http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/02/spy-sho...f-its-interior/
Yummy.
Full Version: GM's interior design-and-materials renaissance continues
The Cruze will replace the Cobalt, if you haven't heard the name before. So far, we know it has a small-displacement direct-injected turbocharged engine that will get over 40mpg on the highway. And now, we know that the interior continues the trend GM started in about 2007, of really good interiors (CTS, Malibu, Outlook, Vue, etc):
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/02/spy-sho...f-its-interior/
Yummy.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/02/spy-sho...f-its-interior/
Yummy.
Hmm that looks damned spiffy but then again so do the Malibu and Astra (well, this looks somewhat better) and they still have a chintzy feel here and there. Hard to tell quality from a picture like that, but 
to the design.
to the design.
thats pretty nice looking... GM needs to keep up the good work!
That's hot but it is only the concept's interior. But compare that to my car's interior:
Talk about coming a long way.
Talk about coming a long way.
Whenever I see a thread like this, I can't help but think "too little, too late."
Inside that cobalt, were you to slap a VW badge on the steering wheel... it would easily pass. In fact, it's almost a shameless rip from the MKIV volkswagens.
Then again, a quick look at the quality of actual materials in the cobalt and.. yeah- not so hot.
EDIT:
That euro interior above does look good, and that steering wheel is awesomely chunky. I still however, do not think the Malibu/Aura's interiors are up to par with their Japanese counterparts.
Then again, a quick look at the quality of actual materials in the cobalt and.. yeah- not so hot.
EDIT:
That euro interior above does look good, and that steering wheel is awesomely chunky. I still however, do not think the Malibu/Aura's interiors are up to par with their Japanese counterparts.
QUOTE(hexagone @ Aug 2 2008, 05:52 PM) 
Inside that cobalt, were you to slap a VW badge on the steering wheel... it would easily pass. In fact, it's almost a shameless rip from the MKIV volkswagens.
...have you sat in a cobalt?
Last time I was in a cobalt, the trim underneath the rear windows was peeling back and you could clearly see the structure of the car down behind the paneling. It was warped that badly.
HMM I WONDER WHERE THEY GOT THE IDEA FOR THE STEERING WHEEL FROM?????
/edit 3 pod cluster gauges in an American eco-box. lol...
/edit 3 pod cluster gauges in an American eco-box. lol...
QUOTE(Cyclone @ Aug 2 2008, 06:43 PM)
HMM I WONDER WHERE THEY GOT THE IDEA FOR THE STEERING WHEEL FROM?????
/edit 3 pod cluster gauges in an American eco-box. lol...
/edit 3 pod cluster gauges in an American eco-box. lol...
...where did they get the idea? I don't get what you're trying to imply.
And they put 3 pod gauge clusters in everything. I wish they'd fucking stop, they suck to read.
QUOTE(clarkma5 @ Aug 2 2008, 09:45 PM)
...where did they get the idea? I don't get what you're trying to imply.
And they put 3 pod gauge clusters in everything. I wish they'd fucking stop, they suck to read.
And they put 3 pod gauge clusters in everything. I wish they'd fucking stop, they suck to read.
http://www.carpages.co.uk/honda/honda_imag...or_01_08_05.jpg
Clark, I was talking about the design similarities, not the actual build. Heaven forbid i would even fathom of thinking that the MKIV interior quality is even close to the cobalt.
QUOTE(Cyclone @ Aug 2 2008, 06:48 PM)
Ah, I didn't see that. What I did see was a similarity to the new Bentley Continental Speed's steering wheel: http://www.bigpenguin.org/images/DSCOTY/DS...ntGTSpeed-3.jpg
Also, has anyone noticed how delightfully fat the Cruze's steering wheel is? That looks like a joy to grip.
QUOTE(hexagone @ Aug 2 2008, 06:53 PM)
Clark, I was talking about the design similarities, not the actual build. Heaven forbid i would even fathom of thinking that the MKIV interior quality is even close to the cobalt.
Yeah I can see that. The Cobalt's interior design is pretty sound, it's the execution that sucks. Though the chassis in the SS I drove went a long way toward making me overlook that.
QUOTE(Razor @ Aug 2 2008, 03:39 PM)
Whenever I see a thread like this, I can't help but think "too little, too late."
Says the MITSUBISHI fan? Talk about pot calling the kettle black. Legendary line of high-performance cars, but generally known in recent times for lousy interiors and *blah* mass-market offerings, and currently facing financial woes. Am I talking about Mitsubishi or GM? You tell me.
QUOTE(clarkma5 @ Aug 2 2008, 09:59 PM)
Also, has anyone noticed how delightfully fat the Cruze's steering wheel is? That looks like a joy to grip.
haha, on a side note, this seems to be one of the gayest statements you've ever made. no offense
QUOTE(Mitlov @ Aug 3 2008, 03:52 AM)
Says the MITSUBISHI fan? Talk about pot calling the kettle black. Legendary line of high-performance cars, but generally known in recent times for lousy interiors and *blah* mass-market offerings, and currently facing financial woes. Am I talking about Mitsubishi or GM? You tell me.
It's not Mitsubishi that's on the "TWO YEARS OR BUST" chopping block, though. That's my logic. It doesn't seem like Mitsu is going anywhere anytime soon, but I can't say the same for GM.
QUOTE(Razor @ Aug 3 2008, 09:33 AM)
It's not Mitsubishi that's on the "TWO YEARS OR BUST" chopping block, though. That's my logic. It doesn't seem like Mitsu is going anywhere anytime soon, but I can't say the same for GM.
But I don't think that Mitsubishi's actually in a better financial situation than GM right now. I just think that nobody cares, and no news outlets talk about it, because they're a tiny car company that many US non-enthusiasts don't even remember exists. Whereas GM is a cornerstone of the US economy, so if GM goes, there are massive ramifications.
QUOTE
Mitsubishi Motors has been temporarily rescued from oblivion by the members of its zaibatsu who could not tolerate the public humiliation of the great name of Mitsubishi being associated with a bankruptcy or worse. Executives of the Mitsubishi group companies justified their decision to flush another few billion down the sewer by telling the world that they had to consider the social costs of job losses making them, somehow, more sensitive to the human condition than managers in the west.
The arrogance of that justification is almost more flabbergasting than the amount of money they just dumped down a hole when it will neither solve Mitsubishi's problems nor protect Mitsubishi worker's jobs for very long. The lessons of Nissan and Carlos Ghosn, the foreigner who broke with Japanese traditions to actually fix the company and create and secure jobs, were lost on the Mitsubishi crowd who decided that hope for a miracle was a business strategy.
Mitsubishi's problems are so deep seated that the Japanese public has lost confidence in the auto company's products after revelations of decades of hiding defects that put former managers in jail. Even if they had a great car or two it might not matter since the reputation of the brand has been destroyed by the old guard.
The arrogance of that justification is almost more flabbergasting than the amount of money they just dumped down a hole when it will neither solve Mitsubishi's problems nor protect Mitsubishi worker's jobs for very long. The lessons of Nissan and Carlos Ghosn, the foreigner who broke with Japanese traditions to actually fix the company and create and secure jobs, were lost on the Mitsubishi crowd who decided that hope for a miracle was a business strategy.
Mitsubishi's problems are so deep seated that the Japanese public has lost confidence in the auto company's products after revelations of decades of hiding defects that put former managers in jail. Even if they had a great car or two it might not matter since the reputation of the brand has been destroyed by the old guard.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m301...85/ai_n12937466
QUOTE
This situation is very prevalent in today's automobile industry. Not many years passed since Mitsubishi Motors filed its bankruptcy which was arguably the biggest bankruptcy in Asia.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Good-Info-on-Ban...&id=1303561
QUOTE
Mitsubishi put out a press release earlier today outlining its global business plan for the next few years. The official title of the blueprint for Mitsubishi's future is "Step Up 2010" and the automaker's overall prognostication looks good globally, but more "bear" than "bull" for the U.S. market.
Sales in the States are expected to drop by some 15,000 units by 2011, something that isn't entirely unexpected, while Mitsubishi figures that worldwide sales will increase from the 1.34 million units sold currently to 1.42 million by March 31, 2011. Most of the boom is expected to come from emerging markets in Brazil, China, India, the Middle East and Russia, with the latter expected to climb by close to 70-percent and eclipsing the American market by around 63,000 vehicle sales.
Mitsubishi's focus in the U.S. will primarily center on making a profit over selling as many vehicles as it can. To that effect, incentives will be reduced, dealer quality will be improved and a renewed focus on passenger cars will be established.
Sales in the States are expected to drop by some 15,000 units by 2011, something that isn't entirely unexpected, while Mitsubishi figures that worldwide sales will increase from the 1.34 million units sold currently to 1.42 million by March 31, 2011. Most of the boom is expected to come from emerging markets in Brazil, China, India, the Middle East and Russia, with the latter expected to climb by close to 70-percent and eclipsing the American market by around 63,000 vehicle sales.
Mitsubishi's focus in the U.S. will primarily center on making a profit over selling as many vehicles as it can. To that effect, incentives will be reduced, dealer quality will be improved and a renewed focus on passenger cars will be established.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/mitsubi...r-sportback-co/
Except for concerns about the health care costs of unionized labor, this sounds pretty similar to what GM is going through right now.
Turns out that the exterior's not to shabby either:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevy-cruze/990524/full/
On the other hand, in typical GM fashion, it's not going to hit dealerships for two more years (remember how long the Camaro took?). This is particularly frustrating as it will hit European dealerships in about six months (source). Kind of like how the Camaro used the underpinnings from an existing Holden and still took something like four years to go from concept to production.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-chevy-cruze/990524/full/
On the other hand, in typical GM fashion, it's not going to hit dealerships for two more years (remember how long the Camaro took?). This is particularly frustrating as it will hit European dealerships in about six months (source). Kind of like how the Camaro used the underpinnings from an existing Holden and still took something like four years to go from concept to production.
QUOTE(Razor @ Aug 3 2008, 09:33 AM)
It's not Mitsubishi that's on the "TWO YEARS OR BUST" chopping block, though. That's my logic. It doesn't seem like Mitsu is going anywhere anytime soon, but I can't say the same for GM.
Uh... yes they are. In fact, Automotive News just recently ran a piece exclaiming that Mitsu might have to pull out of the US market if their 08 sales aren't strong. It was this time last year that they were also closing quite a few stores nationwide.
That interior is actually quite attractive. Though it looks like Chevy beat the exterior of the car with the ugly stick...pretty hard.
There's nothing wrong with the side profile (quite handsome), and the rear (bland), but the front is hideous.
There's nothing wrong with the side profile (quite handsome), and the rear (bland), but the front is hideous.
...I like the front the most.
That's because it looks like you.
Somehow reminds me of the new Merc C klasse. I like it.
Whoooa. That is farking UGLY! The grille is the single most offending bit. I can't be the only one who hates the new Chevy grilles that have going... the whole 2/3-piece look like on the Malibu.
And, frankly, if you erased the grille part off the front it looks WAY too much like a Dodge Caliber.
And, frankly, if you erased the grille part off the front it looks WAY too much like a Dodge Caliber.
QUOTE(Phix @ Aug 22 2008, 08:51 AM)
Whoooa. That is farking UGLY! The grille is the single most offending bit. I can't be the only one who hates the new Chevy grilles that have going... the whole 2/3-piece look like on the Malibu.
And, frankly, if you erased the grille part off the front it looks WAY too much like a Dodge Caliber.
And, frankly, if you erased the grille part off the front it looks WAY too much like a Dodge Caliber.
You're not. It doesn't work on the Malibu, nor the Aveo, nor the Traverse, and definitely not here.
QUOTE(clarkma5 @ Aug 21 2008, 05:36 PM)
...I like the front the most.
Me too! The back looks super cheap though.
The back apes the Malibu. I thought the Malibu's back was odd and somewhat korean at first but it has grown on me for being at least reasonably identifiable. Also, square-cut trunk lid means good cargo volume compared to a roundey-roundey backend.
Some more pics, inside and out. It's not remarkable, but it's good looking (long hood and short rear deck is a nice touch). The interior, while obviously not a luxury car, is very nice for an economy car.
I give the outside a B+ overall (clean, but still just a touch too Pontiac G6) and the inside an A. Great work Chevy.
EDIT: Sad thing about that short rear deck...you just know that's going to make for a crappy small trunk opening. And you know those brakes aren't making it to production.
EDIT: Sad thing about that short rear deck...you just know that's going to make for a crappy small trunk opening. And you know those brakes aren't making it to production.
I gotta admit... that looks like a hell of a lot better on the interior than the G8 I drove.
That is a really nice looking small car. Much nicer than the current Japanese offerings, save the 3, IMO.
That number of blue-lit buttons would make me sick!
Haha holy shit they're HUGE!
QUOTE(clarkma5 @ Oct 1 2008, 09:15 PM)
And you know those brakes aren't making it to production.
Haha holy shit they're HUGE!
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