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Heading down to Nashville
Eric Descarries & Tim Dimopoulos
GM deals with more than 40 per cent of the commercial market in North America, so it's little wonder the automaker's recent launch in Nashville drew so much interest.
Attendees, including many from Canada, were presented with 200 new cars and trucks at the May event. GM also took advantage of the occasion to provide an early look at some future products, such as the GMC Acadia crossover SUV.
Obviously, the cars were the stars and fuel consumption was the most important topic. Brian McVeigh, the Canadian-born GM fleet and commercial general manager, said many of the new GM cars were the most fuel efficient in their segment.
On the stage were the latest versions of the fuel sipping Chevrolet Aveo, now available as a sedan; the new-to-the-US Pontiac G5 coupe (known as the G5 Pursuit, which has been on the Canadian market for a while); and the European-based Saturn Aura, a medium-sized sedan powered by a 252-horsepower V-6. It will eventually be available in a hybrid-electric version.
GM also reintroduced the most recent Chevrolet Impala, and announced the vehicle would be offered with an active fuel management 3.9-litre V-6 engine. At a steady pace, the V-6 will cut fuel admission to three of its cylinders for better fuel economy. The new Buick Lucerne will also be available to fleet and commercial customers.
The Pontiac Solstice two-passenger sports car was available to attendees to test drive, but its near twin, the Saturn Sky, could only be seen on display.
Ironically, GM focused heavily on the most recent Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac XLR sports cars to promote its fleet and commercial sales. That part of the event included a visit to the Bowling Green Corvette and XLR assembly plant and National Corvette Museum.
Though the new Saturn Outlook cross-over SUV was recently introduced, it could not be driven at the event. Other than its twin brother, GMC Acadia, this vehicle will have a close cousin within the Buick division—the Enclave. While all will be V-6 powered, a V-8 is promised as an option in the Buick.
Light trucks
Attendees on the lookout for new light truck ideas weren't disappointed. There were quite a few new products in that segment. Among the most important news was the presentation of specialty-bodied vehicles such as the Astro, a Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon-based light truck, sporting a rear body with abundant loading capabilities and easy access.
It's meant to replace the now-defunct Astro/Safari line of mid-size vans. On that note, the Colorado and Canyon will be offered with two new engines in 200. There's a choice between a 2.9-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine developing 185-horsepower and a 3.7 DOHC five-cylinder mill pumping out 242-horsepower.
At the same time, GM showed off a new body style for Chevy Express/GMC Savana cutaways with a high roof rear body, meant to compete with DaimlerChrysler's successful Sprinter delivery van.
Much emphasis was put on GM’s latest generation of full-size SUVs, such as the redesigned Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, powered by a new generation of active fuel management V-8 engines.
The latest generation of SUVs has other spin-offs, such as the Avalanche sports truck and the longer-wheelbase Suburban and Yukon XL. There's also the more luxurious GMC Denali and Cadillac Escalade, including the EXT and ESV versions.
Most GM products offered by the fleet and commercial division were available for a short drive around the local Coliseum (home of the Titans football club).
In the parking area, GM had set up a short handling course for medium-duty trucks. Many of them could be seen with different new professional bodies on the site. GM even had a low rider Class 5 TopKick modified by Munroe and equipped with a pick-up bed hooked to a horse trailer.
The event highlighted modification options too, including armoured vehicles and mechanisms for physically-challenged people (though GM has its own division for that purpose, called GM Mobility).
Mechanical improvements
Other than the much-touted active fuel management system available on many V-8s and V-6s, GM devoted a lot of time to E85, the ethanol-based fuel (85 per cent ethanol, 15 per cent gasoline) that will be made available on many new GM products in the US on full-sized pick-ups, SUVs and sedans.
Ethanol is becoming popular in the midwest US and could well make its way up into Canada. GM will give the "FlexFuel" moniker to most of its E85 capable cars and trucks. These include Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Avalanche, Impala and Monte Carlo.
Even the European-based Saab 9-5 will use a similar fuel, but it's known as BioPower in countries such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, France, Great Britain and Germany.
During his presentation, McVeigh referred to burgeoning hybrid-electric technology. The systems are showing up on the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Other technologies coming down the pipe include electric power to achieve stop and start actions, to be applied to vehicles such as the Saturn Vue Green Line.
Those who are more driven by performance showed interest in the newly developed 260-horsepower 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection engine that will be found under the hood of the Pontiac Solstice GXP, the Saturn Sky Red Line and the German Opel GT. It's a four-cylinder.
As far as transmissions are concerned, McVeigh also introduced a line of six-speed automatic transmissions for 2006 and 2007 front, rear, and all-wheel drive.
In the segment of more robust commercial trucks, GM hyped the availability of its new (and most powerful in class) 6.6-litre Duramax turbodiesel V-8 that pumps out 360 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque.
It also highlighted a new and more efficient six-speed Allison automatic transmission (1000 series for light-duty trucks and 2000 series for medium-duty vehicles). This V-8 will be available in bigger pick-ups (2500 and 3500) and lower mid-size (4500 and 5500) Chevrolet and GMC trucks and vans.
As far as accessories went, the most important one at the Nashville show had to be the seventh generation of OnStar, that now includes the turn-by-turn navigation service. It will first be available on specific cars such as the Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS and STS, to be followed by approximately one million GM cars and trucks in 2007.
How can this new OnStar be useful to fleet and commercial vehicle owners? First of all, it's a safer way for drivers to find the right route, according to GM. The driver doesn't have to enter data or touch a screen to get the right information. He simply verbally asks the OnStar advisor how to get to the requested destination and directions will be sent by voice to the vehicle. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Help in emergencies
An OnStar equipped vehicle can also benefit a driver in trouble. For example, if the vehicle is involved in an accident, it automatically connects OnStar to the advisor. If the advisor gets no response from the driver or a passenger, he immediately directs emergency help to the vehicle’s location.
Less dramatic, OnStar can also help a driver unlock his vehicle if he accidentally locks himself out. The system helps employees be more productive by directing them to the nearest gas station, hotel, restaurant or major meeting point, according to GM. OnStar can also locate a stolen vehicle and even perform a remote diagnostic requested by a GM Goodwrench technician!
Aside from OnStar, there was a lot of fanfare around XM Radio. Recently introduced by GM on many of its current models, XM Radio is transmitted by satellite, and provides an incredible amount of music and information stations not only for entertainment, but also for traffic and weather help. XM Radio is factory installed and offered at a reasonable price.
Many Canadian businesses had sent representatives to learn more about GM's fleet and commercial programs and products. GM Canada sent two of its most important representatives, Barry Kuntz, director of national sales, service and marketing for fleet and commercial, and Brian Riendeau, national sales manager. That representation, and the availability of the vehicles in Canada, made the event highly relevant to Canadian fleet managers and buyers.
It also provided a glimpse of the sophisticated navigational and fuel-saving technology we’ll see in upcoming GM models.
Eric Descarries is an automotive expert and writer based in Montreal. Tim Dimopoulos is publisher of Purchasing b2b Magazine.
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