Chevrolet MyLink brings the app fight to Ford Sync, Toyota Entune

General Motors is finally bringing the smartphone battle to Ford with the introduction of Chevrolet MyLink, an integrated infotainment system that connects to your smartphone and allows you to access apps through either the steering wheel controls or the console-mounted touchscreen.

The wraps officially came off at tonight's Engadget Show and boasts similar functionality to Ford's AppLink and Toyota's recently revealed Entune system. MyLink connects your Android or Blackberry device over Bluetooth, allowing you to wirelessly access apps. And if you're partial to Apple's iOS devices – namely the iPhone or iPod Touch – you get the same functionality, but can only be controlled by plugging it in via USB.

At launch, MyLink is only compatible with Stitcher and Pandora radio, with other apps due to be released later this year. The Chevrolet Volt and Equinox will be the first two models to come equipped with the new system, and in addition to voice-control functionality courtesy of Nuance, both models will be available withPowerMat's inductive charging system, so you don't have to worry about your Bluetooth-tethered phone running out of juice. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but expect MyLink to be available within the next few months. 

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And the top scorer is.... the Chevy Equinox

In the recent USA Today's $29,000 SUV Shootout, the top 10 SUV vehicles were judged on pros, cons, EPA mileage rating and observed mileage in highway test. The winner was the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox with 797.3 points!

"The Equinox is the clear winner in my book, "Varela said, "seemingly belonging to a completely different category...luxury."

"For $28,500, this care is loaded with family-friendly features," Newman said. Among them: dual fold-up DVD screens, a backup camera and the only powered lift-gate in the group.

"There's a real premium feel throughout the interior," Robinson said. Varela agreed: "The fit and finish go way above and beyond the others." Lawrence said, "I'ts so much more substantial."

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Testing Under Way on Production-Intent System for 2015 Commercialization

General Motors Co. is testing a production-intent hydrogen fuel cell system that can be packaged in the space of a traditional four-cylinder engine and be ready for commercial production in 2015.

The system is half the size, 220 pounds lighter and uses about a third of the platinum of the system in the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicles used in Project Driveway, the world’s largest market test and demonstration fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles that began in late 2007 and has amassed nearly 1.3 million miles of everyday driving in cities around the world.

“Our learning from Project Driveway has been tremendous and these vehicles have been very important to our program,” Charles Freese, executive director of GM's Global Fuel Cell Activities told reporters Tuesday at a news briefing on GM’s fuel cell progress.

“The 30 months we committed to the demonstration are winding down, but we will keep upgrades of these vehicles running and will continue learning from them while we focus efforts on the production-intent program for 2015.

”Some of the 119 fuel cell electric vehicles in Project Driveway will receive hardware and software upgrades and will become part of a technology demonstration program with the U.S. Department of Energy. Others will be driven by businesses and a few will be used to continue showing that, with proper fueling infrastructure, hydrogen fuel cells are a viable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles.

“We will continue to use the Project Driveway fleet strategically to advance fuel cell technology, hydrogen infrastructure, and GM's vehicle electrification goals,” Freese said.

The first long-term loan of the new-look Chevy fuel cell vehicle will be to Stephanie White, a fuel cell advocate who was among the first Project Driveway participants and regularly blogs on her vision for a hydrogen economy in which zero-pollution fuel cells are a mainstream source of transportation. Freese presented White with the keys to the car on Tuesday.“

Driving the Chevy fuel cell around LA has been an amazing experience,” White said. “People are always stopping me to ask questions about the vehicle and I tell them how powerful and eco-friendly it is.”

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Chevrolet Fuel Cell Equinox Joins Expo 2010 VIP Fleet

Demonstrate Promise of Electric Vehicles

Two Chevrolet Fuel Cell Equinox vehicles were presented today to the Shanghai World Expo Bureau for use in the VIP fleet at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.
The two vehicles will shuttle special guests at Shanghai's Expo Park while introducing GM's vision of sustainable mobility to government officials, industry leaders and members of the academic community, stimulating dialogue on the future of urban transportation.

Equipped with GM's most-advanced fuel cell propulsion system to date, the Fuel Cell Equinox is a fully functional crossover vehicle. It generates no greenhouse gases and its only tailpipe emission is water vapor.

"The Fuel Cell Equinox will demonstrate the promise of fuel cell vehicles and provide a window into GM's vision of a future that is free from petroleum and emissions," said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. "Fuel cell vehicles offer one of the best solutions for the transportation challenges facing our society today.

"They represent a building block for the electrification technology that is part of GM's vision of future urban transportation, which is being introduced at our Expo 2010 pavilion," Wale said. "It also demonstrates GM's commitment to World Expo 2010 Shanghai as a global automobile partner."

The Fuel Cell Equinoxes join the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended-range capability, which earlier this month joined the Expo 2010 VIP fleet, as well as the 350 Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid cars, which are part of the official Expo 2010 taxi fleet showing visitors from around the world the possibilities that exist today regarding electric vehicles.

Since 2007, GM has deployed more than 100 Fuel Cell Equinoxes on the road in the U.S., Europe and Asia through Project Driveway. More than 80,000 people in New York, Washington, D.C., and Greater Los Angeles have volunteered to drive the vehicles. The vehicles have already covered more than 1.4 million miles. The program is providing valuable feedback on the real-world application of fuel cell vehicles.

The Fuel Cell Equinox, Volt and LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid also joined GM's EN-V concept vehicle at the SAIC-GM Pavilion. They represent GM's commitment to electrification and pursuing multiple pathways to sustainable urban mobility.

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Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Passes 1 Million Miles

The Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell electric vehicles today passed 1 million miles of gasoline and tailpipe pollution-free driving by homemakers, accountants, computer game designers and others using the vehicles every day in real-world conditions.

More than 50,000 gallons of gasoline have been saved so far in the fuel cell Equinox, more than 100 of which are part of the largest consumer fuel cell demonstration fleet in the world. The fuel cell electric Equinox runs on electricity created by an on-board fuel cell stack. The only emissions are wisps of water vapor.

About 5,000 people have driven the fuel cell Equinox in short test drives. More than 80,000 people in New York, Washington, D.C., and Greater Los Angeles, volunteered to drive the vehicles as part of Project Driveway, which began in November 2007.

The Fuel Cell Equinox carries about 4.2 kilograms of compressed hydrogen on board, enough for about 168 miles before a five-to-seven minute refill is required. Regenerative braking, which sends energy created in stopping, back to the vehicle battery, extends the driving range. Drivers refill at hydrogen stations in New York, Washington, and Southern California.

In Project Driveway, participants keep the mid-size Equinox crossovers for about two months with free fuel and insurance in exchange for providing regular feedback to engineers. Having people living with the vehicle helps Chevrolet improve the fuel cell experience. The feel of the regenerative brakes was one change that resulted from customer comments.

The Equinox fuel cell is part of Chevrolet's electrification of the automobile which continues next year with commercial production of the Volt extended -ange electric vehicle. Feedback and learning from the Equinox fuel cell is being shared with the Volt development team.

While Project Driveway shows how easily hydrogen-powered vehicles could become normal transportation, the high cost of development and lack of fueling infrastructure have prevented a decision on a mass production fuel cell vehicle.
In addition to individual drivers, Project Driveway vehicles are on loan to celebrities, a range of government and non-government entities, including the U.S. Postal Service which has delivered more than 700,000 pieces of mail in the Equinox. Other vehicles are used by Virgin Atlantic and Disney.

The significance of Project Driveway is especially appreciated in California, where most of the vehicles are in use.

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