Detroit's lackluster design era coming to a close

[nadepalma]

SOURCE: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...12180301/1148/

Detroit's lackluster design era coming to a close

Watching the new Bond movie, Casino Royale, as a car guy, the surprise treat is not the Aston Martin DBS - though that exotic machine is certainly beguiling.

What caught my eye was the 2007 Ford Mondeo that Bond drives early in the film. Putting aside the fact that Casino Royale takes product placement - by Ford - to an absurd level, there's no question that for a family car, the new European market Mondeo is a stunner. The car is far better looking than the slightly gawky Fusion sedan that Ford evidently feels is suitable for American tastes.

To add insult to injury, though the Fusion is above U.S. average in the handling department, I'm fairly sure it would be left in the dust by the latest Mondeo, if past experience of European versus American Fords is a guide.

The point is that attention-grabbing vehicle design, inside and out, not to mention top notch handling, is still the missing element in the U.S. recovery plan being executed at Ford, at least as far as today's model line-up is concerned. That same observation is true, but with several important exceptions, at General Motors.

The good news, however, is that after several false starts in recent years - think Ford Five Hundred or Chevrolet Malibu - the coming wave of new products from Ford and General Motors is finally - finally - ready to break the mold and inject some visual excitement into U.S. brand showrooms.

Last week, both GM and Ford lifted their skirts for the media and revealed some, but not all, of their new products out to the 2010 model year. The events were off the record, so there can be no detailed discussion here. Suffice it to say that in Ford's case, it's obvious that the Lincoln brand has a much brighter future, from a design viewpoint at least, and certain Ford models are in line for much needed facelifts. On the record, Ford says that 70 percent of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models will be new or significantly upgraded by volume by the end of 2008, and 100 percent will be new or upgraded by the end of 2010.

From the cross-town team, it's not breaking any confidences to say that the backgrounder revealed persuasive new designs from Saturn, Chevrolet and, intriguingly, a Buick production car capable of raising one's pulse for the first time in years. Saturn has gone public already with the news that it is bringing over from Europe the sharp looking, sweet handling Opel Astra compact in late 2007. One could observe that such a move is long overdue, although there have been legitimate obstacles in the past (and the dollar's weakness remains a problem). Nonetheless, GM has done it, which naturally begs the question whether Ford will follow suit. Overall, the GM effort hinges on what vice chairman and product development chief Bob Lutz refers to as "a bone-deep commitment to product excellence, beginning with beautiful, compelling design."

One of the best near-term examples of compelling design is surely the new generation 2008 Cadillac CTS, shown to media some months ago and making its public debut at the Detroit show. It's no exaggeration to say the new CTS could put Detroit luxury car design on the world map for the first time in many years.


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[osv_alero]

And it will be only by design that Detroit can win back the heart of the American public.

[camaro_freak]

proves again that if you have great looking product, you'll have great sales...

GM quality is at or better than Toyota so now it is time to do what will make domestics stand out in the crowd... the sheetmetal and interior

[69Firebird400]

I am so psyched to see the 2008 CTS next month. As much hype as this car has gotten, I really hope it turns out to be a stunner.

And I agree with osv_alero. Design will be the differentiator between Detroit and Japan/Korea/Europe. There is an awesome heritage/nostalgia to draw from, and if done right, with quality and performance thrown into the mix, it can really help the Big Three pull away from the pack.

[GMFreak8]

hat caught my eye was the 2007 Ford Mondeo that Bond drives early in the film. Putting aside the fact that Casino Royale takes product placement - by Ford - to an absurd level, there's no question that for a family car, the new European market Mondeo is a stunner. The car is far better looking than the slightly gawky Fusion sedan that Ford evidently feels is suitable for American tastes.

Is he crazy? I just looked at the Ford Mondeo website, and it looks really bland compared to the Fusion. The Fusion is a hell of a lot better looking IMHO.

[stevecmh]

i sure hope it is.. it is about time

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by GMFreak8

Is he crazy? I just looked at the Ford Mondeo website, and it looks really bland compared to the Fusion. The Fusion is a hell of a lot better looking IMHO.

I really like the Mondeo and how it looks. I think it's a nice looking vehicle overall and feel that it would make a great Mercury if they decided to bring it over here to supplant the Milan (as some have speculated in the press and otherwise).

But your comments on the Fusion are spot on, IMHO. I think that the Fusion has to be one of the more unique looking cars on the market today. I really like it. Ford didn't do a bad job of puttint the car together. Is it for everyone? No, not at all -- if you wanted a FoMoCo product and were looking for something more upscale, the Milan would probably fit the bill a bit better.

But is the Fusion gawkish? I personally don't think so but I guess some folks do.

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by osv_alero

And it will be only by design that Detroit can win back the heart of the American public.

Exactly. The one thing that American car manufacturers have in this country -- and arguably the Japanese lack -- is heritage and nostalgia. Yeah, there was the Mazda Cosmos and the Toyota 2000 GT and the Nissan 240Z -- but not every mainstream American knows about all these cars. Hell most don't even know the 350Z shares it's heritage with the 240Z. We would because we're car-guys, but the average American could care less or hardly notice if the next Supra shares some styling elements with the original Toyota 2000 GT or not.

On the other hand, say "GTO" or "Mustang" or "Bel Air" or "Chevelle", etc. and you could probably see a few folks recant a story or two about "when I was a kid, my older brother had a Chevelle and boy..." etc.

They need to tap into that and combine it with great design. If they can -- then they just might have something that even the media/journalists can't take away from them.

[ponchoman49]

Originally Posted by GMFreak8

Is he crazy? I just looked at the Ford Mondeo website, and it looks really bland compared to the Fusion. The Fusion is a hell of a lot better looking IMHO.

My thoughts exactly. There is nothing wrong with the Fusions styling at all. I just don't get how cars with boring slab sides, no trim, same old dull boring grey/ charcoal/tan interiors, very little way of telling what your even looking at without seeing the front end grille or moniker on the trunk makes a car visually exciting. I guess the modern generation measures how exciting a car is by how many gadgets it features, nameplates that are current fads(hello Toyota) and the all important Asian endorsement from Car & Driver or Motor Trend. Other than a few new cars like the Mustang and Camaro/Corvette and a handful of exotics or high priced lux models, there has been nothing introduced in the past 10 years that has even remotely looked exciting. And when asking people why they purchaced a new car, styling was seldom ever the reason for the purchase. So it goes without saying that you have to take these modern day writers styling arguments with a grain of salt.

[CrunkedRL]

Well I'm anxious to see what the new Malibu will look like. I guess it was finally time for GM to "put out" or face another "shout out" by their foreign competition. Proof positive that some change is good. Yes Ford has confirmed that all of their products would by changed by 2010. But a model change to me is pointless if it doesn't evoke the same type of passion and individual identity as some other cars and car companies have. They could really use someone like Bob Lutz over there.

[Hoosier Red]

But seriously, James Bond driving a Ford?

[uboys]

One of the best near-term examples of compelling design is surely the new generation 2008 Cadillac CTS, shown to media some months ago and making its public debut at the Detroit show. It's no exaggeration to say the new CTS could put Detroit luxury car design on the world map for the first time in many years.

If it were from anyone else but the Detroit media, I would believe it wholeheartedly.
I want it to be true so badly.
I hope it is.

Originally Posted by Hoosier Red

But seriously, James Bond driving a Ford?

Better than the Toyotas he almost drove.
Thank God some people exist, who can still say no to money!

Originally Posted by GMFreak8

Is he crazy? I just looked at the Ford Mondeo website, and it looks really bland compared to the Fusion. The Fusion is a hell of a lot better looking IMHO.

The new Ford Mondeo? Nuh-uh!

[GMFreak8]

Originally Posted by uboys

The new Ford Mondeo? Nuh-uh!

Uh yeah....

[tgagneguam]

...a Buick production car capable of raising one's pulse for the first time in years.

Yes, I am intrigued, mostly because the LaCrosse and Lucerne clearly are not vehicles that make the heart race like many previous Buicks still do to this day (e.g., 1955 Buick Century Two Door Convertible, 1966 Buick Riviera GS, 1960 Buick Invicta, and on and on). Lots and lots of inspiration on which Welburn et al. could base a 21st Century Buick design renaissance. After all, Cadillac's own renaissance came about when GM recalled that many of the great Cadillac designs of the past were based on designs prevalent in the aerospace industry. Returning to that past resulted in the fantastic A&S design of today.

...Saturn has gone public already with the news that it is bringing over from Europe the sharp looking, sweet handling Opel Astra compact in late 2007. One could observe that such a move is long overdue, although there have been legitimate obstacles in the past (and the dollar's weakness remains a problem)...

No, GM, no. Part of the point of developing flexible manufacturing and using shared components on global platforms is so that you can build just about any car anywhere in the world. Just because Saturn wants the Astra does not mean that it needs to-or should-be built in Belgium. You should be able to build it in Europe for Europeans, China for Asian consumption, and the US for the North American market. Think outside of the box, folks.

One of the best near-term examples of compelling design is surely the new generation 2008 Cadillac CTS, shown to media some months ago and making its public debut at the Detroit show. It's no exaggeration to say the new CTS could put Detroit luxury car design on the world map for the first time in many years.

I am absolutely beside myself with anticipation for this particular car. I hope it lives up to all its hype.

[Ming]

The car is far better looking than the slightly gawky Fusion sedan that Ford evidently feels is suitable for American tastes.

Its really quite stunning that Ford in Detroit could actually think that it has a grasp of "what Americans want" while its market share keeps shrinking.

There actually must still be some white-hairs (and not the Bob Lutz kind) in management who think that "Americans don't want that Euro styling", when Americans are going out and buying European and Japanese-styled cars like never before.

I liked the Fusion when I saw it at the auto show. But the novelty is already wearing off. The styling is....gimmicky, not tasteful and sleek.