GM FYI Blog

General Motors sells the only vehicles in the world built in a facility with Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Soon, customers may be able to buy those vehicles in one of the nation’s first LEED-certified automotive dealerships: the LaFontaine Automotive Group’s new $15-million Buick-Pontiac-GMC-Cadillac dealership in Highland, Mich.

The 63,000-square-foot facility incorporates key principles of sustainable design that enable it to qualify for LEED certification under the Council’s Green Building Rating System. When the LaFontaine operation achieves the designation, it will be the first dealership in Michigan and among the first in the nation to do so.

See what makes the facility different in this video tour, as well as these photos over on Flickr.

-Alicia Dorset, blog editor

By Will Stewart
Blog Editor

Thanks for your requests for photos from General Motors’ archives. This week’s featured photo is of a 1959 Cadillac 62 Series Convertible.

Keep checking back as we post more of the photos you asked for. And keep those requests coming.

AutoPacific’s study of 2008 model new vehicle satisfaction is out and Cadillac came out on top. We are really pleased. Read all about it over on FastLane.

- Will Stewart, blog editor

Pontiac Communications Manager Jim Hopson has been travelling around the country introducing the new Pontiac G8. Here are his thoughts on his recent encounters. - Nicole Burguess, blog editor

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to spend some time at various race tracks around the country driving the Pontiac G8 with members of the automotive media.

In addition to some kind words about Pontiac’s new performance sedan, the vast majority of the journalists think that GM is on the right path. Vehicles like the Chevy Malibu, Cadillac CTS, Buick Enclave, and G8 are getting a lot of positive ink and are being favorably compared to Toyota, Honda, Lexus, and BMW products. Here are some of those articles:

Pontiac’s Return to Oz, Wall Street Journal

2008 Pontiac G8 Preview, Mother Proof

2008 Pontiac G8 V6, Velocity Automotive Journal

But, those high-level accolades are a two-edged sword. While, at least in the minds of some of our biggest critics, we are now producing cars truly worthy of consideration, the bar has been set higher than ever before. The fit of every material and part, powertrain, and interior bit of plastic is under a bigger magnifying glass. We’ve proven we can build world-class cars and now we’re expected to excel.

At no time in the past 20 years has the North American car market been this competitive, but I personally believe that we have the people and the products necessary to meet the challenge. Just like on the track, we’ve got look at where we want to be, not where we are, and steer toward that goal.

Tonight, students from the International Academy of Design & Technology will unveil clothing they designed based on GM cars and trucks during the annual Imagine Fashion show in Chicago. The students attended the Chicago Auto Show in February and based their designs on their impressions of five vehicles – the Hummer HX Concept, the Chevrolet Malibu LTZ, the Pontiac G8 GT, the Saturn Astra 3-Door and the Saab Turbo X. Winning designs will be chosen during tonight’s show and the winners will receive $500 cash prizes from GM.

We checked in with Ana Cantillano, a 2006 winner for her jacket based on the Cadillac Escalade front grill, to see how the event shaped her own design career. – Will Stewart, blog editor

By Ana Cantillano

It seems like yesterday that I was caught in a whirlwind of media frenzy after winning the 2006 GM Student Design Competition for the Cadillac Escalade. Constructing the outfit I designed was very challenging, but nonetheless super fun. The fully lined quilted jacket was created after the car’s bold textured chrome grille, while the fitted skinny pants borrowed elements from the sleek angles of the vehicle. This ensemble had a massive amount of details even for the most talented students out there. From an over-sized notched collar and an adjustable belt to hand embroidery and matching jewelry, this was for sure an ambitious project, but in the end, I have to say, it looked absolutely perfect!

The GM Award has opened several doors for me in the fashion industry because of the press it receives, and employers are always impressed to learn that I have been the recipient of such distinctive prize.

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