GM design boss: New Corvette keeps old-time knobs, dials

• The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette will look familiar inside
• The emphasis is on basic controls%2C like knobs and switches
• Infotainment systems%27 complexity has hurt quality scores of many automakers

The automotive world has fallen in love with touch screens and voice control. but General Motors thinks there is room for easy-to-understand, old-school controls that actually work.

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette will come with traditional dials and knobs that will be familiar to drivers, says Ed Welburn, GM's design chief.

That's in contrast to today's Cadillac's "capacitive" controls on vehicles like the Cadillac, with its Cadillac User Experience system. Those fancy infotainment system have been tripping up automakers in the closely watched J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Survey. While GM fared well in the survey, infotainment systems accounted for 22% of all problems.

Hence, the argument for simpler controls -- knobs and switches that anyone can understand. At least older buyers will appreciate them.

"You do have to be very sensitive about [capacitive-touch buttons], and I think different age groups have different opinions," Welburn says. "It's a moving target. It's taken a lot of our resources."

Welburn owns a 1995 Corvette convertible as well as a Cadillac CTS-V coupe and a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro — and he plans to buy a new 'Vette.