Classic style won't fade, designer says

The coupe aims for sporty, while the sedan stays with conservative.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
LOS ANGELES -- The Chevrolet Cobalt design is meant to be upscale, but not trendy, its lead designer says.
Flashy, eye-catching designs last only a couple years before buyers start to think they are dated, said Phillip Zak, GM's design manager for small- and midsize cars.
He wanted a European, classic look, especially for the sedan.
"That doesn't have a freshness date on it," he said.
Also, a radical design doesn't work for a car that's intended to be a high-volume seller, he said.
"If you are stylish or trendy, it limits your market opportunities," he said.
The Cobalt has a body that tapers and wheels that protrude slightly to give the car a well-proportioned flare, Zak said.
"We wanted to have a premium, upscale look," he said.
Sedan and coupe
The sedan is meant for conservative buyers who like an understated design, he said. The coupe should appeal to the sportier market.
"We played up the fast, side-view profile," he said.
The look is achieved with wrap-around glass on the sides and a tapering of the roof line.
To gain this appearance, the rear headroom in the coupe is a bit smaller than in the sedan.
The dual, rounded taillights on the coupe are modeled after those on the Chevrolet Corvette, Zak said. Designers liked the look so much that they started calling the Cobalt the baby brother of the Corvette, Zak said.
The coupe was more fun to design because the goal was to provide a sporty appearance, he said. Designing sedans tends to be more like connecting the dots between the roof, hood and other lines, he said.
Lori Queen, GM vehicle line executive for small cars, said the lower roof line on the coupe adds to that version's sporty appearance.
The sedan offers a higher seating position for drivers who prefer to have a "command of the road" feeling.
Zak also is excited about the option that buyers have of placing 18-inch wheels on the supercharged Cobalt, compared with 15-inch wheels on the base model.
"That's going to look phenomenal," he said.
shilling@vindy.com