Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Blur
GM makes decisions based upon market trends and consumer responses to those trends.
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Just as every other car manufacturer does the
exact same thing.
Most four-door sedans look very similar to each other regardless of manufacturer. This is partially the result of decades of rounding edges and raising the tail ends of cars to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase fuel economy. You have to look for badging or differences in headlight and grill design just to try to differentiate between the scores of look-alikes.
Or a car manufacturer can chose to deliberately make a unique design that will stand out and can be easily recognized as a specific model or brand. But doing so guarantees a design that some people will love but others will hate. And if more people hate the design than those that love it, then sales are abysmal. The modern sharp-edged Cadillacs were a design risk that paid off. But some people still hate them, including long-time older Cadillac owners (like my Dad).
Going retro and utilizing styling from a legendary vehicle from the past (such as the '69 Camaro coupe) brings instant goodwill with people who remember it and increases the percentage of people who will love the design. The movie industry does the same thing. Sequels to successful movies, remakes of older successful movies, and movie versions of successful television shows are all less risky than making a totally new movie that has to earn its own audience.