Making Design the Priority; Once Again

[desmo9]

Originally Posted by PontiacBixler

Doesn't Lutz look like he's describing a bar fight he was in back in 1954?

No. He used to be a proctologist ... just showing his old moves in that photo.

[goblue1999]

Originally Posted by rdj92807

You have to wonder, at HOW could any set of car designers could come up with that ugly, ugly front end on the Malibu. A child of 5 with crayons could do a better job.

Over the years, GM just really comes up with some losers. Like the Caprices in the mid-1990s, etc.

I just don't get how these designs get approval.........

You must be kidding, that Caprice was named the Motor Trend Car of the Year in the early 90s.

2006 Honda Civic
2005 Chrysler 300
2004 Toyota Prius
2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe / Sedan
2002 Ford Thunderbird
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
2000 Lincoln LS
1999 Chrysler 300M
1998 Chevrolet Corvette
1997 Chevrolet Malibu
1996 Dodge Caravan
1995 Chrysler Cirrus
1994 Ford Mustang
1993 Ford Probe GT
1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan
1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ
1990 Lincoln Town Car
1989 Ford Thunderbird SC
1988 Pontiac Grand Prix

[uboys]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

This would be the perfect reason why no company should place too much emphasis on having a "character leader" like Lutz. Besides, if he is the leader that he's drummed up to be, he would have been simultaneously grooming several replacements while he tended to the task of fixing GM's design studios. Management seems to work best when it has several layers of talent, not just one man that's charged with turning around a near $200 billion corporation.

Hey, one is better than none. Maybe it will catch on. Think about where Gm would be without Lutz (shudder).

[MNdudeswitz]

Great write up! I can't wait for the new Malibu!

[norway12]

"Odd, most people thought the new 06 style front end was a big improvement over the 04-05 versions. Now the 07 Camry, that has a really horrible looking front end. Can you say Miss Piggy meets melted bars of chocolate!"

Should have specified. I meant the late '90's-early '00's Malibu, not the non-facelifted version of the current model.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by uboys

Hey, one is better than none...

I suppose, but if there's gonna be longterm hope for this Company, unfortunately GM's gonna have to realize that "good enough" is not good enough; in terms of management, lots of talent several layers deep is the order of the day.

[KingElvis]

This notion that Detroit can save itself with flashy 'retro' styling and V8 engines strikes me as the world's most ironic argument.

Going back to the 1950's and '60's that era we now idolize, there was an ongoing critique against Detroit's emphasis on horsepower and flashy trim. The VW Beetle was marketed entirely on the notion that they didn't change it just for the sake of change. Volvo ads had a similar theme. If you read the auto magazines, you find bitter complaints that supercars had massive size and power, but you couldn't even recline the seat back on any of them, while most imports had the feature. Even by 1970 Detroit was promising that the annual styling change would be a thing of the past and that there would be pious emphasis on engineering improvements rather than styling.

Back in the '70's when GM had well over 45% market share, the littany from commentators was that Detroit had to change its ways, it had to become more flexible. On the top end it needed more cars like Mercedes and on the bottom more like the Japanese. Now with 25% share, GM is advised to act like it's 1966.

Now that Detroit is totally on the ropes and gas is $3 a gallon, what 'concept cars' does Detroit offer to show us the future?

Flashy V8 supercars.

The irony is overwhelming. It's like to respond to the critics about the dearth of good ideas from Detroit, it answers with the same ol' thing it offered 40 years ago. Bizarre.

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by goblue1999

You must be kidding, that Caprice was named the Motor Trend Car of the Year in the early 90s.

2006 Honda Civic
2005 Chrysler 300
2004 Toyota Prius
2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe / Sedan
2002 Ford Thunderbird
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
2000 Lincoln LS
1999 Chrysler 300M
1998 Chevrolet Corvette
1997 Chevrolet Malibu
1996 Dodge Caravan
1995 Chrysler Cirrus
1994 Ford Mustang
1993 Ford Probe GT
1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan
1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ
1990 Lincoln Town Car
1989 Ford Thunderbird SC
1988 Pontiac Grand Prix

I had forgotten that the Malibu was car of the year ten years ago.

[parakleets]

The Malibu's styling looks best on the Maxxx version, especially in the SS trim level. I even liked the Maxxx, with the former chrome moustache look. I don't think that comparisons of the Malibu to Camry/Accord are fair. Malibu is more in line with smallish mid-sizers, such as Ford Fusion, Mazda6, and Nissan Altima. In this class, I don't think that the Malibu comes close, not in horsepower or styling (inside or out). As for Camry/Accord, the Chevy Impala is GM's best answer. I think it competes favorably with both, in the large-ish mid sizer class. I will admit to being a sucker for the new Camry's interior, especially the cool looking, illuminated center stack (radio, HVAC control area).

[Ty_99]

More then anything Lutz has put an emphasis back on styling and product to redirected the view of the company, something GM needed, but lacked that one person to make it happen. The direction GM is taking there styling is awesome, and more great things are expected. I my view, outside Detriot, there hasn't been too many concept that make you go wow. It is just a matter of doing it right and bring it to production right.
The SSR was a great example of a great concept that everyone wanted, that didn't make it to production right. (too small of an engine, and no manual) where as the solstice is a great example of how to do it right. Just got to keep coming out with more like that. I believe the future is looking bright

[Ty_99]

I believe Lutz has help GM recapture the Passion to make Great Products, now it is just a matter of keeping that passion, and rededicate themselves to making the Worlds Best Automobiles once again. We All know they have the ability and talent, they just have to make it happen.

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by boblutzfan

I had forgotten that the Malibu was car of the year ten years ago.

Don't forget that until recently, Motor Trend used to award separate Car of the Year awards for domestic and imports. It's possible that the domestic competition was less strong in 1997 when the Malibu won the award.

[2648562]

It's a good article, but when I look at the Malibu (especially the one you pictured with its parts bin add-ons), the Impala (with its bland copy cat styling and dollar store interior), the new Aura (probably the biggest let down ever styling wise), the 900 SUVs (with their low American parts content and resemblence to the badly styled, laughable early '90s Blazer), the Pontiac G4 or 5 thing (maybe the worst rebadge in GM's history), and the slew of once great but neglected cars and trucks they have, I really have to wonder if they aren't moving backwards in a big ******* way.

[camaro_freak]

all I can say is ABOUT FREAKIN' TIME

way to go Bob!

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

Don't forget that until recently, Motor Trend used to award separate Car of the Year awards for domestic and imports. It's possible that the domestic competition was less strong in 1997 when the Malibu won the award.

Yeah - I did forget that. Still - can you imagine the current Malibu winning anything?