GM Design Goes Worldwide

[nadepalma]

Not sure if this is a repost or not -- sorry if it is!!

SOURCE: http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto...75.A11597.html

GM Design Goes Worldwide
It’s a challenge to 11 studios: make it work, people.
by Joseph Szczesny (2006-12-18)



General Motors is encouraging designers from eleven studios around the world to share ideas and to collaborate on building the company's brands.

"The market is so direct and so competitive that brands have to very distinctive," noted Ed Welburn, GM vice president of global design. Increasing the collaboration also means that GM can pick up on new trends faster and respond more quickly, Welburn said.

The cross-fertilization is already strengthening brands such as Buick, which is now benefiting from ideas from GM design studios inShanghai and Warren. GM now sells more Buicks in China than it does in the United States, but one of the reasons Chinese customers like Buicks is because of their distinctive American design, noted Welburn. The GM design studios in China and the U.S. have developed a close working relationship because of their collaboration on Buick projects.

GM's design studios in South Korea are responsible for developing small cars and crossover vehicles for the Chevrolet brand. GM, however, is promoting Chevrolet as a global brand so studios are contributing to the development of the Chevrolet brand and its preferred cues, such as round taillamps, Welburn said.

"I think people are looking for creative expression. They're looking for creative executions of design," he said. "The regional differences are very important to me," Welburn added. "But you have to have team that can work together and learn from each other," he added.

Meanwhile, the GM studio in Brazil has shown a real knack for developing affordable vehicles, he noted. The lessons learned in Brazil, which has been given a large role in developing the next generation of GM small trucks, are being passed on to other GM studios in other parts of the globe.

Welburn said GM plans to show off several concept vehicles developed in global studios during the North American International Auto Show, which will illustrate the impact of the global collaboration that is emerging as one of the hallmarks of the company's design efforts. Vehicles such as the sleek, retro Holden Efijy, the Chevrolet T2X, and the Chevrolet WTCC, which have been heavily influenced by studios in Asia, and the Opel Antara, will be on display.

MORE HERE

[bryce miller]

i think that its good that everyone is getting involved with world products

[Perian]

Tune in tomorrow when GM will offer a sneak peak of the gas cap from the new Chevy Impala!

Don't miss it!

Is it me, or is this publicity show getting tired?

.

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by Perian

Tune in tomorrow when GM will offer a sneak peak of the gas cap from the new Chevy Impala!

Don't miss it!

Is it me, or is this publicity show getting tired?

.

Hahahah, a gas cap! And then the day after, the right corner of the redesigned Pontiac G5's rear taillamps! LOL

It's kinda getting tired yeah, but more than that, I don't want to be teased forever. I just wanna see what's coming, you know?

[gulfsolar]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

Not sure if this is a repost or not -- sorry if it is!!

SOURCE: http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto...75.A11597.html

GM Design Goes Worldwide
It’s a challenge to 11 studios: make it work, people.
by Joseph Szczesny (2006-12-18)



General Motors is encouraging designers from eleven studios around the world to share ideas and to collaborate on building the company's brands.

"The market is so direct and so competitive that brands have to very distinctive," noted Ed Welburn, GM vice president of global design. Increasing the collaboration also means that GM can pick up on new trends faster and respond more quickly, Welburn said.

The cross-fertilization is already strengthening brands such as Buick, which is now benefiting from ideas from GM design studios inShanghai and Warren. GM now sells more Buicks in China than it does in the United States, but one of the reasons Chinese customers like Buicks is because of their distinctive American design, noted Welburn. The GM design studios in China and the U.S. have developed a close working relationship because of their collaboration on Buick projects.

GM's design studios in South Korea are responsible for developing small cars and crossover vehicles for the Chevrolet brand. GM, however, is promoting Chevrolet as a global brand so studios are contributing to the development of the Chevrolet brand and its preferred cues, such as round taillamps, Welburn said.

"I think people are looking for creative expression. They're looking for creative executions of design," he said. "The regional differences are very important to me," Welburn added. "But you have to have team that can work together and learn from each other," he added.

Meanwhile, the GM studio in Brazil has shown a real knack for developing affordable vehicles, he noted. The lessons learned in Brazil, which has been given a large role in developing the next generation of GM small trucks, are being passed on to other GM studios in other parts of the globe.

Welburn said GM plans to show off several concept vehicles developed in global studios during the North American International Auto Show, which will illustrate the impact of the global collaboration that is emerging as one of the hallmarks of the company's design efforts. Vehicles such as the sleek, retro Holden Efijy, the Chevrolet T2X, and the Chevrolet WTCC, which have been heavily influenced by studios in Asia, and the Opel Antara, will be on display.

MORE HERE

The General has to do some thing to jump start there styling it's from hunger. S.O.S. just won't sell. They need fresh ideas to keep going. This years new stuff has only minor sheet metal tweaks.

[Hitman1970]

I would rather have a real bit of information to talk about than another "Doesn't the current version of (place name here) really blow" thread. Bring on the sneak peaks and tidbits GM!

[gulfsolar]

Originally Posted by Perian

Tune in tomorrow when GM will offer a sneak peak of the gas cap from the new Chevy Impala!

Don't miss it!

Is it me, or is this publicity show getting tired?

.

How about a seek peak at some great new styling old eddie boy just doesn't pack the gear.

[stevecmh]

well its about time

[DemonKnightDK]

I wanna see some pontiac concepts (with real names... Grand Prix, Firebird, Tempest (to replace G5 or G6 I dont care) ect.)

[flashisflamable]

good to see attention to the small things. those happen to be the things i hate about my old 98. the lights don't always work, the pull out tray with the cigarette lighter falls out all the time, its a push button gas cap, and it flies open all the time. like i said, the small things.

[Ming]

I love the Effigy exterior, but there's no way that center armrest console or the speedo would ever make it through the GM beancounter gauntlet.

I am excited about seeing the new inexpensive (hope) trucks from Brazil with E-85 capable and fuel efficient small displacement engines!

[goatgary]

Originally Posted by Perian

Tune in tomorrow when GM will offer a sneak peak of the gas cap from the new Chevy Impala!

Don't miss it!

Is it me, or is this publicity show getting tired?

.

Glimses of 2 cars in 2 days and you are tired of the "publicity show?"
Guess you couldn't deal with the whole NAIAS publicity show could you?

Shame, shame on you GM for trying to build some interest in new products.

Geeeeeeeeeeeez

[tgagneguam]

Now, get the manufacturing side of the business to think along the same lines, making it a truly global, flexible beast, and you'll have on unstoppable force.

[Media!]

Disapointed with the Malibu and very pleased with this.


Now it was to be expected that the 60 minutes show car would be toned down and they didn't tone it down much at all, just a few chrome spots missing.


While I can only see a limited amount I say this is stunning from a design perspective, the malibu is a disaster but this is stunning. The proportions the lines, they demand attention.

When design you have to pay close attention to where you eye is drawn to and they nailed it with the CTS. Too bad the malibu is a mess.

[PocoToro]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

Now, get the manufacturing side of the business to think along the same lines, making it a truly global, flexible beast, and you'll have on unstoppable force.

This is what they are working on, I only hope they are working fast enough.

If they were to make the Holden in that picture in a hard top retractable convertible and I could afford it, I would drop my SSR with out a thought