Category: Buick News

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2012 Buick Regal eAssist and GS Pricing Announced

Arrival of fuel-efficient eAssist and performance-oriented GS broaden Regal’s reach

DETROIT – Buick’s Regal offerings will double this fall, with the arrival of the new technologically advanced 2012 Regal with eAssist and the performance-oriented 2012 Regal GS, which are expected to broaden the appeal of the hot-selling midsize luxury sport sedan.

Regal with eAssist will start at $29,530, and Regal GS will start at $35,310; both prices include $860 in destination charges. The eAssist system is a $2,000 option on the Regal base model, mated to a 2.4L Ecotec engine. Buick will continue to offer the base model without eAssist as well as the 2.0L turbo.

“Regal with eAssist and Regal GS offer distinct advantages to midsize luxury sport sedan customers,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “The eAssist’s advanced technology delivers the most fuel-efficient option, while the high-output GS is the sportiest expression of Regal to date.”

Regal with eAssist uses a variety of advanced technologies and body enhancements to deliver an EPA-rated 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, the latter being unsurpassed by the higher-priced Lexus HS Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.  With gas prices near $4 a gallon, the option on Regal should pay for itself in about 3 ½ years.

The fuel economy boost that Regal with eAssist offers comes from pairing the direct-injected 2.4L four-cylinder Ecotec engine with a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery system and electric motor-generator that enables regenerative braking capability. This “light electrification” system also is available on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse.

Standard features with the eAssist system include driver-selectable, fuel economy-optimizing mode for the air conditioning system, enabling more frequent and longer-duration engine stop periods; ECO gauge on the instrument panel that continuously responds to driving behavior, enabling the driver to drive with greater efficiency; and powerflow readout in the color infotainment or driver information center that shows the flow of energy through the electric assist system, such as battery charging from regeneration and electric power directed to the engine.

Regal GS has been SAE-certified to deliver 270 horsepower (201kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400Nm). Its exclusive Ecotec 2.0L direct-injected turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers more torque than Acura TSX V-6, Audi A4 Sport, Lexus IS 250 and Volvo S60 T5. Torque is the twisting force that gets a vehicle moving and what the driver feels when accelerating.

The GS’s engine is mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission, and gets an estimated fuel economy of 27 mpg on the highway. A six-speed automatic transmission will be available later in the model year. The GS powertrain is covered by a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

Regal GS also features push-button start; a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom sport steering wheel with audio controls; metal sport pedals; and leather-appointed, heated and 12-way adjustable sport seating. A Harman Kardon premium 336-watt, 5.1 Matrix Surround Sound system with nine speakers is also standard.

Regal GS is also equipped with an Interactive Drive Control System, which adapts damping and other driving functions that allows the driver to choose a standard adaptive setting, a Sport mode, and a GS mode, which is tuned for those who enjoy a higher level of ride and handling performance.

Other standard features on Regal GS include front and rear ultrasonic parking assist, a 120-volt accessory power outlet, Bi-Xenon HID headlamps, and 19-inch alloy wheels; 20-inch polished alloys with summer-only performance tires are available.

Later in the year, Regal GS and Regal with eAssist both will come with standard Buick IntelliLink, which uses Bluetooth or USB to connect the driver’s smartphone to a new 7-inch, high-resolution, full-color touch screen display radio. IntelliLink expands on Buick’s current Bluetooth and USB capabilities to allow smartphone control via voice activation and steering wheel-mounted controls. It also enables streaming stereo audio from the phone through services like PANDORA® Internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio®.

Most important, Buick IntelliLink enables seamless integration of stowed portable devices with each vehicle’s infotainment system, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

“As is the case on all Regal models, the GS and eAssist offer the winning combination of advanced technology, no-compromise driving performance, luxurious style and passenger comfort that make Buick one of the fastest growing automotive brands in North America,” DiSalle said.

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Buick Retail Sales Flourish in April, Up 35 Percent

Demand for fuel-efficient vehicles propel Buick’s 19th straight month of sales gains

DETROIT – Buick achieved its 19th consecutive month of retail sales gains in April, growing 35 percent year over year with total sales up 51 percent. The brand’s sales to individual customers also have increased 45 percent and its total sales are up 43 percent, calendar year to date.

“Luxury car and crossover shoppers as well as our dealers have made Buick the fastest-growing major automotive brand in the United States,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick & GMC Sales and Service. “With more new models coming to our showrooms this year, we expect Buick’s momentum to continue.”

Buick also is the fastest-growing brand among African-Americans, according to a recent Polk report. Buick increased annual registrations among African-American car buyers by more than 72 percent in 2010 – nearly 20 percentage points higher than its nearest competitor.

Interest in Buick is on the rise among consumers in general. At Main Street in Motion, a touring test-drive event that pits Buick against other brands, exit polls revealed that public opinion of Buick improved by 125 percent and purchase consideration improved by 65 percent.

Retail sales of LaCrosse increased 5 percent in April, with total sales up 8 percent. The full-size sedanrecently received a five-star overall safety rating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program. LaCrosse sales are expected to grow even more this summer with the introduction of the 2012 LaCrosse with eAssist™, which is expected to deliver class-leading highway fuel economy of 37 mpg.

With crossovers gaining in popularity, Enclave momentum continued to grow in April with retail sales up 6 percent and total sales up 14 percent, year over year. One reason for the Enclave’s sales success is its fuel economy, 24 mpg highway (2WD), which is better than any eight-passenger crossover.

Enclave, a four-time winner of Consumer Digest’s Best Buy award, has the highest conquest rate of any Buick, with 48 percent coming from non-GM brands. Approximately 40 percent of all Buick buyers come from non-GM brands and 18 percent come from imports.

In April, Buick markets with year-over-year increases included Miami, Houston and Boston.

“It’s pretty amazing,” said Mark Nazaradi, general manager of Williamson Buick Cadillac GMC in the Miami area. “Just about every Buick buyer we see is trading in a Lexus, BMW or other import brand.”

One year after its launch, demand for Regal continued to accelerate in April, with retail sales up 19 percent and total sales up 24 percent month over month.  The boost reflects increased availability of the all-new Regal CXL Turbo, which accounted for 32 percent of the sport sedan’s retail sales in April. The turbo’s 2.0-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine delivers better horsepower and torque than the Acura TSX, and with its manual six-speed transmission, it also delivers better fuel economy with an EPA-rated 32 mpg highway.

The Regal lineup will grow in the second half of the year with the introduction of the high- performance 2012 Regal GS and fuel efficient 2012 Regal eAssist.

 

 

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Buick Sales in China Surpass 3 Million Since 1999

Shanghai – Shanghai GM announced today that sales of Buick products have surpassed 3 million units since the joint venture began offering its original vehicle brand in 1999.

Buick has become one of China’s fastest-growing passenger car brands. With Shanghai GM’s rollout of its new Buick brand strategy in 2008, sales have increased by more than 100,000 units annually.

Shanghai GM has introduced the Buick Intelligent Performance (BIP) system, which merges European-style suspensions and powertrains with American vehicle communication systems. It is enabling Shanghai GM’s Buick portfolio to fully meet the demands of domestic consumers for products that can handle varying road and weather conditions, lower fuel consumption and emissions, and provide improved performance.

This is in line with Shanghai GM’s Drive to Green strategy.  The adoption of technologies such as intelligent direct injection has greatly improved the efficiency of Buick products built and sold in China.

Buick has more than 400 4S stores across China and offers the award-winning Buick Care aftersales service brand. Shanghai GM’s design partnership with GM’s Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) joint venture in Shanghai has resulted in the development of a series of new and upgraded Buick models including the Excelle GT and XT passenger cars and all-new GL8 luxury MPV.

At Auto Shanghai 2011, Shanghai OnStar announced the introduction of a mobile app that will enable Buick owners who subscribe to activate all of the functions on a traditional vehicle key fob – remote start, horn and lights, and door lock/unlock – securely from their smart phones.

Shanghai GM is a joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC). It builds, imports and sells a comprehensive range of Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet products.  In 2010, Shanghai GM became China’s first passenger car maker to sell 1 million vehicles in a single year.  It ended the year with domestic sales of 1,033,307 vehicles.