Cadillac CUE merges luxury design with intuitive technology and delivers personalized, connected driving for buyers of the upcoming Cadillac XTS and ATS luxury sedans and the SRX luxury crossover. Matt Highstrom is part of the team that designed the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) and he says this industry-leading interface reduces complexity through customized information, natural voice commands, fewer buttons and larger icons. Click the video to see Matt’s tour through some of the highlights of Cadillac CUE.

What's with the storage compartment behind the main system touch screen? Check out the video to find out.

The vibrant LCD multi-touch screen has large icons similar to multi-touch smartphones but also features haptic touch response and proximity sensing to dim the display when not in use.

At the 2012 North American International Auto Show, Chevrolet unveiled two concept cars that were developed with input from next-generation auto buyers. More than 9,000 people under the age of 30 years old were surveyed. Their thoughts and desires were incorporated in the Code 130R and the Tru 140S concepts. Check out the video to get more views of what the cars look like and to find out what Chevrolet is aiming to achieve with these vehicles.

For a more in-depth look at the Tru 140S concept and its designer, check out our previous story.

The CODE 130R concept represents "functional muscle" and is designed as RWD coupe

The TRU 140S concept represents an "affordable exotic" and is designed as a FWD coupe.

GM North America President Mark Reuss (l to r), Chevrolet Senior Manager Global Marketing Strategy John McFarland and Lead Designer Nick David with the Chevrolet Tru 140S concept.

Nicholas studied engineering in his home country of Wales, and then went on to receive a Masters in vehicle design at the Royal College of Art in London, before joining GM’s advanced design studio in the United Kingdom. He later moved to Jaguar and Land Rover. When he got an offer to move to California to design for Honda and then Acura, the lure of sunshine and a new challenge got him to move halfway around the world. He said he learned to be a better designer during his stops with the other brands, but GM still held a special place for him. “(GM) was my first job out of college and you hold something inside from that. I had a great time and (I like) working on several brands at once.”

Nicholas David prior to the reveal of the Chevrolet Tru 140S concept car

When GM approached him a year ago to join its design team at its North Hollywood studio, he jumped at the opportunity. What compelled him to return to GM? “I think it’s a very good thing as a designer to work on more than one brand. You get kind of stale working on the same brand over and over.  So it’s good, we get a chance to work on Buick, work on Cadillac, also Chevrolet. It was a very exciting opportunity, especially in Los Angeles.”

Nicholas designed the Tru 140S concept vehicle that debuted at this year’s NAIAS. It is targeted at next-generation buyers, based upon feedback received from extensive surveys of young consumers. Nicholas sees what was presented at the show as only a starting point. “This is the first stage. These are kind of research vehicles.”

Nicholas designed the Tru 140S as an exterior design only, because, “The first port of call is always the exterior. That gets you excited. That gets your emotions going.” The research showed next-gen buyers are concerned about the technology and connectivity available inside the car. Next-gen buyers were clear: Technology matters. To ensure Tru 140S best represented the most cutting edge technology available, the designers decided to keep the interiors as digital renderings to be shown as thought starters.  Nicholas noted the research helped shape exterior and interior design. “We were surprised by the amount of technology these people wanted inside the car. They wanted a lot of connectivity without impacting safety.”

Nicholas is one of the team of GM designers working on developing cars that appeal to young people demanding style, technology and safety. It’s a challenge Nicholas is eager to confront and conquer. Keep watching to see what’s next.

“It’s incredibly important to find the best talent and it’s hard to find. There are design schools all throughout the country… all throughout the world,” said Dave Lyon, GM executive director of interior design. “Part of the reason we like this contest is we’re able to reach schools – in some cases – we never even heard of.”

The competition kicked off in the spring of 2011, and more than 300 design students from across the U.S. and Canada submitted entries. They were challenged to design both an interior and an exterior for one of GM’s four brands: Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. During the next several months, GM designers mentored students, helping them improve their designs on a dedicated website.

Student Vitaliy Pankov (l) with GM Design Executive Director Dave Lyon

Earlier this month at the North American International Auto Show, winners were announced, and some of the victors came from unexpected places. Vitaliy Pankov from Gulf Coast State College in Florida won for his interior design for Cadillac. As he announced Vitaliy’s name, Lyon noted, “I have never heard of your school.” But going forward, thanks to this competition, Gulf Coast State College will be a more familiar name in GM Design circles.

Vitaliy said winning this competition is the culmination of a life-long dream for him. “This was a great opportunity for me. I was always kind of afraid that the (lack of high-profile) education might be stopping me from getting there. The feedback from the judges helped me, and I learned a lot from that.”

The competition organizers weren’t the only ones surprised by who won. Shane Harbour lives in Milwaukee and is a student at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. He brought his camera to the award ceremony to get pictures of the winning design students. When he was announced as a winner for his exterior design for a compact GMC pickup truck, he said, “I ended up being a winner myself, and I almost dropped my camera.”

A full list of the winners, their schools and a look at some of the winning designs is available on the Car Design News website. Each winner received a paid internship at GM’s design studios in Warren, Mich. and an Apple iPad 2.

For students looking for more information about GM Design, check out their Facebook page.

Dave Lyon announced at the awards ceremony that the Interactive Design Competition was so successful, it will be a part of GM Design’s recruiting process again in 2012.

Today Heather is lead color and trim designer for Buick. This week, the luxury small crossover Buick Encore was introduced as the newest member of the growing Buick lineup.

Heather stayed close to home when she went to college at Lawrence Technological University, and she remained in the area when she got her first job after college with GM Design. In the eight years since then, she’s been collaborating with and visiting GM Design studios around the globe as she’s worked on some of Buick’s hottest models.

Heather points out the saddle-and-cocoa color combination with accent stitching on the seat.

Heather says she started working on the Encore almost two years ago. It’s a typical part of her job that she works on future vehicles, and she also works around the world. She explains “The color and trim (group) works collaboratively with our global counterparts. We look at the future trends in fashion, interior design, architecture, and we come up with several ideas and proposals of color combinations, variance of hue, saturation of colors that we explore.”

Heather mentions the international aspect of her job is one of the best parts of working for GM Design. “I love working on global programs and working very closely with every region. I think it’s very exciting for us seeing the different cultures, working with the different cultures and sometimes traveling over there, getting to meet face to face with them and seeing how they live, how their culture is.”

Heather speaks from a design viewpoint when she says, ““Warm expressive wood does really well for us in the Buick.” And she speaks from a car fan viewpoint when you ask her how she wants the new Buick owner to react. She says, “As the customer opens the door, they should say, ‘Wow! I want to get in that vehicle.’ And when they get in, they should have a feeling of luxury and sophistication.”

The saddle-and-cocoa color combination shown on the Encore at the NAIAS is right in line with the latest fashion trends, but Heather is already thinking ahead to the next stage. She says, “Color is one of the easiest things to change out and refresh for future models. We can change that out pretty quickly and still keep up with the fashion industry.” But the scope of the auto industry means the color and trim team needs to be constantly looking to the future. She states, “Our job is critical in determining what those future color positions and spaces are going to be, working several years out. It’s very important for us to understand where those color placements are going.”

The Detroit native continues to tap sources around the globe to predict future trends for Buick.

When this car shows up in your review mirror, you’ll definitely do a double take, and then some!  Bold yellow paint with pumped up black stripes, a high-wing rear spoiler and black-on-black wheels… this car looks like Bumblebee, straight from the set of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. It’s enough to make Sam Witwicky‘s heart beat fast.

“It’s so cool to see little five-year olds standing in front of the car saying, ‘Wake up, wake up.’ And, I’ll ask them, ‘Who do you want to wake up?’  And, they’ll say ‘Bumblebee,’” says Adam Barry, Senior Creative Manager, Corvette and Camaro, Accessories and Specialty Builds.

A self-described “Transformers geek” who still has his Autobot action figures, Barry says that when he found out about the project, he jumped all over it. “There’s no question that this specialty package was designed by someone who loves, Transformers,” says Barry.

It’s  the little details — like Cybertronian symbols spelling “Transformers” on the spoiler, Autobot logos on the wheel caps and front quarter panel and an awesome interior with black leather seats and bright yellow stitching — that give this Chevrolet extra attitude.

“When you see this car,” says Barry, “you’re not going to think it’s a car, you’re going to think it is Bumblebee… and you’re going to be looking around for the other Autobots.  How cool is that?” Plus, if any Decepticons show up, you’ll be able to handle them.

You can order the Transformers Specialty package now. It’s due in dealerships in September.

Classic Corvettes, charged up Camaros, GTOs and pedal-to-the-metal Chevelles had the corner on muscle and memories.  Fans of fins and flair weren’t disappointed either.

“There’s lots of innovation here,” says Mark Reuss, President, GM, North America.  “Our employees are extremely creative and you can see that by what they’ve done to their cars.”

“This event was organized by the we! Team, an employee group at GM’s Design Center in Warren,” says Paul Arnone, lead designer for interior crossover vehicles. “It’s all about people who love cars.  We all enjoy what we do at work and we use a lot of those same talents outside our jobs.  This is a chance for us to show off our creativity and really come together, like a family.

The event was funded by employee sales of cruise-themed t-shirts and hats designed by GM designers Paul Arnone and Carrie Crawley. Of those proceeds, $5,000 went to the Boys and Girls Club of South Oakland County.

“It really feels good to know we’re making a difference,” says Heidi Bliss, Design Operations Project Manager.  “We’ve even taken it a step further, and some of our designers have gone to the Boys and Girls Club and given drawing lessons.It’s such a great way to show kids and their parents the wonderful opportunities in art and design.”

Chevrolet history is a topic Wallace knows inside and out. He has run the GM Heritage Center since it was opened, and he has hundreds of Chevrolets in the collection. He knows the highlights from back in the days of Louis and Arthur Chevrolet, all the way up to the current-generation, best-ever Chevys.

After 100 years, lots of trivia has been generated around Chevrolet models. Here are some of the fun facts that we’ve stumbled across:

• Chevy has been mentioned in more than 1,000 songs according to Kevin Mayer, director of advertising and promotions for Chevrolet.
• The current-generation Camaro was cast as the automotive “star” of the Transformers movie series.
• Chevrolet is one of the fastest growing brands globally.

But Wallace isn’t into trivia. He’s into facts and he knows that the 1914 Royal Mail edition Chevrolet was a landmark automobile for the brand. It had some options that were unheard of back in that time. Today you can’t even buy a vehicle without the options that were on the Royal Mail. What options are we referring to? Check out the video at the bottom of the page and you’ll see.

Which model had bowties on the hubcaps? That one made Wallace's list.

Many people feel the 1950s were the “golden age” for automobiles, and Wallace sees one car from that era that indicated a change in direction, as more power was delivered to drivers.

A 1960s-era Chevy also makes his list. As a matter of fact, the car Wallace singles out was the title character in a Jan and Dean song. Do you think you know what it is?

Another Chevy from the same era is also on the list of most important Chevrolets. It is still one of the most sought after cars by collectors around the world.

Another car on the list proudly wore this badge.

Finally, you’ll have to watch the video to see what current era Chevrolet is on Wallace’s list as pointing to the future direction of the brand and the industry.

We hate to be a tease, but if we just told you the models of all the cars, you’d miss out on seeing the video of the beautifully-restored models that are in the GM Heritage Center.

Take a look at the video and leave a comment below here or come on over to our GM Facebook page, and we can have a good discussion on Greg Wallace’s selections for the most significant Chevrolets.

• research, or
• fact-finding, or
• football madness.

Actually, it’s a combination of all of the above. Daniel says “I’m a huge Tennessee Vols football fan. I have season tickets, and it’s roughly nine hours from the Detroit area to Knoxville. As a result of those drives, I come up with a lot of tweaks that can enable our seats to be comfortable over a long trip.”

Daniel also has a partner in his quest for ever-more-comfortable seats in the upcoming 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Oscar is his sidekick. Yes, like other uni-named celebrities such as Madonna, P!nk, Eminem and Lassie, Oscar goes by a single moniker. But, unlike the others, he’s a dummy. Now that may sound harsh, but that’s really what he is. His official description is, a “three-dimensional, mannequin-like simulation tool used by engineers early in the product development process of Malibu to determine the overall dimensional layout of the car’s interior.” We tried to get some quotes from Oscar for this blog, but he wasn’t talking, so we’ll let Daniel tell their story.

Interior of 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

“Together, we’re providing Chevrolet Malibu customers more comfort,” Daniel says. He tells us that Oscar made sure new Malibu owners have “enough space, roominess, as well as comfort. He was used to determine hip room, leg room, knee clearance, vision angles, (and) headroom” in order to set up the architecture of the 2013 Chevy Malibu.” You can read more about Oscar’s specifications here.

Daniel is obviously proud of his University of Tennessee Volunteer roots, and uses his time on the road to do research while on the way to check out his gridiron heroes. Items such as thigh support and bolsters flash through his head as he drives through the hills of southern Ohio. He may check out the pressure points and envision force deflections as he enters the horse country of Kentucky. He then takes his observations back to the seat performance lab on Monday to see what he and Oscar can do to make the next-generation of seats even more comfortable.

A map generated by seat-mapping technology

He’s proud of his alma mater and he’s proud of his work at the Milford Proving Ground. He says, “It gives me a great sense of pride when I see one (of the cars I worked on) driving down the street or talk to a customer.”

Daniel has worked on seats for other Chevrolet vehicles and even appeared in another “rear view video.”

Check out the video below to see some of the history behind Oscar and the technology used today to make the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu seats.

Less than a year ago, she took on a new assignment founding an archive for GM Design. The mission of this assignment is to acquire and preserve artifacts that define the rich and important history of automotive design, as well as to develop programs that use this collection to educate and inform. She talks about that assignment in the video below.

Having worked at the historic GM Technical Center in Warren, Mich., Susan has developed a love for the Eero Saarinen-designed facility. She notes, “Over the years, I have had the honor of creating art for the Design building that attempts to capture the modernist esthetic that exists throughout our historic campus. The most interesting work  (shown here) is digitally printed with pigment inks on aluminum. Because of the historic nature of the building, any renovations require sensitivity to the existing spaces, which in this case allowed no opportunity for additional lighting. In designing this piece, I took advantage of a large window opposite the artwork which captures and reflects the ambient light off the aluminum substrate and creates an almost holographic effect.”

One section of the half-mile line of daffodils designed by Susan and planted by the community

Last year, she was honored by the Detroit chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) with the Celebrate Michigan Design presentation. It recognizes not just her work as an artist and designer, but also her teaching throughout North America, Europe and Australia, the books she has published, and her community involvement. Imagine Align is one of the most rewarding art projects she’s done. It’s a half-mile line of daffodils planted in 2004 at the Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor, Mich. that bloomed in 2005. More than 150 volunteers from the community, including Susan’s colleagues from GM Design, planted the bulbs that has since become a self-generating, ever-changing work of landscape art.

Most of her work at GM has focused on brand logos and nameplates that identify the cars. You can see several of them in the video and hear Susan talk in more depth about that part of her job. Susan is also sharing a recent exhibition of her work online.

In a company focused on improving lives through technology and populated with automotive experts, Susan says, “Most people here would agree … I don’t fit the mold very well.” Fitting the mold or not, she has contributed to the brand image of many vehicles for more than a decade. She has made the world a more beautiful place, and that’s a pretty important role to play.