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Richard Read

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Richard Read is a car writer, covering marketing, technology, social media, and other auto industry topics for High Gear Media. With a background in... More

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Chevrolet MyLink preview event, New York City, February 2011

Whip out your backpack and groom your mustache: it's time for America's favorite festival for interactive, film, and music, South by Southwest. And just like last year, Chevrolet will be tagging along with lots of new goods, including Chevy MyLink. The company will also host a shuttle service, a two-night musical showcase, and a lounge for fest-goers.

SXSW is a great forum for Chevy -- full of relatively young, relatively affluent, typically well-educated folks who are eager to try out the Next Big Thing. So it's no surprise that Chevy will take the opportunity to show off its most fashion-forward rides, including the Volt and the Cruze. (Also featured: the Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, Equinox, and Traverse.) Attendees will have the opportunity to catch a free ride in one of 30 Cruze sedans, thanks to the complimentary "Catch a Chevy" shuttle service. Other models can be seen at the Austin Convention Center.

Of the many events that Chevy is hosting during the nine-day festival, the two we're most interested in are (a) the Chevolet MyLink demo, and (b) a panel discussion dubbed "The Connected Car: Driving Technology" on March 11, which will include Nick Pudar, vice president for OnStar Business Development and Planning.

MyLink is Chevy's new telematics and infotainment system, offering heavy smartphone integration, and its appearance at SXSW will be MyLink's first demo for consumers. From what we saw at the MyLink debut a couple of weeks ago, it could be a real competitor with comparable systems, like the MyFord Touch. In fact, its feature set -- which includes the ability to run apps directly off smartphones, like navigation apps -- raises some interesting questions, like: what's the point of OnStar? Hopefully, that and other questions will be answered by Mr. Pudar.

For more details about Chevy's presence at SXSW, check the (lengthy) press release below, or visit SXSW.com/Chevrolet.

* * * * *

Brand showcasing new technologies and vehicles at the interactive film and music festival, including first consumer demonstration of MyLink

AUSTIN, Texas, March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, Chevrolet is a Super Sponsor of the interactive, film, and music festival South by Southwest (SXSW). Chevrolet is giving attendees the chance to experience new technologies from General Motors, drive the latest products and catch a complimentary ride to popular venues throughout Austin from March 11-20.

Become an Early Adopter of Chevrolet MyLink

SXSW interactive attendees will be the first to experience the power of Chevrolet MyLink in the Austin Convention Center (Trinity Street and 3rd Street). MyLink is an in-car, infotainment package that builds on the safety and security of OnStar and seamlessly integrates online services using hands-free voice and touch-screen controls via Bluetooth® device connectivity.

"South by Southwest is a perfect backdrop to introduce people to Chevrolet MyLink," said Chris Perry, GM vice president, U.S. marketing. "Like South by Southwest itself, MyLink is the ultimate combination of music and technology. The festival also offers an opportunity for Chevrolet and OnStar to evaluate new technologies that may soon help Chevrolet drivers safely stay connected while behind the wheel."

The MyLink system, which will be offered later this year in the Chevrolet Volt and Equinox, features a seven-inch, high-resolution, full-color touch screen display that makes media selection easy to navigate, and provides stereo audio streaming and wireless control of smartphones.