Nik J Miles

Posts Tagged ‘GMC’

General Motor is adding a new center airbag designed to help protect the driver and front seat passenger in far-side impact crashes.  Engineered to deploy between the front seats of the vehicle, the front center air bag is mounted in the right side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the front row seats near the center of the vehicle.  The tethered, tubular air bag is designed to provide restraint during passenger-side crashes when the driver is the only front occupant, and also acts as an energy-absorbing cushion between driver and front passenger in both driver- and passenger-side crashes.  The air bag also is expected to provide extra protection in a rollover situation, too.  Read the rest of this entry »

Initially unveiled at the 2010 North American Auto Show in Detroit, the Granite is a new twist on the normal direction of GMC vehicles and now GM has given the project the “go ahead.”

The subcompact crossover, which looks like it could be a highly modified Scion xB, will compete with vehicles like the Scion xB and Kia Soul in that trendy urban crossover category. If Granite is successful, it will bring a new kind of clientele in to GMC dealerships. Read the rest of this entry »

GMC has approved the production of the Granite concept, which first debuted at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  According to Motor Trend magazine a well-placed source says the concept will be built, complete with the dramatic rear hinged rear doors.

If the rumor is true, the Granite would be the smallest GMC ever – but it has been optimized to feel much larger. The Granite is about the same size as the Honda Fit.  The inside feels spacious and has cargo space and unique flipping/folding seats enable a mountain bike to be loaded completely inside with the tailgate closed. Read the rest of this entry »

Since GMC took their truck brand more upscale in 1999 with the advent of the luxurious Denali version, we have looked forward to driving these plush pickups, SUVs and crossovers.  Denali was created to compete with vehicles like the popular Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade and as a result, created a significant new market for GMC.

The Denali models were always trimmed out in trendy exteriors with large chrome wheels and custom-looking chrome grills.  Interiors were filled with soft leather seating and an abundance of luxury appointments. Read the rest of this entry »

Oceanside, Calif. – Using the excuse of going to the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, we reserved a week at our timeshare in Oceanside, Calif., and made plans a few leisurely day exploring area between Los Angeles and San Diego.  We did spend one day at the L.A. Auto Show covering more than a dozen press conferences and even a couple of media parties but we were looking forward to the R&R.

It had been nearly three years since we had driven the GMC Acadia, so we thought it would be a good time to check out the new Denali version of the three-row crossover. Read the rest of this entry »

General Motors will be offering a new smart phone app that will allow most owners of 2011 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles to control many vehicle functions of their vehicles from the phone.  The new app works with the OnStar communications system to activate all of the functions available on a traditional vehicle key fob – remote start, horn and lights and door lock/unlock – securely from their smartphones. This means drivers will no longer have to be within a requisite distance, or even have their keys with them, to control these functions on their vehicles.

“Giving our customers control of their vehicles with smart phone application technology is a key advantage of OnStar’s in-vehicle connectivity,” said Chris Preuss, OnStar president. “This technology empowers drivers to make decisions about their travels well before they enter the vehicle, meaning their full attention can stay where it needs to be – on the road ahead.”

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With Hummer sold off, GMC is back to its dominant position as General Motors’ rough and ready truck and SUV brand. That dominance is boldly asserted in the new 2010 GMC Terrain.

 The Terrain shares a lot of parts with both the Cadillac SRX and the Chevrolet Equinox. So what’s different about the GMC? Mostly visual and touch factors. GMC gifts their vehicles with a more businesslike luxury feeling, as opposed to Cadillac’s opulent luxury and Chevy’s family-oriented economy styling.  Read the rest of this entry »