At CES in January, GM announced that it is releasing an SDK so that developers can create apps specifically for its vehicles. In fact, there is going to be a 4G-supported app store built into that in-dash screen, allowing you to browse and buy apps from right behind the steering wheel. Of course, they don’t recommend you do this while driving, but you know that inevitably some people will try.

The goal isn’t so much to extend existing apps into the cars as much as it is to build apps that are specific for cars. It’s not about having Angry Birds on there. As Phil Abram, GM Chief Infotainment Officer said, “GM may approve applications that stem from vehicle ownership. For example, customers can choose to download applications that assist them in driving more safely or in a more fuel efficient manner, possibly decreasing the costs of vehicle ownership.” Of course, we can expect the usual suite of weather, music, news and navigation apps too.

The built-in 4G also ensures that you can keep downloading and using these apps even when you’re not tethering off your phone or in the presence of a Wi-Fi hotspot. They have a deal with AT&T for this purpose.

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You may be able to connect with your car in a lot of ways such as making hands-free calls, and many cars out there are able to connect with their manufacturers wirelessly when there is a need, but AT&T and GM want to take connectivity to a new level. The two companies have announced a partnership that will bring the AT&T LTE network to the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac car models meant to go on sale in 2014 in the US and Canada.

As you might know, GM already provides customers with the service of OnStar for security alerts, directions and much more. The future LTE cars will have all those abilities along with more high tech features.

AT&T’s connectivity will be used for a variety of services including diagnostics, infotainment, and their main focus will be safety. We can think about a thousand things such as advanced voice recognition tech for better hands free abilities, or content streaming from services like Netflix, or maybe better communications between cars to avoid accidents, and so on.

All these new features will certainly help sell more cars which is good for GM. Just in case you are thinking about what’s in it for the wireless carrier, AT&T needs to spread their services beyond handsets for growing on the market where most people already own smartphones.

So, are you looking forward to an AT&T connected car? Or do you think that GM should have made a deal with Verizon or another carrier instead?

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Your older brother’s arm wrestling grip is killing you?  The Human Grasp Assist device might be able to give you a helping hand (or a helping glove actually). The device, which is also known as Robo-Glove or K-Glove, is the result of the collaboration between GM and NASA and has been developed to help astronauts and autoworkers stay away from stress injuries.

The technology powering the Robo-Glove is based on the grasping technology which was developed for the hands of Robonaut 2, the humanoid robot presently helping out at the International Space Station. The robot features actuators in its fingers, and pressure sensors for sensing touch.

By using the same technology, the engineers from GM and NASA have created the power-assisted glove which is equipped with actuators in the upper sections of each finger, and pressure sensors. When a user who has the gloves on tries to grasp an object, the sensors detect it and the actuators work to pull the fingers into a gripping position. The fingers will be held in the position until further notice.

Since the glove is doing the work to maintain the grip, there won’t be any strain for a user. According to estimations, a person using the Robo-Glove will only have to assert five to ten pounds of gripping force for a task which requires a human worker without the glove to assert 15 to 20 pounds.

They developed a prototype glove back in March 2011 and another version three months later. Both versions weigh in at around two pounds and come with a display. They are powered by lithium-ion battery pack. A third model is being developed and that should come with improved features.

And from the video you will understand that the device will be safe for humans, so there won’t be any problem when you scratch yourself.

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CES appears to be becoming the first big auto event of the year where auto giants can shine with their latest in-car technologies to consumers. At the upcoming CES next month, GM’s OnStar will be showing off their new in-car system and they have just teased us with.

Beyond OnStar’s ability to track your every move, remotely shut down your vehicle and unlock its doors, they will be introducing a system that will bring video chat and content streaming via Verizon’s 4G LTE network to select GM vehicles.

As you might not have forgotten, OnStar previewed a system which was developed in conjunction with Verizon in the previous year. It was shown off in a Buick LaCrosse research vehicle.

At CES 2012, the latest on that system will be revealed in a Chevy Volt research vehicle. According to OnStar, the new system is coming with features such as cloud-based streaming of content, video chat and rear-seat infotainment management.

As you can see in the above picture, the system features 2 hardwired tablets situated on the rear of the front seat headrests. It seems to be a good way to keep the kids engaged.

OnStar hasn’t announced any details regarding specifications. From the looks of things, it appears like the car itself is coming equipped with a 4G modem for internet access.

The idea of video chat while driving is a bit scary. That’s why the company is also focussing on safety and has announced that front-seat access to video chat will be enabled only when the vehicle is in park. But rear seat passengers can chat, stream, and access content through the tablets whether the car is moving or not.

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As the market for electric cars grows, General Motors have announced the upcoming 2013 launch of a new electric urban car, cleverly named the Volt and the Malibu Eco with eAssist technology in Chevy’s growing range of electrified vehicles.

The Spark minicar will only be available in the United States and it is modeled after the feedback participants in Chevrolet’s electric vehicle demonstration fleets in Shanghai, Korea and India.

“Our global demo fleets continue to provide insight into the needs to electric vehicle customers living in urban environments,” said Jim Federico, global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles at Chevrolet.

Chevy Spark will differ from the volt, which is equipped with a gasoline engine that takes over when the electric motor depletes. The 2013 Spark will be an all-electric car, which is why the drivers have to travel short distances, or have, as they called it “predictable driving patterns”.

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If you thought being covered in case of car accidents by the frontal, roof and rear window airbags, General Motors has got something new that will roll out in 2013 on some selected vehicles; the front center airbag.

What could it possibly be good for, you ask. Well, apparently it will protect you from… your passenger. GM’s studies show that in case of side impact crashes you will probably bump your head against your right seat passenger. So not only will the new airbag protect the both of you, but it will also come in handy if you’re alone in the car as it will keep you in your seat and, thus, protect you from other potential injuries.

The GM officials motivate the new implemented airbag by the significant number of fatalities that occur in side impact crashes.The Buick Enclave, GMC Arcadia and Chevrolet Traverse will come equipped with said center airbag.

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The Chevrolet Volt represents quite the paradigm shift, offering a car to the masses that can be driven primarily on electricity, but can swap over to a petrol engine as needed. But maybe you want something a little more upscale and a little more sporty. Well, GM isn’t going to leave the Volt platform alone, because they’ve just announced the Cadillac ELR.

This Caddy uses the same underpinnings as the Volt, but they’ve made it distinctly more performance oriented and with more of a luxury spin. It’s apparently based on the Converj concept car and its powerplant combines a four cylinder engine and a T-shaped lithium ion battery pack, the latter of which is the primary source of power. The car will use electricity as its primary source of power, and will be able to switch to the combustion engine when the battery gets low.

GM isn’t forthcoming with any nitty gritty details like horsepower, expected range, expected price, or even an intended release window, so we’ll have to stay tuned to their press releases to learn more. I’m not personally a fan of the Cadillac styling, but I am a fan of them taking the Volt concept to other vehicles.

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It’s been almost a year since we learned about the American pricing for the Chevrolet Volt, but only now have they announced how much the electric car is going to cost when you buy in the Great White North. The Canadian MSRP on the Volt starts at $41,545.

Surprisingly enough, that’s almost on par with the American starting price of $41,000. However, the US Government is giving out a $7,500 credit on the greener vehicle, bringing the net price down to $33,500. Pricing on the Nissan Leaf is comparable. Do Canadians get the same kind of benefit? Well, it depends on where you live.

Chevy Volt Concept

Buyers in Quebec might be eligible for a $8,000 provincial rebate, while Ontario buyers can try to get their $8,500 rebate. There are no federal tax credits for EVs in Canada, so it’s being handled on a province-by-province basis.

Although I much preferred how the Volt looked in its concept stages versus how it looks today (the GM Prius) as a final production unit, I think it stands to make a statement for the industry… even if it doesn’t look all that special anymore. Find the Volt in Ottawa, Toronto, Oshawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Vancouver, and Victoria this fall (if you pre-order now).

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Okay, the honeymoon period for the Chevy Volt is wearing on thin, so we’re left asking General Motors what they have done for us lately. As they prepare to enter the Korean market, GM has come forth with the Chevy Mi-Ray concept at the Seoul Motor Show.

Yes, it’s just a concept for now, but the hybrid roadster could add some edge and sportiness to the company’s “green” line of vehicles. Personally, I’m not a big fan of having those chunky lines all over the place, but apparently this design is inspired by a modern jet plane.

Korean for “future”, the Mi-Ray is an open top roadster too, so I don’t really anticipate that it’ll make it to showrooms in quite this form. There aren’t too many mass produced cars without roofs. The rear wheels are driven by the 1.5L four-banger behind the driver, while the front wheels get their grunt from two front-mounted 15kW (20hp) electric motors.

Yes, you get carbon fiber, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, scissor doors, LED headlights, retractable cameras in place of sideview mirrors, and other niceties, but I’m not sold on the Mi-Ray. I do appreciate how companies are trying to move away from “boring” with their hybrids and EVs though.

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Not only has the expected production of Chevy Volts gone up from 10,000 to 25,000 for the year. Akerson says two more plug-in hybrids based on the Volt – a hatchback and a crossover vehicle – will be released in the next couple years, as well as at least one model of electric or hybrid cars for each of GMs four brands.

“The Volt is not the ultimate solution,” said Akerson during the Automotive News World Congress. “It’s a glimpse at what is possible.”

GM has already confirmed its plans to sell the Opel Ampera plug-in hatchback in Europe, and showed a plug-in crossover called the Volt MPV5 as a concept vehicle at last year’s Beijing auto show, but also confirmed a second-generation design is already under development at Monday’s conference.

The company expects electric cars to make up at least 10 per cent of sales within the next 10 to 15 years, which seems like a low estimate to those expecting to see the internal combustion engine near-obsolete by that time. Then again, optimistic environmentalists have had their strongest of hopes crushed before.

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