WHEEL WOMAN
Seeing it from concept to completion was a designer’s dream come true
THE MAN BEHIND THE XTS
We’ve all drawn cars. My car drawings always look the same. I start with three half-bubbles, draw wheel wells for the tires and a cross in the larger middle bubble to denote doors and windows. Primitive, but definitely a car.
Hoon Kim from Korea can’t remember when he first started drawing cars. For him, it’s been always, even in his head, before he could hold a pencil. He also can’t remember a day passing that he didn’t dream about a career designing cars.
Today, Hoon Kim is living his dream in Detroit as Lead Exterior Designer for the 2013 Cadillac XTS.
I’m chatting with Hoon, standing next to his creation about to be unveiled at the Canadian International Auto Show. He is shy at first, but as he describes the design process, his enthusiasm and passion begin to emerge.
Hoon came to North America as a determined 19-year-old. He concentrated on learning English during his first two years in Illinois, then moved to California and began classes at the Art Center in Pasadena.
Since he has always loved Cadillacs, he knew that heading to Detroit would move him forward toward his goal of designing vehicles. Four years and a degree from the College for Creative Studies later, he was hired by General Motors.
We talk about the concept-to-completion process for the gorgeous, fluid luxury sedan in front of us. A team of 15 designers essentially compete against each other to come up with a theme that will fit the mandate to design a mid-size Cadillac. In the case of the XTS, the designers were told what the interior volume of the vehicle would be.
Once a theme is chosen, the ‘winning’ designer becomes the lead on the vehicle. Hoon’s theme for the XTS ‘efficient luxury’ was chosen. Let the designing begin!
After hundreds and hundreds of sketches, third-scale models are created, some in clay, some using a computer design program. Twelve third-scale models of the XTS were produced. Once the proportions are correct, full-scale models are made from clay. There were three of these for the XTS.
Hoon describes all of this as “the easy part.” Applying the safety regulations to the design is the tough part. He also knew the XTS would have 19- or 20-inch wheels. This presents another challenge. Designing a vehicle from the ground up is rare.
I liken it to having a new pair of shoes that I’m dying to wear. I have to put together an outfit from the feet up. I keep the thought to myself.
It’s been three years since Hoon began work on the XTS. How could he have known then that the vehicle on the stage before us would look good in the world of the moment? A vehicle designer doesn’t have a crystal ball, but he or she has to be somewhat of a futurist, savvy about what will be stylish and fashionable three to five years down the road. A new vehicle has to retain its physical appeal. The design must be classic, not trendy. It has to be of-themoment but also have staying power. To me, that seems like the biggest challenge of design.
I’m hoping that Hoon lets slip what he’s currently working on, but he’s tight-lipped and tells me that I’ll have to wait three years.
He diverts my attention by leading me around the vehicle. The Cadillac XTS is sinewy and taut, sharp lines mix poetically with curved silhouettes, creating a look that Hoon describes as “fabric stretched over metal.” The front grille is bold and the distinctive vertical lamps at the four corners are most definitely Cadillac.
The back haunches of the XTS are angular, with touches of chrome framing the third window just in front of the C-pillar.
The result is a back seat full of light, a feeling of airiness inside the vehicle, increased rear and side visibility for the driver, and a sporty, classy look for the XTS.
The pride I see in Hoon’s eyes tells me that he loves his creation.
“When the light hits that area, we want it to be expressive, we want it to shine,” he explains.
It’s obvious it was totally worth the many, many adjustments, sometimes less than one millimetre at a time, that it took to get it “just right.”
Hoon is particularly proud of how the XTS looks as if moving when it’s standing still. He is genuinely excited about the prospect of me seeing it on the road in the flesh.
By now, Hoon is warmed up, but alas, the time allotted to me for the interview is up.
We joke about how awesome it will be when he parks the XTS along a busy street, and a passerby might exclaim, “What a beautiful car!”
He can say, “Thanks, I drew it myself.”
The 2013 Cadillac XTS, built at GM’S Oshawa assembly plant, will be in dealerships in late spring of 2012. Go feast your eyes.
Follow Lisa on Twitter: @Frontlady and email her at lisa.calvi@gmail. com