North American International Auto Show with GM Canada

Part 3 of 3 NAIAS blog Series.



Chevrolet

This is the new Chevrolet Bolt Electric Vehicle Concept car which is designed to offer more than 320+ kilometres on a complete charge for under $30,000. I think once people understand the amount of money that can be saved in gas alone; this vehicle will be one of the popular EV cars to look out for especially for city driving. So in comparison to a Tesla which has a higher 420+ kilometre range at double the price tag at over $75,000, you're getting value at much lower price point. A smarter option if you ask me. Although I'm not really familiar with Electric Vehicles, saving money is only common sense, and I'm sure we'll see an influx of these cars on the road as a result!

Exterior headlight of Chevrolet Bolt EV

Media frenzy surrounding the Chevrolet Bolt EV in Detroit

Buick

It's fascinating to see the Buick brand evolve. I remember driving with my friend in his parents' Buick Regal years back. It was one of those comfortable and quiet rides with nice leather interiors. Looking back, the Buick we grew up with in the past is no longer daddy's car anymore. The introduction of the top down convertible Cascada has redefined the Buick image to include a broad range market. I can envision the convertible Cascada along the Pacific Coast Highway while the skies are blue and the wind blowing in my hair(LOL). A trustworthy brand for the well-seasoned yet eye-candy for even the young professional. I was unable to confirm if this will only be available in USA at time of posting.

Cascada

Overall, what intrigued me the most is the positive direction GM is going in terms of understanding the consumer and their expectations. Having access firsthand to the President, designers and support staff behind the GM brands creates positive outlook. GM has endured recalls in past with great strides by going above and beyond. I think they have learned from a few bumps on the road that their creative wheels just keep on turning! Their take on the "Connected Car" is what I like most of the GM brand and their creativity. Cadillac understand it's just not about a car but rather a lifestyle as an example.

Dinner with GM Canada President Stephen Carlisle(left)

Overall, I didn't want to focus on the aesthetics of the car because that's easy to find on the web. I wanted to give you a glimpse of the technologies & people behind the brand that make GM today and those who are behind building their vision. On that note, I wanted to show a quick video of Mark Reuss- Executive VP of Product Development at GM which pretty much sums up what GM has planned for the future and their customers.



Disclosure: I was invited by GM Canada to attend the NAIAS Media event in Detroit. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Onstar Command Center & RemoteLink

Part 2 of 3 NAIAS Blog Series.

Welcome sign at OnStar Command Center in Detroit

I had the opportunity to visit the OnStar Command Center in Detroit located at the GM Renaissance Center. Upon entering the Command Center, I could not help but notice the hi-tech security access into the OnStar Center. I thought I'd shy away from photos of cars in this post to focus on the Tech and App side of GM.

Security Access to OnStar Command Center

What is OnStar? OnStar provides auto security & safety features, a turn by turn navigation, Wi-Fi & much more with a single touch of a button as shown below. Basically, you "push" the blue Onstar button and you will be connected to a live advisor from OnStar. How cool is that right? This is an exclusive feature to the GM cars. There are various price plans for OnStar you can find here.

I have used OnStar on test drives, more recently in Kentucky where I wasn't familiar with the streets & highways very well. It was very helpful because I had the option to hear a live voice give me directions or have the option for directions to download to the car. It was also fun to just chit chat with an operator to give a sense of reality... a companion on a lonesome ride?

Did you know that OnStar has a feature called Stolen Vehicle Assistance: Stolen Vehicle Slowdown capability allows an OnStar advisor to remotely send a signal to gradually slow down the stolen vehicle to help authorities recover the car. As the owner of the vehicle all you have to do is call 1-888-4-ONSTAR to make this happen if your car was stolen.

OnStar Command Center

OnStar has various Call Centre's around the world. This is the ellaborate Command Center in Detroit. The map in the middle shows an live update of people pushing the OnStar buttons for assistance. There are over 3 million button presses per month. Isn't that crazy?

In conjunction with OnStar comes RemoteLink App that you can download for iOS and Android.  RemoteLink allows you to start your car from your smartphone. You can enjoy waking up in the morning and starting your car from your bed. How cool is that!?! Let's say your in Russia and your car is in Toronto; you can remote start your car from that far of a distance. Even cooler, right!?! The "Horn & Lights" feature allows you to spot or hear your car in that crowded parking lot. I took this screenshot from a friend who recently bought a Cadillac CTS.

OnStar RemoteLink Smartphone display

RemoteLink is a cool app that gives predictative car diagnostics to you via your phone or email. Imagine receiving a monthly email detailing the health of your car. Viewing the App on the phone will give you updates on how much gas & mileage you have in the tank. It will notify and update you when you need an oil change. It also can tell you if you need more air in each individual tires.

I was given some top secret info *winks* that OnStar "At Your Service" will be incorporated in the future of GM cars; an example of this is when searching for hotels via OnStar, you can receive special partner offers/coupons from Priceline etc. GM will also introduce Apple Car Play & Google Android Auto later this year. Exciting way to extend your smartphone into your car. Another exciting feature is an Insurance Assessment 90 Day Program that drivers can sign up for with info collected by OnStar diagnostics. It would track your driving habits which can help lower your car insurance saving you money. GM is translating technologies into experiences that people will love.  The future looks promising!


Disclosure: I was invited by GM Canada to attend the NAIAS Media event in Detroit. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe Drive – Prince Edward County

Just a few weeks ago, I was invited by Cadillac Canada to experience the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe in the picturesque Prince Edward County along Lake Ontario which is approximately 2 hours from Toronto. I had the opportunity to stay at the newly renovated Drake Devonshire Prince Edward County to enjoy an immersive experience of Cadillac and lifestyle.

ATS Coupe in Prince Edward County

The perception of Cadillac has definitely changed from a vehicle that used to be more geared to an older demographic, to a young professional demographic. Fast forward to today and Cadillac is totally different and has elevated the brand. Cadillac has an emphasis on the dynamic design and has a fun to drive performance with lots of new technology. Cadillac is one of the first to have 4G/LTE WiFi. That in itself is a game changer and major innovation. WiFi in the car #FTW!

Why do I like the Cadillac ATS Coupe? 3 reasons: 1. Technology 2. Safety 3. Lifestyle

The ATS, as mentioned, has WiFi that can enable up to 7 devices to connect. It also has Wireless Charging. Charge your phone without fiddling and wrestling with wires or plugs, amazing right? Also the full - colour and reconfigurable Head-Up Display. Receive text message alerts and turn by turn direction by viewing straight ahead with your driving view. No distracted driving here! That's a good thing.

HUD - Heads Up Display Technology-Lane Assist button

Heads Up Display is a great feature.

The other benefits are the Safety features of ATS Coupe.  The Lane Keep Assist, Lane Change Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control and automatic safety belt tightening are just a few of the cool features of the ATS Coupe. The ATS Coupe also has the OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics. The car notifies you when you need to fill air in your tires or how full your gas tank is. This can be viewed on your smartphone too by using the OnStar RemoteLink mobile App. Did you know you can even start your car from the App? You can start your car in Toronto if you were physically in Russia with your smartphone. How cool is that?

OnStar Service

Encompassing all the Technology and Safety features is the attention to details and comfort of the ATS Coupe. It's definitely a car that attracts attention - from the front trademark grill design, to the sexy interior finish. From a finger swipe of the dash to the comfort of the steering wheel(sport mode), it felt good and powerful to be behind the wheel of an ATS Coupe. The car is luxurious and quiet with the various driving modes.

Swipe and touch screen on ATS Coupe dashboard

On that note, here is a fun commercial that encapsulates the forward direction and momentum that Cadillac is gaining by understanding their consumer.



I consider myself an "average-knowledge" person of cars. I've driven many vehicles and this is one of the  top vehicles specifically in the technology and saftey sense for me. For more info: Cadillac Canada

2015 ATS Coupe

NAIAS with GM Canada

Thanks to GM Canada, I had the opportunity to visit the North American International Auto Show - NAIAS in Detroit, Michigan for the Media Preview. The NAIAS is one of the biggest Auto Show's in the world. I had the honour of staying at the GM Renaissance Centre which is an architectural and futuristic style building.

The NAIAS started with the announcement that GM/Chevrolet Won the Best North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards with the Corvette Stingray and Silverado.  GM was quite the talk and buzz during this Auto Show with the sweep of the awards!

I also had the opportunity to visit the OnStar research facility located at the GM Headquarters in Detroit. I had a chance to see the plans for making the GM brand cars become advance mobile units on wheels. Showcased was the use/sync of a Samsung tablet with the in car dash. Imagine being able to tell if you have enough tire pressure from your car dash. The technology seems to make driving more enjoyable and safer which is good for customers like us. I really like how technology has made driving safer and GM is making strides in this capacity. GM has actually opened up the opportunity for developers to create apps via Developer Portal by releasing their API.

During this trip, I had the honours of having dinner with the President of GM Canada, auto media and lifestyle enthusiasts at the GM Heritage Centre. The Heritage Centre is home to every model and make of GM cars throughout it's history. It's quite the selection of cars and I was extremely impressed. My favourite was the black corvette with all it's curves. It reminds me of the batmobile.

One of the best parts of the trip to Detroit with GM Canada was the opportunity to visit and explore the  city of Detroit. It is sad that Detroit has become a "bankrupt" city but I do see the potential for revitalizing the city. GM is poised under the helm of Mary Barra, the first female CEO of the major auto companies to turn the auto industry into a competitive market as shown with the awards at this year's NAIAS. I'm excited to showcase more of my experience with GM Canada in Detroit. This is the 1st installment of a 3 part series on my experience with GM Canada, Buick Canada, GMC and Cadillac.

This Cadillac Escalade service in conjunction with Uber was a great way to explore the City of Detroit in style.

NAIAS with GM Canada

Thanks to GM Canada, I'm honoured to return to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Michigan. Throughout the next few days, I'll be tweeting live coverage of the GM Canada announcements. I'm excited to give you coverage from the various GM brands from my point of view.

To give you an idea of my car knowledge, I know how to drive a car but my knowledge of cars is basic at the least. I don't know how to change a tire for the life of me.  I do appreciate good design and have a good feel for comforts of a vehicle. I enjoy the new tech on new cars from my experience with various car brands in past including GM. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with Buick Regal and the Buick Verano. You can read about my recent Bucket List trip to Cincinnati with Buick Canada. I'm looking forward to seeing the corvette and the secret announcement from Cadillac.

So make sure to follow the various GM Brands on Twitter here:

@GMCanada

@ChevroletCanada

@GMCCanada

@CadillacCanada


On a side note, tweet me at @clickflickca and tell me what you look forward to from GM Canada and you can WIN a $20 Gas Card.  Add #NAIASGM #ClickFlick to tweet. Good Luck everyone! :-)

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