Signature Design Cues Connect 60 Years of Corvettes

"The first Chevrolet Corvette, the XP-122 Motorama concept car, and the latest model, the 2013 Corvette 427 Collector Edition convertible, are separated by 60 years of automotive development and advancement. They do not share a single common component, yet the visual connection between the first and sixth generations is obvious.

While the design cues have changed through six generations, it’s their elemental composition that makes a Corvette look like a Corvette.

“Every generation of Corvette has had a signature look, as the Corvette changed to reflect the high-performance technology and design of the times,” said Tom Peters, GM performance vehicle design director. “However, each generation of Corvette shares some common elements which create a consistent Corvette theme that is expressive, distinctly American, artful, and passionate.”

Peters said the Corvette’s instantly recognizable look doesn’t just come from shared design cues, it is how those cues are stitched together that creates the distinct look of Corvette." [Read more]

Chevrolet Battery Test Lab

Inferno Orange Chevy Sonic is Right on Color Trend

"Inferno Orange is the second-most requested color for Chevrolet Sonic hatchbacks, accounting for nearly one in five dealer orders and signaling a new color trend in the subcompact market. Its popularity trails only the ever-popular black hatchback.

Pantone named PANTONE® 17-1463 Tangerine Tango the Color of the Year for 2012, recognizing orange’s widespread appeal and prominence. Taking cues from the fashion, architecture and furniture industries, Sonic’s design team monitored color to identify hues with longevity that best fit the Sonic attitude.

“Fashion houses can quickly jump on the latest color craze, since their products are designed for shorter life spans, but long-lasting Chevy vehicles must feature colors that will remain attractive and on-trend for multiple years,” says Michelle Killen, lead creative designer in the color and trim studio and exterior paint expert at General Motors Design. “We had a strong feeling that Sonic’s Inferno Orange would hit the trend at the perfect time and hatchback drivers would embrace it.”

Orange, a staple of Corvettes and Camaros, is firmly ingrained in the performance vehicle market. With the Sonic’s turbo-charged engine and Corvette-inspired handling, the design team wanted to visually express its fun-to-drive personality, Killen said.

Chevy design experts predict orange will remain a color trend in the future, transitioning from the bright, chic tint of today to a more burnt, coppery finish in the years to come." [Read more]

Chevy Confidence "Love It or Return It"

Next Generation Silverado Put to the Test

"GM engineers are putting the next generation Chevrolet Silverado through the final paces at the company’s proving grounds in Yuma, Ariz. This water test is part of a rigorous product validation program that has helped make Silverado the most dependable, longest lasting full-size pickup. The new Silverado will start production in 2013.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com." [Read more]

Chevy Confidence "It's Back"

Jimmie Johnson's Volt | Technology & Innovation

Chevrolet Equinox Offers Advantages of Universal Design

"Getting into the Chevrolet Equinox is so easy, its owners may never notice. The small crossover’s narrow rocker panels require minimal reach to step over, and its seat height requires minimal bending. Equinox’s ease of entry is just one example of Chevrolet’s use of universal design, an approach that makes products of all kinds work for as many people as possible.

Consumers experience universal design every day, from sidewalk ramps to lever-style door handles. For most people, universal design adds convenience, but for people with limited range of motion, it can be a difference maker. A rear vision camera, programmable liftgate and easy-to-use touch screen controls are examples of Equinox’s ease-of-use features.

Ease of use is increasingly important to car design as automakers adapt to changing consumer demographics. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 65-and-older population is projected to grow to more than 71 million by 2030, and will account for 20 percent of the nation’s citizenry. That means more car buyers will be dealing with age-related issues that affect range of motion, eyesight, hearing, reflexes and cognition – issues that General Motors has studied in depth and has already begun to address in many of its vehicles such as the Equinox.

“We never design vehicles specifically for older consumers, but we increasingly integrate design solutions that work for all users, regardless of age,” said Carl Wellborn, senior staff engineer and project manager, GM Design and Technology Fusion. “Designs that make life easier for older users also work for younger users. Universal design is the key to unlocking usability solutions and implementing them successfully.”

Wellborn presented GM’s findings on increasing product value for an aging global market at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s national convention last year. The research was based on dozens of interviews with consumers who ranged in age from 21 to 65 and older." [Read more]

Happy 4th of July!

 

From our family to yours we would like to wish you a very safe and fun 4th of July!