Dear General Motors…

I should start by saying I haven’t every bought an American car. I’m not exactly proud of that, but my Nissan 300z was amazing, I really enjoyed my Toyota Supra (how could I not,) and then I went all responsible with a BMW sedan. I’ve enjoyed my cars, but I’ve always had a desire to support American brands and put money back in the American economy. So, when Chevy announced the Volt - I was proud and excited. Chevy had finally realized that they should stop cranking out tired old conservative designs. They realized it was important to stop competing with Ford for lamest body shapes on the road, and were going to learn from the Saturn convertible they launched (it’s quite pretty.)

The Volt was it - a green machine cranked out by an American auto manufacturer that looked freaking COOL. Well, the production model has had some pre-release photos leaked and I’m afraid they are going to confirm my fears - that American auto makers are just plain stupid. I’ve walked the halls of some US design schools - there is plenty of creative design talent. I see cars like the Prius somehow put an attractive, and VERY UNIQUE spin car design. Every year or so another interesting shape rolls off the line from Honda, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, Mini, Audi, and others. And the best looking Chevy is the Malibu? Come on! The Pontiac line was getting some life in it, but since the Solstice (same car as the Saturn) it seems to have gone cold in GM land.

So what is the problem? Does GM think playing it safe means cranking out lame cars for retirees is the way to salvation? Do they think their brand is safe and they can’t experiment? For god’s sake - it’s a freaking electric car! The prototype was AWESOME - let it live.

I hope I’m wrong. I hope the teaser photos are misleading and GM is going to surprise us with the Volt it designed and showed the world. I will buy one. But if they roll another lame duck off the line, they may sell a few cars - but it will likely signal that the brand has no balls and never will. Dear General Motors, this is your chance to win back the Gen X’rs and build your brand back for Gen Y and the Millennial generation. The Volt can do it, but you have to go big or Toyota and Honda will be the next generation of American car companies (and in case you haven’t noticed, they are Japanese.)