GM creates design studio to work on future electric vehicles
More Volt news: yesterday was the teaser pic, today is news that GM has devoted an entire design studio to work solely on The Next Big Thing. On October 1, forty-five interior and exterior designers moved into an abandoned auditorium at the GM Tech Center in Warren, MI and have what sounds like a pretty complete studio operation, from workstations to clay modelers.
Bob Boniface, the design team director, cited the necessary speed of development for the creation of the studio. Once the team sorts out the car's powertrain, they'll work on applying it to other compact models in GM's fleet (hybrid Beat, anyone?). Boniface also said, "For this car to have popular appeal, and for buyers to embrace the new technology, it must look good." An interesting statement only because the Prius doesn't look good and we know how it has sold. However, we for one will be happy to see a clean-sheet hybrid with some good looks to boot.
We're also glad to see -- at least, by the looks of it -- GM devoting the time and resources to getting this car done, and done right. GM has to know how chickens will be needed in order to lay all the eggs its face will be covered with if the Volt isn't delivered as promised and pretty close to on time. It's not exactly a fair standard, but this isn't exactly the usual car, and after all the big talk it took to get here, GM goods to deliver. And it look like they're doing it.
[Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE
NEW GM STUDIO TO DESIGN NEXT GENERATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES
* E-Flex vehicles take shape in sustainable studio
Warren, MI – General Motors (GM) announces the opening of a new studio dedicated to the company's next generation of electrically-driven vehicles. The newly renovated studio is located within GM's Advanced Design Center, which was responsible for the Chevrolet Volt concept revealed at the 2007 North American International Auto Show last January.
GM's new E-Flex Systems Design Studio will develop a variety of vehicles using the E-flex propulsion system, starting with the production version of the Chevrolet Volt. It is the only studio on the planet specifically designated to designing a wide variety of electric plug-in vehicles with a range extender.
"As soon as the project kicked off, I knew we needed a dedicated team focused on the development of E-Flex based vehicles and that team needed its own creative space," said Ed Welburn, Vice President, Global Design. "To accelerate the programme, we needed the right mix of designers and engineers from the original show car team and people with experience from the production side."
Bob Boniface, design director for the E-flex Systems Design Studio and the Chevrolet Volt, will lead the team of approximately 45 creative designers, sculptors, design engineers, scientists and administrative staff. He was the lead for the exterior design of the Chevrolet Volt concept. According to Boniface, this historical programme offers a new set of challenges and opportunities.
"We handpicked a team of both young and experienced designers who are enthusiastic, eager and believe in the cause as I do," said Boniface. "They want to find a better way, a solution to our dependency on petroleum, and that's what this car is about."
The Chevrolet Volt, GM's electric plug-in vehicle, will be the first vehicle designed in the new studio. The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in electric vehicle that will run up to 40 miles without ever using a drop of gasoline which according to government data, would be enough to handle approximately two-thirds of daily commutes for American drivers. The first vehicle in GM's "E-Flex" family, the Volt will be powered by an electric motor, which draws its energy from on-board batteries. The batteries, in turn, will be re-charged by a small internal combustion engine that will run on gas, diesel or ethanol. When not in use, the batteries will be re-charged by simply plugging the Volt into an electric outlet.
The studio renovation began last June within the existing GM Advanced Design Center. What's now the new E-flex studio was once an auditorium built for product reviews and other special events hosting famous entertainers and even several former U.S. presidents. The new studio is an adaptive reuse of the existing facility with steps taken toward environmental sustainability with such installations as sustainable carpet, energy efficient, compact fluorescent lighting; repurposed surfaces, energy efficient window shades to control heating and cooling, rugs made of 100% wool, natural materials, Cradle to Cradle certified furniture that's recyclable or can be safely composted.
"There's a lot of history in this building," said Boniface, "and I feel we're making our own history by designing a whole new generation of vehicles that don't require gasoline."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
VP 11:07AM (12/11/2007)
Maybe atleast now all those who say this project is a Bob Lutz pipedream will shutup. Or on second thought..........i know they won't.
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nissanfreak87 11:18AM (12/11/2007)
haters are gonna hate, same as with the GT-R
Syco 11:28AM (12/11/2007)
No they won't. If GM built a car that could run on water and fly, they would still find something to bitch about.
Shadyman 11:48AM (12/11/2007)
Yep. Looks like fireblade (see below) has found something to whine about already.
zamafir 12:26PM (12/11/2007)
I think those who doubt GM, as a result of the EV1 project and the fuel cell sled pipe dream, will shut up when the car hits show rooms at the price GM has promised.
Per the design, it's nice, I always wondered what the SAAB grill would look like with a bow tie. it should sell once it hits market, not having to worry about the prius 'look at me im odd' effect.
sw 12:45PM (12/11/2007)
Until this car is at the dealer lot, ready to be purchased, it is vaporware. The technology is very exciting but manufacturers (not just GM) have been promising the moon but not really delivering.
AlexP 1:09PM (12/11/2007)
Get the definition of vaporware right, fool.
Duke Nukem Forever is vaporware, this is not.
Dad 3:31PM (12/11/2007)
GM haters are too committed to their prejudice to ever shut up. If they did, who would we make fun of ;-)
geo.stewart 11:23AM (12/11/2007)
An interesting statement only because the Prius doesn't look good and we know how it has sold.
Are you implying that any and everyone wanting a hybrid doesnt care if the vehicle looks like a crapbasket?
I would love a hybrid or pure electric that 1) makes economic sense or close to it and 2) looks appealing.
1 becomes more feasible as technology evolves and gas prices rise because of men securing their manhood with an Expedition or Escalade and soccer moms with their 2 kids and a suburban because they wont be caught dead in a minivan or station wagon. (To be fair, that's not hte only reason)
2 becomes feasible as car guys get involved in hybrid car design, which cant happen at Toyota because there are no car guys there with any power. Go GM
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porschedevotee 4:24PM (12/11/2007)
If you read the sentence before, I think he means that with some more hybrid/electric choices available, buyers can be more discriminating. The real deal-makers or -breakers then become the looks, as opposed to when the Prius first hit the market on a grand scale. Granted, there are now a (very) few competitors from Honda and others, but the Prius still represents the green car movement to many people, possibly because it's only offered as a hybrid instead of as a modified version of a standard vehicle. It's not pretty, but if you want everyone to know you have a hybrid, you buy one. If the Volt comes to market looking better than the Prius and offering similar or better technology and fuel consumption, a lot of people who would have bought a Prius will probably reconsider.
fireblade 11:38AM (12/11/2007)
looks like a ugly malibu with unreliable gm components.
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EnviroBob 12:12PM (12/11/2007)
Would those be the same unreliable components GM uses in Buicks? You know, Buick, the brand that sits at #1, tied with Lexus, in the JD Power Long Term Reliability Survey?
psarhjinian 1:10PM (12/11/2007)
The Buicks that are up there in terms of long-term durability are the W-Body based Regal and Century (and, by inference, the Lacross/Allure). These would also be Buick's bulk sellers, which is why they post such a dramatic difference in reliability from, say, Chevy. Buick sells way more W-Bodies as a percentage of the brand than Pontiac or Chevy, and thusly doesn't have the other models dragging the ratings down. The W is essentially offsetting the Terrazza, PA/Lucerne, Rendezvous and Ranier (it's too early to call the Enclave).
Thusfar, the W platform is the only GM architecture that can match Toyota (or at least, Toyota when they've got their game face on). You can see this in the consistently excellent ratings that the Impala, GP (post-Oshawa) and Regal/Century/Allure.
Those ratings are not shared by any other GM model (well, ok, the Vibe), or any other domestic excepting the Ford Fusion. They have some average models, but the standout at GM is the W.
The Volt is not going to be W-platform car, nor will it be built at the award-winning Oshawa plant. Do not make the mistake of inferring a brand based on a model (or the inverse, inferring the reliability of a model based on the brand, as many people accuse Toyota of benefiting from).
VP 1:34PM (12/11/2007)
@sarjinhan,
There is no need to accuse. The proof is in the pudding. Toyota DOES benefit from "inferring the reliability of a model based on the brand". Isn't that why until yesterday CR blindly placed their seal of approval on every toyota no matter what.
David S. 12:11PM (12/11/2007)
"GM has to know how chickens will be needed in order to lay all the eggs its face will be covered with if the Volt isn't delivered as promised..."
"GM goods to deliver."
Holy grammar check, Batman! I'm not one to nitpick blog posts but I had a hard time reading this one. Leave it in the oven for another couple minutes next time, J.R.
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Will 12:23PM (12/11/2007)
Lets hope they come to the market asap
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oby 12:28PM (12/11/2007)
http://generalwatch.com/editorials/editorial.cfm?EdID=227
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big L 6:51PM (12/11/2007)
the ol' GM will probably buy Tesla...
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misha 12:38PM (12/11/2007)
the headlight shape screams "04 and up Acura TL" though the design inside the headlight looks even better.
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AlexP 1:11PM (12/11/2007)
You're talking as if Honda invented this. The thing is, it's not the case.