GM - Pontiac Aztek to Offer All-Wheel-Drive System
7 January 2000
General Motors - GM - Pontiac Aztek to Offer All-Wheel-Drive System Supplied by McLaren Traction Technologies - MCLN - Licensee Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG of Austria
LIVONIA, Mich.--Jan. 7, 2000--General Motors (GM) has announced that it's 2001 model year Pontiac Aztek will offer an optional on-demand all-wheel drive system, supplied by Steyr-Daimler-Puch. The Steyr Geromatic(TM) Traction Control System utilizes the patented Gerodisc(TM) twin-disc differential licensed by Steyr from McLaren Traction Technologies, Inc., a division of McLaren Automotive Group, a leader in the design and development of advanced automotive traction control systems
"The Pontiac Aztek represents the first commercialization for the Gerodisc twin-disc hydro-mechanical coupling on a passenger vehicle. We are pleased to provide an important technology for use in this next generation of all-wheel drive," stated Wiley R. McCoy, President of McLaren Automotive Group.
It has been reported that the Pontiac Aztek will go on sale during the early summer of 2000, with an estimated production of between 65,000 and 75,000 units. Buick will launch a version in 2001 called the Rendezvous, which will be unveiled at the Chicago auto show in February 2000.
Automotive Engineering Magazine in 1998 had selected Steyr's Geromatic traction control system as a top automotive product. AE referred to it as one of the "The Best of the Best" finalists selected from more than one thousand candidates.
McLaren Traction Technologies has licensed Steyr to design, manufacture, and sell patented Gerodisc technology for specific types of vehicle platforms. McLaren Traction Technologies will receive a royalty payment on each unit produced and sold under the agreement.
Currently, McLaren Traction Technologies has licenses with its Tier 1 clients for production of the Gerodisc on both the DaimlerChrysler (DCX) Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ford (F) Mustang Cobra R.
McLaren Engines and McLaren Traction Technologies are divisions of McLaren Automotive Group. The stock is traded on the NASDAQ Small Cap Market .
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