General Motors is taking its lineup of new interior components on the road in a series of design salons put its designers — and their work — front and center. The design salon and these images highlight GM’s interior design improvements and experimental technologies planned for future vehicles.

The automaker is trying to show that it knows how to innovate, and that the first products in its long-term, design-driven revitalization are at last ready for prime time. These new products are the result of a corporate edict issued by Bob Lutz, the company’s vice-chairman for global product development. Lutz made design a primary importance, and increased its budget. Additionally, Lutz made interior and exterior design equally important, a first for the company, since interiors had been subordinate to body design.

Dave Rand, GM’s executive director of interior design, says, “We don’t have to keep making promises, we feel we have something we can show.”

General Motors showed the interior of the revamped 2008 Cadillac STS, which is the nearly identical to the one seen on the Chinese-market Cadillac SLS. The image clearly shows GM’s emphasis on interior quality. GM isn’t just focusing on vehicle interiors, with its designers working on future key fobs. The key fob is the “only component that walks away from the car” and it is a great branding opportunity. Future GM key fobs will take a page from jewelry and high-end watches that are meticulously weighted to feel luxurious and substantial in hand.

Gallery of GM’s other interior components after the jump.

## Source: BusinessWeek ##

Posted in: Cadillac, GM, Design, Etc
RSS 2.0 Feed | Comments | Permalink |  Email This Post