Camaro5 NYIAS Interview Series (3/7): Helen Emsley on Camaro Interior
Interview 3/7...Feel free to ask any questions - and I may be able to elaborate. :thumbsup: I'd like to take an opportunity and point out, for folks that don't know who Helen is...she has a phenomenal understanding of her products. And she's so passionate about doing good interiors!! Her team inherited the initial Camaro interior - and the resulting changes were made. For reference...the entire C7 Corvette interior was Helen and her team. So - IMHO, expect more good things about of GM's performance cars and trucks thanks to her direction. Also, during this interview, Helen brought me over to the Z/28 to have a seat in the new Recaro seats...they are VERY comfortable. I have to make a comparison...I've sat in two different Recaro seats thus far...the Cadillac CTS-V, and the '13 GT500. These are much better than the Mustangs, and right on par with the Cadillac, in my opinion. They are FAR and away more comfortable than the GT500s...more supportive, too. And I'd say that they're slightly more supportive than the CTS-Vs, however they don't have as many power features. Quote:
Interview 1: Mark Stielow (Chief Engineer of Z/28) Interview 2: John Fitzpatrick (Marketing Manager for Chevrolet Performance Cars) Interview 3: Helen Emsley (Director of Interior Design for Performance Cars) Interview 4: Mary Barra (GM Senior Vice President, Global Product Development) Interview 5: Russ Clark (Director of Marketing, Performance Cars) Interview 6: Tom Peters (Director, Exterior Design) Interview 7: Ed Welburn (Vice President of Global Design) |
Not sure if Hellen can answer this question. Will you be able to fit a set of golf clubs in the trunk of the 2014 convertible? Thanks in advance.
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Did you ask about the bubbling dash inserts on the 2012's. is there a fix for it now?
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Will the new Z/28 have hill assist? if it does, will it have a feature to turn it off?
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I like her thinking. The new Corvette is crazy good on the inside.
For the 6th gen Camaro, I hope the design layout changes to be a bit more refined and looses the 'basic' feel. Not European by any means, but upscale musclecar. :becky: |
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Too much hard plastic is a given. Door panels and dash. They look OK when brand new but scratch easily. I've scratched the heck out of my door panel with my watch & ring, reaching back for my seat belt. The door panel design looks great but I don't care at all for the chrome loop interior door handles. The loop is just not a convenient design. This is a case where the standard/average design just makes more sense. An L-Shaped handle (or better yet, button like the Corvette) is just easier to use. They finally got rid of the hideous "Lost in Space robot" looking radio/head unit and replaced it with a much better looking color screen. But there's still something about the center stack area that looks a bit like an afterthought. That area could use a little re-work in the 6th gen. I still think the AC/Heat vent above the radio should be improved. A change was made here in 2012 but it still looks wrong IMO - it wasn't really an improvment - just a change. This vent area is one of the first things that everyone in the car sees. It should be somewhat of a jewel in the interior. And I really dislike the two "knobs" on either side of this vent used to change air direction. They just exude cheap. Other knobs in the interior have a much better effort in the "perceived quality" category. For example, the HUD and Headlight knobs are nicely designed with a little chrome trim that make them look a lot more expensive than they are. Some kind of treatment needs to be done to the heat/ac vent knobs. And c'mon, it's 2013... it's beyond ridiculous that there is no OPTION for automatic climate control. I'm one of the "set it and forget it" people when it comes to climante control. In this car, I have to adjust it constantly. Contrary to the changes made to the rear of the car for 2014, I like all of the changes made to the interior thus far - so Kudos to Helen ! A few more tweaks and this interior could really rock. |
Helen, what is IP? I want to shed the plastic shields on the door. PLEASE create an OEM option for spares part purchase. Would love a suede panel in there. Same with all the gray plastic.
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http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=286381 |
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Changing door plastic to suede is a pretty easy DIY or for any upholstery shop. |
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I get the feeling that the performance interiors team understands what they're designing...look at the Corvette...no wood, and that interior is absolutely breath-taking! :D Quote:
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It's got to be extremely challenging for designers to do anything to the exterior to improve it. And I think the 2014 rear end is a case in point. The overall design of the interior is pretty nice. It's the perceived quality category that needs some more attention IMO. |
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http://gsi.xw.gm.com/newsi/images/gmLogoFlat.gif Service Information 2012 Chevrolet Camaro | Camaro VIN F Service Manual | Document ID: 3285069 #PIC5718B: Instrument Panel (IP) Center Soft Insert Above Radio Center Stack Appears Deformed or Wrinkled - (Feb 8, 2013) Subject: Instrument Panel (IP) Center Soft Insert Above Radio Center Stack Appears Deformed or Wrinkled http://gsi.xw.gm.com/images/999999995.gifModels: 2012 - 2013 Chevrolet Camaro This PI was superseded to update parts availability. Please discard PIC5718A. The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI. Condition/Concern Some customers may comment that the dash pad area surrounding the radio center stack appears to be deformed or wrinkled. This area may be slightly to the left or right of the center stack, or even directly above it, as shown in the picture below. Some customers may comment that this trim piece was not like this when the car was new. Dealers may comment that the service replacement trim piece is similar in appearance when it had been removed from the packaging. They may also notice that after this trim piece has been replaced and exposed to direct sunlight for some time, the concern has reoccurred. http://gsi.xw.gm.com/image_en_us/gif...97/2897713.gifhttp://gsi.xw.gm.com/images/tif.gif Recommendation/Instructions This parts issue has been resolved and new stock is currently available at GM CCA for this concern. Order a new dash pad as needed to resolve this issue on customer vehicles. GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information. http://gsi.xw.gm.com/image_en_us/gif.../999999994.gif WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION © 2013 General Motors. All rights reserved. |
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