In this paper, new nonlinear scalarization functions, which are different from the Gerstewitz function, are introduced. Some properties of these functions are discussed, and are used to prove new results on the existence of solutions of generalized vector quasi-equilibrium problems with moving cones and the lower semicontinuity of solution mappings of parametric vector quasi-equilibrium problems. Detailed comparisons between our results and those obtained by using the Gerstewitz function (for existence theorems) and by other approaches (for the case of solution stability) are given. Illustrating examples are provided.