Traction Control
This basically involved a demonstration of GM's locking differential system that is standard on their premium truck and SUV units, and available as an option on most others.
Now although it was rather an impressive display, and was carried out by the actual company that supplies GM, I found it a little on the pointless side, to be perfectly honest.
Why? Well anyone who has the remotest interest in off-roading will know that these products are widely available from any number of aftermarket manufacturers. In fact, in my opinion, any one of the other vehicles tested could have been fitted with a similar device and behaved in exactly the same manner as that of the GM.
What it did demonstrate, however, is that a locking differential is a rather useful option for those who venture off-road, even if it is only to occasionally drive across a muddy job site. It also showed that a locking differential fitted to a two-wheel-drive vehicle could, in many ways, be a viable alternative to paying the extra dollars for the four-wheel-drive version.
Stability Control
Now, I have witnessed a demonstration of GM's stability control system carried out on their full-size SUV's and can therefore verify that it is a extremely well designed system, but this was the first opportunity that I have had to experience it from the driver's viewpoint in an emergency situation.
Our test took place on a large, purposely water-drenched paved area. At 60kph we were simply instructed to steer hard left, then right. That was basically all that was said; the rest was left entirely up to us. Think about that for a moment! Would you let a bunch of crazy auto Journo's take your vehicle up to 60kph and then yank to and fro on the steering wheel like demented fools???
I was quite surprised by the response of the vehicles. The Ford and the Dodge didn't actually have a stability control system fitted...and that obviously showed!
This basically involved a demonstration of GM's locking differential system that is standard on their premium truck and SUV units, and available as an option on most others.
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Now although it was rather an impressive display, and was carried out by the actual company that supplies GM, I found it a little on the pointless side, to be perfectly honest.
Why? Well anyone who has the remotest interest in off-roading will know that these products are widely available from any number of aftermarket manufacturers. In fact, in my opinion, any one of the other vehicles tested could have been fitted with a similar device and behaved in exactly the same manner as that of the GM.
What it did demonstrate, however, is that a locking differential is a rather useful option for those who venture off-road, even if it is only to occasionally drive across a muddy job site. It also showed that a locking differential fitted to a two-wheel-drive vehicle could, in many ways, be a viable alternative to paying the extra dollars for the four-wheel-drive version.
Stability Control
Now, I have witnessed a demonstration of GM's stability control system carried out on their full-size SUV's and can therefore verify that it is a extremely well designed system, but this was the first opportunity that I have had to experience it from the driver's viewpoint in an emergency situation.
Our test took place on a large, purposely water-drenched paved area. At 60kph we were simply instructed to steer hard left, then right. That was basically all that was said; the rest was left entirely up to us. Think about that for a moment! Would you let a bunch of crazy auto Journo's take your vehicle up to 60kph and then yank to and fro on the steering wheel like demented fools???
I was quite surprised by the response of the vehicles. The Ford and the Dodge didn't actually have a stability control system fitted...and that obviously showed!
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