Car Interior Motives

[Sci-Fi]

From Auto.Com:



The Mini Cooper has cabin detailing that includes a door pull and armrest that look like something from an amusement park ride.

Terry Duncan remembers a pecking order among U.S. car designers 10 or 15 years ago.

"If you were a great designer, you did show cars. If you were good, production cars. And if you weren't much good at all, you did interiors," said Duncan, Ford's design manager for product strategies, color and materials.

No more. With consumers flocking to brands known for attractive, well-crafted cabins (think Volkswagen, Audi and Lexus), domestic automakers have revamped their design organizations in ways that are bringing interior design to the fore.

The idea is to create more beautiful, better-built interiors, areas in which domestic designers freely admit they've lagged behind key European and Japanese rivals.

A mantra of GM and other manufacturers is that exteriors sell the customer, but interiors bring them back. And when a driver climbs inside, sensory perceptions of shapes, color, textures, even aromas, can make or break the attitude toward the car, Asensio said.

Several domestic models offer encouraging signs that manufacturers are looking inside for inspiration. Ford's all-new Lincoln Navigator. Chrysler's Jeep Liberty, Dodge Ram and especially the upcoming Chrysler Crossfire sports car. GM's Pontiac Vibe and the Solstice concept two-seater.

Many designers say it's not magic but simple attention to detail that's made VW and Audi the darlings of interior fashion. It's not just about throwing money at interiors either. Cars like the VW New Beetle and BMW's new Mini Cooper are notable for their fresh, alluring cabins, yet both list for well under $20,000.

Davis added that although manufacturers can draw interior lessons from Europe and Japan, U.S. automakers can't play a me-too game.

"North America needs to discover its own focus, establish its own aesthetic and not just mimic Japan and Germany."