Americans are increasingly fascinated by how their cars are designed. Auto designers are now celebrities, and the look of one"s car has become as important as the clothes one wears. American Car Design Now is the first book to explore the creative process behind the making of more than thirty contemporary models that embody the trends of the future. It also assesses the success of these cars from a design perspective. In this revealing volume-the product of more than three years of research-the author shares insights gained from unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the notoriously secretive and guarded design studios of DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors and in-depth interviews with their top designers. The author delves into the individual characters in the industry and shows how their different creative and managerial techniques translate to the finished models. What is the state of car design in the United States today, at the outset of the twenty-first...