GM Facebook Page Fan of the Week: 2010 2SS Camaro

May 3, 2013

This week, the General Motors Facebook Fan of the week was Nathalie Roy Gaston Pelletier and his 2010 2SS Camaro!

“We were trying to find a 69 Camaro and never had any luck finding one. One day, we passed by a Chevrolet dealer in Gatineau, Quebec and saw this amazing Camaro in the lot and we fell in love with it right away. When we purchased the car we only made minor adjustments – the car had a red stripe on the hood and we had the color changed to orange stripes. We also painted the wheels (white outside and orange inside).

Since we have had this car we have met many other Camaro enthusiasts and made some wonderful friends. Everytime we take our camaro out on town we get many compliments on how beautiful it is.”

Would you like to be featured as the GM Facebook Fan Photo of the Week? Head over to the GM Facebook page and share your photo with us!

Chevrolet Cruze Diesel: Why Diesel? Why Now? – Cristi Landy

April 26, 2013

Here at Chevrolet, we are always looking for new ways to meet our customers’ needs. This spring, Chevrolet is introducing our Chevy Cruze with a 2.0L turbo diesel engine—offering a domestic diesel option in the non-luxury car segment as well as viable solution to the need for increased MPG without sacrificing performance. In addition, the engine on the Cruze diesel is one of the cleanest turbo engines General Motors has ever produced.

We’ve seen that diesels are still a niche market for cars, but there is a lot of growth currently happening here in the U.S., and many customers are extremely enthusiastic about diesel. Specifically, we chose to offer the Cruze in North America because we have already seen success with a similar vehicle in Europe. Here in the US, diesel passenger car buyers are limited- we hope to bring new people into the brand by offering a refined and well contented option.

Customers will also be able to tell the difference in performance when they get behind the wheel—it definitely has a different character than the traditional gas engine. The diesel has more torque and better acceleration while maintaining a smooth and quiet ride at highway speeds. People who love a powerful engine will definitely like driving the Cruze diesel—it really is a great reliable and durable technology and quite frankly, is fun to drive.

What’s great about the diesel is that it offers great highway fuel economy, power and torque. So it’s a fantastic option for those who want hybrid-like fuel economy and range without sacrificing performance.

The Cruze Diesel will eventually be available nationwide, but we will start by selling it in 13 key markets where diesel vehicles have already had high sales. We’re happy to offer the Cruze diesel and know we have an enthusiastic group of customers eager to drive one.

We are certainly excited about the entry of the Cruze and think it is going to continue to bring in new customers to the brand. With more than half of all diesel purchases occurring in the passenger car segment, diesel is becoming more popular. We are pleased to be the first domestic passenger car diesel available in the US – and eager to become a leader in the segment.

Cristi Landy is the product marketing director for Chevrolet small cars, which currently include the Volt, Cruze, Sonic and Spark. Landy joined General Motors in 1989 as a product engineer for Saturn. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of positions in engineering, marketing and program management.

OnStar becomes the first non-emergency service company to receive EMD Accreditation

April 17, 2013

Here at OnStar, we take our customers’ safety very seriously, and we are extremely excited to be the first non-emergency service, private company to receive Accreditation as an Emergency Medical Center of Excellence.

Since April 2010, we’ve provided a service called First Assist , which allows specially trained OnStar emergency advisors to use Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) in order to provide necessary medical guidance to people in need while they wait for first responders to arrive.

In order to become a certified emergency advisor, one must complete six months as a non-emergency advisor handling non-emergency calls, four weeks of OnStar emergency training and a one week of training through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAED™) that includes CPR and EMD certifications and software instruction by the IAED™.

OnStar obtained Accreditation by meeting the IAED’s™ rigorous 20 points of Accreditation requirements and for the company’s compliance with the Medical Priority Dispatch System ™ (MPDS®).

Being accredited proactively tells our customers that not only are we delivering a lifesaving service, but we are committed to doing so at the highest standard of excellence. Of the 2,780 agencies that use the MPDS® protocol, only 4.25 percent have actually achieved accreditation.

No other OEM in the world is delivering this kind of on-scene, emergency medical dispatch. In many cases, before the car has come to a complete stop during a crash, we’re connected and giving assistance. We’re filling a void for customers that no other automaker has even attempted to do. . We recognize how busy 911 call centers are, and in the spirit of cooperation, if we can absorb some of their burden and offer this service, then everyone benefits. We are filling an emergency response gap too where we can provide a first level of help that can prove to be invaluable

OnStar’s First Assist service is used approximately 1,200 times every month for a variety of emergency situations—from assisting women in labor, people with diabetic emergencies, and helping with choking victims..

All in all, the most important part is that we’re making a difference. Originally advisors had to stay on the line and just say “wait until you hear the sirens”. Now we are able to provide lifesaving instruction to these people in need. I take comfort in knowing that we are doing all that we possibly can to help people in their most desperate moments.

Cathy Bishop is OnStar’s Global Emergency Outreach and Strategy Manager. She is responsible for leading a team charged with strengthening OnStar’s relationship with the emergency services community globally through educational, collaborative and partnership opportunities. She also collaborates with GM Safety and Public Policy to influence improvements in crash safety technology to improve emergency response and treatment for crash survivors. Prior to working at OnStar, Cathy managed a 9-1-1 Call Center in Michigan for 18 years.

2014 Chevrolet Impala Rolls Out to Dealers and Customers

April 8, 2013

As the 2014 Chevy Impala begins to arrive at Chevy dealers, the vehicle will be equipped with a variety of features to fit the many different lifestyles of the owners who will drive it.

The Impala debuted in 1958 and has been Chevrolet’s flagship sedan ever since. The car marked a place in history by setting the standard in comfort and value and quickly became America’s best-selling full size car. Through the years, the Impala has undergone a variety of facelifts while continuing to serve as the ideal family car by providing ample interior space and a sleek, iconic exterior.

“We’ll build on the success the Impala nameplate has generated over its history,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “We’ve added sophisticated design features, more technology and safety equipment, while conserving Impala’s current strengths like spaciousness and comfort.”

Safety was one of the primary concerns for lead engineer, Todd Pawlik, and his team. In order to avoid crashes, the Impala uses advanced technologies to give visual and audible alerts to help drivers identify potential crash situations – the system even intervenes when a crash threat appears more imminent. Some of the other safety features include full-speed-range adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and rear cross traffic alert.

The exterior of the car features a sleek proportion, sculpted body sides, standard 18-inch wheels and projector-beam headlamps, with HID headlamps and LED daytime running lamps standard on LTZ models.

“Our design team was challenged to create a new classic, but that didn’t mean relying on nostalgia,” said John Cafaro, director of North America passenger car exterior design. “This is very much a contemporary car, with design elements, craftsmanship and attention to detail that complement its advanced technology and performance.”

The technology on the vehicle is one of the most unique parts of the vehicle. The Impala will be the first vehicle with Chevrolet’s next-generation MyLink infotainment system, designed to be easy to use and capable of linking up to 10 devices. MyLink is also making things personal. Using consumer research, including interviews and online voting, MyLink designers developed four specific graphic appearances designed to appeal to the distinctive personalities of Chevrolet customer groups These appearances include a “contemporary,” “edge,” “velocity” and “main street” design.

The 2014 Chevy Impala will be available this spring, and at a starting price of $26,475, the affordability will make it hard to resist. For more information go to: http://www.chevrolet.com/impala-sports-sedan.html

Geneva and New York Auto Show Roundup | Mary Barra

April 1, 2013

Around the world, customers are clamoring for new and exciting cars, trucks and crossovers, and we’ve been working overtime at GM to satisfy the demand. March has been a particularly busy and exciting month in this regard, starting with five global debuts at the Geneva Motor Show.

Opel kicked off the fireworks with the world premiere of the elegant new Cascada cabrio, the only mid-size convertible from a mainstream manufacturer. The classic four-seater features an electric soft top that can be opened at the press of a button and at speeds up to 50 km/h.

The Opel ADAM ROCKS Concept opened the door to a new market segment with a three-door urban mini-crossover study. ADAM ROCKS offers a fabric roof that closes automatically when adverse weather is approaching, and a higher and wider stance than the popular Opel ADAM, which is launching in Europe now to strong reviews.

Opel next introduced the ADAM R2 Rallye to complement the brand’s recent return to motorsport. The ADAM R2 will be a top-class vehicle eligible for every national championship in Europe. All 40 vehicles that Opel plans to race in Germany and France had already been sold by the time the Geneva Show started.

Finally in Geneva, Opel kicked off an aggressive powertrain offensive with the introduction of the new 1.6 CDTI ECOTEC engine. This new offering is the first in a new family of industry-leading four-cylinder turbo diesel engines. It’s also Opel’s cleanest diesel ever. Opel is committed to a multi-billion euro product offensive with 23 new cars and 13 new engines through 2016, proving once again that there is so much more to discover at Opel.

Also making its world debut in Geneva was the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible. Like the Coupe introduced in Detroit in January, the Stingray Convertible is the quickest, most powerful, most fuel-efficient Corvette in history.

Chevrolet also used Geneva to introduce the new Spark EV to Europe for the first time. Spark EV is a spirited, fun-to-drive car with great performance and an all-electric range that’s among the best in class. Spark EV will be available in Europe in early 2014, following its launch in the U.S. this summer.

Complementing the Geneva Show in early March, the New York Auto Show set the stage for several critical introductions at the end of the month.

Buick, which was just named “Best Value Luxury Brand” by Kelley Blue Book, started off with the introduction of the new LaCrosse and Regal sedans. The new full-size LaCrosse offers new interior and exterior design cues, advanced safety technologies, enhanced in-vehicle connectivity, and an all-new available Ultra Luxury Interior Package. It goes on sale this summer.

The new mid-size Regal offers sportier styling, a more efficient and refined turbo engine, and the introduction of all-wheel drive. Both the Regal and LaCrosse offer adaptive cruise control and Buick’s next-generation IntelliLink infotainment system, with intuitive controls and natural voice recognition. The new Regal goes on sale this fall.

Next up, Chevrolet introduced the redesigned 2014 Camaro SS, the most popular sports car in the U.S. for the last three years. We also announced the return of the Z/28, the most iconic model in Camaro history. Both models feature a revised exterior design that integrates high-performance aerodynamics for more efficient cooling and stability at high speeds. The Z/28 features a full aerodynamics package that creates downforce at speed, which helps make it the most track-capable offering in Camaro’s history.

The all-new Chevrolet SS, Chevrolet’s first V-8 rear-wheel-drive performance sedan in nearly two-decades, was also shown in New York. In February, Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500 driving the SS racing version.

The Chevrolet SS and Camaro models were joined by the Corvette Stingray Coupe and Convertible, which was shown in the U.S. for the first time in New York. Together, these cars represent our extraordinary new lineup of Chevrolet performance vehicles for 2014.

Finally in New York, we introduced the much anticipated Cadillac CTS. This third-generation CTS is based on the rear-drive architecture of the award-winning ATS sport sedan, and moves Cadillac into the heart of the prestigious midsize luxury segment. The new CTS is five inches longer than its predecessor, but also, remarkably, significantly lighter. In fact, it will be the segment’s lightest car, enabling it to have the most agile driving dynamics in its class. Production begins this fall and marks yet another milestone in our drive to replace or refresh 70 percent of our U.S. nameplates in the 2012-2013 timeframe.

2013 continues to be a very big year for GM as we work to satisfy customer demand for winning new products around the world. We got off to a great start at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and now the Chicago, Geneva, and New York shows have added to our product portfolio. Next up is the Shanghai Auto Show in April and the North American launch of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups early this summer. There’s a lot more to come from GM in 2013. Stay tuned!

Mary Barra was named Senior Vice President, Global Product Development effective February 1, 2011, responsible for the design, engineering, program management and quality for General Motors’ vehicles around the world. She is a member of the Executive Operations Committee and serves on the Adam Opel AG Supervisory Board.