| General Motors is serious about improving its once dull | | | | luster. |
| car interiors. For inspiration, engineers and designers | | | | GM has also isolated its twelve interior design studios |
| of the automaker came to town to join the fashion | | | | around the world from the rest of the company's |
| week where they will wine and dine with designers | | | | operations to provide the designers with all the |
| and models and meet up with members of New | | | | freedom and silence that they need. GM officials |
| York City's fashion press. | | | | would like for their designers to work in a |
| General Motors also set up a "Design Salon" in Sony's | | | | freewheeling, unrestrained environment that is far |
| recording studios in Hell's Kitchen where the rapper | | | | away from the cost-cutting pressures of MBA types |
| Jay-Z, together with his impressive entourage dies his | | | | that usually roam the company's headquarters. |
| recording in the adjacent studio. According to GM | | | | GM has also hired designers from various fields such |
| designers they will try to incorporate distressed | | | | as those experts in cellular telephone technology, |
| leather, black lacquer, and mood lightning in future GM | | | | fabric specialists, and even tattoo artist. GM is hoping |
| designs to capture the same sort of young, hip, and | | | | that the addition of such designers will helped them |
| affluent Americans that buy Jay-Z's albums which | | | | to create that ultimate design that will topple all other |
| they consider as future customers. | | | | car interior design in the industry. |
| "We want the experience of getting into our cars to | | | | "Up until recently, the fabrics used in cars were types |
| be holistic... It's all about what you see, touch, and | | | | of fabrics that wouldn't be found anywhere else. |
| even smell," stated GM's components designer, Kate | | | | Now we're looking toward what people look for in |
| Zak. | | | | their home furnishings and extending that feel into |
| Bob Lutz has even criticized the interiors of GM's cars | | | | their cars," said Executive Director of Interiors for |
| and trucks when he arrived at the company more | | | | General Motors, Dave Rand. |
| than five years ago. He instructed his automotive | | | | The quilted patterns which are popular on jackets are |
| design department to discard hard plastics, plush | | | | now an extravagant sight on seating surfaces in |
| velour, and black rubber off GM's future interior | | | | Cadillacs. Plus, GM is also confident that younger |
| design and asked them to create a whole new | | | | buyers won't mind having distressed leather seats |
| concept for car interiors. But of course making sure | | | | and arm rests if it means getting the same comfort |
| that in the process the integrity of the vehicle is | | | | that they get from their living rooms at home. |
| retained. Aside from new interior design GM vehicles | | | | In addition, meticulous buyers especially in the pickup |
| will continue with its long tradition of using quality | | | | truck segment are also looking for exposed stitching, |
| auto parts like its popular GM air filter recharge kit. | | | | dual patterns, and new textures which in the past |
| To start the change that the automaker is pushing | | | | were not given much attention in terms of interior |
| for, it has begun employing matte finishes over most | | | | design. The paint of schemes for the SUV is also |
| of the dashboard. Unfortunately dealers are not as | | | | heading matte finishes giving the vehicles with a |
| excited of the matte concept and ended smearing | | | | futuristic, aluminum looks. |
| Armor-All onto the matte surfaces just to give them | | | | |