2016 LA Auto Show | Teen Driving

In this exclusive Hispanic Lifestyle video segment, we talk with General Motors spokes person Nicole Clare about the teen safety features found in several of their vehicles.

TEEN DRIVER SAFETY
Parents know that coaching a teenager on how to learn safe driving skills is vital. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in the United States, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16- to 19-year-olds is nearly three times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over.

The all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu will debut Teen Driver, a system that provides parents with a tool to help encourage safe driving habits for their kids, even when they are not in the car with them. Teen Driver supports safe driving habits by muting the audio of the radio or any device paired with the vehicle when front seat occupants aren’t wearing their safety belts, and it gives audible and visual warnings when the vehicle is traveling faster than preset speeds.

This feature is the first in the industry with a built-in system that lets parents view on a display how their teenager drove the vehicle. Maximum speed reached, distance driven and number of times active safety features were engaged all can be confirmed.

“We developed this system so parents could use it as a teaching tool with their kids – they can discuss and reinforce safe driving habits,” said General Motors safety engineer MaryAnn Beebe. “As a mother of two, I know anything that has the potential of keeping one’s family safer is of great value to parents.”

Malibu can keep track of the following:

• Distance driven
• Maximum speed traveled
• Over-speed warnings issued
• Stability control events
• Antilock brake events
• Forward Collision Alerts, if equipped
• Forward Collision Braking events, if equipped

To use Teen Driver, a parent needs to enable the feature by creating a PIN in the Settings menu of their available MyLink system, which then allows them to register their teen’s key fob. The system’s settings are turned on only to registered key fobs.

When active, Teen Driver automatically mutes the radio until front safety belts are fastened. Additionally, the radio system’s maximum volume can also be set to a lower level. If the vehicle is equipped with active safety features like Forward Collision Alert, they are automatically turned On. Parents can select a maximum speed (between 40-75 mph), which, if exceeded, activates a visual warning and audible chime.

If equipped, these are the safety features that are automatically turned On and incapable of being manually turned off when Teen Driver is activated:

• Stability Control
• Front and Rear Park Assist
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Forward Collision Alert
• Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic Light Control
• Forward Collision Braking
• Traction Control
• Front Pedestrian Braking

“The first step with this technology is to make sure that all drivers and passengers within the car are safe,” said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet car marketing director. “In addition to innovative safety technologies like this, you will see efficiency, advanced connectivity and stunning design in the 2016 Malibu.”

Teen Driver is not a subscription-based service, so it remains with the vehicle permanently and will be standard on the Premier trim and optional on LT models if equipped with the Convenience Package and up-level radio. The 2016 Malibu debuts at the New York Auto Show in early April and is expected to go on sale at the end of 2015.

CHEVY Malibu NEW FOR 2017
Exterior colors: Arctic Blue Metallic, Pepperdust Metallic and Cajun Red Tintcoat
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability added to the base radio
Teen Driver added to the base radio

VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS

• Malibu Hybrid leverages components and knowledge from the plug-in Chevrolet Volt and all-new Bolt EV to provide all-electric propulsion in some driving scenarios and power to assist the gas engine
• EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 49 mpg city, 43 mpg highway and 46 mpg combined
• The engine features Chevrolet’s first application of Exhaust Gas Heat Recovery, or EGHR, technology, which uses exhaust heat to warm the engine and cabin. It improves engine warm-up and helps offer consistent fuel economy performance in cold weather
• An 80-cell, 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides electric power to the hybrid system. It can power the Malibu Hybrid up to 55 miles per hour (88 km/h) on electricity alone. The gasoline-powered engine automatically comes on at higher speeds and high loads to provide additional power.
• In addition to the drive unit, the Malibu Hybrid also shares the 2016 Volt’s blended regenerative braking system, which provides maximum kinetic energy recovery during braking to be stored in the battery system to help maintain charge.
• Premium design cues include LED daytime running lamps
• Chevrolet MyLink with 7-inch-diagonal color capacitive touchscreen is standard
• Chevrolet MyLink with 8-inch-diagonal color capacitive touchscreen – with or without navigation – is available
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone projection compatibility is standard
• Teen Driver feature is standard. It allows parents to set controls, review driving habits and encourage safe driving habits even when they are not in the vehicle
• OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot is standard (includes three-month/3GB data trial)
• Wireless phone charging is available
• Push-button start with keyless entry is standard
• Heated leather-trimmed front seats are available

SAFETY FEATURES

• Ten standard air bags, including frontal and knee driver and front-passenger air bags, seat-mounted side-impact and roof rail for front and rear outboard positions
• Standard rear-vision camera
• Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control system, all-speed traction control and hill hold
• Available Driver Confidence Package includes City-Speed Front Automatic Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, IntelliBeam automatic high-beam control, Front and Rear Park Assist, Side
• Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert, Lane Keep Assist, Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

ASSEMBLY LOCATION – Fairfax, Kan.