General Motors' new model programmes "are finally coming right" after a period throughout the 1990s when "product development was not efficiently organised and the design selection process became badly flawed," said Bob Lutz, GM's vice-chairman in charge of new product development.

The charismatic 72-year-old ex-Chrysler president, responsible for bringing to market some of the industry's most flamboyant cars such as the Dodge Viper, was appointed four years ago to shake up GM's conservative model design and styling.