GM Amusement Park

[HarleyEarl]

FOR RELEASE: 2006-01-24

General Motors Unleashes “Autotainment” On Las Vegas Scene

GM to Open Unprecedented “The Drive” Facility Offering Performance & Off-Road Driving Experiences in Spring of 2006; GM also Becomes a Marketing & Advertising Partner of the Las Vegas Monorail Company

Additional information and photography

LAS VEGAS – With tons of dirt and a dose of speed, the corner of Paradise Road and Sahara Avenue will be transformed in spring of 2006 when General Motors opens the doors of “The Drive,” a unique hands-on driving experience that will be the first of its kind within the United States.

Featuring two professionally-designed driving courses – including a high performance loop and an off-road adventure over a dirt terrain – The Drive will provide a unique “autotainment” experience adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip. The land to be utilized for the facility will be leased by General Motors from the Sahara Hotel & Casino. For the duration of the project, GM will also be a marketing and advertising partner of the Las Vegas Monorail Company including having the only brand presence at the monorail station at the Sahara Hotel & Casino – currently the most northern point of the Las Vegas Monorail system.

“The Drive provides a unique platform for General Motors to showcase its vehicles in an unprecedented way,” said Steve Tihanyi, general director, marketing and entertainment alliances for General Motors. “With two fun-filled courses, consumers will be able to enjoy one-of-a-kind driving experiences in a variety of our products without any pressure to buy.”

The performance course will feature a half-mile paved route with jogs and turns complete with chicanes to enjoy both the speed and handling control of pure sports car driving thrills. Vehicle choices to be unleashed on the Performance course will include: the legendary Chevy Corvette; the Pontiac GTO, the 400-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V; the Pontiac Solstice, a roadster exhibiting thrilling Pontiac performance; the luxurious and powerful Cadillac STS-V; and the impressive Saab 9-3 convertible.

“Guests of the Sahara Hotel & Casino and fans of NASCAR will now have the opportunity to actually feel the thrill of putting the pedal to the metal just steps from our hotel and casino,” said John F. Morocco, director of operations for the Sahara Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. “The partnership with General Motors offers our guests a new thrilling attraction unlike any other near The Strip.”

Keys to the rugged yet refined HUMMER H2 and mid-size HUMMER H3 will be available to consumers looking to navigate the adventurous off-road course encompassing a tunnel, hill climb, v-ditch and sloped banks, moguls and obstacles. The off-road trail is available to test out the Chevy Silverado Diesel, and once available, the redesigned 2007 models of the Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Suburban. Select large SUVs will be E85 fuel compatible as well.

“This commitment from GM and the Sahara shows that the monorail is more than transit system, it is rapidly becoming an icon level attraction of the most-visited city in the world,” said Curtis Myles III, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Monorail Company. “While The Drive at the Sahara monorail station exemplifies the experiential marketing environment of the monorail’s advertising program, we also believe the project will create incremental ridership and revenue. We’re proud to welcome General Motors to Las Vegas and we’re looking forward to building a long-lasting marketing partnership with them and the Sahara on this incredible journey.”

With the addition of General Motors, the monorail expands its high-profile advertiser portfolio to six along with Sprint/Nextel, Hansen’s Beverage Company, Paramount Parks, BankWest of Nevada, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The Drive, which will encompass 11 acres at the corner of Sahara Avenue and Paradise Road, will be open for a minimum six-month period. The Drive will utilize a variety of local vendors for the build phase, and will hire approximately 100 locals to help with operations once the project opens.

The Drive hours of operation (once open) are preliminarily set to be 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week, including holidays. The Drive is accessible from the GM Monorail station at the Sahara Hotel & Casino, and parking is available at the hotel’s self parking structure or valet.

Pricing and ticket locations for the driving experiences at The Drive will be announced at a later date. Drivers must be age 18 or over, and present a valid driver’s license. Professional drivers (as passengers) will accompany each driver to help them get the most out of their driving experience. For the safety of all guests, on-site breathalyzer tests will be part of the mandatory registration process before guests can enjoy The Drive experience.

For those wanting to watch, The Drive will feature special viewing locations to capture pictures and witness drivers navigating the courses offered.

About General Motors Corp.:

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 325,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2005, GM sold nearly 9.2 million cars and trucks globally. GM’s global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

About Las Vegas Monorail:

The Las Vegas Monorail is privately funded and operated, using no tax dollars for its construction or operations. It connects eight major resorts, linking more than 25,000 hotel rooms and about 4.4 million square feet of meeting and convention space, including one of the world’s largest convention centers. The 4-mile route stops at the following seven stations: MGM Grand; Bally’s/ Paris; Flamingo/Caesars Palace; Harrah’s/ Imperial Palace; Las Vegas Convention Center; Las Vegas Hilton; and the Sahara. The $650 million transportation system runs along the Las Vegas resort corridor, traveling at a top speed of 50 mph. Up to nine trains consisting of four cars each run on a single rail that rises 20 feet high in most areas, its highest point reaching 70 feet above the Las Vegas Convention Center. The system is electric and has improved transit along The Strip without impacting air quality. Each year, it will take more than 4.4 million automobile trips off the major roadways and reduce carbon monoxide by 135 tons. The monorail operates Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. For more ticketing options, call (702) 699-8200 or visit www.lvmonorail.com.

About Sahara Hotel & Casino:

Sahara Hotel & Casino, home of the NASCAR Entertainment Center, opened on the Las Vegas Strip in 1952. This world class resort features 1,720 rooms and suites, five restaurants, two showrooms, and the Casbar Theatre Lounge. NASCAR Entertainment Center has a free exhibit of authentic racing equipment on display, including several stock cars and a memorial to driver Dale Earnhardt. Here you can ride the fastest roller coaster in Las Vegas called SPEED-The Ride, experience racing simulator Las Vegas Cyber Speedway, see the world’s largest race car “Carzilla,” dine at the NASCAR Cafe, buy official clothing and souvenirs from the Racewear Shop, or play video games in the 24 hour Pit Pass Arcade. All are convenient to the monorail station and free parking. For room reservations, call the Sahara Hotel & Casino at (888) 696-2121 or visit www.saharavegas.com.

Edited January 25, 2006 by HarleyEarl

[Flybrian]

That...is...awesome.

World of Motion x1,000,000

[CaddyXLR-V]

I was just at the Sahara last weekend. I'll have to go back once thats open.

[jry]

we did that in flint. it was called auto world. major flop. belly up in no time.

[HarleyEarl]

In all due respect to Flint....it ain't no Vegas.

[AAS]

In all due respect to Flint....it ain't no Vegas.

EXACTLY! I can't wait for this to open... Las Vegas, here I come! (again)

At least now I'll have something to do other then gamble and drink

[Sixty8panther]

AWSOME!!!! Go GM.

I chuckled when I read L.V. Monorail. I still thinkk of the Monorail song from the Simpsons. LOL

The Monorail Song

Lyle Lanley: Well, sir, there's nothing on earth

Like a genuine,

Bona fide,

Electrified,

Six-car

Monorail! ...

What'd I say?

Ned Flanders: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: What's it called?

Patty+Selma: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: That's right! Monorail!

[crowd chants `Monorail' softly and rhythmically]

Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud...

Lyle Lanley: It glides as softly as a cloud.

Apu: Is there a chance the track could bend?

Lyle Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend.

Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs?

Lyle Lanley: You'll all be given cushy jobs.

Abe: Were you sent here by the devil?

Lyle Lanley: No, good sir, I'm on the level.

Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can.

Lyle Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man.

I swear it's Springfield's only choice...

Throw up your hands and raise your voice!

All: [singing] Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: What's it called?

All: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: Once again...

All: Monorail!

Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken...

Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!

All: [singing] Monorail!

Monorail!

Monorail!

[big finish]

Monorail!

Homer: Mono... D'oh!

Edited January 25, 2006 by Sixty8panther

[Robert Hall]

Vegas or Orlando (maybe LA) are the only places I can think of where something like this could succeed...it has to be a major tourist destination.

[Mr Plow 2500HD]

Test-track?? This would be a perfect media/pr venue for the Camaro, annouce its offically green lighted and have a pre-production mule for some real world r&d.

[Sixty8panther]

Test-track?? This would be a perfect media/pr venue for  the Camaro, annouce its offically green lighted and have a pre-production mule for some real world r&d. 

Where Do I sign up!?!?!

[Robert Hall]

A venue with something like a ride & drive experience in a variety of cars is something I'd pay to play at...

(kind of like the travelling ride & drive days GM has done at various cities around the country, but daily somewhere in Vegas?)

[HarleyEarl]

I hope they have a base Aveo to drive.

[Newbiewar]

I hope they have a base Aveo to drive.

a stripper lease, i want no power windows or anyhting...

[sciguy_0504]

This is the kind of marketing that GM should be doing constantly. Innovative and it puts possible customers in the driver seat in a no-hassle environment. Where is the Impala SS and Cobalt SS/SC? Buick Lucerene?

[jry]

gm employee buddy, stationed in vegas, writes:

I was at the Sahara Hotel yesterday for this press conference. It was held

outside in the parking lot where the track will be constructed. The air

was cool (50's), but the sun was nice and warm. If all goes as planned,

this track should be set up by the first of April. Not sure how much

"traffic" this location will see, a lot will depend on how well it is

advertised at the airport and hotels. The monorail system here is a lot

like Detroit's, it really doesn't really take you anywhere you want to go.

It's just another way to get to the convention center from some of the

hotels on the east side of the strip. However, this should be an

interesting experiment - If it does work, there are plans to make it more

permanent by building a large facility to house an indoor track. We have

an group called R*Works that will be running the venue for us, they have

been running the successful "Auto Show in Motion" program for us the last

6-7 years. If you guys get a chance to come to town, we'll plan to can

take a couple of fast laps around the track in a Vete, and run a HUMMER

thought the mud and rocks at the off-road corse.

[RJB]

Do they really need to spending money on something like this when they should be focusing on the task at hand. Well if it flops maybe Toyota will buy it up and incorproate Godzilla into the park.

[mustang84]

That sounds excellent! I can't think of any better idea than this in one of the most heavily traveled cities in the country. I would come to Vegas just to test drive the Corvette and GTO...screw the casinos! B)

The whole concept is original and very exciting.