New and returning customers opting for more luxury amenities

DETROIT – The redesigned 2013 Buick Enclave luxury crossover is the brand’s best-selling model through the first quarter with retail sales up almost 40 percent. And it is a second-time-around choice for nearly four in 10 owners trading in a first-generation Enclave.

As it builds Buick brand loyalty, the Enclave also continues to pull in first-time Buick buyers as it has since being introduced in 2007.

“The new Enclave is the first model in the second generation of the modern, rejuvenated Buick brand,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick Marketing. “In previous years we’ve talked about the new, younger, luxury-minded buyers coming to Buick for the first time. With the redesigned Enclave, we’re still seeing those new buyers, but we’re now also seeing the buyers who gave us a try with the first Enclave stay with us.”

When the Enclave launched in 2007, customers taking surveys gave reasons like “value/price” and “familiarity with dealer” among their top reasons for buying the brand’s other vehicles.  Enclave owners consistently list things like “overall quality of vehicle,” “ride comfort” and “overall exterior styling” as their top reasons for purchase.

First time and repeat Enclave buyers are choosing more luxurious amenities. In fact, 8 percent more owners select the top-level Premium Group.  And standalone options like 20-inch wheels, Rear Seat Entertainment, Bose audio, sunroof and navigation are more popular. For example, 15 percent more Enclave have been ordered with navigation so far in the 2013 model year.

Since the new model arrived at dealers in November, Enclave had its best retail sales month on record in December, followed by year-over-year retail growth of 57 percent in January and 22 percent in February.

“If you want a bellwether for the where the Buick brand is heading, look no further than the Enclave,” said DiSalle, “It’s a very modern, very smart crossover that delivers what our luxury-minded customers want.”

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NEW YORK – Buick revealed the new 2014 Regal today, designed to be a sportier and smarter evolution of the brand’s dynamic midsize sedan. New purposeful technologies enhance safety and the driving experience with a more refined turbo engine – along with the introduction of all-wheel drive.

The new Regal also introduces new radar- and camera-based safety features – including Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Collision Mitigation Braking – for surround protection. In-vehicle connectivity is enhanced with next-generation IntelliLink, featuring simpler, more intuitive controls and natural speech recognition.

Adaptive Cruise Control is also offered. It senses traffic in front of the Regal to adjust vehicle speed, including stopping the vehicle in heavy traffic and accelerating again.

“The new 2014 Regal is more expressive, more connected and more technologically advanced,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “ Nearly half of new Regal buyers are conquests who are new to Buick and they represent the youngest median age among the brand’s lineup.

“The new Regal gives those discerning buyers more of the technologically advanced features they want in a modern luxury sedan, all with the style and refinement they expect from Buick.”

New front and rear styling, with bold, signature wing-shape LED daytime running lamps and LED taillamps were designed to give Regal a more contemporary and premium presence. The interior features a redesigned central instrument panel and console along with a new fashion interior trim combination.

The new 2.0L turbo engine delivers 18 percent more horsepower in the Regal Turbo, for a greater feeling of on-demand power The available Haldex all-wheel-drive system helps make the most of traction in all driving conditions and also enhances the cornering capability of the Regal GS when driven in the GS mode of the Interactive Drive Control System.

A 2.4L engine with eAssist light electrification technology is also available on the 2014 Regal. Six-speed automatic transmissions are matched with both engines and a six-speed manual is available in the Regal GS. Electric power steering is now featured on all models.

The new Regal makes its public debut at the New York International Auto Show, where it will be on display March 29-April 7. It goes on sale this fall.

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2014 Buick Regal GS Luxury Sport Sedan

Buick.com  |  More About Buick Regal GS

NEW YORK – Buick today introduced the new 2014 LaCrosse, the evolution of the landmark luxury sedan that established the brand’s modern sedan lineup with design leadership and technological innovation.

The full-size LaCrosse offers new interior and exterior design cues, advanced safety technologies and enhanced in-vehicle connectivity. New front and rear styling, featuring signature wing-shape LED daytime running lamps and LED wraparound tail lamps, complements its sculpted exterior design. The interior is more contemporary, with new seats, enhanced materials, redesigned central instrument panel and console – and an all-new, available Ultra Luxury Interior Package. The cabin also incorporates Buick’s next-generation IntelliLink infotainment system, with intuitive controls and natural voice recognition.

New radar- and camera-based safety features help surround the new LaCrosse with protection. They include Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Change Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Automatic Collision Preparation. GM’s patented Safety Alert Seat works with these features, providing seat vibration pulses indicating the direction of a potential crash threat.

Adaptive Cruise Control is also offered. It senses traffic in front of the LaCrosse to adjust vehicle speed, including stopping the vehicle in heavy traffic and accelerating again.

“We evolved the interior and exterior design, increased luxury amenities and materials, and enhanced the safety and personal technologies to give customers more reasons than ever to rediscover Buick,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing.

Globally, LaCrosse sales have exceeded 500,000 since its 2009 introduction and U.S. sales topped 57,000 in 2012, making it more popular than many other full-size luxury sedans, including Lexus ES, Acura TL and Lincoln MKS.

The 2014 LaCrosse is offered in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models and offers two powertrains: a 2.4L engine with eAssist light electrification technology or a 3.6L direct-injected V-6. Each is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

All models feature Buick’s QuietTuning engineering process that reduces, blocks and absorbs unwanted noise from the LaCrosse’s cabin, making it one of the quietest in the segment.

The new LaCrosse makes its public debut at the New York International Auto Show, where it will be on display March 29-April 7. It goes on sale this summer.

Ultra Luxury Interior Package

Sangria seating color and Ebony accents, with semi-aniline leather seats and trim, along with Shadow Tamo Ash wood décor, represents LaCrosse’s new Ultra Luxury Interior Package.

“The warm color combinations, premium interior materials and advanced technology in the 2014 LaCrosse provide the interior environment our discerning luxury customers are seeking,” said Ven Lai, Buick creative designer for color and trim.

The new Ultra Luxury Interior Package features premium semi-aniline leather. It covers the seats, console armrest and door armrests and is complemented by synthetic suede on the headliner and door pillars. The Sangria contrast color with the Ultra Luxury interior is exclusive to LaCrosse.

2014 BUICK LACROSSE PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

Overview

Engines

Transmissions

Electric Drive System (for eAssist)

Chassis / Suspension

Brakes

Wheels / Tires

Dimensions

Exterior

Interior

Capacities

*SAE certified.
Note: Information shown is current at time of publication.

Click here for pictures.

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Buick’s luxury crossover SUV is also IIHS 2013 Top Safety Pick

DETROIT – The 2013 Buick Enclave, equipped  with a standard front center air bag, has received the highest possible five-star overall vehicle score for safety as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program.

Previously, the luxury crossover SUV was also named a 2013 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

“Safety is a key consideration for all car buyers, and particularly when it comes to family-oriented luxury vehicles,” said Gay Kent, GM general director of Vehicle Safety and Crashworthiness. “The Enclave is designed to provide excellent crash safety, and goes one step further by offering a front center air bag – an industry first in crash protection.”

The front center air bag is an inflatable restraint designed to help protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle. When a severe impact occurs, the air bag deploys in milliseconds from the inboard side of the driver’s seat and inflates between the driver and front passenger, providing added protection for both front occupants.

Other Enclave safety features include:

• Available Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert systems use radar to watch spots the driver may not see – and provide visible and audible warnings to help prevent collisions.
• Standard head curtain side air bags with rollover protection for outboard occupants in all seating rows. In addition to providing protection in moderate-to-severe side crashes, the roof-mounted head curtain air bags will deploy in a rollover to help provide increased occupant protection and containment.
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation technology is standard on all models and incorporates full-function traction control.
• Standard rearview camera system is designed to provide the driver with added capability to view what is in the rearward path of the vehicle.
• Standard four-wheel-disc brake system with ABS featuring smooth, quiet operation, longer pad life and more resistance to brake pulsation.
• Safety belt pretensioners reduce forward movement during a collision, and are standard on the front safety belts, along with load-limiting retractors that help limit the belts’ impact on the occupants’ chest. The dynamic locking latch plate locks to hold the occupants’ pelvis in place.
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat attachment system is included in outboard second-row seating positions.
• Tire pressure monitoring system is standard on all models.
• Strong body structure to absorb crash energy and provide a protective “safety cage” around occupants.
• Standard hill start assist brakes help reduce the tendency of a vehicle to roll forward or backward on a hill after the brake pedal is released by momentarily retaining pressure on the brake discs.
• Standard OnStar uses GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of a crash. OnStar subscribers also can use the service to be Good Samaritans by sending help to other motorists, and to call for help in other non-crash emergencies.

Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA introduced tougher tests and more rigorous requirements for its five-star safety ratings program that provide more comprehensive information about safety performance and crash-avoidance technologies. Changes include a new 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.

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Verano, Enclave and Encore help drive retail sales growth of 13 percent

DETROIT – Buick’s February retail sales were the best since 2004 with a 13 percent year-over-year increase, the 10th consecutive month of higher sales to individual customers. Total sales, including those sold to executive fleets and other commercial customers, were up 15 percent.

Buick’s newest models continue to drive retail sales growth, with Enclave, Verano and the all-new Encore leading February’s gains. The Enclave luxury crossover SUV continues its sales momentum for the fifth consecutive month with retail and total sales up 22 and 26 percent year over year respectively. Both represent the best February ever for the Buick Enclave.

The Verano compact luxury sedan continues to sell well representing a significant growth over 2012. One in two Verano customers come from outside General Motors’ brands and the luxury sedan was recently named U.S. News and World Report Top 2013 Cars for the money.

The all-new Encore small luxury crossover is off to a strong start with more than 1,834 sold since shipping to dealerships began in mid-January.

“New models like the Verano and Encore continue to bring new customers to Buick showrooms,” said Brian Sweeney, vice president of Buick Sales and Service. “With the introduction of the redesigned Enclave, we are seeing a new generation of loyalists returning to the showrooms for another Buick.”

Speech engine picks up accents and dialects from IntelliLink voice commands

DETROIT – When General Motors speech recognition engineer Robert Sims worked to develop one of the industry’s first in-car hands-free calling systems years ago, his goal was to make the call quality clear enough that his wife wouldn’t hang up on him.

Today, Buick’s IntelliLink system can do far more than place a call, and QuietTuning technologies like those in the LaCrosse luxury sedan make using voice controls easier for owners regardless of marital or relationship status.

QuietTuning is Buick’s comprehensive engineering process to reduce, block and absorb interior noise. For LaCrosse, that means features like laminated window glass, triple door seals and liquid applied sound deadening.

“There’s definitely an advantage when we’re developing voice controls in a quieter cabin,” said Sims. “The system’s ability to hear a command relies on SNR, or signal-to-noise ratio. If noise is extremely low like it is in the LaCrosse, the user’s voice, or signal, can be lower. In other words, a LaCrosse driver can easily speak to the IntelliLink system at a normal, conversational volume.”

As someone who drives an 80-mile commute each day, quietness and minimizing distractions are a personal matter for Sims. That’s helped drive him to make Buick’s IntelliLink voice commands simple, intuitive and designed around the controls drivers need most.

With IntelliLink – standard on every 2013 Buick – drivers can use voice commands to control navigation and audio functions with the push of a button while keeping eyes on the road. With a smartphone paired, IntelliLink’s voice commands can even tune to a Pandora internet radio station or “like” a song.

How does it work? Using a microphone in the cabin’s headliner – optimally placed by Sims and his team – the system uses a speech engine to match spoken words to known voice commands. When the engine finds a match, that command is executed.

“We’ve also designed the system with speaker adaptation, which means the engine is trained for different accents or dialects,” said Sims. “It can begin to predict speech patterns based on those models. Your LaCrosse remembers your speech patterns even after the car is turned off and on, but it can also identify another user and predict his or her patterns as well.”

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Turbocharged engine sings sweeter without background noise

DETROIT – When the 250-hp Buick Verano Turbo luxury sedan was introduced late last year, engineers knew an aggressive exhaust note was essential for a car capable of 0-60 mph acceleration in an estimated 6.2 seconds.

Yet that had to be balanced with delivering a quiet, comfortable driving experience – a core objective in the development of every new Buick model.

“Verano customers who opt for the Turbo are choosing it for the power, and we wanted to make sure they get the full experience,” said Carl Sperling, vehicle performance engineer. “We made sure to create a sound to complement the feel.”

It may seem like a cabin tuned for quietness is a difficult environment for sound waves to thrive, but Sperling said the Verano actually made his job easier.

“Without wind and road noise being prevalent, we could tune the Verano’s exhaust to have a sporty note without it being too loud,” Sperling said. “A loud, droning exhaust can be fatiguing over a long highway drive.”

Inspired by the Regal GS luxury sport sedan, the Verano engineering team tested numerous exhaust systems, sorting among those they felt were too loud or too quiet until they settled on a sound befitting the Verano Turbo’s character.

Buick’s exclusive QuietTuning, employed on all Verano models, is designed to block or absorb sound and dampen or eliminate vibrations. It is included in every facet of the Verano‘s architecture to make it the quietest compact sedan on the road and quieter than many midsize and full-size cars.

Verano‘s quiet cabin is supported with numerous features including acoustic laminated glass, triple door seals and refined chassis dynamics. Even its 18-inch standard wheels are specially manufactured to minimize road noise.

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Brand’s new crossover finds first owners as Enclave sales grow 57 percent

DETROIT – Buick’s January retail sales were the highest in nine years and were up 30 percent year over year. Total sales, including those sold to executive fleets and other commercial customers, were up 32 percent, ending the month at a level unmatched since 2006.

January also saw the first deliveries of Buick’s new luxury small crossover, the Encore. Kelleigh Sheehy, a bank underwriter from Marietta, Ga., was among the first owners to drive one home. After building her ideal Encore on Buick.com, she went to Carl Black Buick in Kennesaw, Ga., and learned that an exact match would be the first vehicle delivered.

“It was meant to be,” Sheehy said. “But that only came after a lot of research and test drives. Every other vehicle had some compromise, but the Encore had everything on my wish list. I traded in a Volkswagen Jetta and the luxury, quietness and amenities of the Encore are beyond comparison.”

It’s been Encore‘s quietness that’s made the biggest impression on Sheehy. “The one thing I tell my friends about most is how quiet my car is. It’s uncanny.”

Autotrader.com recently named Encore to its list of “Top 10 Must Test Drive Vehicles for 2013,” calling it a “nimble crossover SUV with an exceptionally quiet ride, a high-tech interior and estimated highway fuel economy of 33 mpg.” Encore is also on the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s list of “Greener Choices 2013.”

The brand’s second crossover and fifth model in the lineup arrives as Buick crossover sales are surging. Enclave sales had their best January ever, in terms of both retail and total sales. Year-over-year growth for the month was 57 percent retail and 57 percent total.

The new 2013 Enclave luxury crossover, which went on sale in November with updated styling, new technology, and industry-exclusive safety features, is in high demand. According to JD Power PIN data, the typical Enclave is spending about 20 days on a dealer’s lot, less than half of the industry average “days to turn” for midsize crossovers.

“With two luxurious crossovers and three beautiful sedans, Buick’s model lineup has never been stronger,” said Brian Sweeney, vice president of Buick Sales and Service. “January sales show that customers are responding to the brand’s new models.”

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Shipments begin for new luxury small crossover

DETROIT – The Buick Encore passed a milestone today as shipments began to dealers. Within the next few weeks, test drives will be available at Buick dealers around the country allowing prospective customers to experience the first luxury small crossover from Buick.

“Encore delivers Buick’s signature quiet and well-crafted luxury in a new and unexpected package,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick Marketing. “Having vehicles on trucks and heading to dealers means we’re one step closer to letting customers experience that for themselves.”

The 2013 Encore is unlike any vehicle in the brand’s 110-year history, offering a unique combination of size, efficiency and value.

Autotrader.com recently named Encore to its list of “Top 10 Must Test Drive Vehicles for 2013,” calling it a “nimble crossover SUV with an exceptionally quiet ride, a high-tech interior and estimated highway fuel economy of 33 mpg.”

Encore has a suggested retail price of $24,950 and its EPA estimated fuel economy of 25 city/33 highway earned the vehicle a place on the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy list of “Greener Choices 2013.”

Standard features include IntelliLink connectivity with intuitive voice commands, 10 air bags, and a rear vision camera. Encore offers innovative active safety systems including Forward Collision Alert, which uses a camera-based system to alert the driver of a possible collision, and Lane Departure Warning, which alerts the driver when a lane marker is crossed without the use of a turn signal.

Discuss the Buick Encore at BuickOwners.com

New automatic transmission for Regal GS and eAssist to be standard on 2013 Regal

DETROIT – Coming off strong sales year in which it outsold the Audi A4, Lexus IS250, and Acura TSX, Buick’s midsize luxury sport sedan continues to evolve. The performance-oriented Regal GS has a new automatic transmission available in dealerships now. Additionally, with the introduction of the 2013 model later this year, eAssist fuel efficiency technology becomes standard.

U.S. News and World Report has named the Regal the “Best Upscale Midsize Car for Families.” Last month, it was named “Best Car for the Money” in the same category. The “Upscale Midsize Car” category includes 19 different vehicles.

Self-shifting Regal GS

The 270 horses of the Regal GS’ turbocharged 2.0L Ecotec – one of WardsAuto World’s 2012 “10 Best Engines” for North America – can now be controlled through a second transmission. A six-speed automatic with Driver Shift Control is now offered as a no-cost option instead of the existing six-speed manual.

“With the Regal GS, we made a conscious decision to go against the current trend and give enthusiasts the manual transmission they desire as standard equipment” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “Adding an automatic simply makes the performance of the GS even more accessible.”

The new Aisin AF40 automatic is calibrated specifically for Buick’s most athletic sedan. With the car’s Interactive Drive Control System set to “GS” mode, the transmission delivers firmer shifts, aiding performance. Acceleration matches the manual with an estimated 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds.

EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg city and 27 on the highway, standard performance components like Buick’s innovative HiPer Strut front suspension and Brembo front brake calipers, and optional features are identical regardless of the transmission.

Hagerty insurance recently named the Buick Regal GS to its “2012 Hot List” of vehicles its valuation experts expect to be future collectibles.

Standard 36 Highway MPG with Regal eAssist

Starting with the arrival of 2013 models, eAssist will be standard on the Regal with the discontinuation of the 2.4L base model. Both the Regal Turbo and Regal GS models will remain available.

The eAssist uses a compact lithium-ion battery pack and a small electric motor to aid the performance of a fuel-efficient 2.4-liter gas engine. The system provides an electrical boost to aid the engine at low speeds and on inclines where fuel efficiency can suffer most. The Regal with eAssist achieves an EPA-estimated 36 highway mpg, equal to a Mini Cooper and higher than some full hybrids like the Infiniti M35h, which is rated at 32 mpg.

“Buick is committed to increasing innovation across the lineup,” said DiSalle “By making the advanced eAssist powertrain standard on a second vehicle, we are putting the spotlight on smart technology.”

For the 2012 model year, eAssist became standard for the larger LaCrosse luxury sedan. Offered at the same price as the V6, eAssist is already outselling its hybrid competitors and is projected to grow in popularity this year.

According to Hybridcars.com, the Buick LaCrosse with eAssist outsold the Lincoln MKZ by a 3-to-1 margin and the Lexus HS250h by a 5-to-1 margin in January 2012.

Pricing and an on-sale date for the 2013 Regal with eAssist will be announced later this year.

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