Marty Padgett's Inside Scoop on Auto News and Aztek

Behind the Scenes: 2010 Chevy Volt, Part II

By TCC TeamTCC Team, April 4th, 2008

“We know we have a perception problem, at GM,” admits Bob Boniface, the former Chrysler stylist who is not overseeing design of the 2010 Chevrolet Volt. Where environmentally-conscious consumers look at Toyota and see “Prius.” They look at GM and see “Hummer,” says Boniface, adding that this perception gap is something we have to fix.” There are plenty of skeptics who wonder whether Volt is simply smoke and mirrors, a high-minded project designed to turn around GM’s image, then fade away. And in years past, these doubters might have been right. Over the years, the automaker has showcased a lot of grand projects that... “We know we have a perception problem, at GM,” admits Bob Boniface, the former Chrysler stylist who is not overseeing design of the 2010 Chevrolet Volt. Where environmentally-conscious consumers look at Toyota and see “Prius.” They look at GM and see “Hummer,” says Boniface, adding that this perception gap is something we have to fix.” There are plenty of skeptics who wonder whether Volt is simply smoke and mirrors, a high-minded project designed to turn around GM’s image, then fade away. And in years past, these doubters might have been right. Over the years, the automaker has showcased a lot of grand projects that... Read More

Tags: Industry

Posted in: 2005, Pontiac, Aztek

Which Concept Cars Should Be Built?

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, April 11th, 2007

Over at the main site, we're talking about concept cars. Rex Roy chose ten from the remote and near past that for whatever reason, weren't built. Chrysler's Norsemen never even made it to an auto show, while the bastardized Pontiac Aztek we did finally get was so far from the concept design as to be a totally different car. We've chosen our ten - now tell us the ones we missed in the comments section below, and we'll cobble together a reader's version of the list for you. Ten Concepts Detroit Should Have Built --TheCarConnection.com Over at the main site, we're talking about concept cars. Rex Roy chose ten from the remote and near past that for whatever reason, weren't built. Chrysler's Norsemen never even made it to an auto show, while the bastardized Pontiac Aztek we did finally get was so far from the concept design as to be a totally different car. We've chosen our ten - now tell us the ones we missed in the comments section below, and we'll cobble together a reader's version of the list for you. Ten Concepts Detroit Should Have Built --TheCarConnection.com Read More

Tags: Styling

Posted in: 2005, 2007, Pontiac, Concept Cars, Aztek

GM's Mistaken Replay

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, June 8th, 2005

If you want to know why General Motors has turned out a long series of duds like the Pontiac Aztek, Richard Wagoner offered something of an explanation near the tail end of his press conference in Wilmington, Del. -- and apparently no one in GM's top management noticed. "If we had a chance to rerun the last five years," Mr. Wagoner said, "we probably would have done a little more thinking about making sure that each product was distinctive and had a chance to be successful. There probably would have been a little less expansion of the model line. We also didn't build brands in the way we wanted to over the long term," Wagoner added. If... If you want to know why General Motors has turned out a long series of duds like the Pontiac Aztek, Richard Wagoner offered something of an explanation near the tail end of his press conference in Wilmington, Del. -- and apparently no one in GM's top management noticed. "If we had a chance to rerun the last five years," Mr. Wagoner said, "we probably would have done a little more thinking about making sure that each product was distinctive and had a chance to be successful. There probably would have been a little less expansion of the model line. We also didn't build brands in the way we wanted to over the long term," Wagoner added. If... Read More

Tags: Industry

Posted in: 2005, Pontiac, Aztek