Innovation and Technology at GM

I picked up the lastest copy of C&D because of the Z06 test, and of course things don't change. With all the capabilities of the Z06 they still found ways to bash GM. This got me thinking about all of the innovations and technologies that GM brings to the market that are overlooked, but yet copied by other companies.

Hydroforming metal: GM first developed it for the pickups frame rails starting in 2000 and is now also used on the Corvette and XLR. I am sure it will be expanded as frame based RWD products slowly start to filter back in. Now Ford "proudly" uses this technology with the new F-150 truck.

OnStar: Another GM first, and now other companies are starting to jump on the bandwagon.

XM Satellite Radio: GM invested in XM and Delphi makes most of the products for XM and was the first in cars. Now just about every auto company offers XM or Sirrus.

Other things like the employee discount program was feverishly followed by similar plans by Ford and Chrysler. GMs Auto Show in Motion is now also copied. Also I remember a thread about a auto company (BMW, I think) was coming out with a version of night vision on a car, which GM no longer offers, but they started it as a option (very expensive option) on the Caprice 9C1 for law enforcement use back in the mid 90s.
GM brought an electric car to the market, and I think they will be the first to bring a hydrogen car to the market.

Any opinions?

I haven't seen it yet. What didn't they like about the Z06?

They liked the Z06, except for its uncommunicative chassis. I was really talking about the magazine as a whole.

Actually the '97 Corvette was the first to use hydroforming frame technology. The Corvette is usually the first vehical to use the technology. If you see it on the Corvette, it will probably end up on every other vehical in GM.

I couldn't agree more! They find it very convenient to overlook GM's greatness! I was thinking about the night vision too. How about the crankstart, someone mentioned in another thread! I believe Cadillac was first, or more correctly the beggining of AC Delco. It actually made me wonder, if there was a book with all of GM's automotive firsts?

I think the balsawood floor insert is a GM innovation aswell.

Not to hijack the thread, but you'll all be surprised to know that in a short comparo against the new Miata, they liked the Solstice better.

I was kinda surprised since that car (Miata) is one of their darlings.

A guy I know, absolutely hates the balsa wood floor! Maybe he thinks it's a structural thing, when it's really more of a sound deadening thing! :shrug: I though it was a good idea. Go figure! :)

Onstar was a great idea from GM - especially when they started incoporating the auto dialing and locating feature when there's been an accident. It was a natural for GM to have it first, though, since they have such strong financial ties (ownership) to the satellite manufacturing and distrubution industry. Same thing with XM, too, although I think in that case a few non-GM brands launched satellite radio simultanously with GM, as an available feature.

Actually the '97 Corvette was the first to use hydroforming frame technology. The Corvette is usually the first vehical to use the technology. If you see it on the Corvette, it will probably end up on every other vehical in GM.

Yup... the C5 was the first to use hydroformed rails to my knowledge. The 99+ 1/2 ton GM trucks were the second... though they only have the front section hydroformed. When ford redesigned for 2004 and Dodge for 2002 they went to full hydroformed I think (not sure)... so I'm sure, as things go, the GMT-900 will one-up the competition once again, somehow.

The new C6 is still standard hydroformed, although improved. The Z06 is hydroformed aluminum (instead of steel).

Lets look at some safty features.

We just learned about these yesterday, and I'm not sure what other auto manufactuers have this...

The Breakaway engine mounts (allows engine to go under car if enough pressure is applyed thisway it doesnt come into the cabin)
Seatbelt force tensioners (tightens the seatbelt in an accedent, then releases slightly to reduce whiplash and a few other things)
colapsable steering column (if the weight of a adult is applyed enough onto the steering wheel the column collapses to protect the driver.

of like on the new Impala, there are no welds on the door frame, which makes a stronger side, for side impact.



Lets go back a bit, I donno who started some of these innovations...


ABS?
Disk Brakes?
Traction Control?
Theft deterant ignition systems?

just something i thought might be a few innovations

Lets go back a bit, I donno who started some of these innovations...

ABS?
Disk Brakes?
Traction Control?
Theft deterant ignition systems?

ABS: GM was first to widely deploy ABS on inexpensive cars (albeit an inexpensive system).
Disk brakes: 1965 Corvette was first wide use of disk brakes. Chrysler had a system earlier, but it was not widely used.
Traction control: Unsure about this one, had it in my 1993 Corvette
Theft deterrent ignition: interlock federally mandated in 1969 for all cars, GM Pass-Key system in mid 1980s, to keyless cars like STS today.

I think the balsawood floor insert is a GM innovation aswell.

Not to hijack the thread, but you'll all be surprised to know that in a short comparo against the new Miata, they liked the Solstice better.

I was kinda surprised since that car (Miata) is one of their darlings.

If they write up a full comparison, they will invent reasons to pick Miata as the winner.

If they write up a full comparison, they will invent reasons to pick Miata as the winner.

No kidding, maybe something like 'chick factor' or 'cuteness index'.... :rolleyes:

there are hundreds upon hundreds......some are in the car or truck.....a few off the top of my head........

>first to offer collapsible steering column. (1967)
>first to offer side impact door beams (1969)
and here's a tidbit....

First to offer electronic brake modulation module replacing proportioning valve on a production passenger car (1998 Fcar!)

some for 'the road'
>designed the 'jersey barrier'
>designed modern break away light poles


and some for research in saving lives.......

>developed Hybrid I, II, and III crash test dummies........

those are just a few that I immediately recall.

A guy I know, absolutely hates the balsa wood floor! Maybe he thinks it's a structural thing, when it's really more of a sound deadening thing! :shrug: I though it was a good idea. Go figure! :)

The balsa floor actually is a structural thing, or at least part of it. The composite sheets on either side of it need a spacer, to increase the structure's moment of inertia and thus the strength. Aerospace structures use fancy honeycomb or foam; GM seems to have found that balsa works just fine and is probably a lot cheaper as well. Balsa has tremendous strength- and stiffness-to-weight ratios. People seem to forget that it worked just fine in a lot of pre-WWII aircraft.

As far as hydroforming goes, don't forget that Chrysler did the first hydroformed structure in the early 90s with an dashboard beam, and Ford did the first hydroformed engine cradle in the mid-90s. And even more importantly, don't forget that it's not so much the Big 3 as it is their suppliers that bring this sort of innovation to the table nowadays.

Anyone who's honest and objective about automotive history will find a huge amount of innovation in GM products throughout the years, and not just in their passenger cars but also their truck and bus operations as well.

It's a joy to see a thread now and then celebrating some of GM's successes. I agree with the observations above. I'm particularly fond of the Heads Up Display on my Grand Prix, and how it's integrated with other systems like the warning sensors and the steering-wheel stereo controls. IMHO it's also a safety feature :bow:

It's a joy to see a thread now and then celebrating some of GM's successes. I agree with the observations above. I'm particularly fond of the Heads Up Display on my Grand Prix, and how it's integrated with other systems like the warning sensors and the steering-wheel stereo controls. IMHO it's also a safety feature :bow:

first to be offered on 93 corvette i believe...

first to be offered on 93 corvette i believe...

I think it was offered on one of the early-90s hot-rod Grand Prix models first - maybe the Turbo version?

I believe GM introduced Air bags in the mid 70s.

Randy

Speaking of latest technology and innovation...

http://economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=4316021

New cruise control by 2008, from GM.

Who invented power steering?
A/C?
Fuel Injection?
Seat Belts?
Crumple Zones?


I cant believe on a lot of Toyotas still dont have true power steering, rather assisted steering... Yuck! I love having a car with power steering

Who invented power steering?
A/C?
Fuel Injection?
Seat Belts?
Crumple Zones?


I cant believe on a lot of Toyotas still dont have true power steering, rather assisted steering... Yuck! I love having a car with power steering

What's the difference and which models only have the assisted steering instead of 'true power steering'?

I know on their higher end models they use variable ratio steering that is computer controlled and integrated with their vehicle dynamics stability control system... it even adjusts to fewer turns lock to lock when put into sport mode.

Speaking of latest technology and innovation...

http://economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=4316021

New cruise control by 2008, from GM.
AFAIK, they have been working on this kind of stuff for quit a few years! I wonder how many innovations, were unveiled in concept form by GM, and then put into production by other manufacturers! :eek: I didn't know about the jersey barriers! :cool: I think they are using them down in N.O., to help block some of the water. Or the structural integrity of balsa wood, I figured there was some! I think my buddy was under the impression that, that was all there was to the floor! This is a great thread! :D

Balsa wood also acts as an insulator and sound damper.

And it's fun to build little airplanes outta'....oh the childhood memories.....;)

BTW, I wish CHevy woulda' used some in the rear area of the C5....kinda' noisy little buggers back there.... ;)

For being as big as it is, GM isn't offering as much technology as they should be in cars. They should be leading the way but most of the time they're lucky to even be catching up. I'm not saying it's entirely GM's fault, we have the gov't and unions to thank for a lot of that problem. Toyota having the best bottom line should be way ahead too, and they're getting there with hybrid technology.

For being as big as it is, GM isn't offering as much technology as they should be in cars. They should be leading the way but most of the time they're lucky to even be catching up. I'm not saying it's entirely GM's fault, we have the gov't and unions to thank for a lot of that problem. Toyota having the best bottom line should be way ahead too, and they're getting there with hybrid technology.
I think once they (GM) get more of it (Hybrid tech) out there, you'll find, that it's much better than toyota's, from what I've read! :p Oh, I still have one of those balsa planes around here! :D Now where the heck did I put that damn thing? :mad:

Balsa wood also acts as an insulator and sound damper.

Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm not an engineer), but that's the only reason it's there.

Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm not an engineer), but that's the only reason it's there.
In ACAR they actually talk about the use of Balsa in the floor. Apparently for its weight it is suprisingly strong. It has a honeycomb style grain to it so that makes it stiffer. Also it is VERY light. Wrap it in metal to protect it from water and BAM a great material for the floor of the vette.

What's the difference and which models only have the assisted steering instead of 'true power steering'?

I know on their higher end models they use variable ratio steering that is computer controlled and integrated with their vehicle dynamics stability control system... it even adjusts to fewer turns lock to lock when put into sport mode.

assisted steering... one things that really pisses me off, is when i'm in a parking spot or stopped, and i turn the wheel to a direction I want to go, perhaps I'm waiting at a stop sign or someting, I might get tired of holding it (because its assisted) and if i let go, the wheel goes back the way it was. On true power steering, when you move the wheel, the wheels move, regaurdless of whether the car is moving. like in the firebird. When I move the steering wheel, i can let go of it because the wheels are moved to the place I wantted them... Assisted steering is no more then more agressive gearing and a bit of power.

assisted steering... one things that really pisses me off, is when i'm in a parking spot or stopped, and i turn the wheel to a direction I want to go, perhaps I'm waiting at a stop sign or someting, I might get tired of holding it (because its assisted) and if i let go, the wheel goes back the way it was. On true power steering, when you move the wheel, the wheels move, regaurdless of whether the car is moving. like in the firebird. When I move the steering wheel, i can let go of it because the wheels are moved to the place I wantted them... Assisted steering is no more then more agressive gearing and a bit of power.

Uh . . . methinks you need a better knowledge of basic mechanics. Power steering and power-assisted steering are the same exact thing.

There are different types of power steering:
Power ram (very old system, think classic Mustang and Corvettes)
Power recirculating ball (still pretty old, think 3rd gen)
Power rack (pretty much what everyone has today)
Power rack variants include electric assist (Pontiac G6) instead of hydraulic, racks that vary steering assist (Corvette) and ratio (BMW). But it's all pretty much power rack.

I think once they (GM) get more of it (Hybrid tech) out there, you'll find, that it's much better than toyota's, from what I've read! :p Oh, I still have one of those balsa planes around here! :D Now where the heck did I put that damn thing? :mad:
By the time GMs full hybrid technology actually hits the market, Toyota's 3rd generation full hybrid will be out as well. I really am pulling for GM on this, but I will be surprised if GM can even match Toyota's 2nd gen system.