GM FYI Blog

By Lesley Hettinger
GM Social Media Communications

In July, Saturn’s Hands on Homes program, Jon Bon Jovi’s Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Detroit joined forces out to build five homes on Detroit’s East Side.

Jon Bon Jovi stopped by for the ground breaking on the way to his sold-out concert at the Palace at Auburn Hills. Over the past four months, numerous groups from the community have come out to participate in making the dream of owning a home become a reality for five families. The build is scheduled to be completed by the end of November. This weekend, members of the GM Communications team and local media will roll up their selves in an effort to get these houses finished before Thanksgiving.

For more information on this project, how to get involved, and to see photos from the build (yes there are some more of Jon) check out www.saturnhandsonhomes.com.

Time’s running out to help send one of the 20 finalists in Saturn’s Kiss My Astra contest home with a 2008 Astra.

Just go to the Kiss My Astra site and vote for your favorite Astra kisser. You can vote once each day. The contest ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28.

The winner takes home an Astra, but the prizes don’t end there. The top five finalists will win gift cards, and after you cast your vote, you can take a short Astra quiz to be entered for a chance to win a $500 gift card. - Will Stewart, blog editor

By Mike Morrissey
Saturn Communications

Its time to show a little love for the Saturn Astra with ImSaturn’s Kiss My Astra photo contest!

Just upload a photo of you kissing an Astra to the special section of ImSaturn.com. In September, an elite group of Astra-ologists will select 20 finalists. Visitors and members of ImSaturn will then vote for the winner. The grand prize? What else? A 2008 Saturn Astra XR! Runner-ups will win $300 or $100 gift cards.

Of course, there is a full set of rules, but the bottom line is pretty simple. Be creative, funny, and enthusiastic and (please) be clean. You can you can kiss your own Astra, a friend’s Astra or you can drop by any Saturn retailer and kiss their Astra.

Once you’ve uploaded your photo, you’ll have the chance to take the “Smart-Astra Quiz.” Answer three out of five questions correct and you might win a $500 gift card.

Pucker up!

(And if you’re looking for even more inspiration, check out this video of Bon Jovi fans kissing Astras recently in order to win backstage passes to one of the band’s concerts.)

You might recall some recent posts here about Bossy and her Excellent Road Trip around the United States driving a series of Saturn vehicles. Bossy arrived home a few weeks ago, but she’s still writing about her trip from time to time. Today, she writes about how, as she roamed the country’s highways, she came to rely on OnStar – not only as a source of vital navigational assistance, but also as a source of companionship during her long drives. As always, Bossy tells the tale in her own irreverent way. – Will Stewart, blog editor

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Will Stewart
Blog Editor

Thanks for your requests for photos from General Motors’ archives. This week’s featured photo is of a 2008 Saturn Sky Red Line.

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

As she winds down her 35-day road trip around the U.S., blogger Bossy just got another new Saturn to take her from town to town as she meets with fellow bloggers. Check out her post today to see her new, red Astra, which replaces the blue Aura she’s been driving since last week in San Francisco. It’s clear that Bossy loves her Saturns. Saturn is providing Bossy with cars from its fleet during her adventure. – Will Stewart, blog editor

As you know, Bossy is on a 35-day road trip around the United States to visit her friends from the blogosphere. She’s been traveling in a series of Saturn vehicles and she’s had some great things to say about each one on her blog.

But her post today offers a Seussical ode to all of the Saturns she’s driven on her trip. Pretty clever. - Will Stewart, blog editor.

Bossy traded in her trusty Saturn Vue yesterday for a brand new Saturn Outlook. Although she claims to hate change and was sorry to say goodbye to her Vue, she seems very pleased with the Outlook, according to her latest post.

Bossy is a popular humor blogger, who is on a 35-day tour around the United States. Saturn is providing Bossy with cars from its fleet during her adventure. - Will Stewart, blog editor

The popular blogger, Bossy, is on the road for a 35-day tour around the country. She’s visiting her fans and taking in the sights — and blogging about it all, of course, in her own humorous way. Better yet, Saturn is providing Bossy with a series of its vehicles for her trip. Check out yesterday’s post, in which she writes glowingly about her Saturn Vue. We’ll keep checking in with Bossy as she gets new Saturn vehicles and continues her excellent adventure. – Will Stewart, blog editor