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New GMC feature reminds drivers to check for kids in hot cars

We see the stories every summer: Dozens of children die from heat stroke every year after being left inside hot cars. GMC has introduced a feature in the 2017 Acadia in an effort to help curb the problem. Simply called Rear Seat Reminder, it alerts the driver if the vehicle suspects someone might have been accidentally left behind. GMC's alert will trigger under certain circumstances. Five chimes will sound and a warning will display if the rear doors are opened and closed within 10 minutes of the vehicle starting or if those doors are opened while the vehicle is running. The system does not sense items or people in the rear seat like the front passenger seat would to trigger the airbag. Warnings will be displayed regardless of interior or exterior temperature; while the summer months are the deadliest, leave-behind deaths occasionally occur during cold weather. Drivers should be aware that temperatures in vehicles can quickly rise to dangerous levels, even if the ambient temperature seems cool and comfortable. View 23 Photos Unfortunately, a large percentage of children are intentionally left in cars. A negligent caretaker, whether it be a parent, grandparent, or babysitter, can leave a child behind while they go to work or run an errand, not expecting any problems. Some children unintentionally trap themselves in cars while playing in the cabin or trunk. The Acadia's system is unlikely to prevent these scenarios. While we believe that GMC should be commended for making an effort to put an end to these tragedies, we're not certain how effective the system might be until driver education improves. It's also possible drivers will come submit to warning fatigue and begin to ignore the messages. That said, if this software-based solution prevents just one death, it was worth the effort. Related Video: Image Credit: GMC GMC Safety Crossover gmc acadia

Safety group pans GM’s new Marketplace in-dash shopping

When it comes to our cars, is the Internet of Things a godsend? Or a hidden menace that will create more problems than it will solve? On the same day General Motors announced it will equip newer-model cars with its in-dash Marketplace e-commerce app, a prominent safety group was shooting it down. National Safety Council President Deborah Hersman tells Bloomberg the technology will only contribute to distracted driving and hurt efforts to stem the tide of rising auto fatalities, which grew 5.6 percent to more than 37,000 in the U.S. in 2016. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says distracted driving was responsible for 3,477 fatalities and 391,000 injuries in 2015, the most recent year for which it has data. "There's nothing about this that's safe," Hersman told Bloomberg. "If this is why they want WiFi in the car, we're going to see fatality numbers go up even higher than they are now." Marketplace, developed with IBM, will allow drivers — or more often, one hopes, their passengers — to order coffee or food, find gas stations and reserve hotel rooms from their dashboard screens. The technology is set to be uploaded automatically to nearly 1.9 million GM vehicles model-year 2017 and later that are equipped with WiFi hotspots and compatible systems. By the end of 2018, about 4 million Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles will be equipped with Marketplace. The app will debut with a limited number of participating retailers, including TGI Fridays, Shell, Exxon Mobil and Starbucks, with more likely to join later. Online retail giant Amazon is also partnering with automakers such as Ford to bring e-commerce capabilities inside the car through its Alexa personal assistant. While convenience is nice, one other thing is becoming clear as the IoT wedges its way into our cars: It's taking aim at some decidedly first-world problems.Related Video: Image Credit: GM Buick Cadillac Chevrolet GM GMC Technology Infotainment in-car entertainment marketplace e-commerce

2022 GMC Acadia gets small changes, price hike

GMC put conspicuous effort into the 2020 Acadia, adding a few more embellishments this year. For 2022 the Acadia gets another nuanced rework, the most important change being the elimination of both the base SL trim and the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The Acadia SLE, the next trim level up from the SL, this year offers the 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 3.0-liter V6 in front-wheel-drive guise. Next year, the only engine available for the front-driver SLE will be the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. The spec rearrangement jacks up the Acadia's barrier to entry to $35,995 for the new base model, a $5,000 increase over 2021. There's some give-and-take in the details to even out the exchange. Buyers this year needed to step up to the SLE in all-wheel-drive trim to get access to the 2.0-liter, which started at $38,295, and keeps that price for next year. But SLE pricing only goes up by $900 to swap the 2.0-liter for the 2.5-liter, not much money for a lot more power. The 2.5-liter produces 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, the 2.0-liter makes 230 hp and 258 lb-ft. One more cut sees the Acadia AT4 with the five-passenger cabin struck from the menu, six- and seven-passenger seating the only choices. And one more swap sees the $495 Red Mahogany Metallic premium exterior paint replaced by the $495 Light Stone Metallic. Upgrades include new 18- and 20-inch wheel designs, and all 2022 Acadias get the Pro Safety Plus package standard. That installs driver assistance features such as Automatic Emergency Braking, IntelliBeam headlights, Front and Rear Park Assist, Forward Collision Alert, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. And Traction Select, GMC's name for road surface and terrain modes, is also standard across the lineup.  The 2022 Acadia entered production at GM's Spring Hill, Tennessee plant at the end of last month, the configurator is live now. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.