GM Presents those 'Simple Bare Necessities' Concepts

GM Bare Necessity Car

By Thami Masemola
August 11, 2009 11:02 PM
Filed Under: Alternative Fuel, American, Concept Car, General Motors, Green

The new GM's plan to interact better with the world is working quite well seemingly. Users of the online forum at GMblogs are quite impressed with the company's plans for better, more fuel-efficient vehicles. During one of the discussions on the company's Eco Initiative project GM designers explained how difficult it is to meet customer expectations when it comes to eco-friendliness because different customers have different ideas of what eco-friendly means.

For GM one of the most fundamental definitions goes to the idea of saving weight. That means unnecessary features are stripped off to make room for what may be termed as Bare Necessities which is applied to all vehicles including trucks and smaller cars. A number of the blog's users suggested a diesel motor and better aerodynamics for Bare Necessities Trucks as examples of eco-friendliness. The designers and engineers may end up taking some of these thoughts into the final truck product, as well as using lighter construction materials.

For smaller cars like the Bare Necessities Car some of the same principles can be applied, such as eliminating non-critical features as per customer needs while using the minimum of parts and sustainable materials. Quite a challenge considering that one man's critical feature may be another one's luxury.

 

Source: GM Lab

Comments

Lemon
August 11, 2009 11:10 PM
"For GM one of the most fundamental definitions goes to the idea of saving weight. That means unnecessary features are stripped off to make room for what may be termed as Bare Necessities which is applied to all vehicles including trucks and smaller cars."

Let's apply that thought to the ZR1 and sell it with a set of sticky R-comps :)

Renegade
August 11, 2009 11:33 PM
Another "brilliant" idea from our gov. Why don't replace the seats with cardboard boxes and the windows with plastic foil, will that be enough comrades?

Narco
August 12, 2009 3:33 PM
Sounds like it's enough for you and your paranoia. They did the best they could in very trying times.

Interesting....back in 2003, when you criticized the gov for invading a country that had nothing to do with 9/11, you were called a traitor....now when you criticize the gov for doing the best they could in the worst financial crisis in 80 years (while you yourself have no good ideas), you are a patriot..................go figure.


Edited by user on August 12, 2009 at 3:41 PM
foose1397
August 11, 2009 11:50 PM
This concept is great as long as they don't do it in the GM way. Having a car with less and having it be lighter is a great idea. AS LONG AS, which is important, it isn't done by the management and marketing team. Having less in a car is great (so many cars have become over ridin with heavy extras), however that doesn't mean the materials should be less quality. Simple design not short cut design.

klitemaster1000
August 12, 2009 2:15 AM
Im seeing the Tata of North America emerging from the old company.

archytype
August 12, 2009 4:26 AM
All i need is AWD for the winter and 0-60 in 4sec for the summer. This isn't as parkable as my motorcycle, and the design is Terrible. Viva las 3rd world America! Is Homer Simpson chief engineer again?

ExoticCarOwner
August 12, 2009 5:29 AM
I like the style of the truck. Not feeling the whole "back to basics" theme though.

car-o-bar
August 12, 2009 5:41 AM
Now that what I call a stunning concept. Build it GM, and show the world that you are not lost, yet.


Edited by user on August 12, 2009 at 5:42 AM
astroturf777
August 12, 2009 12:12 PM
hmmm... let's make all cqaars customised to individual buyers... while undercutting korea prices?? not possible. you want a custom car you pay a lot more

die.bahnfahrer
August 12, 2009 1:38 PM
GM will go back to basics? I recon they already there...

(if you compare interieur quality and satnav to real car manufactureres)

Lutzie
August 15, 2009 8:14 AM
They look like rebodied Fiat 500s. Which is no bad thing.

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