Thursday, February 28, 2013

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Cadillac Technologies Target Traffic

New Driver Assist Features Help Navigate Everyday Road Rigors


Cadillac is packaging safety technologies to help ease the rigors of the daily commute from the driveway to crowded parking structures and congested freeways. 


The new ATS sport sedan is one of three 2013 Cadillac models with Driver Assist technology that uses cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors and automatic braking to help make common traffic situations safer. In certain low-speed conditions, the car can even brake automatically to help prevent collisions.

“The mall parking packed with cars making it difficult to see what’s coming, or the parking deck at work, or the stop and go of a freeway commute – these are hassles that drivers navigate every day,” said James Bell, General Motors head of consumer affairs. “Cadillac Driver Assist can help make these situations less treacherous and maybe more bearable.”
Some of the Driver Assist features designed to ease the everyday commute include:
  • Full Speed Adaptive Cruise Control extends traditional cruise control to more situations, such as managing the car’s acceleration and braking automatically from a driver-set highway “cruising” speed down to a full stop, such as at a toll booth, while maintaining a safe following distance.   
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert – Scanning areas adjacent to the car on each side extends driver vision such as when backing out of a parking spot with vehicles on both sides. Cadillac’s Safety Alert Seat warns the driver of traffic approaching from the left or right using directional seat vibration pulses.  This patented warning approach is tied to all of the on-board crash avoidance systems.
  • Rear Vision Camera with Dynamic Guidelines allows the driver, when in reverse, to view objects directly behind the vehicle via the eight-inch monitor on the center stack. A set of red and yellow guidelines appear on the display to mark the vehicle’s turn radius, allowing for easier parking and backing maneuvers.
  • Automatic Front and Rear Braking will apply emergency braking automatically in certain driveway, parking lot and heavy traffic conditions if it detects a vehicle in front of or behind the car.
  • Forward Collision Alert uses the Safety Alert Seat's haptic warning to vibrate both sides of the driver's seat when the car approaches a stationary or moving vehicle ahead too rapidly.
In addition to the ATS, the Driver Assist package is available on the all-new XTS luxury sedan and the revamped SRX luxury crossover.
“Most of us think of driving a luxury car on open roads, and of course cars like the new ATS sport sedan are right at home doing that,” said Bell. “But traffic and parking situations are way more common. A great car should help you in those conditions, too.”

Courtesy of: Cadillac Newsroom

Monday, February 25, 2013

Car cleaning tip - Don't forget to slide seats forward!


You’ll be surprised by what you find. We found a lost cell phone, enough pens and pencils to equip a small office, and enough change for several vending machine lunches. Vacuum the seats, remove the mats and vacuum the carpet. Use a brush attachment for the dash and door panels. Don’t forget to clean out and vacuum those handy door pockets (another source of buried treasure). 

Courtesy of: The Family Handyman

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Cadillac ELR Undergoes Winter Chassis Testing

 

Fresh off its award-winning world debut at the North American International Auto Show, the Cadillac ELR is undergoing the real-world extreme testing required to  take the extended-range electric luxury coupe from auto show stage to Cadillac showrooms in early 2014.

Engineers last week completed winter weather chassis testing on pre-production ELR models in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, evaluating the car’s handling in winter weather conditions. 

More than four inches of fresh snowfall during testing helped the team validate final specifications on the ELR’s steering, tires, anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control and Continuous Damping Control suspension that adjusts damping every two milliseconds to maintain optimal control over varying road conditions.

Combined with the HiPer Strut front suspension and watts link rear suspension, the ELR is designed to provide owners with a sporty, yet confident handling character.

“Being able to test the ELR in extreme road conditions, like those we experienced here in the U.P., allows us to provide a ride-and-handling character unlike any EV on the market today,” said Chris Thomason, ELR chief engineer. “During this latest test, the ELR continued to perform beyond our expectations.”

The ELR, which won the Eyes on Design Award for best production vehicle at the Detroit auto show, is based on the Cadillac Converj Concept. The ELR’s exterior establishes a new, progressive proportion for the brand. 

Courtesy of: Cadillac Newsroom

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Super Bowl XLVII MVP Takes Home Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

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Presented by local Chevrolet dealer who rebounded after Hurricane Katrina

The honor of awarding the Super Bowl XLVII MVP Award was given to Rick Flick of New Orleans’ Banner Chevrolet, who knows a thing or two about comebacks. Banner Chevrolet, a part of Flick’s family for 40 years, was wiped out by Hurricane Katrina and was the first business to reopen in New Orleans East after the devastating 2005 storm. On behalf of Chevrolet, the official sponsor of the Super Bowl XLVII MVP Award, Flick presented quarterback Joe Flacco with a 2014 Corvette Stingray on Monday in recognition of his effort in leading the Baltimore Ravens’ to a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. 

“Banner Chevrolet and the entire city of New Orleans have been through so much since the storm, we felt this was a small gesture to bring the comeback story full circle,” said Alan Batey, GM vice president of U.S. Sales, Service and Marketing. “With the Super Bowl in his backyard, we couldn’t think of a better guy to have the honor of awarding the MVP with his Corvette Stingray.”

Banner Chevrolet was of the largest losses ever recorded for a dealership in the United States and recently completed a massive multimillion-dollar renovation with state-of-the-art technology. Banner is the only Chevrolet dealer in Orleans Parrish.

“We lost our entire inventory of 650 new Chevrolets and 120 pre-owned vehicles during Katrina,” Flick said. “I’m happy we are still a vital part of this community today and I can be here to represent the people of Chevrolet and its dealerships as we celebrate the Super Bowl MVP.”

The Super Bowl MVP receives the Pete Rozelle Trophy, a silver trophy made by Tiffany & Co., and the Corvette Stingray.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard model ever, with an estimated 450 horsepower (335 kW) and 450 lb.-ft. of torque (610 Nm). It is also the most capable standard model ever, able to accelerate from 0-60 in less than four seconds and achieve more than 1g in cornering grip. It is expected to be the most fuel-efficient Corvette, exceeding the EPA-estimated 26 mpg of the current model.

Courtesy of: Chevrolet Newsroom