Inside the Interior Salon
By Dave Rand
Executive Director of Interior Design
In about a month, Chevrolet will unveil an all-new Malibu. I believe it will be unlike any Malibu you have ever seen, inside and out. My focus is the interior, not just in the Malibu, but within all GM products. GM is committed to producing interiors that rival the best from around the world. We have made a lot of progress in that area and have begun to deliver on a promise I made four short years ago.
Yesterday I, along with a team from GM Design who work on interiors, invited a mix of print media and bloggers to witness some of the passion, innovation, and craftsmanship going into the interiors of our newest vehicles.
We call these sessions the Interior Salon. It's a low-key way to preview what's coming up — in fabric swatches, leather colors, seating, key fobs, dashboard displays and paint colors. It also allows me, and other members of our design team, to share what inspires us in developing new designs — including fashion, technology and art. We are proud to share concrete evidence of what so many of us have poured our creative souls into. Models with the new design elements are already hitting the showrooms — such as the new Cadillacs (including the new CTS we'll be unveiling at the North American International Auto Show), the new Saturns, and the soon-to-be-launched Chevrolet Malibu.
We talked about three themes at the Interior Salon that describe our design approach at GM:
- Holistic — Using interior design to engage all of the senses, not just the eyes.
- Passion — Letting GM's interiors reflect the various passions of the individual designers (11 worldwide studios).
- Craftsmanship — Ensuring that the interiors reinforce our emphasis on detail and execution.
In my 29 years with GM, there has been no better time for a designer to impact, express their talents, and design the future of GM. We have the ear of a corporation that is intent on enabling the power of great design.
For another take on the Interior Salon, and a video interview with Michael Burton, director of design for the interior of the Enclave, take a look at FYI.
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Nice to see the emphasis on improved interiors, Bob. Hopefully the ‘08 Malibu will nail interior fit/finish issues the first year it’s out!
On a side note, I see Project Driveaway is being promoted at the LA Auto show. Hopefully GM will allow some “non-celebrities” to test drive these vehicles and offer useful feedback (This former GM engineer would be interested, but has no idea how to apply for consideration!).
I believe GM has made some great strides in designing and developing some attractive and aesthetically pleasing interiors that are unique and exciting.
However, my recent visit to an auto show has proved to be a bit disappointing, which it came to interior materials quality. The plastics, chrome, and other materials were of mixed quality. I had expected better.
I believe it is key to remember that though design aesthetics is very important, materials quality is also very important and can make or break an interior.
It’s the difference between dressing a model in a tailored Zegna suit or a suit from Wal-Mart. Though the model will be “aesthetically pleasing,” the model wearing the tailored Zegna suit will always be preferred.
Whatever you do, please keep tall people in mind. For me (6′6″), not enough legroom is a deal breaker. Often, it’s just an inch of unecessary plastics between the steering wheel and the center console (right below the steering wheel). Everytime I get into a vehicle like that I start ranting about short engineers and designers who have no idea what it’s like to have long legs.
There’s no doubt in my mind that any automaker could increase sales and have customers for life if they keep that crucial area of the car’s interior in mind during the design process!
I just caught a glimpse of the rear-side of the Acadia and am liking it more and more. TO be truthful, suv’s and cuv’s do little for me, but the Acadia is just very handsome and already has me day dreaming of riding down the boulevard in it.
Yes!!!!
I am so excited to hear about this!
Keep pushing the envelope guys! I really want you to wow us.
My favorite area of emphasis is:
1. Materials.
I really hope you guys run the gamut of materials on the interior.
What about natural materials like slate, soapstone, granite, bamboo, ipe, quartz, mesquite?
Then there are artificial materials like engineered stone, Corian and glass/lexan etc.
Just keep pushing the envelope!
In a few years, I would like to see brass and weathered copper trim in Cadillacs etc.
2. Interior lighting.
I really like what you did with the Saab Aero-X, a car I wish you would produce! (I love the shifter!!)
Interior lighting has the ability to change the entire mood of a vehicle at might and I hope you keep charging down that road full speed ahead.
Also, I love those massive skylights! Very good!
Don’t forget electrochromic widows!
3. Space innovation.
You guys keep on wringing every ounce of usable space out if the interior of cars!
You have a million miles to go, but space is very important.
What about under the back seats of cars?
Behind the center console?
Volvo showed us that the Center console can be inches think.
How about using the extra space?
Are your gloveboxes big enough?
Trunks?
Center storage?
4.Technology integration.
Dos technology overwhelm? Or enhance?
Is it properly integrated?
Go that extra mile and make things refined.
Cover the dash with fake leather if it can’t be real (in cheaper cars). Much better than hard plastic!
Experiment with colors.
Lastly, benchmark the BEST.
Don’t look at Audi to pattern your Cadillac interiors after.
Look at Aston Martin and Jaguar.
You aim for the best you will blow everybody else in your class out of the water.
Audi should be the patter for the Aveo.
You get what I’m saying?
Keep turning up the heat on your lower-level cars and just fly to the moon with Cadillac.
Welcome to the blog. I hope you listen like Ed Welburn and Bob Lutz do.
We’re rooting for you out here!
Innovate!!!Yes!!!!
I am so excited to hear about this!
Keep pushing the envelope guys! I really want you to wow us.
My favorite area of emphasis is:
1. Materials.
I really hope you guys run the gamut of materials on the interior.
What about natural materials like slate, soapstone, granite, bamboo, ipe, quartz, mesquite?
Then there are artificial materials like engineered stone, Corian and glass/lexan etc.
Just keep pushing the envelope!
In a few years, I would like to see brass and weathered copper trim in Cadillacs etc.
2. Interior lighting.
I really like what you did with the Saab Aero-X, a car I wish you would produce! (I love the shifter!!)
Interior lighting has the ability to change the entire mood of a vehicle at might and I hope you keep charging down that road full speed ahead.
Also, I love those massive skylights! Very good!
Don’t forget electrochromic widows!
3. Space innovation.
You guys keep on wringing every ounce of usable space otu if the interior of cars!
You have a million miles to go, but space is very important.
What about under the back seats of cars?
Behind the center console?
Volvo showed us that the Center console can be inches think.
How about using the extra space?
Are your gloveboxes big enough?
Trunks?
Center storage?
4.Technology integration.
Dos technology overwhelm? Or enhance?
Is it properly integrated?
Go that extra mile and make things refined.
Cover the dash with fake leather if it can’t be real (in cheaper cars). Much better than hard plastic!
Experiment with colors.
Lastly, benchmark the BEST.
Don’t look at Audi to pattern your Cadillac interiors after.
Look at Aston Martin and Jaguar.
You aim for the best you will blow everybody else in your class out of the water.
Audi should be the patter for the Aveo.
You get what I’m saying?
Keep turning up the heat on your lower-level cars and just fly to the moon with Cadillac.
Welcome to the blog. I hope you listen like Ed Welburn and Bob Lutz do.
We’re rooting for you out here!
Innovate!!
Hello Dave,
From what I saw of the new Malibu, the future is promising. But why is it taking so long ! The Malibu is not that old and yet it’s interior is a disgrace. The Aura is an improvement but still not up to par with Toyota/Honda, which is a shame because the rest of the car is, if not downright better. Worst, the reworked dash of the Saab 9-3 generates a disconcerting reflection directly in the driver’s line of vision. How could this happen ! Please tell me that somebody will be held responsible for this fiasco. And to think Saabs were a benchmark for interior designs before they were put through the GM mould of mediocrity. Sorry but this one is though to swallow. Just talk to your dealers about it.
Oh, ys.
I would like to echo the comment about tall people, Dave.
But what I really wanted to add to my comments, is that I hope you also take design elements from other areas of design: high-end electronics like Bang and Olufsen, Kitchen appliances (Sub-Zero; Viking) and other cutting-edge designs.
I do believe you can be warm and inviting without being cold, or techy for the sake of techy.
Lexus is a good idea of a company that cannot design interiors.
Nothing beats a milled/machined look to all fixtures, buttons and knobs.
Another problem I find is that many times, style is restricted to the center console and that’s it.
Style should follow from the front to the back and envelop the entire cabin without feeling disjointed or confining.
Lastly, at the FYI blog, I see them talk about seats.
Seats are very important style elements as well. Do not forget them
Keep it up. The pic of the Malibu looked nice and I hope the final product lives up to my first impressions. The Lamda SUVs look good as well. I can’t wait to see the new CTS.
I hope a redesign of the STS interior is in the works to make it more like the SRX and DTS.
GM is definitely making good progress on interiors, but I think there is still a good distance to go, given that competitors are also not standing still. Interior design is about DETAIL, and sometimes I feel like GM doesn’t have the same passion for detail as the japanese and germans.
Here are some detail areas i think GM could improve upon, esp compared to import competition (my pet peeves).
key fobs – should all be integrated, not dangling. push button start is also becoming std on toyotas, gm should think about that as well, NOW rather than in 3-4 years. i was suprised to see the escalade with a very low tech fob. a VW golf is better.
seats – many gm products, such as the h3 and the cadillacs, have seats that are much too thick, thus limiting rear passenger room. this is a major negative in terms of interior space
steering wheels – the overuse of a few steering wheels (e.g. new suvs) is a downer, especially since they are not that pleasing to look at our touch. i was suprised how thin and cheap the steering wheel of an escalade feels. steering wheels should be thicker to grip, and have bumps on the inside to improve the grippy feeling. look at Audi, BMW, Lexus LS460 or even MINI steering wheels. GM steering wheels are very uninspiring, they need to feel more expensive and solid, and have lower tolerances between pieces (e.g. airbag). pontiac sostice is another bad example. more can be learned from opel in this regard. a weak steering wheel often ruins the interior for me.
fonts – dashboard and IP fonts are pretty uninspiring. See Lexus, BMW, and Audi and get crisper, cleaner looking fonts and white lighting across more vehicles
leather – sometimes gm does strange things with leather colors. for example, the new cts long version for china has a different color middle armrest than the leather (beige), which looks very awkward. the leather should feel more integrated. the piece of wood on the SUVs in the middle armrest also looks very strange. the saab 9-3 also used to have this beige leather/grey middle armrest problem.
interiors are a question of taste and local preferences, but i think GM can do more to be a recognized leader in interior design. today AUDI is the benchmark, as is widely recognized. it’s all about MANIACAL attention to detail rather than a “good enough” or “better than in the past” attitude. Customers don’t care about what GM did in the past. They are looking at what competitor interiors feel like TODAY. Opel could be a source of ideas and benchmarking from within the GM group in terms of materials, design, quality, and attention to detail.
I think the next CTS could be a breakthrough – good luck GM – we want you to succeed!
Dave Rand said, “…fabric swatches, leather colors, seating, key fobs, dashboard displays and paint colors. It also allows me, and other members of our design team, to share what inspires us in developing new designs – including fashion, technology and art.
Mr Rand,
What we want are reliable autos that get excellent fuel mileage and are friendly to the environment, and you worry about “fabric swatches, leather colors, and key fobs.”
Dave Rand also said, In my 29 years with GM, there has been no better time for a designer to impact, express their talents, and design the future of GM.
Perhaps that is why in your 29 years with GM your company has gone from being the world-leader in autos to its current endangered status.
Believe me, an emphasis on fabric swatches and key fobs isn’t what will rescue your company.
I’d buy a simple Kubelwagen with a stamped metal dashboard and olive-drab canvas seats if I knew it would always start, would get about 50-60 mpg, and that I wouldn’t have to take back to the dealer for service every few weeks with electrical problems as I’ve done with some GM cars I’ve owned.
Regards,
Gary Dikkers
GM is definitely coming along, but I agree about the concerns above regarding execution. My partner gets a lot of GM company cars (as an employee) throughout the year, and currently he’s driving an ‘07 Escalade. Here’s a nice design, and one that “photographs well”, but as much as I like it (and I really do) it seems a step behind the interior leaders in terms of tactile response. The stitching around the leather steering wheel feels coarse. The center console is misassembled next to the driver’s seat (visible from the back seat), the tops of the doors are too plasticky (the padded leather on his previous H2 was much nicer), the “wood” insert on top of the center armrest looks wavy from the back seat, and some of the surfaces when flexed just don’t have the feel of solidity that the very best interiors do. Also, the seats don’t really feel like they envelope and embrace you, you just kind of sit on them.
So I’m saying keep up the progress, but don’t think you’ve reached equity with the best quite yet (some Euro brands pop to mind.) But you’ve definitely blown all of the other “domestics” and many of the Asian brands away with your latest efforts.
Hi Dave. GM’s interiors have improved more in the past five years than in the prior twenty. Kudos. But that’s faint priase.
Just a cursory look at the Chevy Cobalt’s interior reveals some issues. You clearly studied the Mk4 (circa 1998) VW Golf/Jetta for that one, and it was the correct car to benchmark in that segment. I know a Jetta driver who chose her car solely due to the approachability of the interior.
At a glance, Cobalt’s interior is about the same as the VW’s. You’ve improved the symmetry about the center console and added some trim bits for character. That’s a plus. But here’s the rub … you’re launching something resembling 1998’s world-class design … in 2004! You didn’t raise the bar. You’ve created a Cobalt interior that’s light-years better than the 95 J’s, but the competition’s moved on. So I believe the the critical issue regards execution. The ‘04 Cobalt’s interior execution TRAILS the ‘98 VW’s! While VW employed great soft-touch and low gloss materials on the IP, perhaps using paint, the Cobalt’s dash is hard plastic with excessive gloss and high gloss variance.
That single feature kills the car … literally, in my eyes, diminishes it from being an “American Jetta” to being an “updated Cavalier.” And that’s too bad. $20 spent on soft-touch paint for the Cobalt’s dash is a great investment if GM could have reduced rebates an average of $200. And that’s low-balling — note the premiums VW gets for its small cars … and it’s all about the interior.
In summary, the styling should lead, not follow. And the execution (especially materials) must equal or better the best-in-class (arguably VW/Audi). I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir … but the buck’s gotta stop somewhere.
Thanks for listening.
The Malibu’s gear shifter and cover looks out of place. I would expect real chrome to surround the shift gates, similiar to VW or Audi.
If the Saturn Aura is any indication to what is to come, the inside story at GM will be very good indeed. LIttle things mean a lot sometimes, and I’m particularly impressed with GM’s new “black tie” radios. Audio quality aside, the darn things look great and feel great. Well done.
From the “Spy” photos I have seen of the new Malibu it should sell better than the current one, but it will only increase sales marginally in California.
GM will pull the usual offer 4-cylinder models with rental car equipment and options and sales in California will increase modestly.
The next Malibu could be the best selling mid-size car in California (easily second best) if GM would only equip it with the right options. A smooth shifting 5-speed manual with proper hand brake on the center console should be available.
The new Malibu must offer Fog Lights, Alloy Wheels, 8-way power seat, 6-speed automatic, DVD navigation system and optional heated leather seats with 2 position memory on 4-cylinder models. Until GM wakes up to this fact they will never sell large numbers of mid-size cars in California.
These options must also be available on an E-85 capable 3500 V6 model as well as on a 300 HP 3.6L Direct Injected SS model. The 2008 VUE Twin mode hybrid system should be an option on the 2009 Malibu and GM should add E-85 capability to this hybrid along with “Plug In” capability.
Top line Malibu models must offer luxury features like retractable rear deck sun-shade, DVD entertainment, reclining rear seats with heated cushions and articulating headlights.
For a pleasant change build some of these models and put them on the dealer lots, I am tired of looking at inadequately equipped Silver GM mid-size cars on them.
But GM will not do any of these things but Honda, Nissan and Toyota will and control the same amount of the California market as they do now.
Never forget that no matter how nice the next Malibu is it has to be much better than the next Accord/Altima/Camry to gain market share in California.
GM has the styling and interior – it just needs to get ALL of the details right and as strange as it may sound GM can make the Malibu a best seller in its class in California in the next 3 years.
Yes the interiors are getting much better in all aspects. There are a few aspects that have baffeled me. One is the choice of seat and trim fabric. Some of this stuff is just plain hideous. The 2007 Equinox for example. I don’t understand how a designer can look at the 1000s of possible fabrics, look at a checker table cloth and say “This is the one!” Did a supplier pay you to take it off their hands? Please stay away from the strange geometric patterns (bubbles, checkers, diamonds) and keep it simple with some minor contrasts. The Torrent cloth is soooo much better. The other bet peeve is seats. Flat and narrow. Please put in more shape and better bolstering for comfort, support and appearance. Colours, I’m glad to see the move to more natural and rich colours such as the morrocan brown. Stay away from dull grey. I would like to see more piano black and stereo silver in the interiors. Take a look at infinity interiors. Thanks
I’m glad to hear that progress is being made, but I’m a bit skeptical as to how much will actually make it through to the production automobiles. Design teams are always passionate about the things that they do, and they will always chose the very best elements possible. However, as a finance guy I know that many times profit takes precedence over product in those decisions made at the margin involving an automobile. I’m unique as a finance guy because I’m all for spending a little more money if it will set the product apart, especially in an area that has been so roundly criticized (and deservedly so) for so many years. I hope that your designs and materials make it through the process to production, and if they do, GM will be much better for it. The Aura was touted as a major improvement in the interior, and from a design standpoint, it is. However, every single review that I have read in the major magazines still pans the interior due to the low-quality hard plastics and other materials used in the production automobile.
I do have one parting thought though: in what world does GM live in that 4 years can be considered a short period of time? That is nearly a full product cycle for the Japanese and German automakers, not counting mid-cycle refreshes. While design cannot be radically changed in a year, you certainly should have been able to upgrade the materials used in the production models in under 2 years. In my opinion, if 5 years is still considered an acceptable timeframe to address major flaws in vehicles at GM, then the turnaround effort will truly be in vain. I know that I certainly won’t wait 5 years to buy a new car once I’m ready, and I’m betting that the average American starts shopping 3-6 months before buying. That means that they’re reading all of those negative reviews today that won’t be addressed anytime soon. Changing the culture and thought process to focus on the consumer should be the most urgent turnaround project at GM. Redefine your definition of words such as “short”, “acceptable”, and “quality” to match the definitions of the buyers.
Well I haven’t made a habit of being a cheerleader on this blog, but here’s something a little positive.
Almost 2 years ago we replaced our 85 Suburban tow vehicle with a 2004 3500 crewcab. Yeah, we keep out Chevys quite a while. It had 430,000 hard miles on it.
The interior of the 3500, which has cloth seats and is far from the top of the line, is so much better than the old Suburban that it feels like stepping into a Cadillac.
We just replaced our 77 C10 with a 2006 Silverado 1500. It is an absolute stripper bottom of the line loss leader . The interior is so much better than the 77 that we can hardly stand it. There is more room in the cab, actually useable seat back tilt adjustment, a tilt wheel and adequate legroom! What a concept!
On the other hand, our 2000 S-10 – admitedly another bottom of the line stripper – is the most uncomfortable vehicle I have ever driven. Even so, it gets better mileage than any of our other vehicles, which is why we bought it, so it gets driven more than the rest of them put together. It’s discoed, so I guess it’s a dead issue, but it really is bad.
Anyway, congratulations on your progress.
The china only SLS is the best GM interior yet. Why does China get this model while the current STS has a boring plain-jane design? The current DTS has a better interior desing (and more features) than the STS so this needs to be addressed. Hopefully, GM has plans to upgrade the current interior to the Far East version which appears to be world class. As much as the STS costs, the cut and sewn dash should be standard in uplevel V-8 packages. Also, the XLR’s interior is very dated and needs to be updated ASAP. The SRX and SLS prove that you have what it takes to make true luxury style interiors so hopefully the US GM flagship (STS) can live up to its title in ‘08.
IN regards to the mainstream vehicles- why don’t the Epsilon cars feature rear seat armrests? This is a terrible oversight and hopefully the Malibu (’08 Aura/G6) will address this issue. Hopefully, the Malibu can deliver everything its hype promises and not miss key details as the Aura has. How about a larger DIC display for the Aura’s dash that includes more than one line of text? Why no optional navigation and/or dual zone climate control? Also, it needs a leather front center armrest when order with leather. You guys are making progress but we need these products to hit the bull’s eye straight from that gate.
Two things I would like to expand on:
1. Seats.
You guys have got to do better in this regard.
People have been complaining for years about lack of support and bolstering, yet we continue to have these wide, flat benches.
No good sir.
2. Luxury materials.
Are you guys really pushing the envelope? Or are you just shuffling colors and the same old materials round and round?
Here are some materials I hope you’ll consider:
–Obsidian
–Agate
–Polished quartz
–Slate
–Colored glass
All these things provide myriads of tactile and color options for surfaces (tiled and striped effects included).
Imagine if the center console was accented with such materials–as opposed to plastic and fake wood?
Imagine if the dials, knobs and buttons were solid-cut stone–or high-quality metal?
Lastly, you could do much better with the Escalade despite good sales.
This thing does not take the fight to the Range Rover in any way.
Places it can improve on the interior are:
1. Seats.
The Escalade seats do not look bespoke like they do on a Range Rover or Aston Martin.
They should.
2. Interior Packaging.
A live rear axle is limiting, but there could be a lot more room inside this vehicle than there is now.
Also, where is the mega-sunroof?
3. Cadillac style.
You guys outdid yourselves with the SLS. The Escalade needs to be even further upscale on the interior.
“Cut and Sew’ should have gone wild in there.
Behind the front seats, there is too much plastic.
The Escalade interior should flow and not mimic the Denali.
(Its dash should have been leather-wrapped already).
Where is the LED lighting?
Also, I would hope you used more exotic materials inside. Take it to the next level and avoid using so much plastic.
But I really want to re-emphasize the seats. Your Seats are all very chunky and blocky.
Could they have a point-of-view of some sort?
I love the V-motif you are using so far on Cadillac interiors, but you guys have got to step it up even more in terms of design.
I very much prefer the milled/machined look.
Keep at it, Dave–just remember to go beyond plastic.
Again, I hope you take lots of cues from style leaders like:
Grundig
Bang and Olufsen
Bowers and Wilkins
Rotel
Apple
Classe Audio and the like.
Thanks for listening.
I forgot in my previous post that I have one very serious suggestion for GM Interior Design, and that is to pursue an alliance with Apple on doing your center stacks, similar to how you work with Bose on speaker systems.
Just look at the current entertainment market and the huge success story of the decade is the Apple iPod. There is a lot of brand recognition and loyalty there.
So just imagine a GM center stack that features sleek styling by Apple (their industrial design is widely recognized as visionary), the Apple and iPod logos, and full iPod integration and networking. An exclusive contract with Apple to do these things would differentiate GM in a big way, and maybe help a lot in winning back the difficult west coast market (especially the youth market.) And possibly best of all, Apple is also an American company!
If you don’t do it, I have to wonder if someone else will!
Get rid of that horrible steering wheel on thte Aura.
How about fuctionality. try benchmarking Case and Catapiller.
Exposed steel inner unibody pannels save weight, bespeake strength,add real strength; and cut costs, tell the press it’s Neo-BouHous.
Gages shoud be legeble and official looking, like a Mittutoyo virnier gage. Knobs and buttons should be simple forms of solid hard bakealite like plastic similar to the controlls on 1940’s and 50’s Machinery.
Glue vynal to waxed cardbord for doorpannel centers dash tops and console surounds, cardbord is cheep, deadens noise and vibration and has that all important soft touch, people like so much: plus it worked in the 60’s and 70’s.
Rugged simplicity could attract all sorts of folks who would have not concitered a GM vehical since the 1979 Nova, people who used to buy Volvo’s for example.
Great comments on the Malibu Rick.
John is dead right about the seats.
The split bench in our newer trucks is miles better than the old bench in our former trucks, but your left leg still goes dead after about 100 miles.
More bolster is exactly what is needed. I carry a pillow in my S-10 to prop up my left leg. Before I figured that out, it damn near crippled me.
After seeing the press release pictures of the new Malibu interior, I am eager to see the real thing. I think it looks great while still appealing to the masses (unlike a current Honda Civic’s interior). However, I hope you are listening to the criticism’s of the Saturn Aura’s interior. Several of the interior parts used in the Aura seem to be also used in the upcoming Malibu’s interior. I have heard criticism of the armrests in particular and I’m concerned to see that the Aura’s armrests look similar to those in the Malibu. If you can improve on the materials quality in the few weak areas for the Aura, you’ll have an excellent product.
Marc E’s comment on 11/29 is right on the money. Regarding your choice of interior materials, “It’s the difference between dressing a model in a tailored Zegna suit or a suit from Wal-Mart. Though the model will be “aesthetically pleasing,” the model wearing the tailored Zegna suit will always be preferred”
Why must all GM’s buyers and engineers have a Wal-Mart mentality?. Don’t they care about the final product and whether and how their poor purchasing/engineering decisions impact sales?
GM Buyers and engineers need to be judged on vehicle sales. Poor sales and profit = no bonus and no raises. It can’t be all about cost reductions and buying from China. Where is the balance?
I agree with Mojojojo about the Malibu interior but the chrome-like strip on the dash worries me. It could produce the same disastrous reflection in the windshield as the stupid silver moulding around the new 9-3 dash. How such a basic mistake could occur in 2006 eludes me. The fact that it’s in a Saab just makes it grosser. It should be corrected immediately, without waiting for the 2008 edition. Looking forward to a response from Dave Rand on this.
Bob, I think its great what you are doing to GM. One minor issue i’ve noticed though is the lack of identity found on the engines themselves — what I mean is, the covers for them are pretty much generic and shared between different brands, in many cases. Don’t get me wrong, the engines and the compartments in general are much cleaner and better looking than many (especially Ford, for instance), but having some brand identity would go a long way in making each brand feel significant and independant.
Why not add a Saturn logo on the 3.6 V6 engines that end up in Saturns? Or a Chevy badge on the Vortec motors that go into Chevy trucks, or even the Pontiac shield on the 3900 in the G6. If nothing else, having a GM logo on the engine at least makes the customer feel like GM is proud to have their name on it.
Also, given that the other companies are riding off the hype of “DOHC” engines, and instead of continually being dogged for having pushrod engines, create some hype of your own about “OHV” motors, since they are the best in the industry and basically unique to GM at this point. On the engine cover, putting something like “Pontiac overhead-valve 3900″ would add equity to pushrod engines, given that the engine impresses the customer, as they begin to equate overhead-valves with impressive performance.
Seats: How can GMs very own Saab have such great seats but the rest of GM can’t? How does Volvo, Audi, BMW, Mercedes and the like have such comfortable and good looking seats. Looks + support, Its not difficult… just do it. You may need to exlcude the 400lb 5th percentile person.
The new C6 Corvette interior is just the PITS… AGAIN. Just have your designers look back at the 63-67 or even the 68-82 series that look like sports cars inside, instead of Ramblers. Smooth shiny plastic with NO theme is OUT. Even the new Malibu has a C2 dash in it… so did the last series Mustang. And DON’T WAIT till you bring out another generation of Corvette to do it !!!
Talk is cheap, and actions speaks louder than words. I will believe it when I see it; which translates to, “put your money where your mouth is.”
The interior shot is nice, but what will the rest of the car look like? That’s the main question.
I sincerely hope you can deliver on this vision. For the second time in a row, when I recently went looking for an American car to buy, I eventually chose foreign instead — specifically because the American products’ interiors are so unappealing. Emotionally, I wanted badly to buy the Corvette, but the boring interior just turned me off. The steering wheel looked like it belonged on a family-size SUV instead of a sports car. And, as another posting mentioned, the materials just looked cheap. I’d wish you good luck, but I think the American auto industry ran out of luck a long time ago; what’s needed now is vision and discipline to execute.
Cup holders, cup holders, cup holders. Apply directly to every interior. Get the point? Or should I continue with the Active-on example in marketing? They need to be a bit larger in diameter, with progessively diminishing diameter towards the bottom. Make sure they are deep enough and large enough to hold the morning coffee, as well as the 16oz McD/BK soft drinks.
This may seem trivial, but consider this; our next vehicle will be fit checked with a coffee cup, as well as screened for higher MPG ratings.
I have a suggestion for improving a feature in cars.
I think that the button that stops power windows from opening should only stop the rear windows from opening, but not the front passenger’s window.
For safety purposes, I hate it when my kids open their windows, so I usually drive with the window switch turned off. But this upsets my wife, who cannot open her window. Since kids have to seat in the rear seats, it seems like an anachronism to have a switch that turns all three passenger windows off instead of only the two rear windows.