Unbeknowst to me I’ve developed a soft spot for GM over the years.
I know. Shocking.
I like cars from a slew of companies including Pontiac, Mazda, Audi, Ford and (believe it or not) Volvo. Me, Scandanavian cars – we have a history. Besides, you can’t tell me that the Volvo S40 doesn’t have a clean, compressed look to it.
Ahem.
Getting back to GM. As we all know, the General’s in trouble. Serious trouble. Their market share’s being whittled down by the quarter, Toyota’s nipping @ its heels, determined to surpass it as the world’s largest car maker and product execution is a genuine grab-bag of “Hit the nail on the head” and “What were they thinking?”. GM’s designs lack consistency. While reliability and general design – both interior and exterior – have improved, tactile quality remains inconsistent across the lineup and it’s questionable if it matches up to the standards set by the Japanese. If the car doesn’t feel right – will anyone buy it? Hmm – market numbers say no.
Either way, the Detriot and LA Auto Shows have been the big events so far and GM’s unveiled 4 redesigned/new car models that I know of. The Chevrolet Corvette 06 (please, please can I get one?), the Chevrolet Impala 06 (definite contender for “What were they thinking?”), the Saturn Sky 06 and the Saturn Aura Concept.
Who would have thought the day would come when I’d actually use the phrase “I like that car” when I referred to a Saturn?
Hath Hell Frozen Over?