It only takes one person in charge to change the rules. General Motors was ahead of the game when it came to diversifying the design department. Design director Harley Earl’s so-called  “Damsels of Design” were a group of about a dozen automotive designers. These women  helped shaped the interior and arguably the aesthetics of Cadillacs and Buicks dating back to  1934. The impact of their work culminated in the 1958 Feminine Auto Show and in the visionary Motorama concept car. All held degrees in industrial design. Many attended Cranbrook and Pratt Institute.

Susan Skarsgard, Archive Manager of GM’s Global Industrial Design collection, delivered a compelling presentation of the culture of designers at the City of the Museum of New York as part of the ongoing exhibition Cars, Culture and the City. Her presentation included taped interviews with the former designers reflecting on their roll with the company. Skarsgard didn’t mince word, explaining how Bill Mitchell was determined to oust the women from the ranks of GM designers when he took over the job in 1958, ending an era or progressive work.

The event was capped off with an engaging presentation by Cadillac designer Christine Park who cooly sketched the interior of the Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept and the exterior of the Cadillac Converj on a computer, with the audience looking on. Park spoke to her approach to design as she meticulously shaped lines, citing an orchid as among her inspirations for the XTS interior. “Exterior design is sculptural,” she explained as she moved on to the Converj outlines.  “Sketch is a visual communication,” she said. “Sketching a car is like sketching a building. The wheels are like shoes. They have to be right.”  Also in attendance were Alexandra Dymowska, Creative Designer in Color & Trim for Cadillac and Teckla Rhoads, GM Director of Global Industrial Design, who set the stage for the discussion.

photos: GM and Car of the Century

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Our resident critical artist Lee Quinones is in awe of the Pontiac GXP.

If Pontiac was to go out with a bang on the eve of their demise from the GM landscape, then the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP was the golden child that was just a tad too late. The minute I sat in this thing, it demanded it be driven, and drive it I did. It read to me as in, “I’m taking you out for a spin, Human!”

The interior was crazy comfortable and firm. The leather seats were set to make you feel planted for all the torque in store right in front of you with tasteful and young design on their backs and headrest. The leather steering wheel was formed semi elliptical style for a firm grip by the hand. The six speed shifter was short for quick throws between the cogs and had a vintage Hurst shifter feel to it. Blaupunkt stereo system was endless in sound and quality. The knobs were fairly easy to see and grab at while even shifting the manual transmission. LOL.

The real stereo surround sound didn’t miss a beat though was the exhaust note exiting out of the dual stainless tipped tips out back. It was pure Muscle car music to the keen ear. Just a little wide on the go pedal announced your presence and maybe no horn needed to make heed.

AC system was north pole cold to the max. The Brembo brakes and the sport suspension hip bones on all fours were stern enough to bring the blitz of the 6.2 L to a screech with out looking like a geek. Even a bad driver would look good in a whoa situation.

This 6.2L Sequential fuel injected mill gave any one driving it bragging rights as it could rev rather crisp and steady, yet not fast to reach the red line like a solid cammed motor. Strangely enough, there was no red line indicator on the tach or rev limiter installed. Was this a green light to go red? Fast? It was FAST as in Fast Achieving Street Tyranny.

The limited slip differential with its unknown gear ratio ( Because car companies dare not to tell those numbers anymore) planted the rubber well and gave the 19″ wheels the old school wide track feel that made the Pontiacs of yore so world famous. Last but not least was the body shell, or lack of it. The dual hood nostrils were cool but the rest needed some CPR in muscle car appeal. Give it some curves while keeping it boxy as well via a good two door design platform and you’ve got a GTO meets GXP meets Firebird meets Super Duty winner all the way to the podium.

Much respects to the Poncho tribe as you have made quite some noise from 1964 till now. Rest in Peace till you are resurrected again. Hire me as the visual consultant and we will rule the streets and hearts once again baby.

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