Kid Rock Flexes Detroit Muscle at GM Style

Exclusive pre-NAIAS celebration also features E85 Hot Rod, Chevrolet Camaro convertible concepts, fashions by Made in Detroit and William Rast, and jewelry by Colette Steckel

DETROIT - "Detroit Cowboy" Kid Rock, all-around brash boy and considered by many to be the contemporary embodiment of rock and roll, brings Detroit style to GM Style, a celebration of cars, music and fashion. The Jan. 12 event leads up to the North American International Auto Show.

Kid Rock joins previously announced performers Mary J. Blige, DJ Samantha Ronson and Maroon 5.

GM also announced that the E85 Hot Rod and Chevrolet Camaro convertible concepts will hit the GM Style runway. The E85 Hot Rod was first introduced at the SEMA show in November, while the Camaro convertible was the finale introduction at last year's event.

In addition to performing, Kid Rock offers the shirt off his back - literally - when his Made in Detroit line of shirts, jackets and hats is modeled, in addition to stylish denim by William Rast, the brainchild of Memphis-born recording artist Justin Timberlake and designer Trace Ayala, childhood best friends. Models also will be wearing luxurious jewelry by Colette Steckel, one of Mexico's leading jewelry designers. All the GM Style vehicles, fashions and accessories will be introduced in a fast-pace show set to music.

"High energy and passion are in every element of GM Style, from the vehicles to the performances to the fashions," said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design. "People will be talking about this event for some time to come."

Kid Rock's GM Style performance is on the heels of his annual Christmas trip to the Middle East to entertain U.S. soldiers. An international superstar with hometown sensibilities, his recently released album, "Rock 'N Roll Jesus," debuted at the top of Billboard's album chart.

True to his Detroit-area roots, Kid Rock is also a dedicated muscle car enthusiast.

Under Kid Rock's ownership, the Made in Detroit clothing company again features the expressive graphics of Gary Arnett, creator of the original logo (a man dressed in work clothes holding a wrench). One T-shirt, for example, spells the word "Detroit" in a gearshift pattern.

William Rast denim infuses the soul of authentic southern heritage with the energy of contemporary Hollywood. After its debut in Los Angeles last year, it quickly became popular with young Hollywood stars and was soon flying off the racks of major department stores such as Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus. (The name William Rast was created by marrying the first and last name of Timberlake's and Ayala's grandfathers.)

Colette Steckel, one of Mexico's leading jewelry designers, will also be featured in the show. Her luxurious line of jewelry - called Colette - incorporates 24-karat yellow gold and precious and semi-precious stones. Her pieces have been previously exhibited at Latin America's most prestigious gallery, Casa Lamm, in Mexico City, and have graced the pages of all national fashion magazines.

The cars are jewels in their own right: With a 500-horsepower engine, a channeled body, a chopped top and a basic black paint scheme, the Chevy E85 Hot Rod looks right at home on the salt flats of Bonneville. But instead of a traditional gasoline V-8, this '34 Chevy replica rod sports a turbocharged 2.0L Ecotec engine that runs on E85 ethanol, highlighting Chevrolet's commitment to fuel solutions.

The Camaro convertible concept, wrapped in Hugger Orange pearl tri-coat paint with twin gunmetal gray sport stripes, instantly evokes an emotional response, and it was the star of the 2007 GM Style event.

GM Style will be held in a football field-size, climate-controlled pavilion on the Detroit River, just east of GM's Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center, and will be simulcast on gm.com. In addition to kicking off the world's largest auto show, which opens to the media the following day, GM Style kicks off a series of activities, called GMnext, leading up to the start of GM's next 100 years. The corporation turns 100 on Sept. 16, 2008.

About GM
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 274,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

# # #

Maroon 5 Joins the Stage at GM Style

GM also announces Opel Corsa OPC and HUMMER H3R concept, and fashions by Royal Underground and Argyle, will be featured at pre-North American International Auto Show bash

DETROIT - Pop/rock/soul sensation and two-time Grammy Award winner Maroon 5 will perform in GM Style, an invitation-only celebration of cars, music and fashion that takes place on Jan. 12, leading up to the North American International Auto Show.

GM announced that two additional vehicles, the Opel Corsa OPC and HUMMER H3R concept, as well as rock-inspired fashions by Royal Underground, created by Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx and former St. John model and CEO Kelly Gray; and hip-hop mogul/entrepreneur Russell Simmons' new Argyle Culture line. All the GM Style showcase vehicles and fashions will be introduced - runway style - in a high-energy show set to music.

Maroon 5 joins Grammy Award winner Mary. J. Blige and DJ Samantha Ronson as GM Style performers.

Best known for hit singles including "Harder to Breathe," "This Love" and "She Will Be Loved," Maroon 5, nominated for two additional Grammys, comes to GM Style in the midst of a European tour supporting its recent multi-platinum "It Won't Be Soon Before Long," released earlier this year and a follow-up to its first platinum effort, 2002's "Songs About Jane." The band includes Adam Levine, James Valentine, Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden and Matt Flynn; Levine, Carmichael and Madden have performed together since high school

"I'm thrilled to show our vehicles alongside leading-edge artists like Maroon 5 and the smart, hip designers behind Argyle and Royal Underground," said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design.

The Opel Corsa OPC and HUMMER H3 concepts join the already-announced Chevrolet Beat concept; Saturn Astra tuner concept; all-new Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS production vehicles; and the E85 Hot Rod and Chevrolet Camaro convertible concepts. Several other vehicles, as well as a surprise introduction, also are scheduled.

Opel has shifted into top gear with the Corsa OPC, the most powerful-ever version of the hatchback. It includes a roof spoiler as well as front and rear aprons with distinctive, grille-like air intakes and outlets, darkly contrasting diffuser with integrated, centrally located triangular tailpipe, and especially designed exterior mirrors.

HUMMER's bright red H3R concept pays homage to the SUV's racing heritage while pushing the envelope with a 505-horsepower, 7.0L V-8 from the Corvette Z06. In addition to the high-powered engine, the H3R also sports a number of racing-inspired exterior modifications and an interior that blends racing functionality with boulevard comfort and convenience.

Royal Underground made its fall debut in 2006 with its menswear line to the acclaim of stylists, fashion editors and store buyers who raved about the collection's profound rock 'n' roll attitude. Gray, whose parents founded the venerable St. John in 1962; and Sixx added a line of clothing for women this year, characterized by a soulful, chic and luxurious vibe influenced by the French Revolution.

Russell Simmons' Argyle Culture is a brand-new menswear collection commemorating the class, stature and respect achieved by urban graduates who have "arrived" in the world. The collection infuses original urban concepts with the buttoned-up styling of men's professional attire. The argyle pattern has always been a signature style in Simmons' wardrobe as well as his original clothing brand, Phat Farm.

The GM Style party will be held in a football field-size, climate-controlled pavilion on the Detroit River, just east of GM's Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center, and will be simulcast on gm.com. In addition to kicking off the world's largest auto show, which opens to the media the following day, GM Style kicks off a series of activities, called GMnext, leading up to the start of GM's next 100 years. The corporation turns 100 on Sept. 16, 2008.

About GM
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

# # #

GM Again Delivers Style to NAIAS

DETROIT - Six-time Grammy Award winner Mary J. Blige, known as the "Queen of R&B," will perform in GM Style, a car-and-star-studded affair on the Detroit riverfront, on Saturday, Jan. 12, leading up to the 2008 North American International Auto Show.

Similar to last year's inaugural GM Style event, the invitation-only affair will feature the world debut of GM global concept and production cars, as well as favorites revealed during 2007, including the Chevrolet Beat and Saturn Astra Tuner. All the GM Style showcase vehicles will be introduced - fashion runway style - to live music. More cars and talent will be announced in the coming weeks.

Blige has sold 40 million recordings since the release of her debut "What's the 411?" in 1991; her eighth album, "Growing Pains," hits stores on Dec. 18. A native of Yonkers, N.Y., she was "discovered" in 1988 when she recorded an impromptu cover of Detroiter Anita Baker's "Rapture" at a recording booth in a local shopping mall. In addition to her six Grammys, she has earned another 23 nominations.

"We're thrilled that Ms. Blige will join our GM Style celebration, because she embodies the new spirit behind our cars and trucks," said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design. "The combination of music and fashion is a natural fit with this event: Travel the world and tell people you're a designer from Detroit, and chances are they'll want to talk about great cars and great music."

Musical stars won't command all of the attention at GM Style, though. The Chevrolet Beat, conceived to evoke the mood of a speedy micro import tuner, comes to Detroit for the first time since its introduction last spring. The Beat was so popular among nearly 2 million online voters that it inspired a production car GM will build for markets outside of the U.S.

The Saturn Astra Tuner concept, revealed recently at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, comes to Detroit, too, and applies some of the latest bolt-on performance and appearance components - including eye-catching 19-inch wheels - to show what's possible with Saturn's all-new, European-bred subcompact.

The GM Style party will be held in a football field-size, climate-controlled pavilion on the Detroit River, just east of GM's Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center. In addition to kicking off the world's largest auto show, which opens to the media the following day, GM Style kicks off a series of activities, called GMnext, leading up to the start of GM's next 100 years. The corporation turns 100 on Sept. 16, 2008.

At the inaugural extravaganza last January, more than 1,200 media and invited guests filled the pavilion to see 17 global concepts and production vehicles accompanied by Hollywood stars such as Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson, actor Christian Slater and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. The event was covered by national and international media and simulcast on gm.com.

"It was a fantastic stage for us to showcase our global design capabilities and a festive way to welcome media and guests to our global headquarters in Detroit," said Welburn. "The event created a lot of enthusiasm and excitement for the great vehicles we introduced in 2007, and I expect that the momentum will continue through 2008 as we celebrate GM's second century." [Source: GM]