Services and Programs
Special Projects > 2013
Odyssey’s special projects are missions of a different nature, not just an effort to beat the clock and end up in the record books, but projects with diverse and unique objectives.
Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Lifestyle Media Program (October–November 2013)
National Program: Did Garry and Lisa drive back across the country a mere two months after breaking the record from Vancouver to Halifax for lowest fuel consumption?? Are they insane? Not really.
They played ‘helicopter parents’ in various regions of Canada to media teams that enjoyed one-tank-of-diesel road trips:
- Vancouver > Victoria > Tofino > Vancouver
- Montreal > La Malbaie > Quebec > Orford > Montreal
- Toronto > Ottawa > Toronto
2014 Cadillac CTS Lifestyle Media Program (October 2013)
What do the Shangri-La Hotel Toronto, Holt Renfrew, David Bowie at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Alton Mill Arts Centre and Haisai Restaurant all have in common? And what do they have to do with the all-new Cadillac CTS?
Photo: General Motors of Canada Ltd.
These were all hotspots on the lifestyle media program that saw seven teams of bloggers, social media influencers and journalists take a fleet of Cadillac CTS sedans for a spin from the urban heart of Toronto’s fashion and art district to the countryside north of the City.
Top-down Motoring in Niagara (September 2013)
Excerpt from Lisa Calvi’s column:
What better way to be part of the charm and history of the area than with a roofless car? The blue sky is our ceiling. If we wanted to, we could crank up the 14 speakers on the optional Bang & Olufsen sound system in the Audi RS 5 and really rock the neighborhood. Although we prefer to let the singing of birds and chirruping of crickets float freely to our ears.
Tooling around the Niagara Region, a fertile section of land between Lakes Ontario and Erie, speckled with vineyards, fruit orchards and tree-lined backroads, it’s easy to forget what we are driving.
We feel light in spirit with only loving thoughts for everything and everyone on Earth. Almost like we’re in a fairy tale.
However, if I decide I want to take this Audi RS 5 from a serene stop to a growling 100 km/h, I know I can get us there in a mere 5.1 seconds. Gone is the reverent tranquility in the air. Our ears fill with the roar of the 4.2-litre FSI engine, the lovely music of eight cylinders producing their 450-horsepower concerto. Top down? All the better to hear you with, my dear!
From Vancouver to Halifax in a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Diesel (August 2013)
Odyssey International now has a new Canadian record for lowest fuel consumption between Vancouver and Halifax!! After eight days trapped in a 2014 Chevy Clean Diesel Cruze driving the speed limit and not venturing more than 100 metres from the Trans Canada Highway, Garry and Lisa were still married, still speaking and, according to Lisa: ‘…would do it again in a heartbeat’!
Their record for lowest fuel consumption from Vancouver to Halifax is 4.21 litres/100 km. The previous record was 5.59 litres/100 km in a gasoline-powered vehicle.
From Vancouver to Halifax, they only stopped four times for fuel.
2014 GMC Sierra — Alberta (July 2013)
Sixty percent of full-size pickup owners use their truck for trailering, according to General Motors’ survey data.
Odyssey worked with GMC Canada to demonstrate the full suite of trailering technologies and systems of their new 2014 GMC Sierra light-duty pickup truck during the national media launch in Alberta.
Besides the fleet of ten 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks, there was also a fleet of bumper hitch recreational vehicles that media towed to Sierra West Ranch, a working ranch in the rolling foothills of the Rocky Mountains, near Pincher Creek Alberta.
Media camped overnight then high-tailed it back to Calgary where they took in the historic Calgary Stampede. Mere weeks previous The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth had been in jeopardy of not taking place at all because of the massive floods that had ravaged the downtown core and many neighboring towns and villages.
2014 Chevrolet Silverado — Newfoundland (June 2013)
Odyssey helped Chevrolet Canada launch the new-from-hood-to-hitch 2014 Silverado on the West Coast of rugged, pristine Newfoundland, the easternmost piece of North America.
The Island of Newfoundland features dark majestic mountains, lots of wildlife, and friendly humans and was the perfect backdrop to demonstrate the Silverado in a variety of conditions including on-road driving, towing and hauling and some off-road adventure as well.
Lifestyle media joined in and, besides experiencing the pickup truck, some kayaked, some fished in the open ocean and some hiked trails in storied rocks of Gros Morne National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Buick Encore Foodie Experience (February 2013)
There was so much to do on this lifestyle media program in the Muskoka area north of Toronto! Besides spending time behind the wheel of the 2013 Encore, Buick’s all-new, globally designed, five-passenger small luxury crossover, lifestyle media participants took part in the following activities:
- Exclusive gourmet interactive Dinner at Touchstone on Lake Muskoka with Chef Don
- Exclusive dinner and customized menu in Victor at Hotel Le Germain with Chef David Chrystian of Top Chef Canada television fame
- Private tour of McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg
- Ice-climbing
- Snow-shoeing
- Fat-Biking
- Wood-Turning
- Spa-ing
Whew!
And all while enjoying the natural beauty of ‘Muskoka’, a rocky, lake- and lock-filled paradise of fun roads and plenty of winter outdoor activities.