General Motors Showcases Concept And Production Vehicles With Strong Styling Cues And Advanced Technologies At ten
FOR RELEASE: March 21, 2002General Motors Showcases Concept And Production Vehicles With Strong Styling Cues And Advanced Technologies At ten
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -Illustrating the connection between automobiles and high fashion, celebrity models, fashion designers and a collection of General Motors' innovative, cutting-edge concept and production vehicles will take the runway at the Hollywood Palladium for the ten fashion show. The event scores a perfect ten on the style scale, as top fashion design and automotive design share the spotlight at the pre-Oscar Hollywood evening.
Several GM vehicles will be incorporated into the fashion show, with 19 total vehicles featured on display throughout the evening.
Fashion Runway Vehicles:
2003 CADILLAC CTS
Designed by Tom Kearns
With styling beyond bold, the new 2003 Cadillac CTS sports sedan is the first 100 percent application of Cadillac's Art and Science approach to passenger car design. CTS builds on Cadillac's 100-year tradition of engineering excellence and design innovation with its chiseled body, sheer forms, sharp edges and crisp intersecting lines. In addition to its expressive design, CTS also connects to Cadillac's storied past with its performance. Built on an all-new rear-drive architecture and refined on the most challenging race circuit in the world, Germany's famed Nurburgring, the performance sedan is available with a manual transmission mated to a 3.2-liter V6 that powers it from 0-60 mph in less than seven seconds. CTS interior designers placed an emphasis on craftsmanship and contemporary luxury, making use of warm, rich, inviting materials and colors, using wood only in areas where the customer will contact it, such as on the steering wheel, shifter knob and door pulls.
2004 CADILLAC XLR
Designed by Tom Peters
A two-seat retractable hardtop convertible, the Cadillac XLR is a combination of unique style and technology that marks the boldest production step yet for Cadillac's new design direction. Based on the award-winning Evoq concept car, XLR will begin production in 2003 and will feature the first application of a higher output 4.6-liter Northstar engine. Inside, the two-seat cockpit incorporates an impressive array of features in a design that carefully balances high-tech modern materials with inviting traditional wood trim.
2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Designed by Tom Peters
A precise blend of power, performance, style and comfort, the Corvette has held a very special place in America's garages for nearly 50 years. A key factor in Corvette's success has been a willingness to embrace advancing technology while remaining true to its heritage, and today's Corvette exemplifies this philosophy like no other. When Chevy Studio designers redid the Corvette for 1997 they took great care to be sure that the car included several styling cues from the past, while giving it a fresh new look. The design of the instrument cluster, with analog-style instruments, is reminiscent of early models and includes unique black light illumination. Last but not least, the 350-hp Corvette's body is still made of fiberglass, albeit a much-improved variety that is highly crack-resistant and allows the Bowling Green plant to provide the smoothest, most blemish-free Corvette exterior finish ever.
2003 CHEVROLET SSR
Designed by Ed Welburn
The Chevy SSR (Super Sport Roadster) combines the function and utility of a pickup with the performance and open-air excitement of a sports roadster. And it does so by tapping into decades of Chevrolet heritage, evident in its stylish design and in the take-no-prisoners performance of its 6.0-liter V-8. SSR features an Art Deco styled front grille design and the large fenders are the boldest expression yet of the "vortex" rear-accented shape that is a key Chevy brand character cue.
The large flares date back to the SSR's thematic inspiration, the "advanced-design" Chevy pickups of the late-1940s and early-1950s. A flip of a switch moves the SSR's power retractable hardtop into the open-roof position, revealing the SSR to be like nothing that's ever gone before. The SSR will begin production in late 2002 and go on sale in 2003.
GM AUTONOMY (Concept Vehicle)
Designed by Chris Boroni-Bird & Ed Welburn
This concept was dubbed AUTOnomy because freedom is what automobiles are all about - the freedom to go where you want, and with the people and things you desire to take along. AUTOnomy offers the promise of extending the freedom of personal transportation to more people throughout the world as GM works to make vehicles dramatically cleaner and reduce the cost of advanced technologies. To reinvent the automobile around today's technology, GM created an all-new, logical and exciting design from scratch. The combination of fuel cell and by-wire technologies produced innovative vehicle architecture with a 6-inch skateboard-like chassis. It has electric motors on all four wheels, but no internal combustion engine, no transmission, no drivetrain, no axles, no exhaust system, no radiator and no mechanical steering, braking and accelerating linkages. In fact, the only things moving other than electrons, protons, water and air, are the wheels and suspension! GM envisions bodies ranging from compact and family cars to SUVs mating with this chassis, using aircraft and motorcycle design to imagine tomorrow's sports car.
2003 HUMMER H2 SUV
Designed by Terry Henline
A bold new chapter in the history of the HUMMER brand begins with the launch of the all-new H2 SUV, a full-size sport utility vehicle that takes the rugged characteristics of the original HUMMER and refines them, adding more creature comforts while maintaining off-road leadership.
A bold and youthful interpretation of what HUMMER means in a more civilized package, the H2 provides all the features and amenities that a premium SUV customer might want. Its on-pavement manners, including ride comfort, are extremely refined, yet, off-road, it is almost as fiercely utilitarian as its famous progenitors - capable of traveling through streams 20 inches deep, climbing 16-inch step rocks, paddling through deep sand and outdistancing competitors in high-speed desert preruns. H2 will be available for purchase in July 2002.
PONTIAC SOLSTICE (Concept Vehicle)
Designed by Frank Saucedo, Franz von Holzhausen and Vicki Vlachakis
Penned at GM's California design studio, this Pontiac concept car is a lightweight, two-seat roadster that celebrates the allure of open-air motoring and combines it with 220-horsepower's worth of Pontiac Excitement from a turbocharged 2.2-liter engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The roadster has saddlebrown leather interior surfaces, a two-gauge driver-oriented cockpit and fit and finish honed to European feel and function. Solstice went from sketch to running concept in four months' time, and although no plans for production have been announced, GM believes the roadster would sell for approximately $20,000.
2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT
Designed by John Mack
The all-new Pontiac Vibe redefines traditional Pontiac Excitement and resounds with relevance to a new, younger audience. It also ushers in a new, fresh competitiveness for GM in the arena of affordable small cars. Defying traditional vehicle classification, Vibe offers a spacious, versatile interior in the guise of a compact car, and the features of a sports car, sport wagon and SUV all at the same time. With a 180-horsepower engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission and innovative storage systems and cargo-hauling capacity, Vibe GT is a bold and purposeful athletic crossover that's the right size for transporting friends and gear, but with a personal (and personalized) feel.
SAAB 9X (Concept Vehicle)
Designed by Michael Mauer and Ola Granlund
The stunning Saab 9X, designed by Saab's Advanced Design department in Sweden, is a four-dimensional sports car that defies automotive convention. Designed to combine the highest levels of driving satisfaction with great flexibility of use, the Saab 9X combines features commonly associated with a coupe, roadster, wagon and pick-up within one vehicle through the use of powered sliding/detachable glass roof panels, frame-less doors, fold-flat seating, a flip-down tailgate and retracting rear window. The dramatic, wrap-around windscreen and high waistline are unmistakably Saab and, combined with an aggressive stance, create the expectation of exceptional performance. The 9X is a signpost to the future of Saab, a future that will see the announcement of at least one new Saab product or concept car every year for the next six years.
SATURN SKY (Concept Vehicle)
Designed by David Smith
While most concept vehicles are designed to test public reaction, the Saturn Sky concept does just the opposite. Research collected by GM's Innovative Smart Youth Strategies (iSYS) team confirmed that old assumptions of what young people wanted were outdated. Rather than a two-passenger roadster that looked "cool" but wasn't practical, Saturn buyers are looking for something fun and functional. In designing the Sky concept, Saturn designers recognized that it not only had to turn heads, it had to get people talking. The Sky's instrumentation is placed in the center of the vehicle where every passenger can see it. The headrests are arches rather than solid designs so that conversation can flow more easily from the front seat passenger to the back seat passengers. Known internally as the "living badges," the Saturn badges on the Sky's grille and front doors glow red once the car is running. And its multi-piece roof, which is collapsible and can be stowed in the rear of the vehicle, is made of a translucent material that mutes the sunlight inside the vehicle.
BUICK LACROSSE (Concept Vehicle)
Designed by Dave Lyon
The Buick LaCrosse concept is a graceful and stylish luxury sedan with surprising functionality - it's quickly converted to a carrier of oversized cargo when panels open to reveal its pickup-type bed. This five-passenger sedan combines roominess and comfort with an elegant exterior design that immediately says Buick with its "sweepspear" side profile, vertical-bar grille, "portholes" and cross-car rear lighting. In response to a voice command, LaCrosse's sunroof retracts and a single assembly that combines the back window and trunk lid slides forward to convert the trunk into an open cargo bay. Another voice command switches the rear seat into an additional load floor capable of accommodating a Christmas tree or a grandfather clock. Design touches such as Bi-metallic wheel and exhaust-tip adornments gleam like fine jewelry. A filigreed accent is draped like a diamond necklace near the rear edge of LaCrosse's sculpted hood. LaCrosse's dark red exterior color is described as "a deep red wine."
2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS
Designed by Liz Wetzel
The first truck-based Buick in nearly 80 years, Rendezvous has a look of "refined ruggedness" and combines many of the best features of sport utility vehicles, premium sedans and minivans. Rendezvous' design team used Buick's heritage of distinctive styling, power, comfort and security as a foundation, but took Rendezvous even further to add simplicity, practicality and durability. Rendezvous' interior design provides a feeling of elegance with an instrument-cluster providing a look of precious stones set in polished metal and gauges featuring needles and numbers set in a silver face to resemble an expensive watch or designer bracelet.
CADILLAC CIEN
Designed by Simon Cox
The V12-powered Cien is a glimpse at what a future halo car for Cadillac could be, particularly under the hood, and is also a memento of Cadillac's 2002 Centennial Celebration - "cien" means 100 in Spanish. Cien's 7.5-liter all-aluminum V12 powerplant, which is visible through the car's rear window, generates 750-horsepower and 450 lb.-ft. of torque. Inspired by modern-day Stealth aircraft, Cien illustrates Cadillac's signature 'art and science' philosophy, melding design and technology in a mid-engine, two-seat sports car. Cien's high-tech interior features a computer-influenced driver's cockpit featuring Cadillac's leading-edge telematics, including Night Vision, OnStar, StabiliTrak, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist and Communiport, which integrates the car's audio, computing, navigation and wireless communication through hands-free voice activation.
2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT
Designed by John Cafaro
Building on the design and technology foundation of the all-new 2002 Escalade, the Escalade EXT enters at the forefront of the Sport Utility Truck (SUT) segment, a new niche for Cadillac and the automotive industry. Unmistakably a Cadillac with its sheer, chiseled forms and bold styling, EXT offers a roomy, luxurious, comfortable five-passenger cabin and a 5'3" long cargo box in its standard configuration. The reconfigurable Midgate(tm) can be easily converted without any tools, extending the bed to a full 8'1" cargo area to transport large items from artwork to a large screen TV.
2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE TWIN TURBO (Show Car)
Designed by Dennis Burke
Considered the SUV of choice for many professional athletes, celebrities and enthusiasts, the distinctive Cadillac Escalade delivers performance, luxury and style in a smart package. The twin-turbocharged Escalade show truck takes the brand a step further, delivering a massive dose of horsepower and torque - 580-hp and 580 lb.-ft. of torque. Interior alterations include a modified center console with hot/cold beverage holders, overhead TV and video console, and a DVD player. The Escalade Twin Turbo is painted with Nippon's Silver Ice tri-stage paint, a unique three-stage coating that radiates sunshine for extra sparkle by mixing crushed recycled mirror mixed with a clear coat.
CADILLAC IMAJ (Concept Vehicle)
Designed by Simon Cox
With its crisp lines and sharp angles, the Cadillac Imaj is a high-tech concept car that was revealed at the 2000 Geneva Auto Show. Extending Cadillac's philosophy of blending art and science to its logical next step - an all-wheel-drive ultra-luxury sedan with exhilarating performance and unprecedented technological application - the Imaj exudes a diamond-like quality, underscored by sheer forms, louvered roof panels and integrated front and rear aero panels. Underneath the hood, Imaj is powered by a supercharged Northstar V8 that delivers 425-horsepower. Inside, each seat has its own environment controls, and e-mail access and an individual LCD screen with DVD capabilities, navigation and entertainment developed by IBM and Delphi.
CHEVROLET BEL AIR (Concept Vehicle)
Designed by Ed Welburn
The Chevrolet Bel Air concept is a modern American convertible built on the tradition of the legendary 1955-57 Chevys of the same name. Retracing the graceful flowing lines of those classic originals, the Bel Air's modern exterior's signature beltline kick-up gives the vehicle a sleek appearance, while the interior design features a twin-element instrument panel, steering column-mounted gearshift and seats that are covered in soft high-technology fabrics. Powered by a 315-horsepower Vortec 3500 turbocharged inline five-cylinder concept engine, the Bel Air features a button on the steering wheel that activates the powertrain control module to trigger a more aggressive spark and fueling calibration for maximum horsepower.
2002 SAAB 9-3 VIGGEN CONVERTIBLE
Designed by Einer Hareide
Inspired by the Saab 37 Viggen high-performance jet fighter aircraft, the Saab 9-3 Viggen Convertible's strikingly functional silhouette pays homage to the Viggen's airborne counterpart, and lends aerodynamic assistance too. At Saab, form has always followed function, and that long-standing belief is readily apparent in the 9-3 Viggen. The 9-3 Viggen's aggressive front spoiler, rear bumper cover and rear wing aren't just stylish - they serve a purpose. The 9-3 Viggen is powered by a 230-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged engine, and features an aircraft inspired cockpit designed to provide superior driver ergonomics. All 9-3 Viggens feature Rock Black leather upholstery and the upper portion of the seatbacks, front and rear, feature embossed Viggen delta-wing emblems representative of the delta-wing shape found on the Saab 37 Viggen jet fighter plane.
2002 SATURN VUE
Designed by Dave Rand
With distinguishing Saturn features such as polymer bodyside panel and advanced technology such as electrically assisted power steering, the Saturn VUE advances the compact sport utility to a new level with choices and features not available with any other vehicle in its segment. Designed to appeal to customers who would have otherwise bought a non-GM product, the Saturn VUE is the first of four new products that Saturn will introduce over the next four years. Designed by the Saturn Studio at GM Design, the VUE's exterior is recognizably Saturn - clean and contemporary -- and inside the VUE designers worked to balance style, space and versatility. Instrument panel surfaces gently slope away from the occupants to open up the interior and enhance the feeling of spaciousness, while all entertainment and environmental controls are clustered into a single pod conveniently located in the center of the car.
Please click on the following link to view highlights from inside GM's fashion and design event, ten, in an exclusive webcast hosted by C. Van Tune, former editor-in-chief of Motor Trend magazine. (available at 10am EST on Friday, March 22)
http://easylink.playstream.com/hittv/GMshowcase.wmv
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