Autoblog

2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette wastes no time zooming into Jay Leno's Garage

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Celebrities, Design/Style, Luxury

Where else would you expect the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray to show up first? Although this time it isn't exactly in Jay Leno's Garage, Leno instead playing an away game at Brown's Classic Auto in Scottsdale, Arizona. Nor does Leno drive the car, instead taking an 11-minute walkaround of the new American sports car with General Motors design head Ed Welburn, the same man who recently brought by a string of classic Corvettes to the talk show host's California compound.

It is, admittedly, a love-fest for the American sports car now featuring 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, but one that also features admissions about previous Corvette seats like "they were kinda rough," and the explanation that labeling the coupe "Stingray" means not having to call it "the base Corvette." On top of that, Welburn also explains the proper application of the term "dashboard." You can watch it all in the video below.

Continue reading 2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette wastes no time zooming into Jay Leno's Garage

2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette wastes no time zooming into Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM's Ed Welburn brings vintage Corvettes by Jay Leno's Garage

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Videos, Chevrolet

There're still a couple more weeks until we get our first official look at the next generation of the Chevrolet Corvette with the all-new C7, but Ed Welburn, Vice President of General Motors Global Design, recently hung out with Jay Leno to show off a quartet of classic 'Vettes of historic importance. Corvette fans will definitely want to check out the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage.

Three of the four cars reside in the GM Heritage Center, and the fourth is owned by none other than GM president Dan Akerson who plans to auction off his mint 1958 Corvette at Barrett-Jackson next month to raise money for the Habitat for Humanity in Detroit. Leno also got to check out a fully restored 1953 Corvette, of which less than 1,000 were ever built, in addition to the highly desirable 1963 split-window. The true gem of this collection, though, is the 1959 Stingray racecar that was driven by Elvis Presley, heavily influenced the styling of the C3 'Vette (as well as the C7 according to Welburn), first use of the "Stingray" name on a Corvette and Leno referred to it as "the rarest, most valuable Corvette there is."

Check out the video posted after the jump to hear both guys talk about the iconic sports cars, which includes Welburn describing where the split-window design came from and listen to Leno start up the '59 Stingray.

Continue reading GM's Ed Welburn brings vintage Corvettes by Jay Leno's Garage

GM's Ed Welburn brings vintage Corvettes by Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-BMW styling boss Chris Bangle gets Lifetime Achievement from Eyes On Design [w/video]

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, BMW, Design/Style

Even to casual car enthusiasts, Chris Bangle needs no introduction. One of the most controversial designers of all time, the "Bangle Butt" redesign of the BMW 7 Series is still hotly debated even today. Introduced in 2002 during Bangle's tenure as chief designer at BMW, the E65 7 Series only began to develop Bangle's new design language for BMW, later dubbed "flame surfacing." Whether you love or hate his work - and there seems to be no middle ground - the man's influence is undeniable. Many manufacturers have since borrowed aspects of his designs for their own vehicles.

It's only fitting, then, that the 25th anniversary Eyes On Design car show should award Bangle its prestigious Lifetime Design Achievement Award. Held each summer at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House just outside Detroit in Grosse Pointe Shores, Eyes On Design is a real insiders club, in that only those designers who have won the Lifetime Design Achievement Award are eligible to vote.

While we knew Bangle would be receiving this award from his peers since November 2011, the actual ceremony was held this past weekend at the Detroit Yacht Club. Retired Ford designer Jack Telnack, General Motors design chief Ed Welburn, and Ford director of exterior design Joel Piaskowski were among those who spoke. Bangle joins a pretty famous crew of past award winners, including Italian design legends Giorgetto Giugiaro and the recently deceased Sergio Pininfarina, William "Willy" G. Davidson of Harley-Davidson, and former Chrysler and GM "car guy in chief" Bob Lutz.

Scroll down to watch video footage of the awards ceremony and read the full press release.

Continue reading Ex-BMW styling boss Chris Bangle gets Lifetime Achievement from Eyes On Design [w/video]

Ex-BMW styling boss Chris Bangle gets Lifetime Achievement from Eyes On Design [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM Design turns 85, help 'em celebrate by viewing this awesome gallery

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: GM, Event Alert, Design/Style

General Motors Design is 85 years old this month, and it has put together a photographic sampling of its history that would be understatement to label merely "rich." The division has been the home of Harley Earl, Charles Jordan, the Cadillac Madame X and its V16, the Turret Tops, the first concept car, an industrial design division working on projects like the Kitchen of Tomorrow, the 1951 Buick LeSabre, the Stingray, Mako Shark and Manta Ray Corvettes, and so much more.

Just 25 years ago, in fact, the same year that Stefan Roser was flogging the Ruf Yellowbird around the 'Ring, IndyCar legend A. J. Foyt was flogging the Oldsmobile - that's right, Oldsmobile - Aerotech concept car beyond 260 miles an hour and setting land speed records. One of the Aerotech's designers was Ed Welburn, who now leads GM's global design.

Scroll down for more on GM Design and a lengthy timeline detailing its major achievements. There's also information on GM's Eyes on Design event happening this weekend in Grosse Point Michigan, and of course, a large gallery of photos above.

Continue reading GM Design turns 85, help 'em celebrate by viewing this awesome gallery

GM Design turns 85, help 'em celebrate by viewing this awesome gallery originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ed Welburn finds a fan in President Obama

Pete Bigelow — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, GM, Misc. Auto Shows, Design/Style

You know your job is going well when the President of the United States takes the time to mention your success. That's what happened to Ed Welburn, vice president of global design for General Motors, who was tasked with giving President Obama a tour of GM's latest offerings last month during the Washington Auto Show.

As they sat together in the front seats of a 2013 Chevy Malibu, Obama, among other matters, delivered a short assessment of all that transpired in the auto industry since the federal government bailed it out three years ago. And as they ended their tour, Obama mentioned that "the design of GM cars has gotten so much better in the past few years."

More than any person, Welburn is responsible for that improvement. Today, our sister site AOL Autos profiles the 40-year General Motors employee for a feature celebrating Black History Month. The profile focuses on his early fascination with the automotive industry, his role in helping it withstand its recent tumult and his status as the highest-ranking African American in the domestic auto market.

As for Obama's other thoughts on the rest of GM's offerings? Among the seven company models in D.C., Welburn reports the president was captivated by one in particular.

"He immediately wanted to get in the Corvette," he said.

Ed Welburn finds a fan in President Obama originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy won't build Malibu coupe

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Chevrolet, GM

A new report says General Motors has decided against producing a coupe version of the forthcoming 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. We don't know how far into the development process a two-door Malibu made it, but renderings of the car were shown to journalists last week. When queried, however, GM design chief Ed Welburn told Inside Line, "A Malibu coupe could be a pretty nice car, but it is not in the plan right now."

GM introduced the new Malibu at the 2011 New York Auto Show, and has said it intends the car to be a truly global product sold in 100 countries. Shorter and wider than the old model, the new Malibu's proportions would have certainly lent themselves to a two-door - and we'd be lying if we said it wouldn't warm our hearts to see a "Chevelle" badge on the decklid.

Alas, the coupe market isn't what it once was, and Chevy clearly has other plans for positioning the car. A 38-mile-per-gallon Eco model was also announced at the New York introduction, taking advantage of GM's eAssist mild hybrid system currently used in the Buick line to improve the Malibu's fuel economy by five mpg compared to the 2012 model.

All standard 2013 Malibu's will be powered by a new 190-horsepower, 2.5-liter, direct injection four-cylinder. This may have influenced the decision against a coupe, which would have demanded a sportier engine. Also likely playing into Chevy's thinking is an increasingly crowded brand lineup. With new nameplates like the Sonic and Spark joining the one-year-old Cruze and Volt, Chevy sales and marketing has quite a lot on its plate already.

Chevy won't build Malibu coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ed Welburn's Top 10 Chevy designs of all-time

Aaron Richardson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Chevrolet, GM, Design/Style

1912 Chevrolet Classic Six - Click above to see the rest of Ed Welburn's Top 10 Designs

Ed Welburn is the current head of design at General Motors, which means he has the tall task of pointing the company into the future without abandoning timeless designs by names like Harley Earl. As an exercise in getting in touch with his roots, Welburn has worked up a list of the top 10 Chevrolet designs of all time.

The list is populated with all the probable starters from Chevy's century-long past. From the 1912 Classic Six, the first car to carry the Chevrolet name, to the 1936 Suburban and the 2011 Camaro, Welburn gives his impression of the importance of each design.

Welburn has been surrounded by cars his entire life, from his youth in his father's body shop in Philadelphia to taking the helm at Chevrolet's design department in 2003. Welburn has worked for General Motors since he graduated from Howard University in the early 1970s, so he his connection with Chevrolet designs, ahem, runs deep.

Feel free to click through the gallery below, which includes Welburn's commentary on each iconic design. Alternatively, you can find it all in one place in the press release after the break.

Gallery: Ed Welburn's top 10 Chevrolet designs of all time

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading Ed Welburn's Top 10 Chevy designs of all-time

Ed Welburn's Top 10 Chevy designs of all-time originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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General Motors withdraws $14.4B federal loan request

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, GM

Earlier today, General Motors announced that it is withdrawing its request for $14.4 billion in direct loans from the Department of Energy's (DOE) $25-billion program aimed at retooling factories for the production of fuel-efficient vehicles. GM's chief financial officer Chris Liddel, outlined the automaker's choice to cancel its loan request, stating:

This decision is based on our confidence in GM's overall progress and strong, global business performance. Withdrawing our DOE loan application is consistent with our goal to carry minimal debt on our balance sheet.

Speaking at the DC Auto Show, GM's Ed Welburn said, "This decision will not affect the strong investment we are making in new technologies and design."

For the past several months, The General had debated canceling its request for DOE loans, which the automaker first submitted in late 2008. The DOE has been having a tough time distributing the loans in a timely manner anyway, so last week GM's board of directors approved the decision to withdraw the application. However, GM's ongoing commitment to develop and produce fuel-efficient automobiles can be seen in vehicles like the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt and the 40-plus miles per gallon Cruze Eco.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading General Motors withdraws $14.4B federal loan request

General Motors withdraws $14.4B federal loan request originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM's Ed Welburn finally drives Oldsmobile Aerotech record-breaker he designed

Dan Roth — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:39:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., GM, Design/Style

Of all the people longing to drive the Oldsmobile Aerotech back in the 1980s, you'd expect that the cars designer would have taken it for a few spins. Despite having his first sketch for the project turn in to the record-setting aerodynamic research vehicle, Ed Welburn's closest contact with the Aerotech was during long wind tunnel sessions.

Having risen through the ranks during his nearly-40 year career at General Motors, Welburn is now oversees GM's worldwide design staff, and his memory was recently jogged by seeing photos of the Aerotech posted in a design studio. Being the chief has its privileges, so Welburn's desire to drive his creation turned into a trip to the Milford proving grounds, where a 1992 version of the Aerotech was waiting.

A Chevrolet Corvette set the pace at a sedate 60-something miles per hour, despite the Aerotech's V8 sourced from the Oldsmobile Aurora. While he may have only just gotten to drive the Aerotech, the car has had a significant effect on Welburn since he first penned it. The aerodynamic attention to detail he learned on the Aerotech has informed all his work since then. The Chevrolet Volt owes a lot to the Aerotech, because Welburn had the patience and discipline to work out the design for better airflow, as well as bring engineering and design together for a harmonious relationship, another seldom-seen skill among car designers. While the Oldsmobile brand has been shuttered, the Aerotech stands as a significant achievement, and the various speed and endurance records the car set have yet to be broken.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Karrmann via CC 2.0]

GM's Ed Welburn finally drives Oldsmobile Aerotech record-breaker he designed originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Next Chevrolet Corvette to resurrect iconic split-window

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Design/Style

It worked for the Chevrolet Camaro, so why not the Corvette? General Motors' head of global design, Ed Welburn, has reportedly told Inside Line that the C7 'Vette is going to lift the most notorious design cue from the entire line: the split rear window from the 1963 coupe. It will not, however, be the car from Transformers 2, and it will not be mid-engined.

Unlike the Camaro, the C7 doesn't need to make a splash or a styling statement beyond being the new Corvette. On one hand, we can understand that GM wants to make a statement - but why go back to the Sixties to get it? Although we dig it in the 1963 car, the split-window was a gimmick then and it would be a gimmick now, which makes it a bit of an odd move for us. America's sports car already has its adherents, and the C5 and C6 have done well for themselves with original (if evolutionary) designs. On the other hand, if Chevy can make the car hot enough - and a rear-camera helps alleviate visibility concerns) - probably we won't care what kind of glass it has. If a funky rear window treatment can work for Lamborghini's Reventón, there's no reason it can't work for the C7... right?

Gallery: Chicago 2009: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept

[Source: Inside Line | Image: mashleymorgan via CC 2.0]

REPORT: Next Chevrolet Corvette to resurrect iconic split-window originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac XTS looks like Sixteen Concept, ATS aims at 3 Series with RWD

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Cadillac, Luxury

Cadillac Sixteen Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

This morning at the media preview hosted by General Motors in its design dome, VP of Design Ed Welburn showed off full-size styling bucks of the next two models from Cadillac. Rounding out the lineup for GM's luxury brand will be the XTS and ATS. The ATS is a smaller car than the CTS and will take direct aim at the heart of the 3-Series. The model shown was a two-door coupe with a roof-line closer in shape to the CTS sedan rather than the extreme fastback profile of the CTS coupe. The overall design is an evolution of the current CTS with headlights that stretch back across the top of the fender line. Although no one would confirm the platform underneath, they did say it would be rear- and all-wheel drive, just like a 3. Earlier in the morning, new Cadillac general manager Bryan Nesbitt said the next generation CTS is already under development and would be new from the ground up. It seems reasonable to assume that it is being developed to allow for a shorter version for the ATS.

The XTS, on the other hand, is huge and carries a lot of the design first seen on the celebrated Sixteen concept (seen above and in high-res gallery below), which means it's stunning in person. Given that a V16 is out of the question, the hood is obviously much shorter than the concept's. The flanks have more curvature than the current DTS and a character line with an undercut lies just below the belt-line.

Welburn declined to give specific timing except to say that both cars were coming soon. We already know that DTS is ending production soon to make way for the Volt at the Detroit Hamtramck plant. There was also no indication of powertrains, although the ATS is likely to be powered by four- and six-cylinder engines. The XTS may use the next generation small block V8 that debuts next year.

Gallery: Cadillac Sixteen Concept

Cadillac XTS looks like Sixteen Concept, ATS aims at 3 Series with RWD originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Upcoming Buick CUV may get 2-Mode hybrid powertrain [w/VIDEO]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Crossover, Buick, GM, Rumormill

Click above to watch the video after the jump

For all those weeping and gnashing their teeth over the loss of the 2-Mode Hybrid Saturn Vue, a ray of hope may be on the horizon from a seemingly unlikely source. According to a posting on GM-Volt.com, there's a possibility that an upcoming sub-Enclave crossover from Buick could be granted access to the sophisticated hybrid technology that GM had initially intended for the latest Saturn Vue.

The world may have gotten a sneak peek at the new Buick 'ute on a recent CBS News piece that featured an interview with GM design head Ed Welburn. As the rumors go, the new CUV will share the same platform as the soon-to-be-departing Saturn Vue, so it theoretically shouldn't be too difficult to port the technology over to Buick for a 2011 model year release. Of course, there still remains the possibility that the 2-Mode could also make an appearance in the latest Chevrolet Equinox or Cadillac SRX. Either way, you can check out the CBS News footage after the jump or read more about the possibility of a Buick 2-Mode at the link below.

[Sources: GM-Volt.com, CBS News]

Continue reading REPORT: Upcoming Buick CUV may get 2-Mode hybrid powertrain [w/VIDEO]

REPORT: Upcoming Buick CUV may get 2-Mode hybrid powertrain [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ed Welburn defends GM design from HuffPo attack

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, GM, Opinion/Editorial

So what do you do if you happen to be Global Vice President of General Motors Design and a blogger calls your company out for lacking a modern sense of design? Well, if your name happens to be Ed Welburn, you respond with an open letter of your own.

After Huffington Post writer Gerald Sindell wrote an open letter to new GM CEO Fritz Henderson suggesting that a new design direction should be Job 1 for the reinvention of GM, Welburn felt compelled to respond. As you might imagine, the response is a rather passionate one. So what did Welburn have to say to Sindell? You can read the rest of the story after the jump.

[Sources: GM Fastlane and Huffington Post]

Continue reading Ed Welburn defends GM design from HuffPo attack

Ed Welburn defends GM design from HuffPo attack originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Welburn teases NAIAS-bound production Chevy Beat on Today Show

Chris Paukert — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM

This morning's Today Show on NBC featured General Motors' design chief Ed Welburn talking with host Matt Lauer live from General Motors' Warren Tech Center. Welburn previewing the Detroit Auto Show's coming attractions, including the new Buick LaCrosse and the Chevrolet Camaro. Most newsworthy, however, was the designer's willingness to pull back the sheet - albeit partially - on what looks to be a production-bound version of 2007's Chevrolet Beat concept. Welburn promised that the car would be unveiled at the show in Cobo, leading us to speculate that the Beat may come to the States after all. Check out the Beat concept's high-res gallery below, and video footage from the show after the jump.

Gallery: New York Auto Show: 2007 Chevy Beat Concept

[Source: MSNBC]

Continue reading VIDEO: Welburn teases NAIAS-bound production Chevy Beat on Today Show

VIDEO: Welburn teases NAIAS-bound production Chevy Beat on Today Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Ed Welburn says Camaro interior to be better than concept's

John Neff — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:34:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

Click above for more high-spy shots of the production 2009 Chevy Camaro

During an interview at the recent Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, GM VP of Global Design Ed Welburn claims the the production 2009 Chevy Camaro will feature an interior that's even better than the one featured in the Camaro concept. The interviewer gets Welburn talking about the interior by mentioning the gamut of spy shots taken that show the interior of a Camaro mule. Welburn claims those interiors are just thrown together with tape and gauges and don't represent the production interior at all. Well, we've all the seen the interior spy shots, and they show a dash design that looks much farther along than what Welburn suggests. The latest interior spy shots show a dash, center console, gauges and steering wheel that all appear to be unique elements destined for the production Camaro, not items pilfered from the corporate parts bin just to get the car running. Unfortunately, whether or not the spy shots do reveal the production interior can't be answered until we see the final product at a future auto show, but Mr. Welburn seems to claim that the 2009 Chevy Camaro will still be packing a surprise or two when it finally does arrive.

Check out both interviews given by Ed Welburn at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance after the jump.

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Camaro - spy shots

Gallery: Chevy Camaro Concept

[Source: Jacksonville.com]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ed Welburn says Camaro interior to be better than concept's

VIDEO: Ed Welburn says Camaro interior to be better than concept's originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept proves 2 doors is better than 4

Alex Nunez — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:48:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Cadillac, GM

UPDATE: Click here to watch video of live reveal!

click above for more high-res live shots of the Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept

The grand finale of GM's Cadillac press conference was the moment everyone had been waiting for. After a brief introduction from Bob Lutz, who ziplined in from his secret lair in the RenCen, the hotly anticipated Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept rolled onstage, with design head Ed Welburn riding 'gun. The Coupe blends the CTS sedan's face with a new, wedge-shaped 2-door body that finishes off with what Ed described as a "hint of Cadillac fin" in the arrangement of the taillamps. The concept's rear had a single central exhaust outlet whose shape is a nod to the chevrons used to dress up the current CTS interior. Speaking of the interior, the CTS was dressed in black with maize-colored sueded accents and contrast stitching. In another departure from the sedan, the 2-door CTS has sportier, deeper seats. Welburn was intentionally vague abour powertrains, saying it could be powered by a number of existing ones (i.e. the ones in the CTS sedan) as well as a diesel. The car, according to him, was born out of the extra efforts of his design team, who penned the Coupe for fun after the sedan was finished and never stopped refining it. It got to a point where the a concept was approved, and though no mention of a production version was made, this looks like a sure thing in our opinion. Video of the live reveal is available after the jump, as well as Cadillac's official press release.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept - Live Reveal

Gallery: Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept proves 2 doors is better than 4

Detroit 2008: Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept proves 2 doors is better than 4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ed Welburn is giving out hugs, if you're a Camaro

Alex Nunez — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Chevrolet, GM

Last week, we told you about Bob Lutz's Fastlane Blog post in which he stated that the production Camaro is as awesome as the concept. If you clicked through to read it in its entirety, you'll recall that one of the Aussie anecdotes that Maximum Bob recounted involved GM Design honcho Ed Welburn going up to the camo-clad Camaro prototype and hugging it. Well, as Lutz stated, someone in the group had a camera with them and captured the moment for posterity. Today, Fastlane posted it online, and if we're not mistaken, this is the first official shot of the production Camaro, camouflaged or otherwise. We'd prefer otherwise, of course, but we'll take what we can get, so camo it is. If you stare at the pattern long enough, we think it turns into a Calvin-style sticker of Bob Lutz whizzing on the Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang.

[Source: GM Fastlane Blog]

Ed Welburn is giving out hugs, if you're a Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Auto Show: A conversation with Ed Welburn

Alex Nunez — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, GM

Yesterday, we sat down for a few minutes with Ed Welburn, GM's Vice President, Global Design, to get his thoughts on the current design direction at GM. He's overseeing a wholesale change in the General's approach to vehicular design inside and out, and for the first time in years, people -- journalists and regular folks alike -- are pointing at General Motors' new cars and trucks not to deride them for how they look, mind you, but as examples of how to do it right.

Cars like the Saturn Aura, the upcoming Saturn Vue, the upcoming Malibu, the Camaro, and the GMT900 family of trucks and SUVS demonstrate that General Motors has thrown its old approach out and is playing the game on an entirely different level. The man leading the way is Ed Welburn, whose team of talented designers has produced a string of highly compelling vehicles that GM hopes will lead them through a product-based turnaround.

We asked Ed to share the story of his first contact with General Motors with us, and then we spoke at length about the current state of design at the automaker. The anecdote Ed shared with us is below, and you'll find the remainder of the interview after the jump.

Ed Welburn - GM Vice President, Global Design
North American International Auto Show
January 7, 2007

Autoblog: I remember an interview you did with Tavis Smiley a while back where you recounted the story about when you were 11 years old and you sent a letter to GM. Can you share that with our readers? It's a good story and I think our readers would be interested in hearing it.

Ed Welburn: You know, my interest in automobile design and cars goes back to early childhood -- age 2½, 3. I was drawing cars. Very primitive cars, but I was drawing, that's what I drew. By age 11 I'd decided that car design is what I wanted. I wrote General Motors at age 11, told them I wanted to be a car designer, and that I wanted to know what kind of courses to take in school, what kind of schools I should go to, and they sent me great information -- I mean terrific information. I just really followed their lead and today when young people write me asking about careers in design I do the same. I make sure they get great information about schools of design and how to pursue a career.

Continue reading Detroit Auto Show: A conversation with Ed Welburn

Detroit Auto Show: A conversation with Ed Welburn originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM designer sketches "future" Chaparral

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports

Yesterday we showed you videos of the continuation 2E Chaparrals being built and raced by James Musser and the gang. The Chaparral racecars were so groundbreaking and awe-inspiring that a whole slew of automotive designers and engineers were drawn to the field after laying eyes on them for the first time.

GM Design Director Ed Welburn is one of them. As this Winding Road piece tells us, Welburn is a huge fan of these Jim Hall racers from the1960s. While helping with that continuation car story, Welburn mentioned to the WR team that he wasn't the only Chaparral fan on the GM design staff either. He said that several others could frequently be found sketching what they thought modern Chaparrals might look like.

Click through to Winding Road to see what Jose Gonzalez dreamed up in the form of a full size version of the teaser pic at right. His creation emulates the earlier 2C rather than a 2E, and it is oh so sexy. You'll also see another design featured in this month's magazine and WR promises a third in the near future. So click over and check it out. For anybody who remembers these Texas chargers fondly, or who just appreciates wonderful racing design they are a must see.

[Source: Winding Road]

GM designer sketches "future" Chaparral originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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