Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, GM
GM set to open Las Vegas "autotainment" park
"The Drive," GM's outdoor "autotainment" driving experience is set to open in Las Vegas at the Sahara Hotel & Casino April 10, and GM wants you to start planning it into your next trip to Sin City.
The Drive includes two separate driving courses on the 11-acre site, a high-performance loop (pictured above) and an off-road adventure. According to Steve Tihanyi, GM's director of marketing and entertainment alliances (!), “‘The Drive’ represents a significant marketing opportunity for General Motors, allowing us to showcase our products in a unique fashion that will provide a fun-filled time for the millions of people who live in or visit Las Vegas."
A $10 ticket gets you a ride in your choice of the Chevy Corvette coupe and convertible, Pontiac GTO, Cadillac CTS-V, Pontiac Solstice roadster, Cadillac STS-V, Saab 9-3 convertible, and Chevy SSR on the performance track, or the HUMMER H2, HUMMER H2 SUT, mid-size HUMMER H3, 2007 Cadillac Escalade, 2006 Chevy Silverado Diesel and the 2007 Chevy Tahoe on one of the two dirt tracks.
If you're planning a trip to Vegas, you can get tickets to The Drive online at VEGAS.com or LasVegas.com.
[Source: GM]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Sid 3:06PM (4/06/2006)
"A $10 ticket gets you a ride in your choice of the Chevy Corvette coupe and convertible"
WHOA.
Awesome.
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pixarwolf 3:15PM (4/06/2006)
And they'll have plenty of backup cars in case of breakdowns too...
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James Fabin 3:15PM (4/06/2006)
No that's what I call entertainment! I'll make certain and visit this on my next trip out to Vegas. I'm usually there about once a month, so I'll post a follow-up on what it's like.
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Afterthought 3:19PM (4/06/2006)
I'll bet that you would have to sign contracts and all stating that if you cause any damage you would hafta pay. Because GM is already in the hole...
http://afterthought.cjb.cc
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displacementreplacement 3:21PM (4/06/2006)
"gets you a ride in..."
You ain't going to be the driver.
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Dave 3:27PM (4/06/2006)
I'd rather rent an S2000 for $129... there's a place on the strip that's got em.
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Greg 3:28PM (4/06/2006)
Don't be a hater. Its actually a pretty innovative idea for them. If I find myself in Vegas, I will definitely try it.
Probably should try it soon though. 1st lawsuit and the ride is over...
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Peter L. 3:30PM (4/06/2006)
I highly doubt you'd have to sign a waiver since you get a ride in the vehicles... from the sounds of it, you're not the one driving, so what could you possible damage except the cheap interior trim?
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Mad Scientist Matt 3:31PM (4/06/2006)
Reminds me of the Auto Show in Motion, except that they aren't bringing cars from competitors too. Only when I got to drive the Corvette there, they had an official chapperone in the passenger seat who wouldn't let me push it to its limits. I had more fun driving the BMW 325 they had there, since there wasn't a representative holding me back.
I saw a couple of cars break at the AutoShow In Motion, but none of the broken ones I saw were from General Motors. Maybe they were quicker at getting their own ones pushed off the course; a lot of the drivers there were just brutal on the machinery. I've met one guy who was thrown out of there after driving an Echo around on three wheels.
I've got to say that as far as advertising publicity stunts go, this is pretty impressive.
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Justin 3:35PM (4/06/2006)
* Hours of operation: Beginning April 10, 2006: Open daily, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
* Cost: $10 per ticket. One ticket entitles the driver to a choice of the following:
o Two experiences on the Performance Course (four laps), or
o Two experiences on the Off-road Course (two laps), or
o One experience on the Performance Course (two laps) plus one experience on the Off-Road Course (one lap)
Discounted tickets can be purchased at the attraction or any VEGAS.com retail locations and include: $9 per ticket for Nevada residents with valid ID and $8 for military personnel with valid ID, and $8 for GM cardholders. From April 10-30, 2006 admission for Nevada residents with ID will be free.
* Payment options: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express.
* Reservations: Not applicable.
* Location: At the Sahara Hotel and Casino on the corner of Paradise Road and Sahara Avenue.
* Age/Height/Weight restrictions:
o Drivers: Must be 18 years old and possess a valid driver's license to operate the vehicles. Drivers are required to have individual health and auto insurance, but proof of insurance is not necessary. All drivers must pass a breathalyzer test and sign a waiver of liability.
o Passengers: Must be four years old or older and/or more than 40 pounds. Some vehicles cannot accomodate passengers.
Review: With the hottest cars, trucks and SUVs around and the ideal track to test them out on, General Motors makes dreams come true with THE DRIVE.
Modeled after "AutoShow in Motion," a similar attraction that travels around the country, THE DRIVE is an automotive performance park giving drivers the chance to take a Chevrolet Corvette or HUMMER H2 out for a spin and see what these amazing vehicles are capable of doing.
The performance course features a paved, half-mile track filled with jogs and turns to give drivers a taste of what a sports car can do. The course will get your adrenaline pumping and leave a smile plastered on your face for days.
The off-road course consists of two equally exciting trails: the HUMMER course and the SUV course. Reserved excusively for its namesake, the HUMMER course features a foothill climb, v-ditch, sloped banks, moguls, obstacles and vertical steps. One hill, featuring a 60 percent grade, will leave you gasping at the HUMMER's ability to tackle any obstacle. The SUV course is designed for testing any other type of sport utility vehicle. All drivers will be accompanied by either a professional or right-seat driver.
Vehicles that visitors can take for a spin on the performance course include the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet SSR, Pontiac GTO and the Saab 9-3 Convertible. Among the off-road course vehicles available are the HUMMER H2, HUMMER H3, Chevrolet Silverado Duramax Diesel, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade.
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Corey W. 3:43PM (4/06/2006)
What is so bad about this?? This is not a simple rental or a drive down the block at your local dealership.
I think it's a great idea and hope the park does well.
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Peter L. 3:45PM (4/06/2006)
Oh crap, so you actually get to drive them? I wish I lived near Las Vegas... heh...
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Vexorg 3:46PM (4/06/2006)
I'm not a big GM fan, but it might be fun to go check out a Vette next time I'm down there. Compared to most stuff in Vegas, $10 is cheap.
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Eric 3:56PM (4/06/2006)
Nice, I'll be trying this out when I go to Vegas this winter.
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Chris 4:11PM (4/06/2006)
Woh! Free all this month for locals? I'm so doing this on the weekend. I love living in Vegas.
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The Driver 4:15PM (4/06/2006)
Now that is a kickass marketing opportunity. Nice job detroit and keep up the good idea (singular) pleaase.
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Jeff 4:20PM (4/06/2006)
I live in Las Vegas and I will check this out on the 10th.
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Puff Chippy 4:20PM (4/06/2006)
Awesome idea! The next time I'm in Vegas I may drive them all at that price.
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Otto Ingineer 4:22PM (4/06/2006)
Okay, I wonder if there will be any manual transmissions? Driving a Vette with an auto seems, well, a bit lame.
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Juan 4:25PM (4/06/2006)
I'd pay the $10 just to see the Escalade taken off-road.
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