2013 Encore Receives IIHS, NHTSA Safety Accolades

2013 Encore Receives IIHS, NHTSA Safety Accolades

All five models in luxury brand’s showroom now share IIHS Top Safety Pick designation

DETROIT – The 2013 Encore luxury small crossover brings a smaller footprint and high efficiency to the Buick showroom, but the brand’s newest model maintains the commitment to safety, joining all other current Buicks as an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2013 Top Safety Pick. The Encore with all-wheel drive also received a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
With every model sharing the IIHS designation, Buick is one of just a few brands with a full line of 2013 Top Safety Picks. The Verano, Regal, LaCrosse and Enclave all have a NHTSA 5-star overall rating.
The IIHS tests vehicles to determine occupant protection in front, side, and rollover crashes, and specifically tests seats and head restraints for neck protection in rear impact crashes. To earn a 2013 Top Safety Pick designation, a vehicle must be rated “good” in all four tests.
NHTSA tests for its 5-star safety ratings program include front, side and rollover testing, along with a side pole test simulating a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.
The Encore has 10 standard air bags, a standard Rear Vision Camera and the security of OnStar – a combination unmatched by any competitor. In a rollover crash, sensors in the vehicle deploy standard head curtain air bags prior to impact and leave them inflated for an extended period.
Encore’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.
Available active safety features for the 2013 Encore include Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning, a pair of technologies that use a single forward-looking camera to read traffic patterns and lane markers on the road ahead. Visual warnings and audible tones alert the driver to unsignalled lane changes or a slowed vehicle.

“Safety is a top priority in Buick’s product renaissance, as evidenced by receiving these latest safety accolades for Encore,” said Gay Kent, GM executive director of Vehicle Safety. “Our customers can have confidence in the safety performance of every Buick for sale today.”

Buick News

Buick Delivers Best May Retail Sales Since 2005

Buick Delivers Best May Retail Sales Since 2005

Consumers choose more premium features as brand marks 13 straight months of retail sales gains

DETROIT – With an expanded lineup featuring three sedans and two crossovers, Buick posted its best May retail sales in eight years. Led by the 2013 Enclave luxury crossover, Buick retail sales were up 9.9 percent from May 2012, marking 13 consecutive months of year-over-year retail sales gains.  Buick total sales were down 3.1 percent.
Calendar year-to-date retail sales are up 16.9 percent, while total sales are up 16 percent.
Enclave had its best May ever with retail sales of 4,912, up 18.6 percent year-over-year. The redesigned three-row crossover has delivered year-over-year retail sales gains each month since it was introduced last year and is up 27.4 percent year to date.
The all-new Encore luxury small crossover also continues to sell well with 1,974 vehicles delivered in May.
Buick customers are selecting more premium features and colors in the brand’s newest crossover models.
The top two models (1SL and 1SN) for both the Enclave and Encore represent the largest percentage of sales for each vehicle – more than 90 percent for Enclave and more than 50 percent for Encore – with the feature-rich 1SN packaged model spending the least time on dealer lots.
Buick crossover customers are also opting for premium tricoat paints, with the Enclave’s White Diamond and Encore’s White Pearl representing the highest percentage of sales for each model.
“Enclave has be our best-selling model since its introduction in 2007, so it’s no surprise the redesigned model is leading our growth this year,” said Brian Sweeney, vice president of Buick Sales and Service.  “More importantly, we’re seeing demand for the premium trim level models within our crossover line-up, which is indicative of the customer that’s considering Buick today.”
Enclave was recently named a 2013 Total Quality award-winner in the Near Luxury Utility category by Strategic Vision, which examines 155 specific aspects of Total Quality to measure the most meaningful experiences for customers across all automakers.

The Verano luxury sedan also marked its best month of the year in May with retail sales up 9.4 percent over May 2012.

Buick News

GM global sales up 4% in first half of 2013, ahead of Volkswagen shared by Borcherding

General Motors reported a 4% increase in global vehicle sales for the first half of the year, placing it ahead of Volkswagen.

Toyota, which was the world’s biggest automaker last year, has not reported its first-half sales.
GM gained a tenth of a percentage point in global market share to 11.5%, as sales hits 4.85 million. That outpaced Volkswagen’s 4.7 million vehicles, up 5.5%.
GM posted an 8% sales increase in North America to 1.64 million vehicles, as market share rose from 17% a year ago to 17.2%. In GM’s International Operations unit, which includes China market, sales rose 7% to 1.92 million vehicles, with market share rising from 9.3% to 9.4%. But sales fell 6.5% in Europe.
Separately, Goldman Sachs raised its rating on GM’s stock Tuesday to “Conviction Buy,” up from “Buy.” The firm’s analysts said GM’s stock could hit $45 within the next 12 months, “driven by a global product story.”
GM shares slipped 32 cents to close at $36.18.

GM Media

Recounting the biggest, the fastest and most significant from Buick history

DETROIT – Buick vehicles today are built in state-of-the-art facilities around the world. The Enclave luxury crossover’s Lansing Delta Township plant was the industry’s first LEED Gold-certified manufacturing facility. The brand has evolved in many ways since 1903, when the first Buick was hand-built in a small barn behind David Dunbar Buick’s Detroit home. Here are 11 top highlights from Buick’s first 11 decades:

• Through the end of 2012, Buick has sold more than 43 million vehicles. That’s the equivalent of every vehicle sold in the United States over the past three years.
• The 1938 Buick Y-Job, credited to famed designer Harley Earl, is regarded as the first concept car ever built. Its waterfall grille is still used on Buicks today, and it featured futuristic technologies like power windows. Earl drove the car himself for more than a decade.
• The 1963 Riviera, often regarded as one of history’s most beautiful cars, celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year. The powerful sport coupe was said to be inspired by a Rolls-Royce that Buick design boss Bill Mitchell saw through a fog in London.
• Buick has a deep motorsports history, proving its performance on race tracks as early as 1908. A Buick has served as Official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500 six times, and the brand also won two NASCAR Manufacturer Championships, in 1981 and 1982.
• After just over three decades of engineering progress, the first production Buick topped 100 mph. It was the appropriately named 1936 Buick Century.
• The fastest production Buick in history is today’s Buick Regal GS luxury sport sedan. At the 2012 Nevada Open Road Challenge, it recorded a top speed of 162 mph.
• Buick’s quickest car was also one of the brands rarest. Car and Driver magazine recorded 0-60 mph acceleration for the 1987 Buick GNX at just 4.6 seconds. Just 547 were built.
• Powertrain innovation is a Buick hallmark. Today, the company’s turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0L delivers 259 hp, but displacement was king in the 1960s and ‘70s. Buick’s largest engine, a 455-cubic-inch (7.5L) V-8, was introduced in 1970.
• The Buick Electra 225 nameplate was introduced in 1959, with the “225” referencing the model’s overall length in inches. By 1975, the Electra grew to become the longest vehicle ever produced by Buick. It measured 233.7 inches from bumper to bumper.
• Buick’s first vehicle, the 1904 Model B, was also the shortest, riding on an 83-inch wheelbase. The 2013 Encore luxury small crossover isn’t quite as small, but it does have the shortest wheelbase (100.6 inches) since the 1912 Model 34 (90.7 inches.)
• Buick has made many models with seating for two, four, five or six passengers. But only twice in 110 years has the brand produced vehicles with seating for up to eight: the 2008-2013 Enclave and the 1991-1996 Roadmaster Estate.

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 www.buick.com, on Twitter @buick, on Pinterest or at www.facebook.com/buick

GMC Pickups 101: Busting Myths of Truck Aerodynamics

DETROIT – The all-new 2014 Sierra full-size pickup truck spent more development time in a wind tunnel than any GMC pickup before it, resulting in design changes that benefit both fuel efficiency and interior quietness.

To achieve improved airflow, aerodynamic engineers like Diane Bloch examined every millimeter of the truck to find areas of improvement, debunking some popular myths along the way.

To study the way air passes over, under and around the Sierra, engineers used General Motors’ state-of-the-art Aerodynamics Lab, a 750-foot-long tunnel through which a 43-foot-diameter fan powered by a DC electric motor with the equivalent of 4,500 horsepower can generate winds of up to 138 mph. Aerodynamic advancement is one reason why the 2014 Sierra will be the most fuel-efficient V-8 pickup on the market.

“We can’t stop air; we can only guide it through the path of least resistance. It’s like electricity, without the shock,” said Bloch, GM aerodynamic performance engineer. “The biggest misconception is that it’s all about single components. But a certain side mirror design doesn’t create a certain amount of drag, its interaction with the rest of the vehicle does.”

For example, a new air dam below the 2014 Sierra’s front bumper successfully reduces drag because it directs air toward the ground and away from the truck’s rough underbody. And Sierra’s ducted flow path between the grille and radiator prevents air from swirling inside the truck’s front cavities.

Even the top of the Sierra’s tailgate and the center high-mounted stop light are optimized to guide air cleanly around the truck. And because Bloch’s team detected unwanted airflow between the cab and bed, new sealing has been added.

“We discovered that in the computational analysis we perform,” said Bloch. “The most harmful air between the cab and bed was coming over the cab and down through the gap, so we paid the most attention to that specific area.”

The pickup market has a great number of available aftermarket accessories, and Bloch says those have varying impact on aerodynamics.  Add-ons like bug deflectors on the hood, wider tires or aftermarket bumpers can raise the drag coefficient, which is the measure of how air pushes on a vehicle as it moves down the road. The result: added noise and increased fuel consumption.

A long-disputed topic among truck owners is whether a tailgate raised or lowered is better for aerodynamics, but Bloch says a tailgate in the up position is more aerodynamically efficient. As air flows over the truck, it falls over the cab and pushes forward on the rear of the truck. With the tailgate down, the benefits of that airflow are diminished.

“Replacing the tailgate with an aftermarket net is worse than having no tailgate at all,” Bloch said. “Imagine dragging a solid object and a fishing net through water. The net is going to require more muscle.”

So what accessories can truck owners add to help aerodynamics? Tonneau covers for the bed help smooth airflow over the truck, and Bloch says soft covers are more beneficial than hard covers because they form to how the air wants to flow. Running boards can also help air flow smoothly down the truck’s sides.

“Round, tube-style running boards can provide a minor improvement to the truck’s drag coefficient,” said Bloch, “Fully integrated, flush-mount running boards are even better.”

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902, and is one of the industry's healthiest brands. Innovation and engineering excellence is built into all GMC vehicles and the brand is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover. The 2014Sierra half-ton pickup boasts all-new powertrains and design, and the Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are the most capable and powerful trucks ever built by GMC. Every retail GMC model, including Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs, is now available in Denali luxury trim. Details on all GMC models are available at http://www.gmc.com/, on Twitter at @thisisgmc or at http://www.facebook.com/gmc. 

Source: GM Media

2013 GMC Acadia What is all involved.

                               2013 Acadia Comes Armed for an Army of Elbows

Hundreds of engineering hours lead to comfort and flexibility

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.

Source: [GM Media]

National Running Day, and Here are some Tips

It's National Running Day, and you can bet we'll be lacing up our sneaks to head out for a run before the day's out. But before we do, here's a look back at some tips and techniques to help turn anyone into a better runner.

Getting Started
Before you hit the ground running, make sure you know all the basics to help you ensure proper technique and avoid injury. Start with these tips on buying the right running shoes and perfecting your running form, and then get to know the following tips.

• Get started with our insider beginner running tips. You'll learn everything we wish we knew before we went on our first run.
• After feeling comfortable with running on the treadmill, follow these helpful tips for running outdoors.
• Paved roads getting boring? Here's everything you need to know about trail running for the first time.

Up the Ante
Once you have a solid running routine down, challenge yourself by incorporating new training techniques into your regimen. It'll help you run stronger, longer, and faster.

• Why do the same run day after day? Here are seven treadmill interval workouts to up your pace and calorie burn.
• Here are four techniques that will make you stronger, faster, and more efficient on your feet.
• Combine cardio and strength training into one workout with these tips on incorporating muscle-toning moves into your running routine.

Additional Training
Becoming a great runner is more than just lacing up and clocking in mileage. Keep reading to find out what techniques can enhance the good runner you already are.

• Many runners suffer from injuries that can be prevented if they stretched their tight muscles regularly. Here are five yoga poses that will help ease tension and prevent pain.
• Most runners suffer from tight hips, hamstrings, or lower back, but here are three lower-body stretches to do every day — even on the ones you don't run.
• A runner doesn't need to follow a strict diet to be in tip-top shape, but here are a few foods every runner needs to fuel workouts, improve performance, and speed up recovery time.                                                              Source: Thinkstock

Tips for Women: Need to sell Your Car?

Top Selling Tips For Women

Are you looking to sell your vehicle in the near future? Here are a few tips that will help get you started. 
1. You can choose to sell your car privately or through a dealer. 

Privately - It is generally thought that you can get more for your car if you decide to sell it privately, but this takes time as you will need to arrange appointments for people view your car. 

Through a Dealer - Many people choose to sell their car through a dealer as it is a safer and more reliable option which gives you the peace of mind of knowing that payment is instant and from a trusted source.


2. Presentation is vital. 

Make sure your car is clean, vacuumed and detailed.  Things such polishing the interior and using  tyre shine can really make a difference to how the vehicle presents. Borcherding ensures all our vehicles are kept in showroom condition.


3. Ensure your vehicle is reasonably priced.
 
Make sure you do not  have inflated expectations of how much money your car is worth. 
You can do some research on websites such as kbb.com, blackbookonline.com and off course borcherding.com to find out how other vehicles of the same model and year are priced.

For more information please feel free to contact us at 513-677-9200.

Sincerely,
The Borcherding Team

Buick Looking to Get Younger, Adds New Models with Pizzazz

Buick Looking to Get Younger, Adds New Models with Pizzazz

September 1st, 2011

Buick is working hard to shed its image of the “old guy car.” No longer a brand that whisks grandparents to bingo and doctors’ appointments, it now offers luxurious, high-end and even sporty sedans and crossovers aimed at the pre-Medicare generation.
Buick will build on its rebranding over the next few years, redesigning many models and introducing new ones. In all, Buick will retool or introduce six different models starting in 2013, and expect the brand to take on a completely new look by the 2016 model year. With all of these changes Buick will go through, parent company GM hopes to continue attracting a younger demographic, but without alienating Buick’s “traditional” buyer.
2011 Buick Verano: The first compact Buick in more than 20 years, the Verano goes on sale this fall. The Acura TSX-fighter will come standard with GM’s IntelliLink infotainment system, and is based on the same mechanical underpinnings as the Chevy Cruze.

• 177-hp Ecotec 2.4-liter engine
• 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels come standard. Optional 18-inch wheels available.
• Estimated fuel economy: 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway

2013 Buick Encore: Seen as a “baby Enclave,” the Encore five-seat compact crossover is expected to join Buick’s line-up for the 2013 model year. While details are still slim, especially for a vehicle that’s only a year away, here’s what we know:

• Will be built on Chevy’s Gamma platform, the same one that the new Sonic will be perched on. Translation: It will be small.
• Expected to compete against Acura’s RDX and the Infiniti EX

2012 Buick Regal: Expected to be launched in the fall, the Regal will have a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine churning out 270 hp, or the option of eAssist. GM is also weighing its options to put a Regal wagon on the road in China and it hasn’t gotten the go-ahead here in the U.S either.

• Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a six-speed transmission
• Optional eAssist mild hybrid system available

2012 Buick LaCrosse: Buick’s eAssist, a mild hybrid system, debuts on the 2012 LaCrosse, improving fuel economy by up to 25 percent. We expect eAssist to make its way across all Buick models in the coming years. The LaCrosse will be redesigned and is expected to be made available to the public for the 2013 model year.

• A new grille, hood, and rear tailgate will be added for 2013
• 2.4-liter engine will be combined with a small electric motor

2012 Buick Enclave: This three-row crossover first appeared in Buick’s line-up in 2008. Expect a facelift in 2013 and a new generation surfacing around 2015.
2013 Buick Astra: This small compact is expected to be added to Buick’s line-up for the 2013 model year. Buick is weighing its options on bringing a three-door rebadged version of the Opel Astra to the U.S., thus far there’s no definite launch date. Originally planned to be inserted to Saturn’s line-up, the Astra would share a front-drive platform with the Verano.

Source: [Automotive]