WHAT?! General Motors INNOVATED And Was AHEAD Of Its Time Back In The Late 1980s!?

One company we're always a bit critical of is General Motors. While people may say we're a bit harsh, you have to keep in mind that we want the American company to succeed. Unfortunately, as we've seen in the past the organization can't seem to do that without getting hit with a cattle prod now and then.

But we've stumbled across something you have to see to believe.

GM actually was WAY ahead of the game when it came to touchscreen infotainment systems. You may wonder "When did it debut? 1997? 1994?"

No. 1989.

Unfortunately it was an option in the troubled Oldsmobile brand. When I spoke to Agent 001 about it he didn't even know it existed. Between the both of our mental encyclopedia of automotive knowledge, it's cool to see something that neither of us knew about.

Did YOU ever see this or know GM did this before?

Check out one of the world's worst automotive programs review the 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo. Be prepared for hilarious style, a horrific interior and a presenter that really over annunciates every word.


Touchscreen infotainment systems are the all the rage these days.

For most drivers, the idea of a touchscreen that controls all of a car's functions is sci-fi that only recently became reality.

However, in 1989 General Motors equipped its Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo with a touchscreen system that was decades ahead of its time. Called the Visual Information Center (VIC), the touchscreen gave the driver access to everything from the radio to engine management data...


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tecnopolis - 9/27/2014 10:35:03 PM

+1 Boost

There was also a similar touch screen version in the Buick Riviera of the time.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/2052/4281/5129640002_large.jpg

tecnopolis - 9/27/2014 10:35:04 PM

+1 Boost

There was also a similar touch screen version in the Buick Riviera of the time.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/2052/4281/5129640002_large.jpg

MDarringer - 9/28/2014 10:23:18 AM

+2 Boost

GM has never been afraid of technical innovation, but they have been guilty of rushing to production before they knew the product was reliable and durable. I can only imagine the electric gremlins this innovation must have brought with it.

skytop - 9/28/2014 10:32:41 AM

+2 Boost

I am certain the many dead victims drivers of GM cars really appreciate that GM is "innovateed." Get real.

dodgedart - 9/28/2014 12:24:53 PM

+1 Boost

at least the cell phone had touch screen buttons. that looks cool!
they didn't mass produce bad ignition switches from Dalian Alps to save a buck per car back then though, you got your random defect and you liked it.

Benzes1 - 9/28/2014 9:51:41 PM

+1 Boost

The problem is that the rest of the car was JUNK and the tech didn't work worth a damn to begin with. Sure GM has had a lot of bright ideas, but they always fail big time with the execution of it. V8-6-4 being another one. This principle is still in use today, yet GM goofed it so badly back in the 80's. The GM cars of the era were just garbage.

Benzes1 - 9/28/2014 9:56:09 PM

+1 Boost

Watching that Video just takes you back to when GM spit out so much junk it is a wonder they didn't go bankrupt much earlier. The electronics were nice though, something not even Mercedes or BMW had at the time.

tecnopolis - 9/28/2014 10:32:25 PM

+1 Boost

...they also gave Diesels a bad name in the early 80's when they rushed a hastily converted a small block gas V8 engine to run on diesel. America still hasn't quiet got all the bad taste out of it's mouth from that one yet.

vdiv - 9/30/2014 10:31:11 AM

+1 Boost

The Visual Information Center is now called a Display Information Center (DIC)

We call this progress ;)