04-02-2013, 10:20 AM | #1 | |
I used to be Dragoneye...
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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. 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) |
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04-02-2013, 01:55 PM | #2 |
Drives: someday a convertible Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 266
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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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04-02-2013, 02:15 PM | #3 |
I used to be Dragoneye...
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If you can fit them into a '13, you can fit them into a '14.
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04-02-2013, 02:19 PM | #4 |
7 year Cancer Survivor!
Drives: 17 Cruze RS, 07 G6 GT, 99 Astro Join Date: Dec 2007
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Posts: 21,547
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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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04-02-2013, 02:26 PM | #5 |
Drives: 2012 1SS M6 IOM Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Rochelle New York
Posts: 1,428
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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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04-02-2013, 06:48 PM | #6 |
Drives: 2010 SIM SS/RS, 1968 RS convertible Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 744
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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.
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2010 SIM SS/RS see garage for mods
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04-03-2013, 01:39 AM | #7 |
Drives: 2013 ZL1 #2046 Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 223
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Agreed. The interior is clearly the weakest point in the 5th gen package and needs improvement. But I wouldn't want wood inserts either.
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04-03-2013, 07:41 AM | #8 | |
Drives: '11 SW/Beige 2SS RS Manual Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 684
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Quote:
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. |
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04-03-2013, 09:37 AM | #9 |
Drives: 2013 2SS 1LE NPP GBE Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Bay Area, online, & in my 1LE
Posts: 2,667
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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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04-03-2013, 10:01 AM | #10 | |
7 year Cancer Survivor!
Drives: 17 Cruze RS, 07 G6 GT, 99 Astro Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 21,547
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Quote:
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=286381
__________________
Cancer's a bitch! Enjoy life while you can! LIVE, LOVE, DRIVE...
The Bird is the word! |
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04-03-2013, 10:40 AM | #11 | |
Drives: '11 SW/Beige 2SS RS Manual Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 684
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Changing door plastic to suede is a pretty easy DIY or for any upholstery shop. |
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04-03-2013, 02:18 PM | #12 | ||
I used to be Dragoneye...
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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! Quote:
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04-03-2013, 03:35 PM | #13 | ||
Drives: COTW 8/29/11 2010 CAMARO Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: HOMELESS
Posts: 10,010
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04-03-2013, 04:23 PM | #14 | |
Drives: 2013 2SS 1LE NPP GBE Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Bay Area, online, & in my 1LE
Posts: 2,667
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