Do You Think General Motors Is Becoming Young and Hip?

Texan Ross Perot, during his brief stint on General Motors Corp.'s board of directors, once described the automaker as "isolated and insulated" from the American driving public.

Nearly two decades later, amid a massive overhaul at the world's largest automaker, signs are starting to emerge that GM is shedding that top-down, out-of-touch style of management.

Jolted into action by unprecedented market share declines and billions of dollars in losses, GM is taking a more fluid and open approach to doing business in an industry it once ruled.

Twenty-something hipsters in the company are getting called on to help make critical decisions.

Design teams have new freedom to whip up vehicles with no advance approval from the top.

And, in a first for GM, the public could have final say in picking a new vehicle to be sold around the world.


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jon21 - 4/27/2007 2:45:36 PM

+2 Boost

No.

EnnNorak - 4/27/2007 6:06:39 PM

+4 Boost

Of Ford, Chrysler, and GM, I predict that only GM will make a big comeback. The vast majority of recent new GM product has good visual and technical appeal. I currently drive a leased Audi but am inclined to reward GM by buying one of its vehicles when my lease expires.

arcy - 4/27/2007 8:55:12 PM

+1 Boost

i agree. of the three, GM is making it big. not now, but soon (i hope) with some of their cars being a hit in other countries such as China. The problem with the big 3 is that they still think they have the chance by making big cars, SUV, super powered cars. but thats not what majority of the people want nowadays.

mp2dtw - 4/28/2007 12:52:41 AM

+1 Boost

I disagree. The old Focus is far more desirable than the new Cobalt--look who's driving them. The Mustang survived. The Camaro/Firebird died. The Fusion/Milan are a step in the right direction. The 500/Montego were folly, but I'd buy one of those before a Lucerne or Impala due to better safety & reliability. Disclosure: I've worked for Ford and there are two GM products in my garage.

indoctrin8ed - 4/27/2007 7:04:28 PM

-1 Boost

GM is becoming old; Putz needs a hip replacement.

paul3230 - 4/27/2007 7:40:56 PM

+1 Boost

wow, your a smart one. Lutz is the reason GM has half a clue today..without him, they would have sunk already.

thriftytechie - 4/27/2007 10:15:19 PM

+4 Boost

"GM launches hip and cool initiative". Sounds like a headline from 'The Onion'

But seriously, I do agree with EnnNorak about the visual appeal of the latest GM products. The exteriors of all of their cars are extremely well executed: They have minimized the number of body gaps and apparently have this down to a science as all their cars (like 'em or not) have very clean exteriors.

GM brags that they've decreased the size of panel gaps, but the real news is that they've designed their vehicles to have fewer gaps which gives an overall impression of cleaner, sleaker bodies across the GM lineup.

Sorry for the aside. But as someone in their early 30s, the 2008 Astra, Aura, and Malibu are on my shopping list on looks alone. Does this make GM hip? No. But do they really need to be?

2JZSoarer - 4/28/2007 12:21:48 AM

0 Boost

Scion knockoff,they took a page from Toyota to attract young buyers!!

S4cabriofoxone - 4/28/2007 4:07:23 PM

+1 Boost

Why are some of you so insecure? Every time a company comes out with a new car or idea, you blab about how they "copied" Toyota or Lexus! Enough already!

mp2dtw - 4/28/2007 12:39:38 AM

+1 Boost

Buick, It's not just for octogenarians anymore!

Saab & Vauxhall/Saturn? Yes, young & hip.

Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC, Hummer & Cadillac = old and tragic.

Detroit needs to start importing some of their Swedish, UK & German employees to shake it up.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/28/2007 4:05:07 PM

0 Boost

No.

indoctrin8ed - 4/28/2007 7:14:31 PM

+1 Boost

Lutz has made many critical errors, IMO. The GTO was a great opportunity, but it's hideous. Cadillacs new line, another great opportunity missed (though better, but still falls show).

Lutz is now cancelling RWD efforts and moving to front wheel drive.

Lutz is selling out on cheap. It might save the company in the short term, but it's not bringing pride and soul back to American cars.

A VW Jetta has more soul and fun-to-drive than any Pontiac. Come on.

Lutz just hasn't delivered.

neutral - 4/29/2007 2:07:07 AM

+1 Boost

Umm......2008 Cadillac CTS?

munich - 5/4/2007 8:42:22 AM

+1 Boost

MORE LIKE ARTIFICIAL HIP.