonder why they're a "struggling automaker". I wonder how much more bailout money (or "loans" if you prefer) we'll have to pour in until we get a chance to laugh at the finished product.

[underpants]

29. and you thought the plot of "Wall-E" was far fetched

[Stevenmarc]

30. Why not just buy one of these

http://www.ezeebike.com/

A whole lot cheaper a lot more practical and available now.

[Hugabear]

31. PU My Ass

I don't know if PUMA is a good name around these parts.

Kind of like when Ford (I believe that's who it was) introduced the Nova into Mexico - not realizing that Nova meant "no go" in Spanish.

[lucretia54]

32. People United Means Action...

might have something to say about this.

To me, it looks like something new for the garbage heap.

[TheBigotBasher]

38. They will probably object to its colour.

They will want it made in white only.

[Mopar151]

46. GM strikes again

GM Made the Chevy Nova - but as a former Mr.Goodwrench, I can assure you that PUMA will be "re-purposed" by the dealer techs into Pain Under My Ass!!!!

[jakefrep]

34. If this were a Toyota,

some here would hail it as a bold advance in personal mobility and wonder aloud why GM isn't doing it.

[Mopar151]

35. True

And double for a Subaru.

[Stevenmarc]

39. They did, in 2003

and apparently didn't see it as viable, take note GM

It also didn't look like a Segway with training wheels and crime scene tape.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/2314/picture/3316/

[havocmom]

48. Toyota wouldn't make such a stupid thing

GM is TRYING to go bankrupt, remember? This should nail it.

[Matariki]

40. I can't IMAGINE how GM ended up bankrupt

Their decision making process is STELLAR.

[denem]

41. Designed by Perry Logan.

Ingenuity double plus.

[ohheckyeah]

42. THIS is part of

their comeback plan? That looks like an accident waiting to happen.

[BattyDem]

47. How many quarters does it need?

It looks like a cockpit-style arcade machine.

[rollingrock]

51. The first car from Government Motors!

hooray!