FastLane

By Susan Docherty
Vice President, North American Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing

Wow, I feel like I’ve been waiting for this day to arrive for months. Spring is finally here and what better place to be during this season than New York City. Today is special for another reason…”big” announcements for Buick, Pontiac, GMC at the New York Auto Show. The all-new 2010 GMC Terrain, a five-passenger crossover SUV, took center stage at this morning’s press event making its world debut. We also introduced the GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid and announced pricing for the 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan.

GMC is a strong, core brand for GM and the Terrain crossover SUV is the latest example of how we’re adapting to today’s changing market conditions. The 2010 GMC Terrain is an appealing choice for traditional SUV customers who love the capability of an SUV, but for various reasons want a smaller package with better fuel efficiency. The Terrain’s new, 2.4L four-cylinder engine features direct injection and is expected to deliver best-in-segment highway fuel economy of 30 mpg!

We know our customers are going to be thrilled with the bold styling, premium features (standard rear vision camera, remote vehicle start, USB audio connectivity; MP3 playback and Programmable power rear liftgate to name a few..) and the fuel economy of the all-new Terrain.

GMC’s 2009 Yukon Denali Hybrid also made its world debut today. It is a luxurious, full-size SUV that seats eight, tows up to 5,800 pounds (2,636 kg) and achieves an estimated 21 miles per gallon in city driving, thanks to the engineering excellence of the Yukon’s patented 2-mode hybrid system. The GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid will arrive in May at Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealer showrooms. It joins the Yukon Hybrid and Sierra Hybrid pickup truck in the GMC hybrid lineup, making GMC the first manufacturer to offer three full-size hybrid models.

We are thrilled that our new Buick flagship, the 2010 Buick LaCrosse will soon be arriving in BPG dealerships. The LaCrosse offers a choice of two advanced, fuel-saving V-6 engines; all-wheel drive; and a suite of advanced intelligent personal technologies and safety features. We announced today that pricing for the CX model, with a long list of standard features, starts at $27,835 including a $750 destination charge. Our Buick customers want a premium vehicle without a premium price, and they’ll get an outstanding value with our new LaCrosse.

The BPG showroom just keeps getting better. Be sure to check out the 2010 Terrain crossover SUV at www.gmc.com and the 2010 Buick luxury sedan at www.buick.com. And if you’re looking for more info on the benefits of direct injection, join the conversation with Ecotec engine chief engineer Chris Meagher today at 3:30 p.m. EDT on the @gmblogs Twitter account. Direct injection technology is part of what helps vehicles like the GMC Terrain get better fuel economy without sacrificing horsepower, and Chris will be available to respond to your questions and comments about it.

By Chris Borroni-Bird
Director of Advanced Technology Vehicle Concepts

Imagine large cities like, Shanghai, New York and London without traffic congestion. Imagine working or socializing inside your vehicle while it drives you. This may seem far-fetched but the technology exists right now to make it possible.

GM has been on a journey to reinvent the automobile since 2001.The answer is a new DNA that combines electric drive with vehicles that can communicate wirelessly with each other. This convergence can transform personal mobility in a way that addresses energy, the environment, safety, congestion and parking in our cities and towns. The result is Project P.U.M.A., which stands for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility.

The P.U.M.A. prototype is developed by Segway and GM and combines lithium-ion batteries, motors in each wheel for propulsion, steering and braking, plus vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communications and autonomous driving. This prototype can carry two seated passengers, can travel at speeds up to 35 miles per hour with a range of up to 35 miles, and produces zero emissions. It is one quarter the size of an average sedan and one quarter as light - it can turn on a dime, is safe to drive, easy and fun to use, and it frees up parking space in urban environments.

I think P.U.M.A. is a great name for this type of vehicle. It seems to move in an almost biological manner because it balances on two wheels while actually sliding backwards and forwards in motion as it glides along its path. When coming to a stop, the vehicle tips forward, like it is politely bowing down to let the passengers out for their destination!

We’ve created a short video of the first generation project P.U.M.A. vehicle, showing how it moves and how it can talk to other vehicles on the road. Future generations will have unique designs that can be very expressive.

Now you have our vision for one possibility of what future mobility may look like, please let us know your thoughts.

The All-new 2010 GMC Terrain will be unveiled in New York on Wednesday, April 8. Yvonne Zisler, Lead Development Engineer and Dave Smidebush, Director, Buick, Pontiac, GMC Marketing will be answering all your questions via Webchat from Detroit from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Dave and Yvonne will also field questions and comments from our friends over at AutoInsane.

Wednesday, at the 2009 New York International Auto Show, General Motors will unveil GMC’s all-new 2010 Terrain. Designers Ron Aselton, Steve McCabe and Jason Diehl and Global Vehicle Chief Engineer, Bob Reuter, give us a first glance at a five-passenger crossover SUV that blends bold styling with fuel efficiency and premium features. Enjoy!

On Wednesday, April 8 we will have Yvonne Zisler, Lead Development Engineer and Hugh Milne, Marketing Manager for an in-depth online discussion on the GMC Terrain. Stay tuned.

By Frank Weber
Global Vehicle Line Executive, Voltec System, Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera

It was just about two years ago my family moved from Germany, where I was part of the Opel engineering team, to the United States to join the Chevrolet Volt team.  We haven’t regretted a moment. My family and I believe the Chevrolet Volt is something truly transformational for our industry.

Yet while Detroit is where I live, Germany is my “home,” which is why I’m excited to meet with European media and provide them with an update on the development on the Volt and Voltec system. While I am there, I’ll also take some time to visit my Alma Matter, the Technical University of Darmstat, to visit with the students.

The timing of this visit is especially important.  There’s a great deal of anticipation for the reveal of the Voltec powered Opel Ampera at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The Ampera extended-range electric vehicle will be well suited to the daily driving habits of most European customers who regularly travel less than the Ampera’s 60 km all-electric range.   Most importantly, the Ampera will be true to its roots by offering the distinctive styling, dynamic efficiency, versatility and affordability European customers have come to expect from Opel.

I’ll also be using this opportunity to address comparisons between the Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt and the ever-growing number of extended-range, “range-extended” and battery electric vehicle offerings by manufacturers from around the world.  This may seem like a tall task, but the reality is that most comparisons end with anyone of the responses below:

• The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt are production programs designed to meet the needs of thousands of customers (not a modified production vehicle for fleet or demo drives.)
• The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt will meet all safety standards for North America, Europe and Asia.
• The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt will give most drivers a petroleum-free daily driving experience without range-anxiety associated with battery electric vehicles
• The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt will offer a fun and highly refined driving experience

Simply put, we like how the Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt will measure up against the competition.  And knowing this, makes going home even easier.

By Alan Adler
Biofuels Communications Manager

As the 2009 North American International Auto Show comes to a close this weekend, there’s no doubt it has been decidedly about electric propulsion this year, especially for GM with the production Chevy Volt, the concept Cadillac Converj and battery pack manufacturing in Michigan.

Which leads to a fair question of contrast with the 2008 auto show: Where is ethanol? Last year’s press days largely revolved around the promise of cellulosic ethanol with GM’s investment in Coskata.

But when you think about it, the technology news at the auto show rarely has the same emphasis in back-to-back years any more than the Super Bowl features the same teams from one year to the next. GM has multiple approaches to advanced propulsion, including improved internal combustion engines, flex-fuel, hybrids, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cells. All have significant dedicated engineering resources, and the best stories – like the best football teams playing on Super Bowl Sunday – are told at the auto shows.

In 2006, ethanol made it big with the “Live Green, Go Yellow” commercials that kicked off during Super Bowl XL, followed by heavy promotion of corn-based ethanol for flex-fuel vehicles the next week at the Chicago Auto Show.

In 2007, electrification was the buzz word as GM showcased the Volt concept for the first time with what we now call the Voltec electric propulsion system. The Volt concept highlighted both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell sources because both will be integral in the future. And the Volt production vehicle will also be available with a flex-fuel engine.

You’ve heard the GM mantra that “there is no silver bullet” for advanced propulsion. Technology is not forgotten because it doesn’t get a huge push during auto show season.

Removing the automobile from the energy debate will require multiple energy pathways because some propulsion technologies are simply better suited to certain types of vehicles and driving activities.

As for ethanol, most of the effort by producers today is focused on biomass – plants, grasses and wood waste that are not used for food. Two commercial plants are on target for 2011 startup and a handful of others are reaching the pilot stage. Corn is still the primary source for ethanol, which is blended at 10 percent into most gasoline and mixed with 15 percent gasoline to be sold as E85.

Despite the recent price inversion which has made wholesale gasoline cheaper than ethanol, the number of fueling stations offering E85 or installing pumps to handle it is growing – recently passing 1,900 according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. In Illinois alone, there are 205 stations offering E85 compared with 166 a year ago.

Sunday at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, General Motors unveiled a ‘rolling review’ of our current and upcoming products as well as some potential future ones. We wanted to show the world just what GM offers and the best of today’s GM. Lesley Hettinger from the GM social media team shot this video of the rally, the parade and some of the vehicles. Enjoy! -Christopher Barger, Director Global Communications Technology

Susan Docherty
Buick-Pontiac-GMC Vice President

It’s always interesting working on the launch of a new product, especially one that’s been absolutely redesigned from the ground up. There are creative challenges, and inspiring moments and rewards when the plan comes together. It takes the experience, expertise and confidence of a world-class team to pull off a launch, and that’s the kind of team I have had the pleasure of working with.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse will be ‘officially’ revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, but we revealed photography of the all-new luxury sedan on the morning of January 8. The response has been incredible and gratifying to everyone who worked on this project! We believe that the 2010 LaCrosse is the great next step in the renaissance of Buick, after the strides already made by the Buick crossover, Enclave. Motor Trend agreed.

This world-class sedan has a sculpted exterior design that is instantly recognizable as a Buick, especially with the signature waterfall grill and “sweep spear” body-side styling. LaCrosse is for buyers who want a modern sedan without excess. The interior is crafted from premium materials like warm wood, smoked chrome accents along with French stitching on the instrument panel that is combined with cool blue ambient lighting that relaxes the driver in a library quiet environment. See what AutoWeek said about the interior here.

Read the rest of this entry »

With the North American International Auto Show only days away here in Detroit, we thought we’d give you a pre-Auto Show video sneak peek at the three vehicles we’ll be launching during the show.

Of course we’ll have lots more news right here on FastLane, beginning Sunday, when the auto show kicks off a few days of press events. So be sure to keep checking in for updates from GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, as well as our team on the show floor. - Will Stewart, blog editor

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox:

The 2010 Cadillac SRX:

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse:

GM CEO Rick Wagoner and Vice President Ed Welburn Jr. introduce the Buick Invicta concept vehicle last week during the Beijing Auto Show. - Will Stewart, blog editor