Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept
Cadillac’s Urban Luxury Concept is a design study exploring “a new type of vehicle that offers a luxury experience in a diminutive size,” says GM. Comparable in size to popular city cars found in Paris, Shanghai and London, the Urban Luxury Concept demonstrates a departure from conventional vehicle design. It seats four, with easy access to all seats available via two scissor-type doors that extend outward and rotate forward when opened. GM says the design fosters a roomy passenger area, which is trimmed in high-end materials and features next-generation interactive technology. Touchpad screens and projected readouts take the place of most traditional gauges and serve as the audio and climate system controls — a design feature that helps open up the interior for greater passenger space.
2013 Cadillac XTS
Making its Canadian premiere, the all-new, built-in-Oshawa 2013 XTS is the newest addition to the Cadillac luxury sedan lineup, arriving in showrooms in the spring as the most technologically advanced production car in the brand’s history.
Larger than the CTS, GM says the new XTS delivers the space, elegance and dramatic presence that are Cadillac signatures, but with entirely new and technically advanced methods tuned for a new generation of luxury customers. It also marks the debut of CUE, a comprehensive in-vehicle experience that merges intuitive design with auto industry-first controls and commands for information and media control, according to GM. Some other standard features of the car include advanced Haldex all-wheel drive with electronically controlled limited-slip differential, Magnetic Ride Control, rear air suspension, HiPer Strut front suspension and Brembo brakes. The XTS is powered by a direct-injected 3.6-litre V6.
Inside, there are folding rear-seat headrests that enhance rear visibility, a Safety Alert Seat that vibrates to alert the driver and an intervening braking system that lessens or avoids potential collisions.
2013 Cadillac ATS
The 2013 ATS also makes its Canadian debut. Cadillac’s all-new compact luxury sport sedan is intended to challenge the world’s best premium cars, says GM. Developed on a new, lightweight vehicle architecture, Cadillac’s entry into what it calls the world’s most significant luxury car segment goes on sale this summer.
The rear-wheel-drive ATS brings Cadillac’s blend of technologically driven performance, elegance and design to a new audience of spirited drivers, the automaker says. Its driving experience is enhanced with CUE, a comprehensive, in-vehicle user experience that merges intuitive design with industry-first controls and commands for information and media data, says GM.
There’s a broad lineup of available engines, including two four-cylinders and a V6 for North America.
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With room for five and up to 48.4 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seat folded, the Encore offers substantial cargo capacity along with the confident, higher driving position, all-wheel-drive capability and contemporary styling of a crossover.
2013 Buick Encore
The 2013 Encore joins an expanding family of Buick vehicles that has recently seen the additions of the Verano compact luxury sedan, the Regal GS sport sedan and fuel- efficient eAssist “light electrification” technology on both the LaCrosse and Regal.
With room for five and up to 48.4 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seat folded, the Encore offers substantial cargo capacity along with the confident, higher driving position, all-wheel-drive capability and contemporary styling of a crossover.
Additional features include 10 standard air bags and an Ecotec 1.4L turbo four-cylinder/six-speed automatic powertrain, along with standard and available technologies such as Buick’s voice-activated IntelliLink — which uses Bluetooth or a USB to connect the driver’s smartphone to a high-resolution, full-colour seven-inch LCD display radio. QuietTuning is standard on the Encore, which also features Buick’s first use of active noise cancellation technology.
2012 Buick Verano
The new 2012 Verano compact luxury sedan, the brand’s third new model in the past two years and first in the compact luxury segment, features a standard Ecotec 2.4L and six-speed automatic powertrain combination that delivers 180 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque, along with competitive performance and a fuel consumption rating of 6.2 litres per 100 kilometres on the highway. A 2.0L turbo engine will be offered in the future.
The sedan’s sporty profile blends Buick’s signature cues — including a black chrome waterfall grille, blue translucent projector beam headlamps, portholes and chrome accents. Inside, premium seat comfort and support has been redefined for a compact sedan and matched with upscale, soft-touch materials and premium leather.
The Verano’s quietness is supported by acoustical laminated glass, triple door seals, refined chassis dynamics and specially manufactured 17-inch standard forged alloy multi-spoke wheels, which minimize road noise. Convenience and safety features include 10 standard air bags, a next-generation radio, touchscreen navigation and advanced connectivity technologies powered by OnStar.
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A sporty four-passenger, five-door hatch updated for Canadian consumers, the Spark is designed to excite first-time buyers and city dwellers with its bold styling and colours, affordability, the safety of 10 standard air bags, fuel efficiency and manoeuvrability.
2013 Chevrolet Spark
Just as the Cruze helped strengthen Chevrolet’s position in the small-car segment, the brand says the Spark is designed to challenge preconceived notions of how an affordable mini-car can look, feel and drive.
A sporty four-passenger, five-door hatch updated for Canadian consumers, the Spark is designed to excite first-time buyers and city dwellers with its bold styling and colours, affordability, the safety of 10 standard air bags, fuel efficiency and manoeuvrability.
Though compact, the Spark offers more passenger and cargo room than other mini-cars such as the Fiat 500, Smart fortwo and Scion iQ, according to GM. Equipped with a 1.2L four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission, the Spark will offer competitive fuel efficiency.
The Spark also offers a seven-inch colour touchscreen radio capable of displaying smartphone-based navigation, media and contacts for hands-free calling. The Spark will also offer Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system, which features the personalized connectivity of Stitcher Internet radio, when it goes on sale in mid-2012.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu
The new 2013 Malibu, Chevrolet’s first global mid-sized sedan, is designed to provide customers with expressive design, advanced technologies, ride performance and fuel-efficient powertrains. It has been engineered, says GM, to be best in class and on par with more expensive sports sedans.
Product highlights include a new fuel-efficient 2.5L four-cylinder engine and next- generation six-speed automatic trnasmission. Improved aerodynamics — close to those of the Volt extended-range electric car — enhance fuel efficiency, reduce wind noise and include active electronic shutters on select models.
New safety features and technologies include 10 air bags, lane departure warning/forward collision warning and a rear-view camera system.
2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe
The highest-performing Camaro and the most technically advanced car ever developed in its class, according to GM, the 2012 ZL1 Coupe accelerates from zero to 96 kilometres an hour in 3.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 297 km/h. Starting at $58,000, including Performance Traction Management and Magnetic Ride suspension, the ZL1 delivers supercar levels of performance and technology for the price of a sports car.
The heart of the ZL1 is a 580-hp supercharged 6.2L V8. And more than just power, the ZL1 features technologically advanced and highly developed chassis and suspension systems that help it deliver balanced, track-ready handling and braking power to complement its high engine output.
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After enduring more than three decades of road and auto show duties, the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept had more than earned its trip to the restoration shop.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept
After enduring more than three decades of road and auto show duties, the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept had more than earned its trip to the restoration shop. GM Design Staff personnel stripped the car down to its basic elements and refurbished all the component parts to restore this heirloom to its original function and beauty. The steel-tube space frame was in sound condition and needed little more than stripping and a fresh coat of black paint. Chassis bushings, bearings, dampers and brake components were reconstructed using period-correct hardware when possible. The aged wiring harness was remade using new materials faithful to the original design.
Certain components — such as the silver leather bucket seats — were restored without loss of the patina acquired during years of use. Hand-made brass trim plates and escutcheon badges were re-chromed. The original Halibrand magnesium wheels were carefully polished to the proper lustre. Much of the internal panelling was hand-formed sheet aluminum, which has been straightened and rid of battle scars acquired on the race track.
Numerous engines have resided under the Stingray Racer’s hood. The current powerhouse is a 5.7L small- block V8 equipped with an all-mechanical fuel injection system from the 1960s. Hours of effort were devoted to repairing cracks in the original fibreglass body panels and replacing balsawood reinforcements that had deteriorated. Constructing an all new body would probably have been easier, but GM Design personnel took the longer road to preserve original components and craftsmanship where possible.
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The GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept is an exploration of heavy-duty truck capability combined with greater off-road versatility.
GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept
Seen for the first time in Canada, the GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept is an exploration of heavy-duty truck capability combined with greater off-road versatility. It is highlighted by a bold exterior design, enhanced all-terrain suspension and premium details — all designed to enable greater access to off-road destinations.
A 2011 Sierra HD underpins the All Terrain HD concept, with a modified, production-based four-wheel-drive chassis and the Duramax diesel/Allison 1000 six-speed powertrain. The enhanced suspension and unique body dimensions, including increased ground clearance and wider track, as well as greater approach/departure angles, deliver off-road capability while maintaining heavy-duty levels of payload and trailering capacity.
The All Terrain HD features a unique 5-foot-8 Crew Cab/short box body configuration that supports a wheels-at-the-corners proportion. Shorter in overall length than production Sierra HD models, the concept’s dimensions contribute to greater approach/departure angles.
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