Magic Magnets Give Buick Crossovers AWD Refinement

DETROIT – When snow inevitably starts falling over the General Motors Proving Ground in Michigan this winter, Buick engineers will use the conditions to put the finishing touches on the Encore luxury small crossover. It arrives early next year as the brand’s first entry into the burgeoning small crossover segment.

Encore’s “Active On-Demand” all-wheel drive is designed to give the vehicle the fluid drive characteristics and sure-footed traction Buick drivers expect but in a smaller, lighter package. Unlike traditional systems that engage all four drive wheels after slip is detected, Encore uses a magnetic charge to engage a clutch at the rear axle preemptively when the vehicle is at rest because slippage is most likely to occur just as the vehicle begins to move. If no slip is detected, a computer control automatically disengages the preemptive torque to the clutch once the Encore is underway, returning the system to a primarily front-drive operation.

“A Buick all-wheel drive system has to deliver the best traction possible, and it has to do it in a way that’s totally imperceptible to the driver,” said Encore Chief Engineer Jim Danahy. “We engineered Encore’s lightweight, responsive and refined system to deliver on the expectations of demanding luxury buyers.”

Buick engineers used their experience developing an all-wheel drive system for the Enclave luxury crossover SUV and applied it to Encore’s smaller packaging. The Enclave uses similar technology. To fit Encore’s weight and space needs, engineers worked with BorgWarner to develop a new, more compact coupling for the rear axle.

Reduced weight benefits Encore’s handling, as well as fuel economy. With all-wheel drive, Encore’s EPA-estimated fuel economy is 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Beyond weight savings, the advantages of Active On-Demand all-wheel drive for the driver include rapid activation and deactivation, more control over the transfer of torque, more refined performance in tight turns and parking situations and better integration with safety systems like ABS and stability control.  

“Technology is allowing us to translate Buick’s quiet, comfortable ride to smaller vehicles than we could before,” said Danahy. “This all-wheel drive system, like turbocharged engines and Buick QuietTuning technologies, allows drivers to experience that Buick DNA with unprecedented efficiency and maneuverability.”

According to the 2012 Harris Poll AutoTECHCAST^SM Study, “familiarity with all-wheel drive continues to climb” and one third of all new car buyers would consider purchasing the technology on their next new vehicle. Consideration of all-wheel drive is greatest among luxury crossover/SUV owners, along with owners between 35-54 years of age. Among current all-wheel drive vehicle owners, 83 percent consider it an important feature for their vehicle.

In addition to the upcoming Encore and the redesigned 2013 Enclave, Buick offers all-wheel drive for the 2013 LaCrosse V-6 luxury sedan.

Courtesy of media.gm.com

If you’re in need of a service come by Bob Brown Buick GMC for our $39.95 Certified Service Special. This offer expires soon so don’t wait!

2013 Verano Continues Buick Five-Star Safety Streak

DETROIT – The Buick Verano compact luxury sedan recently received a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Earlier this year, Verano was named a 2012 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Since the beginning of the 2012 model year, every Buick passenger car tested has received these highest possible ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS.

“New car customers leaving a Buick dealership can drive away knowing they are in a vehicle with superior crash protection,” said Gay Kent, GM General Director of Vehicle Safety. “The brand’s long-running record of five-star overall vehicle scores and Top Safety Picks is a testament to our commitment to exceptional vehicle crash performance.”

In achieving the 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score, the Verano was tested under NHTSA’s revised New Car Assessment Program.  The overall score is based on frontal and side crash tests in addition to evaluation for rollover resistance. Under the rating system, performances in three test segments are combined mathematically into an “Overall Vehicle Score.” 

The Verano has 10 standard air bags and the security of OnStar, a combination unmatched by any competitor. In the event of a rollover crash, sensors in the vehicle deploy standard head curtain air bags prior to impact and leave them inflated for a longer period to provide additional protection.

Verano’s advanced body structure is comprised of more than 60 percent high-strength steel that provides a protective safety cage around occupants. Other safety measures include standard four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, panic brake override, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, and a collapsible pedal system that reduces the risk of leg injury.

Every 2013 Verano comes with a standard Rear Vision Camera that displays a view from the car’s rear bumper whenever the transmission is in reverse. Verano is available with Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. These two technologies share a set of radar sensors hidden in the corners of the rear bumper that may help drivers avoid crashes when changing lanes or backing.

Courtesy of media.gm.com

If you’re looking for a new car, you can’t miss Bob Brown Buick GMC! Stop in today for an incredible deal on this 2013 GMC Terrain.

See here for details.

GMC Pickups 101: Alphabet Soup of Acronyms

DETROIT – Nearly every full-size pickup owner has a unique use for his or her truck. And considering the GMC Sierra’s 19 different cab and box combinations, the veritable alphabet soup of models practically has its own language of acronyms.

Some of the most important truck acronyms for owners to know are gross weight ratings. Exceeding any of a truck’s weight ratings is unsafe, and it’s a driver’s responsibility to know and avoid exceeding them.

“Nearly every vehicle performance attribute is designed and tested to one or more gross weight rating,” said Robert Krouse, General Motors trailering engineer. ”Body and chassis structural durability, powertrain and driveline durability, handling, braking, thermal and propulsion performance are all validated to specific ratings. That’s why it’s so important for owners to understand those limits.”

• GAWR, or Gross Axle Weight Rating, is the maximum amount of weight that can be placed on either a truck’s front or rear axle, including the weight of the truck, driver, passengers, equipment and cargo. A higher front GAWR generally means more capacity for accessories like plows, while a high rear GAWR relates to a higher payload.
• GVWR, or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, is the maximum amount of weight for the entire truck and everything in it. This number isn’t simply each axle rating added together; for that to work, the owner would have to precisely load so that each axle weight rating is met just as the overall vehicle rating is met, which isn’t possible in real world conditions. As a result, GVWR is always lower than the sum of each axle to account for changes in weight distribution.
• GCWR, or Gross Combined Weight Rating, is the maximum weight of a truck and an attached trailer, plus everything in each of them. Some of a trailer’s weight is supported by the truck – this is known as tongue weight – a GCWR isn’t simply the GVWR plus the trailer’s weight. When attaching a trailer, an owner should factor tongue weight into a truck’s payload capacity.

“It’s very important that drivers observe these limits to maintain safe stopping distances,” said Krouse. “Not only that, overloading a truck causes excessive wear on suspension and brakes and could lead to engine or transmission failure.”

The 2013 Sierra’s highest GCWR is 30,500 pounds for a 3500HD Duramax DRW model. DRW, another truck acronym, applies only to 3500HD one-ton pickups. It implies a “dual rear wheel” option, as opposed to a “single rear wheel,” or SRW.

The option adds not only higher payload and weight limits, but also better stability with a large trailer attached. For a 2013 Sierra 3500HD 4x4 Crew Cab, a DRW option adds 5,700 pounds of available trailer weight rating and 1,011 pounds of payload capacity.

Don't miss the special savings from the Buick and GMC Holiday Events at Bob Brown Buick GMC!

Buick Regal GS | Groceries

2013 Acadia Comes Armed for an Army of Elbows

DETROIT – The designers of the 2013 GMC Acadia crossover SUV had a lot of things to account for in developing a comfy interior – including as many as 16 pointy, sensitive elbow bones that would be part of a fully loaded eight-passenger vehicle.

General Motors global human factors engineer Joan Hertely and her team spent hundreds of hours creating resting places that considered angles, dimensions and the right materials to achieve maximum comfort.

“The process begins with benchmarking,” said Hertely, who has 12 years of armrest engineering experience. “We look at what works, what doesn’t, and start compiling criteria for width, length, angle, height, adjustment options, comfort, reach and overall design. And those factors consider door handles, cupholders and switch locations.”

Not all armrests can be treated equally, so a crossover that seats up to eight takes months of planning. The driver’s armrest needs to accommodate more controls. The front center armrest needs to both slide and open for storage, and must be level with armrests on the front doors. The four rear outboard armrests are designed with cupholders, which need to be positioned to avoid spills. Optional second-row captain’s chairs have armrests that move with the seatbacks and can be adjusted up and down, requiring additional design criteria.

“Once a layout is in place after having been evaluated and optimized over a hundred hours in a stationary buck, further testing continues out on the road,” said Hertely. “We took countless drives with Acadias, paying close attention to how each armrest feels on both elbows and forearms, because people rest their arms differently. And the cupholder integration was new, so we had to ensure a level of comfort with the holders in use.”

More new car shoppers are discovering Acadia’s purposeful engineering. October sales for Acadia were the best for that month since 2007, the model’s first year on the market. And through the first 10 months of 2012, Acadia is on track for its best sales year ever.

“I never thought I would drive anything but a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz,” said Illona Olayan, an Acadia owner from Jacksonville, Florida. “But I drove an Acadia and was amazed by the great quality and craftsmanship. I’d recommend one to any family. It’s fun, functional and good looking.”

According to auto shopping site Edmunds.com, Acadia “offers a winning combination of comfort, features, cargo space and performance in a utility-style package.” The 2012 Acadia won Edmunds’ “Best Retained Value” award for SUVs between $35,000 and $45,000, as well as a 2012 ALG Residual Value Award in the full-size utility segment.

2013 BUICK Enclave - 3.9% APR for 60 months for qualified buyers

2013 BUICK Enclave
3.9% APR for 60 months for qualified buyers. Monthly payment is $18.37 for every $1000 you finance. Example down payment: 0%. Some customers will not qualify. Take delivery by 01-02-2013. Residency restrictions apply. See Dealer for details.

2013 Crossover Vehicle Technology | GMC Acadia Intellilink

Bob Brown Buick GMC is your #1 stop for excellent automotive service! Pay us a visit with this coupon to receive our Certified Service Special for just $39.95!

Buicks Are ‘In’ This Season in Trend-Setting Miami

DETROIT – Buick’s October retail sales were the highest since 2006, putting the brand on track for its best retail sales year since that year. Year-over-year sales to individual customers increased for the sixth straight month, up 15 percent. Total Buick sales, including those sold to executive fleets and other commercial customers, also grew by 15 percent.

Miami – a city dominated by luxury and import vehicles – is among the places where Buick is growing rapidly. More than twice as many metropolitan Miami car shoppers chose Buick in October compared to 2011, with retail sales up 117 percent.

“Miami is a unique and challenging market,” said Greg Ross, Buick regional zone manager for Florida. “Luxury brands often outsell more affordable brands and the mainstream segments are import-oriented, too. Buick’s growth in this image-conscious market is all about great products, advertising and dealers.”

Mark Naszradi, general manager for Williamson Buick-GMC in Miami, credits Experience Buick for attracting new customers to his showroom. “The new approach to leasing has really helped us,” Naszradi said. “Miami is a big leasing area.”

Experience Buick is a 24-month lease that includes SiriusXM satellite radio, OnStar Directions and Connections and oil changes in the monthly payments. Since launching in mid-March, lease penetration has grown from 47 percent of Buick sales in Miami to 65 percent in October.

Nationally, leasing has more than doubled since the introduction of Experience Buick.

The new 2013 Enclave luxury crossover is now arriving at dealers with many new standard features, including the industry’s first front center air bag and an IntelliLink voice command system. Enclave retail sales were up 1 percent year-over-year in October.

Monday Maintenance Tip: 9 Ways to Ruin Your Paint Without Knowing It

Keeping your car looking good isn’t just a matter of enhancing its resale value, although that’s important too, it’s also your car’s only line of defense between the sheet metal and the elements. You already know parking lot dings, gravel roads or an angry ex can ruin your car’s paint in the blink of an eye, but a lot of things out there can do just as much, if not more, harm to the exterior of your car.

We contacted Mothers for advice on how to deal with common paint-damaging situations. While their specific advice is below, time and time again, they recommended keeping a good coat of wax on your car. Not only does it keep it looking pretty, it helps prevent most paint damage, or at the very least, buys you some time to get your car professionally washed. Mothers also recommended keeping a bottle of quick-detail spray and a microfiber cloth in your trunk. As you’ll see, a lot of these common problems can be prevented with a quick wipe of this solution.

The Source: Wildfires

The Problem: When wet, ash forms an alkali that can ruin your car’s finish.
The Solution: Keep your car covered, use a car duster for white ash, wash thoroughly if it’s soot.

These days it seems like every state is burdened with wildfires. The ash gets everywhere, and your car’s finish is no exception. While your instinct may be to hit the windshield washers, or just hose down the whole car, water mixed with ash can create powerful alkalis, which will ruin your paint. White ash can be removed with a car duster, or just by driving away and letting it blow off. Black ash can scratch your paint, even when you use a duster, so you’ll need to wash it off using a car wash solution, and dry thoroughly. Once the fires are out, get your car professionally washed, and put on a new coat of wax.

The Source: Tree sap

The Problem: Ancient peoples used tree sap as glue for a good reason.
The Solution: Bug and tar remover, mineral spirits, clay bar treatment

Just wiping sap off when it’s still gooey only smears it around a larger area. Instead, get a bottle of bug and tar remover from your local car parts store, and use it as directed. If the sap dries, mineral spirits can dissolve it, and remaining residue will come off with a clay bar treatment. Just be sure to wax the car after you’re done.

The Source: The gas pump

The Problem: Spilled gasoline
The Solution: Don’t top off, and clean up accidental drips

Times are tough, but “topping off” your gas tank and accidentally letting it overflow is a surefire way to damage your car’s paint. If left alone, gasoline will leave a stain on your car’s finish that’s nearly impossible to get off. If you do happen to spill gas by accident, the best solution is to grab a bottle of instant detailer and a good, clean microfiber cloth and clean up the gasoline before it does any harm.

The Source: Fingertips and mischief

The Problem: Writing or rubbing on dirty paint causes permanent marks.
The Solution: Keep your car clean.

We’ve all seen “wash me” written on a car’s finish, but the well-intentioned tagger actually just made things worse. Dirt acts like sandpaper when it’s dragged across paint, and it can make the marks last long after the dirt is gone.

Get yourself a long-handled duster and wipe down your car every day to prevent accidental sanding. If it’s too late, most small scratches come out with a polish or scratch remover. Just always be sure to clean the car well before waxing or polishing.

The Source: Your morning coffee

The Problem: Coffee and sodas contain acids that can etch your clearcoat.
The Solution: Wash it off immediately

Driving off with your coffee cup or soda bottle on your roof isn’t just a day-ruiner, it can ruin your paint. Many beverages are acidic, and since any acid can hurt your car’s finish, you’ll want to get it washed off as soon as you can. Letting it sit will only give it more time to do damage, and letting it dry will only make it harder to get off later. If it’s a soda, or if you take a lot of sugar in your coffee, then you’re going to be dealing with a sticky residue in addition to corrosive chemicals. If you can’t hit a car wash, then break out your bottle of quick detailer and your microfiber cloth and wipe it up.

The Source: Dirt on your car-wash tools

The Problem: Unseen dirt can scratch
The Solution: Keep an extra mitt handy.

Washing your own car can be fun, but a common mistake can cause more damage than you think: dropping your sponge. Even the finest, most expensive microfiber wash mitt on the market can be ruined if it touches the ground. The bits of grit and sand it inevitably picks up can’t be entirely washed off, and you’ll have swirl marks and other scratches before you know it. The solution is to never drop anything. But if you’re like us, it’d be best to keep a spare washing mitt or two on hand to avoid the resulting expenses from car detailing or repainting.

The Source: Automatic sprinklers

The Problem: Water leaves hard-to-remove spots on your paint.
The Solution: Stay away from sprinklers whenever possible

That primo parking spot right next to the planter may look good, but if it has automatic sprinklers, you could be in for trouble. You wouldn’t think that plain water would be such a problem, but the minerals left behind bond to your car’s paint, making them very difficult to remove. Your best bet is to avoid parking where sprinklers can do their damage, but that’s not always possible. If you do get water spots, it’s best to take it to a professional detailer.

The Source: Avian digestion

The Problem: Bird poop is acidic
The Solution: Wash it off immediately

Bird poop isn’t just unsightly. It’s also acidic. Just look at the number of ruined marble statues in pigeon-infested cities and you’ll see what we mean. Not only that, but birds eat seeds and bits of gravel that can scratch your paint.

The solution is to wash bird droppings off as soon as you see them. Use a bottle of quick detail and a soft microfiber cloth to wipe it up. Be sure to use a lifting action, since you don’t want to grind any grit onto your paint.

The Source: Bugs

The Problem: Bug guts are acidic.
The Solution: Get to the car wash

You’re heading home from a road trip when suddenly the eighth plague of Egypt strikes, with thousands of bugs splattering your windshield. But just cleaning the windshield isn’t enough. Bugs are surprisingly acidic, and if you do hit a swarm, don’t let the bugs get the last laugh as their remains slowly etch your paint. Wash your car as soon as you can with a good car wash solution, and for the more stubborn guts, use a bug and tar remover.

GMC’s Core Vehicles Lead October Sales Gains

DETROIT – GMC, on track for its best retail and total sales year since 2007, recorded the best October sales since that year. October’s 8 percent year-over-year retail sales increase and 6 percent total sales gain were led by the brand’s three most popular vehicles – the Sierra full-size pickup, the Acadia midsize crossover SUV, and the Terrain small SUV.

With retail sales up 14 percent, Terrain experienced its best October sales to date and remains on track for its best annual sales since being introduced as a 2010 model. Updates for the 2013 model year include a new 301-horsepower V-6.

Like Terrain, Acadia remains on track for its best sales year ever. October retail sales, the highest since the same period in 2007, were up 18 percent.

“GMC’s crossover lineup has never been stronger,” said Brian Sweeney, vice president of GMC Sales and Service. “Both Terrain and Acadia showcase the advanced technology and refinement our customers want as well as the bold designs and versatility they expect.”

Sierra – GMC’s best-selling vehicle – ended October with retail sales up 9 percent year over year and is on track for its best sales year since 2008. October full-size pickup sales were the best for the month since 2007.

Courtesy of media.gm.com