GM Uses Concepts to Tap into Next-Gen Buying

December 6, 2012

Chevrolet CODE 130RS Concept

Concept cars have been integral in gauging potential customer interest of new designs and technology. Harley Earl, a GM engineer, is said to be the pioneer of the concept car back in 1938, when he lead the design of the Buick Y-Job (see pic below). Concept cars typically don’t go into production, but many of the technological innovations have ended up in production vehicles. General Motors has produced more concept cars than any other car manufacturer and designed two popular concept cars, the Chevrolet Code 130R and Tru 140S LAAS, aimed at the upcoming generation Y.

The 1938 Buick Y-Job Concept Car

Chevrolet first introduced the Code 130R and Tru 140S LAAS Concept Cars at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, engaging and inspiring next-generation buyers for their input in the future car market. By conversing with young consumers across the United States, Chevrolet is able to explore the style and functionality of the future new buyers by focusing on personalization and interior connectivity. With the vast buying power that young American consumers hold over the auto market, it only makes sense to include their input into future models. On the Code 130r and Tru140s, engineers combined technologies found in luxury cars with a possible production price range in the low $20,000s – making it an ideal vehicle for the next-gen consumers.

Chevrolet Tru140S Concept

Since the two concept cars’ introduction at the 2012 NAIA, they have made their way to many national and international auto shows, and most recently, at the L.A. auto show where they were they were on display in two new colors: grey and yellow. With the 2013 North American International Auto Show kicking off the 2013 auto show season in a few weeks, make sure you stay tuned to see what new vehicles GM will be releasing!

Chevrolet Code 130R Concept

For more information on the more than 85 years of GM Design history, see the video below.

Indoor torture testing the Malibu Turbo

October 17, 2012

Neither snow nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night kept product development engineers from swift completion of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo, arriving this month. You may ask, where do engineers go to conduct all of this torture testing? General Motors’ Climatic Wind Tunnel in Warren, Mich., where all Chevrolet vehicles are tested to their environmental limits.”

During one of the hottest days of this summer, the Malibu Turbo withstood blizzard and hurricane conditions inside the wind tunnel, where temperature can replicate 40 below zero and wind can blow 150 mph. Even on the coldest winter nights, the tunnel’s temperature can easily climb to 140 degrees under 1,155 watts per square meter of simulated sunshine.

At this state-of-the-art facility, engineers take vehicle development and validation testing to the extremes, subjecting powertrain cooling, cabin heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to the harshest weather conditions found ranging from Death Valley, Calif., and Denali, Alaska.

“Testing in the Climatic Wind Tunnel reduces the need to travel to remote locations, which helps save time and money,” said Ben Cruz, GM engineering group manager for thermal testing at the Climatic Wind Tunnel. “Tunnel testing also minimizes the safety risks and traffic interactions associated with testing on public roads, and because the conditions are repeatable, we’re not limited by the whims of Mother Nature.”

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Turbo endures sub-zero conditions in the General Motors Climatic Wind Tunnel where engineers take vehicle development and validation testing to the extremes. (Photo by Kristopher Spencer for Chevrolet)

Engineers recently used the tunnel’s blizzard-making capability to test Malibu Turbo’s air induction system, which is designed to prevent snow from clogging the vehicle’s air cleaning system. The system’s torturous path of multiple barriers blocks water molecules while allowing air to flow freely for engine combustion.

Malibu Turbo’s powertrain cooling system was developed in the tunnel and attuned to the car’s specific powertrain heat outputs and airflow characteristics to provide optimal performance even in extreme heat and cold. The system is designed to allow wide open throttle acceleration at egg-frying Death Valley temperatures, and lab performance has been validated in that desert location.

Occupant comfort is just as important when the going gets hot for the Malibu Turbo. For example, the car’s air conditioning system was stress tested against simulations of the high heat and humidity found along the Gulf Coast. This torture test helps ensure that Malibu Turbo’s all-new 2.0L engine delivers the rapid cool-down performance expected of a turbocharged power plant.

“The new Malibu turbo was designed with our customers’ needs in mind, to start on cold mornings and not overheat on hot summer days,” said Jeremy Loveday, Malibu turbo’s program engineering manager. “The Climatic Wind Tunnel helped us place the Malibu turbo in extreme conditions – if the car survives there, then we have confidence that it’ll perform extremely well in our customer’s hands.”

Limited Edition Clothing Line Inspired by Chevy Malibu

October 10, 2012

Inspiration comes when you least expect it. It can stop you in your tracks, as the saying goes. Even renowned fashion designers, like Isaac Mizrahi, find inspiration in unexpected places. Mizrahi – an iconic fashion designer – recently paused from the fast-paced Manhattan lifestyle to take a close look at the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu.

“The new Chevy Malibu has great style and smart design,” said Mizrahi. “With its clean lines, crisp shape, and beautiful ice-blue ambient lighting, the Malibu grabs your attention without being over the top. These features truly inspired the look and feel of my limited edition Malibu collection.”

The automotive industry served as inspiration for Mizrahi’s fashion, which in turn serves as inspiration for the Malibu designers. “The fashion industry is a source of inspiration for our design team,” said Chevrolet advertising manager Mary Kubitskey, “and we approach our work with a similar mind set, especially decisions involving color and trim. In fact, we call the Malibu LTZ our signature model because of its fashion forward sense that combines a premium color palette and jewelry-inspired details outside with beautiful stitching, soft-touch materials and textures inside. In turn, it is a great source of inspiration for Isaac’s collection.”

The latest in vehicle innovation for the Chevy Malibu is a dual-cockpit interior that is more spacious, features premium materials and is engineered to be the quietest in the midsize segment. Beyond great visible design, the Malibu comes equipped with the new Chevrolet MyLink connectivity, new safety features and technologies. It is available in ten exterior colors and four interior color combinations.

The Malibu can also be considered a savvy choice with its variety of fuel-saving features including exterior surfaces that make the vehicle more slippery when traveling through air, automatic shutters located in the front grille on select models, underbody panels that move air flow under and away from the car, and more. These aerodynamic improvements give customers up to 2.5 miles per gallon more on the highway.

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is available now but the Mizrahi Malibu Collection will be available October 16 in limited quantities exclusively on LivingSocial’s Shop, LivingSocial’s first foray into physical products featuring themed collections of unique, curated merchandise. Check out chevymalibustyle.com for more information.

Industry-First Lighting Tech Benefits 2013 Enclave

October 5, 2012

The Enclave luxury crossover SUV was a leader in a new era of design for Buick when it arrived in 2007. By the end of this year, owners of the new 2013 Enclave will experience the next generation Enclave with advanced exterior lighting, including an industry-first taillight technology.

Working with supplier 3M, Buick developed a unique LED taillight design with a soft, uniform red glow in a complex and unique shape. Like Enclave’s standard LED daytime running lamps and accent lighting, this contemporary lighting effect previews a future design element for other models the Buick lineup.

“As a brand driven by intelligent design and technology, Buick has to be at the forefront of purposeful, modern design cues,” said Mark Adams, executive director of Buick Design. “Our signature LED lighting serves a double purpose of providing a premium look and making sure our vehicles are unmistakable in the eyes and mirrors of other drivers on the road. Some of the new Enclave’s design cues will carry over to other Buick models to come, but every execution will be true to each model’s character.”

Enclave’s taillight glow is made possible by 3M Uniform Lighting Lens technology, which uses precisely engineered materials that provides even illumination around complex shapes with fewer LEDs, reducing both complexity and energy use.

The 2013 Enclave comes standard with signature L-shaped LED daytime running lamps and high-intensity discharge headlamps, which provide a light clearer and brighter than halogen. Articulating headlamps, which use small motors to rotate the light up to 15 degrees with the curve of the road, are an option. A recent study by the Highway Loss Data Institute shows that some collision avoidance technologies such as adaptive headlamps, are showing promise in reducing accidents.

The 2013 Enclave’s advanced lighting story continues inside, with a cabin bathed in the Ice Blue glow of ambient lighting from a previous Fastlane post.

Buick Ambient Lighting Warms Cabins with Cool Tech

September 7, 2012

Ambient interior lighting, which uses discreet LED light guides to accent interior design cues and set a mood in a vehicle’s cabin, is increasingly popular. Buick has been a trend-setter in this space since the LaCrosse luxury sedan introduced the technology to its segment in 2009.

Every 2013 Buick features discreet Ice Blue lighting to set a comforting cabin mood. In vehicles like the Verano luxury sedan and the Regal luxury sport sedan, lighting comes from hidden sources in the vehicle headliner, but in the LaCrosse and the redesigned 2013 Enclave luxury crossover SUV, the lighting is more dramatic with a soft line of light illuminating the sculpted edge of the wrap-around dash.

Like the Enclave’s Nuance leather upholstery, which is similar to materials used for high-end home furniture, Buick ambient lighting finds its inspiration from home interior design.

“If you look in a modern, high-end home at night, the major light sources like TVs are complemented by soft, evenly distributed interior lighting,” said Chris Fusco, interior experience manager for Buick Design. “Likewise, we’re creating a warm, inviting driving experience at Buick by tying the bright output of gauges and our IntelliLink touchscreens together with soft, Ice Blue lighting spilling out from hidden sources.

“As in-car displays grow in number and detail, the harmonizing role of ambient lighting will grow more important,” said Fusco. “Large display screens really stand out in a cabin, especially at night, so adding additional light sources creates a balanced, more luxurious cabin.”

Buick’s execution of ambient lighting enhances the sense of interior spaciousness LaCrosse and Enclave customers say they want, and it also draws attention to the cabin’s sculpted surfaces. An added benefit of ambient lighting is that it makes cupholders and other features more visible at night, potentially reducing the time a driver’s eyes are off the road.

According to Harris Interactive’s AutoTECHCAST survey, blue is the most appealing ambient lighting color by a large margin – 73 percent favorable versus 41 percent favorable for amber, the second-most desirable color. The same survey indicates that the center console, instrument panel and cupholders are the top three preferred locations for lighting.

“Buick’s signature blue hue specifically has a zen-like calming effect thanks to its lower color saturation, which we feel is more comforting to the eyes,” said Fusco.

Buick’s cabin lighting relies on a combination of design and engineering. Once the LED guides are integrated within the lines of the interior, precise lines must be cut for the light to shine through while adhering to the tight build quality required of a luxury vehicle. Aiming the light strips and programming the right level of luminosity provides a soft flow of light that appears suddenly and slowly fades into the night.

Ambient lighting will play a key role in Buick’s design signature in coming years as engineers develop new LED possibilities with new materials and methods. Today, it’s part of an extensive technology suite for LaCrosse, which offers standard eAssist fuel efficiency technology and IntelliLink voice-activated connectivity. The 2013 Enclave arrives later this year in dealers with standard ambient lighting, the industry’s first front center air bag system, and IntelliLink.