Interview with GM Design Chief w/n

Detroit News Article on Ed Welburn. Some very promising quotes. Seems to be the exact opposite philosophy than the one that produced Saturn Relay and Buick Terraza.

http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosinsider/0311/18/c01-328386.htm

"GM tries too hard to be a mainstream car company," said Peterson, "and they sell to the lowest common denominator buyer."

"It's important we have a clear understanding of the brands," Welburn said. "The leadership of design must believe in the understanding of the brands and strong brands differentiation."

In his own garage sits a yellow 1969 Chevy Camaro with black interior, a black SSR and his "everyday" ride -- a Cadillac Escalade SUV. But the man who dreamed of designing cars as a boy in Philly still dreams of owning a car he's coveted since the days before he could drive -- a 1963 Corvette Stingray split window coupe.

Unfortunately, we won't see any of his cars for another 3 years. It takes that long for new designs to work through the system.

Cars comming out next year (2005) are the 1st cars to be completely influenced by Bob Lutz's product philosophy, and he got to GM, what, over 2 years ago?

The Relay & Terraza designs were obviously on the books before he was able strip it down & redo it, unlike the Buick Regal.

It’s nice to see that GMs design chief that will be influencing the 5th gen owns a Camaro himself and sounds like a car enthusiast. That’s a good thing in my eyes.

:thumb:

Sounds like a man who knows good automovtive styling.