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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

The Chevy Cruze Hatchback arrives in the US this fall

We knew this was coming, but now it's official. Chevrolet will sell a five-door Cruze in the US beginning in late 2016, and here it is, ahead of its debut at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Previously, the Cruze Hatchback was available in other markets, and the decision to not offer it Stateside was apparently "a pre-bankruptcy planning mistake," according to GM's Mark Reuss in earlier reports. The 2017 Cruze Hatchback builds on the second-generation Cruze we saw last summer, adding a wealth of functionality – there's 42 cubic feet of cargo space available with the rear seats folded. Plus, the Cruze sedan is lighter and stiffer than its predecessor – more than 200 pounds have been shaved off the compact car's curb weight. While the Cruze sedan is available in four trims – L, LS, LT, and Premier – the five-door will only be available in LT and Premier guise, but can be had with the optional RS appearance package. All Cruze models are powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, with 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Standard amenities include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via Chevy's MyLink infotainment system, as well as a raft of high-tech safety features. Pricing information isn't available as of this writing, though we expect the Cruze Hatchback to command a slightly higher premium than the sedan. For comparison, a new Cruze LT sedan starts at $21,995, with the Premier coming in at $23,995. We'll have official numbers closer to the Hatchback's on-sale date this fall. Chevrolet Introduces 2017 Cruze Hatch HERE'S THE STORY Ahead of its debut at the North American International Auto Show, Chevrolet today introduced the 2017 Cruze Hatchback. Developed with all the technologies and dynamic driving attributes of the all-new 2016 Cruze sedan, the new hatch adds a functional and sporty choice for customers. It joins Colorado and Trax as the latest Chevrolets to push into new segments. PRODUCT DETAILS The Cruze Hatch has the same, class-leading 106.3-inch (2,700 mm) wheelbase as sedan models, but features a unique roof and rear-end structure – including wraparound taillamps and an integrated spoiler at the top of the liftgate. It opens to offer 18.5 cubic feet (524 liters) of cargo space behind the rear seat. With the rear seat folded, cargo space expands to 42 cubic feet (1,189 liters).

Chevy SS prototype spotted wearing Pontiac G8 clothes

Do not adjust your computer screen, you are not seeing the rebirth of the Pontiac brand. General Motors has chosen to use a G8 to disguise a test mule for the latest prototype of the forthcoming Chevrolet SS. The G8 was closely related to the Holden Commodore and Vauxhall VXR, the platform upon which the new Chevrolet performance model will be based. It should come as little surprise, then, that GM has opted to use the cladding from the former G8.
Thought the front clip of this mule is pure Pontiac, note the vents immediately behind the front wheel. That is a distinctive design hallmark of the Vauxhall VXR. Also note that this vehicle is right-hand drive, as the Holden and its Chevy counterpart will be very closely related. That likely includes potential drivetrains. The spy photos of this mule also reveal very wide rear tires, and rear wheels that do not match the fronts.