Ed Welbourne, GM's legendary chief designer, in an interview with “Driving. Russia” about how to paint electric cars after the iconic Corvette and Camaro.
Ed velbourne
Ed Welbourne Ed Welbourne
- I will say right away that it’s not easy to paint gasoline cars. In the Chevrolet Volt, on which we worked, there was a problem - where to attach the batteries? Planning space was not easy. It was necessary to save it for passengers, but for batteries to find a place. In addition, batteries must be protected. No less problem - to maintain the correct aerodynamic shape. As a designer, it’s very interesting for me to work with electric cars and solve new problems.
Ed Welbourne and Cruze Station Wagon
Ed Welbourne and Cruze Station Wagon Ed Welbourne and Cruze Station Wagon
Compared with large cars with compact cars, it’s much harder to work, because customers expect to get the same comfort as large cars. A small car should be cheaper by definition, and it consists of the same number of elements as a large one. Compact is more difficult to give the correct aerodynamic shape. Because of all this, success in creating a compact is more difficult.
Cadillac ats
Cadillac ATS. Ed also had a hand in the Cadillac ATS. Ed had a hand in him too.
- Take the Chevrolet. This is a world brand; cars are sold everywhere, including in Russia. If you would create a car for our country, how would you act?
- I would first take a closer look. I will have such an opportunity this year at the Moscow Motor Show.
- It turns out that the Chevrolet that we drive does not quite match your view of the car that the Russians need?
- Not really, there is a general approach and there are Russian requirements that our cars satisfy. In addition, we also have a jointly created car - Chevrolet Niva. Therefore, everything is not so bad!
- Well, see you in Moscow.
- See you.
