http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/ Autoblog Comments for http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/
And not concepts, please. We already noted the "tremendous" (sarcasm intended) similarity between the Lacrosse concept and the end result.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/
]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/
A couple of years ago, soon after she was hired, she rounded up a bunch of GM executives to show them what needed to be done by having them examine the VW Golf and Jetta. That was probably a big shock to the long-entrenched execs, having their luxury cars' interior put to shame by one belonging to a car selling in the teens.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/I'd like to see GM skip the concept teasers because all that remains when the real thing is introduced is the name.

GM should just create an exciting, high volume car (probably a sedan) and stop the dumb foreplay already.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/
I agree.

]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/
For the usually cynical (when it comes to GM) general press giving so many of these designs some shining reviews, I'm eagerly anticipating a peek at them.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/
GM rules and does to many already!]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/
The Washington Post's article also tied in what they believed to be GM's biggest problem right now, a lack of "car guys" in design and engineering departments. Interesting.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/
GM wants good press. It should start finding good designers and allowing them to do more than to design circular tail lights on everything.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/
Cadillac's latest designs are definitely distinctive, like them or not. You're not going to mistake a CTS/STS/Escalade for anything else. Maybe you could mistake a QX45 for an Escalade if a contact slipped out on a hazy day, but I digress. Potentially polarizing design won big and Cadillac made an impressive turnaround. A similar route is being followed by the Magnum/300C.

Since most designs with "style" are polarizing and divisive, companies turn all the knobs way down on the mainstream (too far down in a lot of cases). "It should start finding good designers and allowing them to do more than to design circular tail lights on everything." For the mainstream products, there's no problem selling vanilla...vanilla sells in spades, everyone does it (Toyota, Honda, Ford). Toyota is all vanilla...not one ounce of "fun" in that company, but they sell plenty (they're the only Formula 1 engine manufacturer without a sports car). GM just has to build vanilla that is as good as the rest, but toss on some sprinkles to get some attention their way again. The bulk of the sales go to a bulk of the people, who are A to Bs.

While typing that up, I though up a few non-Corvette vehicles with lots of style : Solstice/Sky, Hummers, the Saab 9-3 (GM family, GM platform), then quite a few Opels/Vauxhalls that aren't sold in North America (though a few will be coming soon in new guises, like the Saturn Aura).]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/06/23/gms-future-plans-all-over-the-place/
To what "watered down" vehicle's are you referring? The SKY was unveiled as a production car -- not a concept -- and the spy pics of the AURA look just like the show car.

Even on a blog like this, you level of cynicism is amazing.]]>Dec 18th 2005 10:32PM