General Motors is opening “The Drive” in conjunction with the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, offering what the automaker said will be “a unique hands-on driving experience that will be the first of its kind within the United States”.
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Featuring two professionally-designed driving courses – a high performance loop and off-road adventure dirt terrain – The Drive will provide an “autotainment” experience adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip.
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 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 sports car driving. Vehicle choices will include: the Chevy Corvette; Pontiac GTO; Cadillac CTS-V; Pontiac Solstice, Cadillac STS-V; and the Saab 9-3 convertible.
The Hummer H2 and H3 will be on offer on the off-road course encompassing a tunnel, hill climb, v-ditch and sloped banks, moguls and obstacles. The off-road trail is also available for Chevy Silverado Diesel test drives and the redesigned 2007 Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Suburban.
The Drive, which will occupy 11 acres at the corner of Sahara Avenue and Paradise Road, will be open for a minimum six-month period, 10:00 am. to 6:00 pm seven days a week, including holidays.
Drivers must be aged 18 or over, present a valid driver’s licence, and professional drivers (as passengers) will accompany each driver.
Vegas being Vegas, the US’s 24-7 party city, on-site breathalyser tests will be part of the mandatory registration process. Non-drivers will be offered special viewing locations to take pictures of drivers navigating the courses.
