Obviously, interior design on any given automobile is finalized some time before the car in question sees production, but in the case of the 2016 Chevrolet Volt, the cabin has actually been finished for a full 2 years already.
So says Inside EVs, who wrote a piece about one Mr. John McDougall, presently the Creative Interior Designer for General Motors. McDougall revealed that in actual fact, the process of selecting an interior for the 2016 Volt started as far back as 2010. All things considered however, design is one of the first steps in a future product program, so don’t let this take you aback into thinking that this isn’t normal.
Initially, GM tapped designers from around the globe to contribute multitudes of proposal sketches. “Then, they narrow it to 10 to 15 designs,” says McDougall. “When they select the top three designs, they make full-scale models in clay and from there they select the theme.”
After further refining the theme for about 18 months, it’s time for the actual design work. “Every little thing you can imagine goes into that. The glare angle from the windows, the placement of the controls, the placement of the seat. You have to create something that’s beautiful and functional,” McDougall says.
The end result is several steps above the interior found in the first-generation Chevrolet Volt. And, according to John McDougall, all but certain to pull buyers away from more mainstream and conventional vehicles such as the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.
Comments
When the new Cruze comes out, the whole car will be 2 years old as its already sold in China…
Yes it will be two years old and any bugs with the new car and platform will be worked out on them not us. This is how Honda, Toyota and others have brought us trouble free cars for years as they often deliver them to a more forgiving Asian market.
As of now the present Cruze just set a sales record here in January.
GM right now Is working on the products they need to fix and delaying the ones that are working. Same goes for the Nox that also is selling more and more each year and will only get a refresh next year.
Sales change these new cars will be here with in a year.
For once GM has choices on some models we are not used to here in the states.
As for Australia the deal is totally different and they have a lot of work to do and you should see the changes soon. I expect you will see the Cruze before we will.
Car like the Volt should have employed a knob/pedant style gear changer.. even better, it glows a subtle red when in park, blue in reverse, white in neutral, and green when in drive.
I would have liked to have seen buttons instead. Brushed metal recessed buttons which glow the way you described. No reason to push a shifter through gears that don’t exist, or even use a knob to scroll through modes you don’t need.
Did you know that if you are driving the Volt and shift into reverse at speed, that the rearview camera comes on screen. The back-up lights could really freak out tailgaters though!