I clicked on the article posted here about the new Buick concept revealed in Shanghai (http://www.autospies.com/news/SHANGHAI-MOTOR-SHOW-2007-Buick-Riviera-Concept-14428/). What a beauty!!! I was thinking to myself, why is it that ALL of the American brands are doing so poorly, when it is obviously POSSIBLE for them to create interesting and forward thinking designs that are attractive. Then it hit me... when American manufacturers release their concept designs, everyone knows that nothing even remotely similar will ever hit the streets. They spend all this design, R&D time and MONEY to build cars that people lust after that will NEVER hit the streets. It's quite sad really.
Take a look at the Japanese and the Germans... Infiniti Coupe Concept: on the road later this year, SLR concept: one of the most stunning and powerful beasts on asphalt, Honda, BMW, TOYOTA... they all use conceptual designs to guage interest and then take cues from the info and make cars that approximate what the people liked in these concepts. It's pretty simple really.
Now, to give credit where credit is due, the US majors have done this with great success. How about the 05 Mustang concept which made it directly to production? How about the renaissance of Cadillac? How about the upcoming return of the Camaro (you know this will be a hit!)? All of these examples illustrate how the US has created winners by giving the public what it wants.
What I want is to see less of are these outrageous designs, like the new Buick, that get everyone excited, only to let us all down with the lackluster design and execution of what actually hits dealers showrooms. I would be proud to buy American if they put cars like this new concept on the road. But hell will likely freeze over before you ever cach me in a Lucerne!!!