I like to use Porsche as an example of depth (the number of iterations within a model).

they have 15 versions of the Panamera, 5 of which are hybrids.

the selection offered to the consumer is beyond belief.

and then you layer on the ability to option the car to preference

lexus is hopeless next to them

 

Not sure how I could be any more clear. As Allen K mentioned, the problem was what to replace my IS-F with once I found out I couldn't replace it with another IS-F. I never cast glances elsewhere until it started becoming apparent there wasn't going to be a 3rd gen IS-F.

Note I got the Cayman for my DD, not the Cayenne.

 

Because we see what the American and European studios produce, and the Japanese are lacking.

Lexus LF-FC concept, designed in Newport Beach by CALTY vs the production LS500 designed in Japan as an example.

 

Just because you don't like the styling of the designed-in-Japan models, but prefer American- or European-designed models does not make Japanese designers incompetent.

Reaction to styling is entirely subjective: You may not like a particular style while others may; that does not make the style bad or the stylists incompetent.

 

Look at GM, the Encore in particular. The interior design was handled by a young woman in China. What happened? The quality went way up. The examples are numerous, but a simple one is that the wires to the rearview mirror were clad in a clamshell, as they are in Euro cars. The newer Envision, has a rearview mirror similar to Cadillac, which is a throwback to Eric Clapton and BB King doing, "Riding with the King." The mirror is electronic, yet has no frame. imho whether or not these designs are seen, are controlled by the car co. So I would agree, as the designer, I can provide really good design, but it may not make it to production....

 

Designing and building are two separate things. You can design a great looking car, but if the manufacturer decides to use tinfoil to make the car, the design becomes pointless.

 

Let's not confuse style design with engineering design. Style design is how it looks (whether the interior rearview mirror has a bezel (frame around the glass), for example); engineering design is to translate the style to something that is safe, usable and can be manufactured effectively and efficiently.

It is possible that a style design cannot be effectively and cost-efficiently manufactured, so the engineers may have to modify a style to make it work. A few years ago, a rearview mirror without a bezel was not possible to mass manufacture; it is now, but it may still be expensive to do so, such that the automaker would not use it on a small, low-margin car, but may decide to use it on a larger, premium model.

 

No. The Encore, like the Verano, Cascada, and current-generation Regal, are reliable and well-built because they are essentially re-badged German Opels. Recent Opel products have had a good reputation for quality.....and have been one of the main factors bringing Buick, in general, up to level (#3) behind only Lexus and Toyota in reliability.