2011 GMC Terrain Comes With Standard Control Freak Tech

GMC today revealed details of the benefits brought by StabiliTrak with traction control technology, a safety feature that is fitted as standard on the 2011 GMC Terrain. The so-called ‘control freak’ helps you avoid crashes, as it comes an advanced, computer-controlled system that assists with directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving conditions.

StabiliTrak activates when the computer senses a difference between the intended path and the direction the vehicle is actually traveling. StabiliTrak selectively applies braking pressure to the vehicle's brakes, and in some cases, reduces engine power to help steer the vehicle in the intended direction. In fact, all of the above takes place in a fraction of a second, without driver input.

"The best crash is the crash you avoid," said Performance integration engineer Bret Dick, who is part of the team that developed StabiliTrak. "Active safety systems like StabiliTrak with traction control are designed to keep the GMC Terrain on the road while avoiding spinouts. Future developments will build on this technology to make the roads safer for all drivers."

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, electronic stability control systems such as StabiliTrak have reduced the risk of being involved in a fatal crash by 33 percent during the past 10 years. It is considered the most significant safety feature since the development of the safety belt.

Other technologies on the GMC Terrain, such as head curtain side air bags, help protect occupants during a crash. After a crash, OnStar’s Automatic Crash Response alerts first responders to get medical assistance on site as quickly as possible.