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December 15, 2006
General Motors at North American International Auto Show 2007
GM Showcases Its Brands In Style at its All-New Exhibit.
Photo: Rendering of the new entrance to GM's display at the North American International Auto Show in January 2007.
DETROIT – When hundreds of thousands of 2007 North American International Auto Show visitors step inside the 121,000-square-foot General Motors exhibit beginning Jan. 13, they’ll experience more than beautifully designed and executed cars and trucks. The all-new GM exhibit – the show’s largest – will be transformed into the auto show equivalent of an art gallery.
Photo: Rendering of GM's new Pontiac display at the North American International Auto Show 2007.
A more intuitive layout supported by enhanced, high-tech overhead and vehicle lighting; open spaces and clean lines; minimalist architecture and premium materials will allow visitors to experience GM’s eight distinctive brands in unique, gallery-type settings within a unified, GM-themed environment. The individual brand displays surround GM’s advanced technology-themed corporate display.
Photo: Rendering of GM's new Chevrolet Truck display at the North American International Auto Show 2007.
GM Design played a key role in the vision and execution of this year’s exhibit, taking an esthetic approach remarkably similar to its globally influenced vehicle design process.
Photo: Rendering of GM's new Cadillac display at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.
The individual brand displays surround GM’s corporate exhibit, featuring LED screens and projected laser images on glass that demonstrate GM’s vision for reinventing the automobile. During the media preview, the space will be used for major vehicle launches. For the public, the space will be transformed into a dramatic vehicle design and technology display highlighting GM’s leadership in design, technology, safety, quality and fuel efficiency.
“While the stars of the show are the vehicles, we wanted the exhibit space to reflect the corporation’s design-driven direction in a way that complements the brand essence of each vehicle and the overall GM brand,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design. “The finest work deserves to be displayed in the best galleries, and I believe we’ve accomplished that with this exhibit.”
Visitors will know they’ve arrived at a special destination the moment they approach the exhibit, with its dramatic center entrance featuring a stainless steel ribbon 261 feet wide and 26 feet high, sporting a jeweled GM corporate logo. Five award-winning global concept vehicles will be positioned at the entrance to reinforce the strength of GM vehicle design and future products.
Throughout the exhibit, 615 linear feet of LED lighting will be suspended above visitors’ heads, complemented by additional lighting in the brand displays that bathes the vehicles in light. Each of the brand areas will have back wall video projection for product messages, as well as synchronized corporate messages.
Here’s a tour of GM’s 2007 North American International Auto Show exhibit:
Chevrolet: GM’s largest brand builds on a global auto show concept called “Chevy Moments.” The display consists of a series of graphic towers, feature vehicle displays and LED screens, along with unique flooring that defines specific vehicle areas. Chevrolet is unveiling the new 2008 Malibu at the Detroit show.
Cadillac: The display for GM’s luxury marque is inspired by the sharp lines and faceted architecture of its vehicles. It features an angular ceiling canopy, premium materials such as frosted glass and stainless steel surfaces, and high-tech lighting that befits Cadillac’s technology legacy. Cadillac is revealing the new 2008 CTS at the Detroit show.
GMC: Professional Grade goes decidedly upscale with an all-new space that features textured blue steel, precast concrete, and chrome, perforated metal that evokes the grille design of GMC’s premier Denali lineup. Mechanical elements abound, executed with style and precision.
HUMMER: Capability is the name of the game, and GM’s go-anywhere, do-anything vehicles are displayed against a deep orange backdrop complemented by architectural cues such as massive ID plinths, concrete and glass floor panels.
Saab: Very clean and open with crisp, white surfaces and glass flooring, the Saab display features unique LED technology as well as LED screens that create a special product environment.
Saturn: As refreshing as its brand-new product lineup, the Saturn display breaks convention with unique architectural elements and distinctive materials. The “Aura Box” features bright Obscura projection technology focusing on the 2007 Aura Green Line hybrid.
Buick: The Buick environment exudes the premium elegance associated with its new design direction. It features sophisticated materials such as wood, polished stone tile and gossamer lighted fabric back walls that underscore the display’s water theme, and illuminated ceiling coves. A Buick Lucerne will showcase OnStar’s Turn-by-Turn Navigation technology on a windshield-projected narrative.
Pontiac: Pontiac's all-new display evokes the energy and atmosphere of a hip club. Polished stainless steel surfaces, gloss black paint and glass convey the brand’s seductive performance theme. The space comes alive with carefully choreographed sound, light and the use of video presentations that create excitement.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:32 PM | View the original post
The XC60 Concept a Glimpse of the Next Volvo XC
Future of Volvo's Design Language.
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 14 -- Volvo Car Corporation today released the first official images of the XC60 Concept that will be unveiled at the upcoming North American International Auto Show. Scheduled to be shown to the world January 7, 2007, the XC60 Concept looks towards Volvo's future on two significant fronts: it offers the world a sneak preview of the next XC model to come from Volvo Cars and it reveals several design elements that will be part of future Volvos.
Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin and his team have designed the XC60 Concept while keeping their eyes firmly focused on one clear goal. "In recent years we have successfully emphasized the Scandinavian characteristics that base prestige on timeless, functional elegance. Now we're elevating our design DNA to an entirely new level by literally pumping up our cars' visual volume," says Mattin. "With more expressive, emotive shapes, it will be a magnet for the viewer's eyes. If a Volvo is recognizable from 100 feet away today, I want to get to the point where you will instantly spot it from twice that distance in the future."
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:24 PM | View the original post
DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche to Open Washington Auto Show
Top Name in Auto Industry Headlines D.C. Show.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- In a joint statement, The Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) and the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA) today announced that Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG and the Head of Mercedes Car Group, will deliver the keynote address to the Washington Auto Show during International Media Day on Jan. 23, 2007 at the Washington Convention Center.
Photo: Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG and the head of Mercedes Car Group.
"We are proud to host Dr. Zetsche, not only an automotive icon, but a man listed among TIME Magazine's most influential people this year," said George Doetsch, show chairman. Marc Stertz, president of WAPA, added, "On behalf of the Washington automotive press corps, we look forward to welcoming an automotive leader of his stature."
DaimlerChrysler is one of the world's leading automotive companies. Its passenger car brands include Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, Chrysler, Jeep(R), Dodge and smart. Commercial vehicles are produced under Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, Setra, Thomas Built Buses and Orion.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:20 PM | View the original post
AMERICAN EXPRESS MEMBERSHIP REWARDS PROGRAM: ICE CUBE COLLECTION
PHOTO: The Chopard 18K white gold and diamond "Ice Cube Collection" Ladies Bracelet Watch is one of the rewards as part of the just-launched First Collection - a distinctively elegant collection of boutique-style, premium offers exclusively available to American Express Platinum Card(R) and Centurion(R) Card members through the Membership Rewards program from American Express.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:15 PM | View the original post
