1998 Cadillac Catera Base Sedan 4-door 3.0l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

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

2017 GMC Canyon steals Cadillac's V6 for a little more power

GMC is fortifying the Canyon with a new powertrain and two new trim levels for 2017. GMC will give the Canyon the 3.6-liter V6 found in the Cadillac ATS, CTS, CT6, and XT5 crossover. The engine will be matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which also can be found on Cadillacs, the new 2017 Colorado, and other General Motors vehicles. The new engine comes with variable valve timing, improved direct injection, and Active Fuel Management, which is a form of cylinder deactivation that shuts off two cylinders to increase fuel efficiency and performance. Power is up from 305 to 308 horsepower, while torque increases from 269 to 275 pound-feet of torque compared to the old 3.6-liter V6. With the new transmission, the Canyon benefits from a higher first gear ratio, which should help drivers get off the line more easily when towing large cargo, and lower overdrive ratios for improved fuel efficiency. The 2016 model had a six-speed automatic. The Colorado also gets the eight-speed transmission for '17. GMC previously announced the All Terrain X and Denali models. The All Terrain X trim is offered on the SLE model and comes with the new 3.6-liter V6 engine or the 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel. The All Terrain X gets Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac P225/65R17 all-terrain tires, a body-color grille surround and matching rear step bumper, bespoke 17-inch aluminum wheels, and a spray-on bedliner. The truck also is fortified with Hill Descent Control and an off-road suspension. The Denali carries the flag as the most luxurious Canyon model and gets a Bose seven-speaker audio system, more chrome, and interior upgrades. In addition to the new models and the powertrain, the 2017 Canyon will be offered with new colors – Dark Slate Metallic, Mineral Metallic, and Red Quartz Metallic – a new IntelliLink radio with a seven-inch touchscreen, a heated steering wheel as an optional extra, and Standard Teen Driver Mode. The 2017 Canyon, with all of its changes, will be available in the fourth quarter of the year. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 GMC Canyon Denali: LA 2015 View 14 Photos News Source: GMC Cadillac GMC Truck Luxury Off-Road Vehicles engine gmc canyon chevrolet colorado

Autoblog's ultimate holiday rides

Over the hills and through the woods, it's the time of year when many of us visit family and friends for the holidays. But getting there can be a chore. It's cold and snowy across much of the United States, and even if the climate is favorable, the drive to grandmother's house often is not. Think back to holiday road trips of yore: They probably included crying babies, antsy children, hungover adults and frequent bathrooms stops all around. Now, we're all at different life stages here at Autoblog, and the perfect car for one staffer might be as useful as a team of Budweiser Clydesdales to another. Some of us bounce from family event to family event with children and a labrador in tow, while others prefer a quieter, simpler holiday. But whatever the endeavor, we all need wheels. With that in mind, here is the unofficial Autoblog list of the ultimate cars in which to tackle the holiday season. 2015 Ferrari FF To borrow a chestnut from Top Gear presenter James May, "As you'd expect, I've done this properly." That oddly voluptuous ruby bolide in the photo above? It's a 2015 Ferrari FF – all 652 all-wheel-driven horsepower of it. What makes a Ferrari the ideal for holiday time in PaukertLand? My Midwestern winter breaks are wonderful, but they're typically frenetic and slushy, involving a lot of schlepping from house to house and even city to city, not to mention inevitable last-minute runs for forgotten presents and dinner ingredients. Needless to say, a powerful V12 is a welcome ally for such duties. And this one isn't just a friend when the road is clear. The FF has been gifted Ferrari's novel 4RM AWD system, and despite sitting lower to the ground than, say, an SUV, it's a pretty effective tool for real winter driving, especially when outfitted with a set of snow tires. Unlike other Ferraris, it's also a rather practical thing, with legitimate seating for four adults and 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space – that's precisely as much room as a Mercedes E-Class – and you can fold the rear chairs and cram 28.2 cubes-worth of holiday cheer in the back. Okay, so it's far from cheap and fuel economy isn't that great, but who cares? Just drop a paddle-shifted gear or two, bury the throttle and Repeat The Sounding Joy. Ain't the holidays grand? – Chris Paukert Executive Editor 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe My Mom gives out more presents than any other human being I've ever encountered.