Launch Photos & Lessons to Be Learned: A ChevRev Rant

[ChevroletRevived]

After much inner-communitcation between several of the other staff memebers, we have ranted about a lot of things that bother us about the automotive industry. When this anger comes to a head, we sit down and write out our feelings. The following is an opinonated editorial about what some of us find rather disturbing about our passion. This opinion does not reflect the views of GMInsidenews or all of its staff...its just us letting off some steam so enjoy.


Launch Photos & Lessons to Be Learned: A ChevRev Rant

By ChevroletRevived
www.gminsidenews.com



Many times, members here on the forum have judged a new GM vehicle and completely dismissed it based on the press photos. Because of the failure of GM Photography, even some open minded buyers/members might be dissapointed. For instance, many pegged the Aura a failure at it's launch. And, from GM's press pictures, it didn't look too hot. In person/real photos? A total different story! I actually love the exterior of the Aura. The interior looks a lot more upscale and the car exudes elegance, all of which I didn't see in the pictures. Even though I didn't like what I saw (in the press shots), I told myself I wouldn't get a preconceived idea in my head before seeing the car. Take a look at a GM Press Shots of the STS's interior (at launch). They are horrible. In real life photos, the interior looks completely different. Yeah, it could use more detail and the plastic door panel tops screamed cheap. But, what I saw in person was a lot better, and that's the whole point. The car looked more upscale. Why? Two things: 1. The inability of GM's Photography to accurately capture the look of the car and 2. The choice of colors used. Out of 10 exterior STS photos on the Cadillac.com website, only 2 are of a black STS. Can you guess which 2 look the best? Silver is chosen by buyers because it's easy to keep clean. Silver does nothing for a car though, espessially a luxury vehicle. It doesn't exude elegance. It's boring; vanilla, the norm. But, yet 80% of the STS exterior photos within the easiest reach of buyers are in that color. Is that the image Cadillac should be conveying? GM: pick colors that compliment and flatter the vehicle; both inside and out. The grey color interior of the STS I tested is far more upscale looking then the tan displayed in every single STS interior picture on the Cadillac website. How about some blacks, greys, two tones? Let's get color, excitement and elegance back into the various lineups where they are appropriate. With pictures like that, people won't bother going to the dealer. Obviously, the STS in the pictures was not enough to sway a member of my family out of his BMW 5 series. At the dealer, it was a different story. He fell in love with the dark blue with grey/black interior STS V6 Luxury package over in the corner. Pictures = Failure. Real Life = Competitive. Good thing he went to the dealer and checked it out. But, with a lot of people, they don't give it that chance. And that is a big misstep on GM's part. It's no small thing, people will often shop online and compare first, before even checking a car out at the dealer. My message to GM: Do SOMETHING to change your Press Photography department. Real pictures taken by people with a lot lower quality cameras manage to make the cars look 100% better. When GM figures out how to properly capture it's cars, it will = more sales and better perceptions industry-wide. And My message to GMI's members? GM Photography is weak, realize that and don't overreact.

Thanks for reading!

ChevRev

[EldoFan]

Now how did I know something like this was coming??

Ahh well.......

[ChevroletRevived]

Originally Posted by EldoFan

Now how did I know something like this was coming??

Ahh well.......

Actually, this was written weeks ago..seemed fitting for the time though.

[EldoFan]

Yeah.........20 something pages of semi-negative stuff, based on one clip.......that seems a good enough reason to dust it off

[casket_demon]

Overreacting is the order of the day around this place.

[ByTheLake]

I'll agree that some of the initial 'sneak peak' pictures we've seen have been less than exciting. Looking back, however, I've not experienced any real changes of heart between initial press release pictures and seeing the actual vehicles in person. My initial impressions tend to remain intact.

Perhaps I'm expecting too much from GM's styling folks. I just sense no passion in the new Malibu's front styling. The twin-port grille lines don't visually connect with any other cues. The headlamps appear shapeless and lacking in detail. There are three different grille openings, each appearing as if it came from a different vehicle.

I don't consider myself a GM basher, not in the least. I want GM to succeed with each move it makes.

I won't, however, blindly give a "thumbs up" to every vehicle just because its a Chevy. Styling is subjective, and to me, the new Malibu nose is a bore.

[griswold44]

What I dislike about GM photos is that all of them are computer-generated and not an actual snapshot of the car.

[asim]

I agree ChevRev. GM photos are horrible. They really need to fire 90% of the department they have now. Major changes are needed in the photography department at GM if they truly want to be competitive.

[CobaltSScrazy]

GM photos are extremely underwhelming, the styling/design dept. at GM had HUGE expectations for me and they did not deliver, at least not in pictures. If you say this is world class and going to be the standard bearer with top notch styling, then you gotta deliver GM or else. I'd rather be surprised at how awesome something is above my expectations then time and again, be underwhelmed with the lofty expectations you put out there GM. Don't make them so high, if you aren't willing to invest the time, ---MONEY---, and design in a product! ERG!!!!!!!!

CobaltSScrazy

PS Lets hope the MCE's of the Cobalt and STS at least match the all new 08 CTS/Malibu and keep the cars near/at the top of their class.

[ChevyPV]

Originally Posted by ByTheLake

I'll agree that some of the initial 'sneak peak' pictures we've seen have been less than exciting. Looking back, however, I've not experienced any real changes of heart between initial press release pictures and seeing the actual vehicles in person. My initial impressions tend to remain intact.

Perhaps I'm expecting too much from GM's styling folks. I just sense no passion in the new Malibu's front styling. The twin-port grille lines don't visually connect with any other cues. The headlamps appear shapeless and lacking in detail. There are three different grille openings, each appearing as if it came from a different vehicle.

I don't consider myself a GM basher, not in the least. I want GM to succeed with each move it makes.

I won't, however, blindly give a "thumbs up" to every vehicle just because its a Chevy. Styling is subjective, and to me, the new Malibu nose is a bore.

I just dont understand this seniment, this is the same front end we have been seeing in spy shots of the malibu for oh, months upon months now....And when first seen everyone was citing the new malibu as an highclass GM saver, now they see the same nose, in a strangely shot PR photo, and they condemn the whole car and design.....idk...

[grumbles]

I'm pretty sure I could take better pictures of GM's cars than they can, and my photography experience is limited to say the least, although I do own a SLR.

I think this says a lot =/

Also I never judge a car by press shots - I hated the pictures of the 07 Camry but when I saw one in person my mind changed entirely, so much so that I ended up buying one

You guys aren't expecting too much. Your expectations are not overly high when you expect GM's press photos or preview shots to be better than the worst in the entire industry.

[powervette]

Amen ChevroletRevived!!!,every time Cadillac launches a new car I scream here 'firstly show it in black!'
Unfortunately noone listens,that's why I hope soemody from GM will read it.
I think that Sixteen concept wouldn't Be so successful if it had been shown in silver! Even the fabulous Cien and other Caddy concepts as Imaj are recalled less often,I think the main reason for that is that they all were silver.
It's not only a matter of my personal taste,I grew up among many rich people,all my father's friends,my uncles etc had luxury limousines,almost 70 % of theirs M-Bs and BMWs were black!
Now look at the pictures of my local Caddy dealership: no black XLR (which with chrome wheels looks simply stunning and cool ),no black SRX and a red Corvette with beige seats (color that doesn't go well with sports cars)
http://cadillac.autopol.com.pl/

[Mikkoo]

Originally Posted by ByTheLake

I'll agree that some of the initial 'sneak peak' pictures we've seen have been less than exciting. Looking back, however, I've not experienced any real changes of heart between initial press release pictures and seeing the actual vehicles in person. My initial impressions tend to remain intact.

Perhaps I'm expecting too much from GM's styling folks. I just sense no passion in the new Malibu's front styling. The twin-port grille lines don't visually connect with any other cues. The headlamps appear shapeless and lacking in detail. There are three different grille openings, each appearing as if it came from a different vehicle.

I don't consider myself a GM basher, not in the least. I want GM to succeed with each move it makes.

I won't, however, blindly give a "thumbs up" to every vehicle just because its a Chevy. Styling is subjective, and to me, the new Malibu nose is a bore.

Very well stated. I couldn't agree with you more. I'll add that when I saw the sneek peek of the upcoming completely redesigned CTS, I was very excited, and couldn't wait to see more. Where as the sneek peek of the Malibu left me completely cold.!

[Hunter]

I agree with him, except about grey. I hate grey.

[Xenon]

One thing I find is that the background also has an effect on the picture as a whole. Take this 335i picture for example:


Notice how amazing the background looks, and how it compliments, and highlights the lines of the cars?