Buick Lacrosse An All-Around Good Hybrid

Buick Lacrosse An All-Around Good Hybrid The 2012 Buick LaCrosse is not General Motors Co.’s first mild hybrid. Perhaps that’s good. More importantly, the base model 2012 LaCrosse with eAssist is all-around good, if not great. It’s a large sedan that out performs many subcompacts when it comes to mileage. GM’s first mild hybrid was the 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line.  The new LaCrosse, which rolled into dealerships in the fall, just shows you that an old dog can learn a few new tricks. Whereas the original mild hybrid was more of a means for GM to put the word “hybrid” on a quarter panel, the LaCrosse with eAssist is just the opposite. It doesn’t have the word hybrid on it; understated greenness indeed. There will be people who buy this Buick and marvel at how quiet it is at traffic lights. They may not even notice that the engine is off. (This is part of the eAssist system, which makes this car a mild gas-electric hybrid.) What engineers did with this car is fascinating and absolutely genius. Allow me: Cars engines are like the three branches of the U.S. government: They don’t use power equally. There are moments during acceleration, depending on a number of factors, such road grade, wind resistance and driver’s desires, that the engine has to work harder. Even cruising along the highway at the same speed, the engine works differently at different times. Listen to it when you’re using cruise control and the car approaches an overpass. Engineers mapped out all of these moments for the LaCrosse. Then, they added a small 15 kW 15-horsepower motor to assist the engine at those precise moments. The reason the LaCrosse is a mild hybrid is that it never really drives itself on electric power only. Some gas-electric hybrids can go up to nearly 50 mph on electric power only. But those need much bigger motors and battery packs. That weight, while helping the car, also limits it. Additional weight costs gas mileage. The LaCrosse uses a relatively small battery pack that is neatly stored in the trunk (Making it up to 1.6 cubic feet smaller than a gas-only LaCrosse.) Vehicle Runs Seamlessly They did more than just add an electric motor. The 2.4-liter gas engine comes with lots of fuel-saving features. It includes a fuel shut-off system that kills the engine when the car is slowing down. And instead of the brakes taking over, the LaCrosse uses a regenerative braking system that ties the wheels to a generator to produce electricity that goes to the batteries. The grille includes an active air flow regulator to close up the grille and make the car more aerodynamic when less air is needed. And, of course, there’s the start/stop system that kills the engine when the LaCrosse is not moving. All of the systems inside the car continue to run while the car is stopped. It feels completely seamless. An electric motor will start the engine instantly when the driver removes his foot from the brake. There is also a hill-assist system that captures the brake pressure to hold the car in place even when the engine shuts off. This prevents the car from rolling back slightly if stopped on an incline and prevents that awful, leaning-too-far-back-in-a-chair sensation. Buick also touts an eco-gauge inside the cabin that helps drivers find just the right touch to driving in the most efficient manner. While lots of carmakers offer these systems, few actually do much to convince me to actually save fuel from behind the wheel. The price at the gas pump does that. The true genius behind the eAssist system is that it is a sum total gain, step by step by step. And some things are tougher to measure on exactly how much one affects the other. The low-rolling resistance tires spin a little better when the aero is better but the regenerative brakes have a little more work to do. The end result is a 32 percent jump in city mileage and 36 mpg on the highway. The subcompact 2011 Nissan Versa with a five-speed manual — that’s three sizes smaller than the LaCrosse — gets 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. As for the car’s performance, eAssist is nearly undetectable. There’s no electric surge or rush or a rumble of the engine. Just clean, smooth acceleration and an insanely quiet ride. The car doesn’t feel heavy on the road or like anything other than a well-built Buick. This car emphasizes that sometimes the journey is just as nice as the destination. Extremely Comfortable Ride The LaCrosse arrives with that comfortable and well-crafted interior. Later this year, it will also arrive with Buick’s all-new IntelliLink with an 8-inch screen in the center stack. IntelliLink is a big step forward for Buick telematics, providing Bluetooth connectivity and app operation on the actual screen. (Currently, you can put Pandora, Stitcher SmartRadio on the screen and operate them through the onboard system through your phone’s connection. Little by little, we’re becoming a Smartphone economy. More importantly, this car is extremely comfortable, with big front seats and a spacious second row. The LaCrosse is ideal for growing families with adult-sized children — or someone who hauls around more than two adults at any given time. (The front row has 41.7 inches of legroom and the second row has 40.5 inches.) As for its exterior, the LaCrosse maintains its long lines and elegant curves. It doesn’t overstate its premium status but underscores it. The key to this car is that all of the technology was not added merely for technology’s sake. It was created to enhance a good car’s performance. Making good better is never a bad thing. Source: [Detroit News]

Get Your Plate in Shape for National Nutrition Month

Being in the car business, it can be too easy to get sucked into eating fast food. We care about our employees health and celebrate National Nutrition Month.

Get Your Plate in Shape for National Nutrition Month

Before you eat, think about what goes on your plate or in your bowl. Foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean protein foods contain the nutrients you need without too many calories. Over the day, include foods from all the food groups. Try the following tips to “Get Your Plate in Shape.”

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
• Eat a variety of vegetables, especially dark-green, red and orange vegetables plus beans and peas. Fresh, frozen and canned vegetables all count. Choose “reduced sodium” or “no-salt-added” canned vegetables.

• Add fruit to meals and snacks. Buy fruits that are dried, frozen or canned in water or 100% juice, as well as fresh fruits.

• Make at least half your grains whole.
• Choose 100% whole-grain breads, cereals, crackers, pasta and brown rice.
• Check the ingredients list on food packages to find whole-grain foods.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk.
• Fat-free and low-fat milk have the same amount of calcium and other essential nutrients as whole milk, but less fat and calories.

• If you are lactose intolerant, try lactose-free milk or a calcium-fortified soy beverage.
• Vary your protein choices.
• Eat a variety of foods from the protein food group each week, such as seafood, nuts and beans, as well as lean meat, poultry and eggs.
• Twice a week, make seafood the protein on your plate.
• Keep meat and poultry portions small and lean.
• Cut back on sodium and empty calories from solid fats and added sugars.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Select fruit for dessert. Eat sugary desserts less often. Choose 100% fruit juice instead of fruit-flavored drinks.
• Look out for salt (sodium) in foods you buy. Compare sodium in foods and choose those with lower numbers. Add spices or herbs to season food without adding salt.
• Make major sources of saturated fats such as desserts, pizza, cheese, sausages and hot dogs occasional choices, not every day foods.
• Select lean cuts of meat or poultry and fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese.
• Switch from solid fats to oils when preparing food.

Source: [Eat Right]

The Buick Verano Debuts on Reality TV did you see Celebrity Apprentice?

Did you tune in to NBC this Sunday night (9 PM EDT) for Verano’s reality TV debut?  The Buick Verano had a starring role in this week’s Celebrity Apprentice episode -- the 4^thof the show’s new season.  In a battle of the sexes, the women’s and men’s teams are tasked with creating a Verano launch event in front of a live audience. 
The Verano integration features a number of Celebrity Apprentice “firsts”:
·         1^st time contestants interact with a car and actually drive during the show (thru a challenge course)
·        1^sttime they’ve utilized a Twitter feed into the show’s production
·        1^sttime Celebrity Apprentice has allowed a company to shoot a PR video during the show’s taping
 1^stuse of a synchronized app that allows viewer interaction with the show
Developed in conjunction with Buick, the Celebrity Apprentice app uses sound activation technology to interact as the show’s action unfolds – including suggesting who should be fired – which will generate a personal response from Donald Trump.  Other app features will allow users access Verano photos, videos, product specs and exclusive Celebrity Apprentice content.  Additionally, app users get a free download of the Neon Trees song “Everybody Talks”, which is featured in the new Verano “Tour Bus” TV spot.
But the biggest highlight of downloading the Celebrity Apprentice app is the chance to win a Verano and trip to New York for the taping of the Celebrity Apprentice season finale.
Buick will also run 3 Verano launch spots during the show.   

Spring Cleaning For Your Car Tip from Borcherding Buick GMC

Spring Cleaning for Your Car

Winter is the harshest time of year for cars. Those of you in the snow (rust) belt have it the worst. Corrosive road salt, loose stones and road debris from snow plows, traction sand, and repeated freezing and thawing can wreak havoc on your car’s body. To compound the matter, the cold winter weather probably kept you from washing your car as often as you should have. The first warm, spring weekend of the year, give your car a good spring cleaning, and check for any minor damage from the long winter before it turns into a costly or dangerous problem.

Here’s what you should do:

• Give your car a thorough hand-washing, inside and out, and do it the right way.

• Clean and vacuum inside first.

• Make sure you have soap that’s specifically for cars.

• Never wash your car in direct sunlight.

• Use a hose with a mist-spray nozzle to wet down the car and wash away debris.

• Using a bucket with tepid water and soap, sponge down all areas of the car gently, rinsing the sponge frequently. Do the fender and bumper areas last.

• Blast the undercarriage and wheel wells with the hose to remove as much salt buildup as you can.

• Dry the vehicle lightly with a chamois or natural-fiber drying cloth.

• Remember to clean the windows and mirrors!

Stay away from automated, commercial car washes on busy, winter-thaw days. Many of them recycle a certain portion of their water, to the point that they’re washing with salty water at those times. Otherwise, they’re alternatives for keeping your underbody clean and for when it’s too cold to hand-wash.

Look for stone chips, sand abrasions and rust. Look over the body completely for stone chips, including smaller surface nicks and scratches from traction sand thrown up by trucks. Repair them immediately with a touch-up kit (a small bottle of touch-up paint plus a special brush for application, usually inexpensive and available at the dealership). Make sure the spot is clean and dry, without any loose or sharp edges, and apply primer if bare metal is exposed. Have a body shop repair larger patches of rust.

Lubricate your locks and hinges. Consult with your owner’s manual and use a graphite lubricant on your locks if recommended. Applying a small amount of petroleum-based lubricant to door and trunk hinges might also silence any creaking that started during winter.

Inspect your weather-stripping. Get any that looks mildewy, cracked, or brittle replaced right away. According to advice from the International Carwash Association, spraying weather-stripping with silicone spray will ensure that the water will bead away.

Inspect your car’s underbody for rust and winter damage. If there are any suspicious areas, have a mechanic look at them, and fix them immediately if needed. Pay special attention to brake components (sticky calipers, corroded brake lines), and exhaust components (rusted clamps, crumbling tailpipes, holes forming in muffler) that might have salt or slush damage. Suspension and steering pieces such as bushings, strut mounts, springs and tie rods are also susceptible to winter damage.

Schedule Service 

Source: [AOL Autos]

VERANO DELIVERS THE UNEXPECTED

VERANO DELIVERS THE UNEXPECTED

From its captivating appearance and refined performance to its luxurious interior and purposeful technologies, the all-new 2012 Verano offers a distinctly thoughtful take on luxury.

Help "Green" Your Fleet and control Costs with GMC's Bi-Fuel Unveiled

2013 GMC and Chevrolet Bi-Fuel Pickups Unveiled

Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra gaseous option available in late 2012

DETROIT - Chevrolet and GMC today announced details of General Motors' bi-fuel 2013 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 HD extended cab pickup trucks.  Fleet and retail consumers can place orders beginning this April.

The vehicles include a compressed natural gas (CNG) capable Vortec 6.0L V8 engine that seamlessly transitions between CNG and gasoline fuel systems. Combined, the trucks offer a range of more than 650 miles. The Silverado and Sierra will be available in standard and long box, with either two- or four-wheel drive.

"The bi-fuel Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra provide customers with choices in advanced propulsion technology, and because CNG is a clean-burning, domestically produced fuel, it has wide appeal, "said Ed Peper, general manager, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. "The addition of a full-size bi-fuel pickup truck to GM's fleet portfolio is another milestone in putting the customer first in everything we do - by offering great products, innovative solutions and a great customer experience."

GM is the only manufacturer to offer a single-source option for its gaseous fuel vehicles.  The bi-fuel trucks are built with a specially designed engine, the fuel system is installed by GM's Tier One supplier and the completed vehicle is delivered directly to the customer. This process makes ordering the bi-fuel option as seamless and efficient as a standard vehicle.

"The bi-fuel truck provides businesses with added re-fueling flexibility and eases consumer range concerns that typically come with CNG, all while reducing emissions and controlling costs,"  said Joyce Mattman, director, GM Commercial Product and Specialty Vehicles. "This turnkey ordering process, combined with the best warranty in the industry for a commercial product, makes our bi-fuel truck an attractive option, especially for commercial customers."

The bi-fuel commercial trucks will be covered by GM's three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and vehicle emissions warranty, meeting all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements. It is the most extensive warranty offered by any manufacturer on commercial products.

The trucks are built in Fort Wayne, Ind., and then sent to the Tier One supplier for installation of the CNG bi-fuel delivery and storage system.  The entire gaseous fuel system meets GM's strict quality, durability, safety testing and is covered under the extensive warranty.

Source: GM

Performance Tech Helps Make Buick Regal GS User Friendly

DETROIT - Some of the same technologies that make the 2012 Regal GS sport sedan the brand's top performance car contribute to the stability and comfort that defines Buick.

Buick's HiPer Strut system is an example of the best-of-both-worlds approach. Short for High Performance Strut, this piece of hardware creates a better separation between the front suspension's steering and shock-absorbing functions through added components that enable the steering knuckle to rotate independently from the strut tower. Ideal suspension geometry is maintained, reducing torque steer and improving camber control.

What that means to drivers is that torque steer - the sensation of the car pulling the steering wheel to one side - is virtually eliminated, steering response is improved, and overall control is better. It delivers some of the advantages of all-wheel drive, but without the added weight and complexity.

"HiPer Strut raises the limits of how a front-drive car can perform." said lead engineer Bill Rietow.  

The stability allowed by HiPer Strut let engineers package an advanced four-cylinder turbocharged engine with the highest horsepower-per-liter ratio General Motors has ever produced. At 135 horsepower per liter, it is also the most power-dense engine ever certified by the Society of Automotive Engineers. The car's 270-horsepower rating wouldn't be possible without fuel-saving technologies like spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) and variable valve timing.

Computer controls that smooth engine performance and increase efficiency also allow predictable response to the driver's gas pedal inputs.

Buick Interactive Drive Control System, standard on the Regal GS, puts control over the balance of performance and comfort at the driver's fingertips. Through a set of "Sport" and "GS" buttons, drivers can alter suspension, steering, and gear shifting characteristics. "Sport" suspension is 20 percent stiffer than the base setting, while "GS" is 20 percent stiffer than "Sport." While the car is moving, the engine computer constantly analyzes road conditions - thousands of calculations each second - to fine-tune suspension characteristics.

Other driver controls in the Regal GS are tuned for a pleasant experience. With a six-speed automatic transmission, shifts are smooth and programmed to save fuel during normal driving. When in "GS" mode, the transmission shifts are firmer and quicker to sharpen performance.

Regal GS caters equally to manual transmission enthusiasts. While these drivers select their own shift points, they are aided by a Hill Start Assist feature that, when the car is stopped on an incline, automatically engages the brakes for a few seconds while the driver releases the clutch, preventing the jolt that comes when a car rolls back.

"I've been driving manuals my whole life, but I still find the security of Hill Start Assist reassuring," said Rietow.

The engine control module in the GS also briefly cuts fuel and reduces spark advance when the driver depresses the clutch, allowing to turbocharger to maintain boost for quick and smooth "no-lift" shifting at wide-open throttle.

"The Regal GS uses purposeful technology to create an intelligent brand of performance," said Rietow.

GS recently won a Car and Driver sport sedan comparison test against the 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design and was recognized on the Hagerty Insurance "Hot List" of future collectible cars.  

Source: GM