Global Concept Cars Now Appearing in New York
By Tom Wilkinson
GM Design Center
On 60 Minutes last week, Bob Lutz showed reporter Steve Kroft a tiny glimpse of the latest Cadillac grille – and the internet buzz began (Autoblog, Auto Insider, Straightline, All Cars, All the Time, Wheeltalk video). This week, we hope to build on that excitement for GM Design when four of our incredible Concept cars appear together for the first time at the New York Auto Show.
First up is the new Saturn concept car – extremely cool. I can’t say any more until we unveil it tomorrow, Wednesday, April 12th.
Coming to the United States for the first time is the Saab Aero-X Concept car – inspired by Saab’s aircraft roots. This car is mean and green. It’s got a swing-open canopy and twin-turbo bio-ethanol powered engine. The Saab Aero-X was named Best of Show for the Geneva Auto Show by AutoWeek magazine.
Another AutoWeek Best of Show winner (by unanimous vote) was the Chevy Camaro Concept car – which took that honor in Detroit earlier this year. The Camaro Concept has drawn massive crowds in Detroit, Chicago and other major shows. This Concept car brings a fresh new edge to a sports car classic.
The Buick Enclave Concept car was also a big hit at the Detroit Auto Show. This luxury SUV has romantic lines, athletic proportions and an interior more posh than a lot of East Side apartments in Manhattan.
Hollywood producer David O. Selznick once said “There are only two classes – first class and no class.” Well, the GM design team is first class all the way. See for yourself – the Aero-X, Camaro, Enclave and a sweet new Saturn – together for the first time this week at the New York International Automobile Show.
27 Comments
Leave a Reply
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
I have to say, they are some sweet concepts. And as you are showing, Lutz, you are bringing these concepts to production. SSR, solstice and now the Aura(minus the rims and front fascia which I hope make it to the Aura redline). I can only say I am looking forward to the Buick being pretty darn close to the concept.
Keep them coming. The quality is there along with the style, now all we need are better warranties.
I just bought a HHR and I love it, mostly because nobody on the road has one except for me, because I live in import heaven, NJ. Thanks Lutz for making an afforable wagon and pushing it through, I love it.
But as I said before, we need a mainstream, highly competitive 4 door sedan aka Malibu. I need one to park on top of my chevy emblem embedded in my paver driveway.
No question with GM concept cars – it’s all great! BUT GM’s 3.4L, 3.5L & 3.9L PUSHROD ENGINES ARE STILL WAY BEHIND TOYOHONDASSAN’S 3.5L OHC EFFICIENCY!
that saab concept needs to make production, who cares what the price is… its a nitche super car that would be an great halo for Saab…
each brand needs a halo car, and not all brands have it right now
Who exactly will be at the show representing GM? Namely, Buick-Pontiac-GMC?
I’m building a GM-to-English dictionary. “Athletic proportions” means big. “Fresh new edge to a sports car classic.” means “it’s still going to be big, loud an inefficient, but this time it’ll have airbags and satellite radio.”
Or so says the guy who rode his bike to work today.
The Saturn Concept, dubbed the Prevue, may just be a rebadge of the Opel Antara, but it still is amazing! And the preview of what is believed to be the next CST on 60 Minutes, looks even better! The production version of the Aura looks great. And the Saturn Sky Red Line looks very good, and it is agressive. The Saturn Outlook is also a good looking car, less than what I was expecting to see from all the hype, but still nice. Just a bit bland though.
Good job on all the four new cars and good luck!
Well I hope these cars are really cool looking because that’s the only way they’ll sell. The durability issue of these latest GM’s will only come
with time.
Glad you have new vehicles coming out, but you had better update the malibu’s interior, and the G6 (how about renaming it!).
If Pontiac continues with the G nomenclature-G5, G6, G8, etc , you might as well shut down now. Use names! Le Mans, Grand Prix, etc have meaning to people.
I’m glad you are fixing Saturn but I hope it doesnt mean you are going to neglect Chevy, etc.
The Cobalt needs improving, as do other vehicles. Put the P’R'N’D'L back on the Impala’s console for instance.
HHR-put the window switches on the door where they belong, etc etc.
Standard Tilt and telescoping steering wheels on every make of vehicle you sell.
Bob, please be careful with the camaro concept. Past media darlings but commercial failures have included the Ford Thunderbird and Chevy SSR.
In my opinion, for retro vehicles there is a fine line between gimmicky and success. Don’t make the Camaro too gimicky. People won’t buy it.
I am very impressed by the images of the new Aura and the Outlook posted all over internet. Cannot wait to see these vehicles in New York next week. Not sure what did happen with Lucerne (classic to some, boring to me), but the new Saturns seem to bode well for the future of GM, assuming that more of the same good stuff is on its way. Too bad that about 6 weeks ago after periods of waiting and waiting for GM to come up with anything competitive I decided to purchase Avalon. Enclave also looks very good. I hope that the content packaging will be revised to reflect the import buyers’ packaging preferences. Finally upgrading dealerships to today’s standards should also be the part of the overall turnaround strategy. Good job GM, give us more.
I’m really excited about the 2006 Saturn lines. I’ve had my “eye on the Sky” since I first saw the car. I’ve always thought Saturn had some great attributes as a brand. People I know have had great buying experiences, but the designs never got my blood pumping.
Where is the steller interior? I look at my car (G6) and compare it to other cars, my G6 is a $27,545 car… where is my nice interior. As soon as I saw the new pictures of the Aura, I immediatly went to check out the Toyota Camry, Accord, and Passat pics. Guess what, the Aura (while miles ahead of the L-series) still falls far behind. Its the little things that make someone proud to be an owner of a vehicle, like the fact that it does not rattle and shake over a bump. The center console has a nice flow to it, the inside door panels have a nice feel to them, no more cheap plastic, no more rat fur, no more pieces that fit awkardly, no more trim pieces from a Chevy in a Caddy. When do GM fans have to wait for these cars? There was hope for the Aura, then it comes out with interior like this? Do we GM fans have to wait another product cycle? Well, guess what, GM does not have that much cash to burn.
Good job with Saturn. Let’s now get Pontiac/Buick/GMC healthy, and give Chevy a makeover with the GMT-900 and -360 trucks, and a healthy dose of Zeta and Epsilion II. Cadillac looks to amaze in the next few years, and Saab and Hummer need some new product as well. The revamp that started in 2004 is well on its way, and looks like it is doing well. Keep it up.
PS: NICE INTERIOR WORK! You’re finally getting respectable interiors!
These concepts are great, but we are still waiting for the 2004 Buick Velite concept to be produced. When is that coming?
No Saab E100 PHEV? http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/03/saab_unveils_e1.html
I agree with the comments to dump the G# naming convention at Pontiac.
It seems like you guys are waking up to the fact that the way to beat the imports is not to try to build a better import, but to use your heritage and build AMERICAN cars (e.g. 300C). Bold rather than bland styling, efficient and powerful engines rather than just efficient torqueless OHC’s.
One thing that goes along with building upon your heritage is the names. People know and recognize Bonneville and Grand Prix. What the heck is a G5 or G6?
Quit trying to beat the imports at their game. Play YOUR game and play it well. The rest will take care of itself.
10b loss last year? 24 million a day loss? Cut your losses. Declare banruptcy, sell off your brands and let someone that can build a better product do so. Bring honor back to the names they bear.
Hopefully, when GM goes under, and there are suddenly 1 million people without health care (rather, an additional 1 million, to the other 20 million people already without it), the geniuses on the hill will quit thinking about thier own little bubble, and realize that the U.S. needs national healthcare. I can’t believe Cuba has us beat on healthcare..and we still have the nerve to call them ‘third-world’!
That’s half the reason why the vampiric unions haggle for that money, to have the members be able to afford healthcare, the goverment should provide it, or at least a majority of it.
On the other hand, I can also relate to why all the plants are shutting down, the unions are costing too much. If I had a business, you better believe I’d pay someone $3 an hour in Mexico to do the same job that would cost me $22 an hour in the states.
Nice little catch-22 isn’t it? It’s time to get our politicians to actually do something for once.
Tom and Bob,
Yes, the new PreVue concept is a cutting edge design, very sharp. But one thing looks a little wrong, that being the Saturn logo. Personally, one of my favorite logos is the Opel logo, just like the excitement for which the lightning bolt exults. Thus I believe that Saturn may want to consider changing their logo, probably to something more symetrical; because right now is probably the best time to do so with the new Sky roadster.
Love your concepts!
Now send all the bean counters (except Rick) on an extended vacation until they are in production.
That ought to set the matter straight and put GM on the right track.
I heard a lot about the Enclave, but hadn’t investigated it myself until you provided the link. Again I love the concept, but was disappointed with what appears to be the end result. Back to the drawing board on this one. Keep the original lines please.
Don’t mess up Aura like you messed up Enclave.
And keep Aero-X exactly as is. Torpedo the detractors!
Show a little moxy. Go what with what attracts attention and probably customers too. $$$$$$
I’d go with the ‘46 panel truck design. Throw in a fuel cell and cup holders and you got a deal. Yaba daba doo!
Here is a television commercial that will actually sell a vehicle, you need sales and revolutionary changes in your advertising:
The setting is an unstuffy corporate meeting room, filled with a boss and a group of about ten employees. Be creative with the casting, and don’t always make the woman the boss or the “smart one.” Employees should be in their 40’s and above. They should look like real people, not models.
Boss: Congratulations, you are the best and the brightest, the top performers in the company this year. As a reward, you will each get to choose from two great company vehicles this year. They are both about the same price.
- A curtain drops that was covering one of the walls to reveal a window. Outide the window are two vehicles. One is a Cadillac SRX, the other is a comparably priced small Mercedes sedan.
Employees: Ooh’s and ahs.
Boss: One of them is from Cadillac, and the other from Daimler Chrysler. One of them is very prestigious…
- the camera zooms in on the Mercedes’ peace-sign hood ornament. The hood ornament then becomes animated, enlarged to grotesquely large proportions with stars twinkling around it.
Boss:…and one of them is very luxurious.
- A camera angle is shown from the open roof, slowly panning all of the interior features.
Employee 1: My grandfather had a Chrysler…he used to enjoy working on it.
-Employee 1 begins with a smile, then has a puzzled look. A flashback is shown from 30 years ago with an ugly, beaten up Chrysler broken down on the side of the road, smoking with its hood up and an agitated man trying to fix it.
Employee 2: My grandfather had a Cadillac. (There is scattered snickering amongst the other employees because Cadillacs are associated with the elderly). He enjoyed DRIVING it. (The laughs end.)
-There is a flashback to 30 years ago with a happy man driving a stylish Cadillac.
Boss: Come, let’s take a closer look, shall we?
-The group goes out to where the vehicles are. Some of them are intially drawn to the Mercedes, and point at, admire, and caress the hood ornament. A few stragglers check out the SRX, and favorable exclamations are heard, sounding unscripted. More employees gravitate toward the SRX. A few die hards are still at the Mercedes. Comments from them also sound unscripted with weak praise, such as “classic,” “timeless,” “they don’t really need to update it,” and “that hood ornament is extremely prestigious.” The die hards are eventually drawn over to the SRX and have positive, unscripted sounding comments.
Boss: Alright people. It’s time to decide. Prestigious or luxurious? The Daimler Chrysler vehicle or the Cadillac SRX?
-The grotesquely animated large Mercedes hood ornament is shown again, along with the panning of the SRX interior from the open roof perspective.
Boss: Please stand next to the vehicle that you choose.
-In the next picture, the employees are shown sitting in every available seat inside the SRX happily fiddling with accoutrements, etc., with the additional people sitting on the hood.
Boss: Well, you’re not the best and the brightest for nothing!
THE END
Do not show any of the typical garbage on car ads at the end, which hypnotizes viewers to sleep, such as all of that white fine print lettering and a picture of the vehicle driving in the countryside.
This commercial will dramatically increase sales of this vehicle. Factors at work:
1. Never referring to the the Mercedes as a Mercedes, rather the “Daimler Chrysler” vehicle. This reduces the status of the Mercedes closer to the Chrysler level.
2. Addressing the elderly Cadillac owner image with humor, and thereby neutralizing it.
3. Making it seem ridiculous to buy a vehicle based upon the hood ornament.
4. Directly taking on a competitor, rather than being wimpy.
Please contact me by email if you are interested in other revolutionary, effective ideas.
I agree about advertising. I think most GM ads are very flashy and forgetible. The ads need to be more thought provoking and clever with a focus on features. There has been a lot of negative news about GM lately. Use the product names, but don’t use GM in the ads.
What is up with consoles in Impalas and Trailblazers NOT having P R N D 1 2 on the gear shift.
It is ridiculous and looks stupid. If Honda has it on the dash and console, then GM should be able to figure this out.
Fix it ASAP.
So the new Saturn concept is the PreVue, right? It’s alright but I recall seeing photos of it last year from the Frankfurt auto show. You know, when it was called the Opel Antara. I guess ‘Badge engineering’ is still a lifestyle at GM, just not between Chevy and Pontiac. Sad.
The G6 GXP concept looks great and GM should build it. It’s exactly the type of car Pontiac should be selling. And start putting color into the interiors of all Pontiac like you did with the GXP.
I think there are a few little changes that would make the GXP look even better. Blackout the headlights background like the GTO and put the red chrome around the center stack like the way wood trim was put on the center stack of this G6:
http://www.wooddashexperts.com/photos/catimages/PONTIAC%20G6%202005%20IN%20ENGLISH%20BURL.jpg
Also please put links to all of Pontiac’s concepts on Pontiac’s website. And put pictures of all the interior color trim kit in with the interior picture section of all Pontiac. You need to make consumer aware of all the option they can get. It would be good to talk about the accessories is Pontiac ads.http://www.wooddashexperts.com/photos/catimages/PONTIAC%20G6%202005%20IN%20ENGLISH%20BURL.jpg[/url]
A note about GM’s concept cars, and how they can stand up against the best: A few years back, at the San Francisco International Auto Show, I was standing (perhaps melting is a better word) in front of the amazing Cadillac Sixteen concept, and in the background was the Maybach display. There stood the pinnacles of German engineering, style, and along with them the $300K price to make sure everyone knew its place on the food chain, and the Cadillac simply put it on the trailer, no contest. Nobody would choose the Maybach over the Sixteen given the opportunity, and I bet a production version of the Cadillac would come standard with a hefty value advantage as well. I mean, talk about being out-classed in the class you aspire to own. That is what forward design will do. I’ve never been more proud of GM design than at that moment. This is how it should be, leading the way in all segments through superior design and engineering.
GM will bite the big one if products like the Camaro concept & SAAB don’t make production.