Buick News Archives - Page 9 of 27

Posted on June 2, 2015June 2, 2015 by Sal Collaziano — Leave a comment

Buick’s U.S. Crossover Sales Rise 22 Percent in May

Encore small SUV has best May ever; brand sales post best May since 2005

DETROIT – 06.02.2015 – Buick U.S. sales increased in May compared to a year ago on the strength of the brand’s crossover models. Buick Enclave deliveries were up 23 percent and the Encore was up 21 percent, for its 17^th consecutive year-over-year sales increase.

Buick has sold more Encores this year than any other model, accounting for 30 percent of the brand’s retail sales.

“Buick was among the first to capitalize on the rapidly growing small SUV segment with the Encore, which appeals to buyers seeking luxurious features in a smaller and more efficient package,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president, Buick. “The Buick Encore has performed extremely well in its segment and we expect it will continue to do so.”

In its debut year, Encore scored at the top of its segment in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study – practically unheard of for a new model. In a recent owner survey, 96 percent said they were either satisfied or completely satisfied with their vehicle and 95 percent said they would recommend a Buick based on their experience with the Encore.

Autotrader.com recently named Encore one of its 10 Best Cars for Recent College Grads, citing its sleek exterior styling, premium interior, maneuverability, quality and fuel efficiency.

Earlier this year, Buick was the first U.S. automaker in the Top 10 in a popular consumer magazine’s annual ranking of automotive brands. At No. 7, Buick moved ahead of traditionally high-rated automakers such as Honda and BMW. Eighty-three percent of Buick models made it onto the magazine’s recommended list – the most for any brand.

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Sal Collaziano — Leave a comment

2016 Buick Enclave Adds OnStar 4G LTE Connectivity

DETROIT – 05.18.2015 – Let the streaming commence! Passengers in the 2016 Buick Enclave can download on the go with OnStar 4G LTE connectivity. It includes a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, which can be used simultaneously by up to seven devices.

The Enclave’s connectivity upgrade brings 4G LTE and the Wi-Fi hotspot to the entire 2016 Buick model range, from Encore and Verano to Regal and LaCrosse – and the all-new Cascada convertible. The Wi-Fi hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and it comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial.

“Customers’ daily lives are so entwined with personal devices, so the addition of OnStar 4G LTE and its integral Wi-Fi hotspot is a feature they will rely on,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick. “It allows busy people to stay connected throughout the day and provides another outlet for passenger entertainment on long trips.”

4G LTE is the most current and fastest mobile data network – 10 times faster than 3G and 100 times faster than the previous generation of OnStar hardware. And with OnStar, it also offers stronger, broader coverage than smartphones on the same network.

Buick’s IntelliLink color touch radio is standard on all Enclave models and enhances the driving experience with a higher level of wireless connectivity and customized options – all while building on the safety and security of OnStar.

Six months of OnStar Directions and Connections service is standard. OnStar’s RemoteLink Mobile App allows smartphone users to control vehicle functions, access vehicle information and send directions directly to the vehicle. An opt-in service called FamilyLink allows subscribers to stay connected to loved ones by checking the location of their vehicle online or by signing up for vehicle location alerts.

Five Years of OnStar Basic Plan includes RemoteLink Key Fob Services, allowing owners to remotely start and lock/unlock a car (if properly equipped), and activate the horn and lights from anywhere with a data connection. It also includes OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics which runs monthly checks of a vehicle’s engine, transmission, antilock brakes and more. Dealer Maintenance Notification, which sends diagnostic report directly to a preferred dealer, makes service scheduling simple.

Posted on April 22, 2015June 2, 2016 by Sal Collaziano — Leave a comment

Reflections on the Buick Verano and its Shiny Paint Job

Verano paint process improves gloss and durability while reducing environmental impact

DETROIT – 04.22.2015 – Residential and commercial paint manufacturers think about the environmental impact of their product on more than just Earth Day. Seventy percent of the energy used in vehicle assembly is in the paint process. It takes as much energy – 2.5 megawatt hours – to paint a car as it would to cover the electricity bill of a typical U.S. home for nine weeks. Now let’s discuss the Buick Verano.

Starting in 2011, Orion Assembly, home of the Buick Verano, pioneered the use of a water-based “three-wet” paint process in the United States in a new paint shop. This process eliminated the need for a primer bake oven, normally used between the primer and color-coating layers. The result: three layers of paint applied — primer, color and clear coat one after another while still wet — before the vehicle takes a single trip through the oven. This plant now only uses about 1 megawatt hour of energy to paint each vehicle.