Luxury SUV no longer a pushover for push-away or towing thieves

DETROIT – Just underneath the surface of the 2012 Cadillac Escalade are new security enhancements developed to combat thieves who have pushed and towed the segment-leading luxury SUV to the top of annual most-stolen vehicle lists. 

The Escalade is already well-protected against typical drive-away grand theft auto through existing security features and standard OnStar security technology.

“The goal is to make the Escalade a very difficult target for thieves without any added inconvenience for customers,” said Bill Biondo, General Motors’ global leader for vehicle theft prevention. “The new systems work in the background and few people realize they are there, but they are strong added protections.”

The 2012 security enhancements:

• PASS Key 3+, a sophisticated encryption system for the key, key cylinder and ignition system (Deters: Drive-away thefts)
• A more-robust steering column-lock system that makes it nearly impossible to maneuver the Escalade onto a flatbed. (Deters: “push-away” thefts)
• An available inclination sensor that sets off an alarm when the system senses an unwarranted change of the angle of the vehicle, such as would occur with towing, flat-bedding or lifting the vehicle. (Deters: towing, push-away, and wheel thefts)
• An available shock sensor intended to reduce content theft and push-away theft by sounding the alarm when the vehicle is “shocked,” such as by breaking window glass. (Deters: Property theft)
• An available new wheel lock system to help prevent the theft of Escalade’s wheels and tires.

OnStar provides standard additional security with a remote ignition lock that can prevent the vehicle from starting if a break-in is detected. If a vehicle is stolen, OnStar can also provide vehicle location and remotely slow the vehicle down to assist law enforcement in vehicle recovery.

“Combined, these technologies comprise one of the most-extensive sets of theft-deterrent measures available for this type of vehicle and meet or exceed security specifications among global vehicle security analysts,” Biondo said.

The new inclination sensors will make it more difficult to push or tow an Escalade undetected. Undetected thefts and break-ins will also be more difficult with the added shock sensors and locking devices.

“These types of innovative theft prevention technologies are a significant step in helping to reduce vehicle thefts,” said Joe Wehrle, president and CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Cadillac and Biondo continually work with U.S. law enforcement agencies to help educate police agencies on the various GM theft prevention systems and to learn the latest tactics used by auto thieves.

“We listen and analyze real-world security information from law enforcement so we can continue to develop effective theft deterrent solutions for our customers,” said Biondo.

Protecting Yourself Against Grand Theft Auto

Security technologies are an important part of the chess game between law enforcement and car thieves, but drivers are the primary defense against break-ins and thefts. To better keep you and your vehicle secure:

• Do not leave valuables unattended in unlocked cars, or in plain sight
• Park vehicles in well-lit areas or inside locked garages
• Don’t leave cars running with the keys in the ignition.
• Do not defeat the ignition/key cylinder immobilizers with aftermarket remote- start systems
• Always lock your vehicle with the key fob, which also sets the alarm system
• Use wheel locks with premium wheels
• Do not leave driver’s license, registration or insurance certificate in your car
• Purchase a vehicle with OnStar or the aftermarket OnStar FMV mirror, which will enable your vehicle to be tracked if stolen.

Courtesy of Media.GM

Fans Can Win by Sharing Next Chevrolet Super Bowl Ad Route 66 grand prize winner to be shown during Super Bowl XLVI

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Independent film makers from 32 countries are offering their interpretations of Chevrolet's "Everyday Hero" for a chance to have their 30-second ad aired during the telecast of Super Bowl XLVI. Now, fans can cash in by sharing with their friends their favorite spot among the top 35 entries featured on ChevroletRoute66.MSN.com.

Chevrolet and MOFILM, a global creative community, received 197 entries from film makers across the globe. The best spot as determined by Chevrolet will be shown during the big game on Feb. 5, 2012.

"With Chevrolet Route 66, we wanted to tap into the talents of creative people from every corner of the Earth to discover our next Super Bowl ad," said Joel Ewanick, GM vice president and global chief marketing officer. "The submissions we received show that people from around the world share many of the same values and how Chevrolet plays a role in helping them along life's road."

Beginning Dec. 22 and running through 6:59 p.m. EST on Jan. 25, 2012, eligible fans from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom and United States can watch, rate and share their favorite Chevrolet Route 66 film. Those who share their personalized link to the videos most often and give the most creative answer to the question "if you could drive to any destination in your home country, where would you go?" could win up to $10,000.

To engage fans, Chevrolet turned to Microsoft Advertising to create a contest hub to house and share the videos that offers a personalized experience with the ability to localize and share the global films.

"Because Chevrolet is sold in many countries, 'crowd-sourcing' content globally is a great way to find creative advertising that resonates with consumers," said Ewanick. "Using that same concept, we hope to have fans identify their favorite ads for us by voting with their 'clicks' and sharing with friends."

The Microsoft hub will identify registrants with unique user codes that will allow them to accumulate points every time they share with another fan. The top fans as measured by sharing will be tracked by the contest site leader board. To be sure the contest is won by a real person and not a web "bot," the contest site will ask viewers to "confirm" by entering a valid email address.

Fans can enter the contest and view complete program details by visiting the contest website. Winners will be announced the within two weeks following the conclusion of the contest.

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

 

Courtesy of Chevrolet