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! 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.

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

 

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.

 

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'....

 

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.

 

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