Section B


SHOP TALK SHOP TALK


GM leverages


OnStar technology We kind of figured that it wouldn’t be long before General Motors would leverage the OnStar technology that will allow Chevrolet Volt owners to activate functions like remotely starting the car from their mobile smartphone on other GM vehicles.


Now, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC will feature the OnStar technology. In addition to remote start, each of the brand-specific apps will allow owners to activate all of the functions available on a traditional vehicle key fob such as horn and lights and door lock/unlock from their smartphones.


The technology, currently functional on the iPhone and Android systems, eliminates the distance factor that restricts a lot of these functions with the traditional keys fob.


For example,


say someone is rac- ing to catch a flight and realizes at the gate that he forgot to lock his vehicle. OnStar’s mobile app technology


allows him to log into his Chevrolet, Cadil- lac, Buick or GMC app, enter his custom PIN and send a remote lock signal to his vehicle.


Or a family attending a baseball game on a hot summer day could remotely start their vehicle as they are leaving the ballpark, so the vehicle is cooled to a comfortable temperature by the time they reach it.


In addition, the Chevrolet, Cadil- lac, Buick and GMC apps will leverage OnStar’s ability to provide key diagnostic information, including fuel tank level and range, remaining oil life, current and recommended tire pressure and lifetime average miles per gallon.


The diagnostic information is current as of the last vehicle start, giving OnStar subscribers an up-to-date health report of their vehicle anytime they need it.


Important vehicle information, such as current odometer reading, vehicle VIN and OnStar account number also will be readily accessible within the apps upon secure login. And should OnStar sub- scribers need assistance with something that the mobile apps don’t provide, they can one-touch dial to specially trained ad- visors, who are available to assist custom- ers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


The OnStar mobile app services will be available on the majority of vehicles in the 2011 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC portfolios, including the just- launched Chevrolet Cruze and Cadillac CTS Coupe.


The Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC mobile applications will offer a variety of other features tailored specifi- cally for each brand’s customers that will be revealed in totality when the brands begin bringing their apps to market in the months ahead.


OnStar and Chevrolet announced the auto industry’s first working smartphone application for the Chevrolet Volt at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show.


THE INGREEN


Honda to expand on environmental


friendly vehicles Driving to build on its envi-


ronmental initiatives, Honda an- nounced it will introduce new advanced environmental technol- ogy vehicles, including a battery- electric vehicle and a new plug-in hybrid vehicle, to the U.S. market in 2012.


The announcement was made


at the automaker’s mid-year ad- dress by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., president and CEO Takanobu Ito, in Tokyo, Japan.


RATING ★★★


(Based on Scale of 1 to 5) Mitsubishi shoots for more appeal with new Outlander Sport


July 28 - Aug. 3, 2010


Up for the ride? Going all out with Hankook tires A.J. Mueller


OK, so A.J. Mueller, the


Michigan Chronicle’s chief au- tomotive photographer, really spoiled us with his last special feature to the point that we’ve asked him to be a regular cont r ibutor . Thought being, his journeys behind


the WORDS & IMAGES IN HIS OWN


wheel are fun to follow. This time he takes us along to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, for some track time with Hankook Tires.


A SPECIAL DRIVEN FEATURE


It’s 6 a.m., the sun is rising,


and I’m headed out the door to the Drive Team Training Center


in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The objective for this trip: to test out Hankook’s new best-selling UHP (Ultra High Performance) tires. Now that’s my kind of challenge, drive fast and put a set of rubber to its limits, which made my drive down to Cuyahoga Falls pretty quick due to my anticipation for the day’s events.


I pulled up to the training


center on a beautiful sunny day with temperatures already reaching 85 degrees and things were just starting to heat up


See Hankook Tires page B-2


THE OUTLANDER SPORT features a number of options.


THE MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT aims to appeal to a younger market than the Outlander with more progressive styling. – Marcus Amick photos


By Marcus Amick SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE


“Not really my kind of ride.” “Only if you’re


into that racing stuff.” “Yeah, but how’s the qual- ity?”


Mitsubishi has probably heard it all when it comes to gaug- ing US con- sumers about its vehicles despite the appeal of its cars in some other mar- kets around the world. It’s been a tough stigma for the carmaker to break with a lot of American consumers.


Marcus Amick


Kinda like convincing those who prefer Pepsi to switch to


Coca-Cola or vice versa. No matter how you pack- age the pitch, a lot of fans of the beverages will contest the idea that the other tastes better.


Mitsubishi is hoping to change that with the


new 2011 Outlander Sport. The compact cross- over aims to address a lot of those key issues that could help broaden the carmaker’s appeal in the US, especially among a younger demo that might


not be all that interested in zooming around race- tracks.


For those not too familiar with the brand, Mit-


subishi has a built quite a rep for its performance as a rally car. Trouble is, not everybody’s inter- ested in drifting or doing burnouts.


In fact, most


people aren’t, which is why Mit- subishi has been focusing more of its attention on features that make their vehicles more appeal- ing to the general market.


WHAT’S UNIQUE? One of the key areas of focus has been styling,


which is evident with the new Outlander Sport. Mitsubishi’s new crossover, designed to have more urban appeal, is a lot sportier than the full- size Outlander.


The body of the Outlander Sport is completely


different than the Outlander except for the side mirrors. Mitsubishi opted to use the same name for familiarity due to the popularity of the brand.


Key exterior styling cues on the Sport model


include Mitsubishi’s front fascia inspired the company’s high-performance sports sedan — the Lancer Evolution, a tall beltline and rear spoiler


See Outlander page B-2 Join Marcus Amick on test drives and events at Twitter (http://twitter.com/MarcusAmick). MYWHEELS Driver: Jerome Morgan


When not driving? Busy working as the owner of the Harbor Hill Marina. Also spends a lot of time toying around with his cars and boats.


Vehicles? 1990 Tiffany, 2007 Mercedes-Benz 550 and 2004 Mer- cedes-Benz 600.


Ito also announced the applica-


tion of a lithium-ion battery in the next-generation Civic Hybrid in 2011.


The announcement outlined


Honda’s commitment to develop- ing advanced environmental tech- nologies for application across all of Honda’s global operations. Highlights specifically related to


See In the Green page B-2


First Ride? “A 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass. I kept it for about six months and turned it in for a 1970 Chevelle SS 396. The Cutlass was too slow.”


Favorite car color? “Red. It’s exciting.” Music Playlist? “Mostly slow jazz.”


Speed or Luxury? “Mostly speed. I grew up living for the Friday night races and there is still a little bit in my blood.”


Dream Car? “I really don’t have a dream car. I’ll get a car and keep it for awhile. Right now I’m really satisfied with the Tiffany.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33