GMC Terrain and Acadia Continue to Attract New GMC Customers

Editor's Note: CORRECTS timing of Intellilink in Terrain from mid-December to Spring 2012 in 4^th paragraph

DETROIT - For the third consecutive time since the GMC Terrain debuted in 2009, the smaller SUV is on track to end the year with more than half its sales coming from brands outside General Motors. And more than one in five is coming from import car and truck brands including Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.

The GMC Acadia also continues to attract new customers to the brand. Like Terrain, Acadia is on track to count more than half of its owners from outside GM in 2011, continuing a four-year trend for the full-size crossover.   

Acadia has the lowest cost of ownership in its segment, according to ALG, which tracks residual values, or how much a vehicle is expected to be worth after a certain number of years. Through November, total Acadia sales were up 18.6 percent year to date.

New in the 2012 GMC Terrain is the industry's first crash avoidance system that exclusively uses a single camera to help drivers avoid front-end collisions. This technology is coupled with lane-departure warning for $295. Starting in Spring 2012, GMC's new Intellilink infotainment system will be an option. Terrain sales were up 47.3 percent through November.

"Acadia and Terrain are industry leaders in both design and technology," said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick and GMC Sales and Service. "Consumers are taking notice, as evidenced by each model's sales increases through the first 11 months of 2011." 

After being redesigned for the 2011 model year, Sierra HD pickups are also ending their first full calendar year on a high note. Total sales were up 30.7 percent in November, and retail sales of ¾-ton extended-cab models were up 74.2 percent.

Retail sales of all Sierra pickups - ½ ton, ¾ ton and one ton - were up a combined 22.4 percent in November.

Like GMC's full-size pickups, the Yukon and Yukon XL full-size luxury SUVs had a strong month, with retail sales up 25.7 percent and 27.7 percent, respectively, year over year.

All of these vehicles helped GMC increase its retail sales by 19.1 percent - the 26^th consecutive month of retail sales gains. Total sales for November were up 6.8 percent and total sales for the first 11 months of 2011 are up 21.6 percent compared with the same period last year.  

10 Little Things About GMC

DETROIT – GMC is one of the longest-running brands in the General Motors portfolio, the second-largest of the four GM brands in U.S. sales, and a standard bearer for engineering in pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossover vehicles. Here are 10 little-known facts about GMC:

1-The GMC name turns 100 years old in 2012. In 1912, Rapid Motor Vehicle Company was merged with two others – Reliance and Randolph – to become GMC.

2-On August 1, 1909, a Rapid F-406-B – a GMC predecessor – was the first truck to reach the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak.

3-If GMC was a standalone manufacturer, it would be the tenth-largest automaker in the United States in terms of total vehicle sales from January to November of 2011.

4-GMC built some of the world’s earliest electric vehicles from 1912-1917. These trucks had single-digit model names, each denoting load capacity, from one-half-ton to 12 tons.

5-GMC’s luxury-focused Denali trim level currently outsells the entire product lines of some premium automakers, including Land Rover, Jaguar, and Porsche.

6-GMC was tasked with engineering and production of the 1936 Parade of Progress vans and the 1941 Futurliners, which toured the country carrying mobile road shows.

7-Today, GMC and the Denali trim level are among the fastest-growing nameplates in the U.S. with respective sales increases of 22 percent and 91 percent year over year.

8-During World War II, GMC manufactured approximately 584,000 military vehicles, including the CCKW-353 “Deuce-and-a-Half” and the amphibious “Duck.”

9-The GMC Sierra – the brand’s top selling model – outsold the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan combined, with 40,000 sales to spare, through the first 11 months of 2011.

10-From 1973-1978, GMC produced motorhomes in 23- and 26-foot lengths. They appeared in Bill Murray’s 1981 movie, Stripes and the 1996 blockbuster, Twister.

Source: GM

Last Minute Gift Ideas at Borcherding on Ebay!

When we first decided to open up a virtual store on eBay, the Internet's #1 marketplace, selling parts and accessories, we had no idea how successful that idea would be.

Over the past nine months, people from all over the world have taken advantage of the great deals we've offered there. A quick look at our outstanding user feedback rating and comments will also show you why Borcherding's commitment to customer satisfaction extends to everything we do.

If you have hard to please people on your holiday shopping list, our eBay store is a "must stop" for you.

Here's just a small sample of what you can find online right now:

• Luxury Passchal handbags starting at only $99

• Dale Earnhardt calendars

• Diecast NASCAR and classic car models

• Plus a wide variety of automotive parts & manuals for the do-it-yourselfer

And there's new items being added all the time. As our holiday gift to you, we're offering free shipping on every item.

Check it out for yourself at our eBay Page.

Efficient GM Plant Receives EPA ENERGY STAR Certification

LANSING, Mich. – General Motors’ Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant is the company’s first in United States to receive an ENERGY STAR® certification for superior energy efficiency from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

To qualify, the plant had to perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meet strict energy performance levels set by the EPA from 2010  to 2011. 

The facility, which builds the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse, also showcased safe lighting levels that meet the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America’s recommended best practices, such as ensuring  adequate lighting to perform certain tasks.

“Certifications like this demonstrate our commitment to improving energy efficiency practices beyond our vehicles,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president for Sustainability and Global Regulatory Affairs.

To achieve this designation, GM:

• Designed the plant to meet LEED Gold standard for energy efficiency in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning without using steam.
• Integrates energy management into monthly performance scorecards.
• Uses efficient lighting and daylight harvesting to conserve energy.
• Monitors hourly energy use and plant controls to keep non-production energy to a minimum.
• Engages employees to think green through an energy quality suggestion program.

“Every day we stress the importance of building vehicles with the environment in mind,” said Scott Whybrew, Lansing regional plant manager. “The collaborative work by our employees to save energy and improve the efficiency of our plant is the key to achieving Energy Star Certification.”  

LDT is GM’s newest plant in the United States, blending best manufacturing and environmental protection practices and the latest technology into one facility.  It was the   largest and most complex manufacturing site to receive any level of LEED certification when it opened in 2006.

In addition to energy conservation, LDT has implemented other sustainable practices.    For example, rainwater is collected from the roof and is used instead of potable water to flush toilets. Waterless urinals save more than 1 million gallons of water annually. And 75 acres have been set aside to preserve existing plants and wildlife habitat.

“This facility was designed to blend in with the environment, rather than stand out,” said Whybrew. “This designation by the EPA only helps to further that notion.”

The EPA helps auto manufacturers overcome barriers to using energy efficiently and provides energy management resources unique to the industry.

“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s industrial facilities is critical to protecting our environment, “ said Jean Lupinacci, chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial Branch. “From the plant floor to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their facilities more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification.”

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.  GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $18 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 34 million vehicles.

2013 Buick Encore Crossover to Join Growing Buick Brand

Encore takes the stage at the Cobo Center in Detroit.

Buick is a modern luxury brand offering vehicles with sculpted designs, luxurious interiors with thoughtful personal technologies, along with responsive-yet-efficient performance. Buick is attracting new customers with its portfolio of award-winning luxury models, including the Enclave crossover, LaCrosse sedan, Regal sport sedan, Buick Verano sedan and the all-new 2013 Encore crossover. Learn more about Buick cars and crossovers at http://www.buick.com, on Twitter @buick or at http://www.facebook.com/buick.

Buick Verano Earns IIHS 2012 Top Safety Pick

The all-new Buick Verano, with its 10 standard air bags, is an Insurance   Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick for 2012, and completes a sweep of Buick cars and crossovers earning the designation.

General Motors is among industry leaders with a total of 14 IIHS 2012 Top Safety Picks, including 13 models that previously qualified for the 2011 award and were carried over to 2012 because their structure is substantially the same as the institute tested for 2011.

“GM set a goal that every new product would be designed to meet or exceed the third-party metrics that IIHS and others use to communicate crash worthiness to consumers,” said Gay Kent, GM executive director of Vehicle Safety. “We are now seeing the results from that commitment.”

In addition to the Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Enclave, 2011 carryover winners included the Chevrolet Cruze, Sonic, Volt, Equinox, Malibu and Traverse; the Cadillac CTS (sedan) and SRX, and GMC Terrain and Acadia.

The IIHS tests vehicles to determine how well they protect occupants in front and side crash tests, in rollovers via a roof strength test, and simulated rear impacts to evaluate seat and head restraints for protection against neck injuries. The Verano achieved a “good” score in all four types of tests performed and has standard electronic stability control, which the IIHS requires for Top Safety Pick designation.

The Verano is designed to help drivers avoid crashes, while protecting occupants in the event a crash occurs. Standard safety features include:

• Ten air bags:  Driver and front passenger dual-stage frontal and seat-mounted side pelvic/thorax air bags; rear outboard seat-mounted side-impact airbags; head curtain side air bags with rollover protection that cover front and outboard rear seating rows; driver and front passenger knee air bags.
• Rollover sensors which can activate the head curtain side air bags if sensors determine an imminent rollover. In a rollover, the air bags stay inflated longer to provide increased occupant protection.
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control helps the driver maintain control by comparing the path being steered by the driver with the actual response and, when necessary, applying the brakes or adjusting the throttle or a combination of both.
• Disc brakes with ABS to provide sure stops and full-function traction control to make the most of available traction in adverse weather conditions.
• Front safety belt pretensioners to reduce forward movement and load-limiting retractors to help manage forces during a collision
• Collapsible pedal system which allows the pedals to detach during a crash to reduce the risk of leg or ankle injuries.
• OnStar, which features the Automatic Crash Response System that uses GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of a crash that deploys the air bags.
• Strong body structure to absorb crash energy and provide a protective “safety cage” around occupants. More than 60 percent of the body structure is composed of advanced steels.

“Safety is a top priority in Buick’s product renaissance as evidenced by earning these accolades from IIHS on every model,” Kent said. “Our customers can have confidence in the safety performance of every Buick for sale today.”

Source: Buick

Buick Luxury now In a Compact Size

This was such a great write up. It's from a different perspective of an engineer who rarely actually sees the cars as a finished product. His story is great, Enjoy!




By Justin Nielsen - Lead Calibration Engineer, Electric Machine Calibration



When I arrived in Portland, Ore., as an employee journalist for the Buick


Verano national media event, I wasn't sure what to expect. I sure wasn't a

journalist; I was an Electric Motor Controls Calibration Engineer at GM's

Advanced Technology Center in Torrance, Calif. (What a mouthful right?)



I don't get to see many finished cars; I'm focused instead on electric

motors and power electronics, like those used on the Chevy Volt, Buick

eAssist, and other hybrid systems. So, I was excited to finally see where

the rubber meets the road. Greeted at the airport and whisked off in a shiny

black Buick Enclave, I was impressed with the roomy backseat and smooth ride

as we headed to check in. Once I arrived I met some "real" journalists, from

Motor Trend magazine and Autoblog; I ended up meeting about 20 journalists

from all over the country.



Waiting for us at the hotel were cars from the complete Buick lineup so we

could familiarize ourselves with the brand before we laid eyes on the

Verano. This is not your grandpa's Buick. The rolling land boats of

yesteryear have given way to a smartly designed and seriously stylish lineup

of vehicles including the Enclave, LaCrosse, Regal with eAssist and Regal

GS. I really wanted to drive the Regal with eAssist since I was familiar

with its electrification system, but I couldn't pass up the chance to get

into the Regal GS first. We got our map and headed out on a 40 mile jaunt

from Portland out to the woodlands where the Veranos awaited us. The GS was

a blast to drive and the curvy roads were the perfect place to get my first

taste of Buick performance.



When I arrived I was sad to leave the Regal behind, but excited for the

Verano. The Verano is designed atop the same global platform as the Chevy

Cruze, but that's where the commonality stops, as far as I could tell. The

exterior of the Verano takes its cues from other family members including

the chrome waterfall grille straddled by blue translucent projector beam

headlamps and, of course, those hood portholes. The rear of the car offered

a sharp taillight design accented with chrome inlays above the trunk,

evoking a mischievous and sporty look.

Before we could get a look at the inside of the Verano, we had an OnStar

scavenger hunt to complete. I hopped in the eAssist Regal, hit the OnStar

button and got turn-by-turn directions to my first stop, a gourmet coffee

house that prepared a special "Buick" roast for us. Now, amped on caffeine,

I was guided to my second stop, a cupcakery! After downing the sugary snack

I headed back where GM representatives Pat Morrissey and Carolyn Normandin

greeted us with an overview the Verano qualities including supplier booths

and vehicle cutaways.



Itching to take the Verano on 240 miles worth of forested windy roads, I set

off on a circuitous route to the Pacific Ocean. Once inside the Verano an

abundance of quality materials greeted my eyes and hands. The main draw was

the seven-inch LED high-resolution, full-color touch screen in the center

stack with its flush mounted buttons for navigation, entertainment, and

comfort settings. I was impressed that the infotainment system integrates

with a smart phone and it proved to be easier to use than my friend's car

with Ford's Sync. With Pandora and Stitcher smartphone apps integrated into

the infotainment system there were new music options, alongside traditional

CD, FM, or Satellite radio for the Bose audio system to blast through its

nine speaker configuration. When I turned down the stereo a new sound

emerged; quiet.



The Verano emphasized the quietness of its cabin with over a dozen

technologies to keep the outside world out. To illustrate the sound

deadening capabilities, a leaf blower's deafening roar was reduced to a

whisper when I rolled up the windows during one brief pit stop. The leather

wrapped steering wheel felt solid connected to the dual-pinion rack electric

power steering system and the cluster gauge is backlit with blue LEDs,

causing the tachometer and speedometer to glow futuristically. The knit

headliner, fabric wrapped A-pillars, and other dash moldings are color and

grained matched in seamless fashion. The front seating area was spacious

and even after driving for over 4 excitement-filled hours I felt nary a hint

of driving fatigue, thanks to well-appointed seats where comfort reigned

supreme. The rear seating room is serviceable considering the compact

segment, and the trunk can easily accommodate large cargo -- or as some

other journalists demonstrated --, two full sized adults!



The Verano is definitely not a superficial beauty; all that luxury is backed

up by a superbly handling Watts Z-link rear suspension and skillful

powertrain. While I was tearing through the Oregonian mountains, the 2.4L

Ecotec four-cylinder engine coupled with the Hydra-Matic six-speed

transmission put 180 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque to the 18" wheels.

The Verano's power was especially evident when I was using the manual shift

mode to sprint past the lumbering logging trucks trying to ruin my driving

fun. (Rumor has it a Turbo version is in the works.) Descending upon the

Tillamook cheese factory in Tillamook, Ore., a light rain began to fall, yet

braking was no problem thanks to the four wheel anti-lock disk brakes and

cornering was smooth as ever, thanks to the StabiliTrak stability and

traction control system. In fact, the Verano has ten standard air bags,

which when combined with OnStar's Advanced Crash Response System provide one

of the safest cars in its class; though I was glad to not have to test that

particular feature.



After a joyous romp through the Pacific Northwest, the Verano is definitely

a worthy luxury sedan tamped down into a compact frame. Perfect for the

entry level luxury customer, Buick delivers big time elegance in the Verano

package.

The First Two 2012 Buick Verano's come to Borcherding Buick GMC!

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec 05, 2011 -
Borcherding Buick GMC in the Kings Auto Mall is excited to announce that we just received two of the first long awaited 2012 Buick Verano's! We still haven't received the factory stickers from GM yet so they currently can't be sold today, but we are inviting the public to come see the vehicle this weekend. What we are really after is for people to provide us feedback and what you really think about the vehicle.

Borcherding is excited to add this to the product line, that can compete with similar sized vehicles at a low price. Like us on Facebook if you would like to participate!

Borcherding Automotive in Cincinnati, OH has been serving the automotive needs of friends, family and neighbors for 36 years.

We know that you have high expectations, and as a car dealer we enjoy the challenge of meeting and exceeding those standards each and every time. Allow us to demonstrate our commitment to excellence!

Our experienced sales staff is eager to share its knowledge and enthusiasm with you. We encourage you to browse our online inventory, schedule a test drive and investigate financing options.

New Buick Verano will let you have the good life without flaunting it

Scott Burgess

There's a movement under way. It's all around us.

Opulent luxury has become passé, if not outright immoral. Those people with all the money and all the power have become moving targets for the disgruntled, the outraged, the 99 percenters.

That's why 1 percenters should seriously consider occupying a 2012 Buick Verano, a compact car crammed with luxury appointments but in a more acceptable manner for the masses. (The fact that it's U.S. built helps as well.) Banksters and protesters alike can appreciate the Verano's understated sumptuousness.

Powered by General Motors Co.'s 2.4-liter dual overhead cam Ecotec engine, the Verano provides a solid ride, a new easy-to-use infotainment system, really comfortable seats and just enough razzle-dazzle to impress some but go unnoticed by others. It's exactly the kind of machine ideal for fat cats on their way to their corporate jets or well-heeled hippies headed to the weekend commune.

In either case, the driver will notice a well-planted car with a suspension that gobbles up big bumps with ease. Buick used GM's Watts Z-link rear suspension as a way to free up space, shed a few pounds and still provide a well-mannered drive. The sedan, while heavy at 3,300 pounds, handles well through quick corners. The electric power steering system, which most carmakers are beginning to use to help save fuel, is well-weighted and provides just enough connection to the road that you can feel downright sporty.

Driving a fine line

During a 250-mile drive, the Verano handled itself well through mountain roads  and effortlessly on highways. The steering wheel also had a nice weighty feel to it and quick return to center. There were times on mountain roads that it was fun.

It's a fine line that Buick straddles with its volume vehicles. Sometimes more sportiness is not better. Buick means something different to consumers. There's room in the lineup for a sporty sedan, something the Buick Regal GS does very well. It's the best Pontiac in Buick's fleet. But for me, a Buick needs to keep some of its classic Buick qualities, while embracing the future at the same time. Kind of like Capitalism 2.0 for cars without all of that pesky regulation.

Wind noise at a minimum

The Verano manages to capture both the past and the present without much compromise in between.

First, the Verano is Buick quiet. It has a laminated windshield and front side window to beat back much of the wind noise. It has triple-sealed doors and more sound-deadening material than many recording studios. The headliner has five layers of acoustic linings, each designed to absorb, displace or move sound away from the cabin.

From hydraulic engine mounts to specially tuned air intakes, every decibel is meticulously monitored to create a quiet cabin. The people in the back seat could never get away with a whisper campaign against the driver.

A classy interior

Some of the soundproofing helps make the interior nicer, such as the cloth wrapped around the A pillars. In fact, the Verano's interior package is extremely pleasing, without being crass. The front seats are larger than most compact cars offer, making it comfortable for even fatter cats behind the wheel. (One of the tricks Buick engineers and designers used was replacing the  hand emergency brake with an electronic emergency break. Technically speaking, this is an expensive feature that carmakers avoid whenever possible. But the electronic emergency break allowed the center console to be thinner and thus the front seats wider.)

Throughout the cabin, the interior feels solid and luxurious. The biggest disappointments were the instrument gauges, which look more like toys with a flat, overly plastic feel to them and not worthy of this sedan. It also took a few minutes to locate the push-button start, which is on the Verano's center stack and is square, but that's something any driver would get accustomed to quickly. The brown Choccachino leather-trimmed interior looks stunning.

Additionally, the Verano features Buick's newest infotainment system, known as IntelliLink, with Bose Premium Audio and OnStar. IntelliLink uses a full-color LED touch screen to help operate a driver's smartphone. It uses easy-to-understand icons to help navigate the system. The car's amazing ability to block  outside noise only makes the stereo that much better.

The IntelliLink allows the car's system to operate some apps found on smartphones such as Pandora and Stitcher, both big audio apps that play music and radio programs on demand.

The clarity was so good that I finally understood — via Stitcher — that Phil Hendrie is sometimes sarcastic on his program.

Character, but not brash

Now, as to the car's looks. No one is going to pelt it with water bottles or fire tear gas at it. The Verano is sharply designed with elegant curves and a steep windshield. It has lots of little pieces of sparkle around it, including those somewhat silly hood vents. It's not overly aggressive but it's certainly not bland. 

The big grille and bluish projector beam headlights give it a pronounced face with character.

The chrome trim around the windows and big 18-inch wheels add just enough polish to the car's silhouette that makes it crisp and clean.

The exterior looks nice, but certainly nothing brash or in your face.

New face of luxury

Luxury has taken on a new meaning in America and Buick seems to have found a sweet spot in that bigger meaning. In part, because it has always resided there, it's just taken a while for 99 percent of us to catch up.

Buick used to be considered the doctor's car, one that fell somewhere between over the top and basic transportation. The idea was that if a doctor showed up to a house call in a Cadillac, he charged too much. If he showed up in a Chevrolet, he wasn't that good of a doctor. But if he showed up in a Buick, he  knew about luxury but chose not to flaunt it. (This doesn't change the fact that the spacious 15.2 cubic feet of trunk space can easily carry a couple of sets of golf clubs.)

It's OK to make money. It's OK to have some luxuries in your life. It's OK to protest inequities.

And it's certainly OK to own a Verano. It's affordable luxury that everyone can support — all 100 percent of us.

Source:  The Detroit News