Tag: buick

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The Press Release for the Buick GS (that should have been)

The high performance version of the Opel Insignia, Car of the Year 2009, will be unveiled on May 7, when the Opel Insignia OPC premieres at the 2009 Barcelona Motor Show, ten years after the launch of the first OPC model (Opel Performance Center).

The heart of the Opel Insignia OPC is its 2.8 V6 Turbo engine. Derived from the powerful gasoline engine already available on the top-of-the-line Insignia, this version reaches an output of 239 kW/325 hp. The increase in power was obtained by a special engine development and by reworking the exhaust, significantly reducing the counter pressure. And because sound is so important in the appreciation of an engine, the acoustic specialists worked on the exhaust of the V6 by adopting specific center and rear mufflers.

The Opel Insignia OPC is available with a six-speed manual gearbox. The strong torque of 400 Nm ensures abundant pulling power even at lower engine speeds. With this engine performance, the Opel Insignia OPC reaches a top speed of 250 km/h (restricted) and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in six seconds.

The already very well performing Insignia chassis was further fine tuned for the OPC variant which ride height has been reduced by 10 mm compared to the Insignia (AWD Sport version). The newly developed mechatronic chassis also receives a new front axle. The front suspension architecture of the Opel Insignia OPC retains a so called McPherson strut, however the engineers at the Opel Performance Center came up with an evolution called HiPerStrut (for high performance strut). Benefits are an improved steering feel, reduced steering disturbances due to the high torque and an enhanced feeling in the handling for the driver.

The Opel Insignia OPC also comes with the adaptive FlexRide suspension which not only adapts to driving situation and driving style but also to the driver’s preferences. While on the Insignia the system offers the choice between a standard adaptive setting, a more comfortable mode and a sport mode, the OPC is definitely addressing those enjoying a sportier ride. OPC drivers can choose between three different sport modes: the standard mode as the high comfort setting, a special Sport mode and the OPC mode, for optimal performance.

For the first time also in the OPC portfolio, the Adaptive 4×4 system and its electronic rear limited slip differential (eLSD) are standard. The four-wheel drive management unit has been recalibrated to adapt torque distribution to the sporty philosophy of the OPC. Taking the higher performances of the OPC into consideration, significant development efforts were put into further improving the brake system. Connoisseurs will immediately spot the Brembo calipers and the perforated 355 mm disc on the front axle.

“I was personally involved in the development of the Opel Insignia OPC and I very much enjoyed extensive testing on the most demanding race track of the world, the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Our target was to rival the “best of the best”,” said Hans Demant, Managing Director Adam Opel GmbH.

Distinctive looks are a clear statement on dynamic ambitions

The top-of-the-line body style dressed in an elegant sports outfit is inspired by the GTC concept car which starred in 2007, but still remains true to the Insignia’s design philosophy of sculptural artistry meets German precision.

Compared to less powerful versions of the Insignia, the OPC shows a spectacular new front end with two large vertical intakes and a specific rear bumper with dual integrated exhausts. The 19-inch wheels (tires: 245/40) are standard and give the car the stance it deserves. New 20-inch lightweight forged wheels (with 255/35 tires) are available as an option.

The dynamic sportiness of the exterior is also mirrored in the cockpit. When opening the door, the OPC is immediately impressive, from unique Recaro seats to a flat-bottomed sporty steering wheel and specific gear knob. The OPC also presents distinctive instrument graphics.

“The Opel Insignia OPC marks the beginning of a new era for our OPC portfolio; still bold, but also more mature and refined, and more ambitious than ever. The OPC epitomizes the Insignia experience: dynamic and refined”, says Alain Visser, GM Europe Vice President Opel.

Vauxhall Insignia VXR:Packing 325 horsepower, a sophisticated four-wheel-drive chassis and a sub-six second 0-60 time, Vauxhall Insignia VXR is set to take the mid-size performance saloon market by storm when it goes on sale early this summer, with a level of dynamic prowess which aims to raise the bar in its class.

Based on the successful 2009 European Car of the Year, and available in hatch, saloon and Sports Tourer body styles, the high-performance Insignia will be Vauxhall’s first VXR model to adopt 4X4 technology, using a bespoke chassis developed through an extensive test programme at the gruelling Nurburgring circuit in Germany.

Highlights are a ‘HiPerStrut’ (High Performance Strut) front suspension system, Adaptive 4X4 with electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD) and a 10 millimetre reduction in ride height over the Insignia SRi.

The HiPerStrut system is unique to the VXR and serves two primary functions: firstly, to reduce torque-steer, but also to maintain negative camber during cornering, thereby improving ultimate grip levels in wet or dry conditions.

Complementing these features are standard 19-inch alloy wheels (20-inch lightweight forged alloys are a cost option) with bespoke tyres, revised bushing and damper settings on both axles, and Brembo brakes with colour-keyed callipers and vented/cross-drilled discs.

‘The Vauxhall Insignia VXR is not just about absolute power, but a combination of usable performance and chassis sophistication which is the match of premium rivals, such as the new Audi S4,’ said Andy Gilson, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director. ‘ In essence, it’s an ultra-fast performance saloon that will appeal to buyers who appreciate subtle yet distinctive styling, but who need to know that there’s real substance below the car’s metal.’

And substance the VXR has a-plenty. At the heart of the Vauxhall Insignia VXR is a advanced 2.8-litre V6 Turbo ECOTEC engine, with its micro-alloy forged steel crank, classic 60-degree cylinder angle and die-cast alloy oil sump – all features found in many a race engine. Producing 325PS (65PS up on the Elite V6), the engine uses a single, twin-scroll turbocharger and variable valve control for quick throttle response, and accelerates from 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds, achieving an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

With a design inspired by the Vauxhall/Opel GTC, many of the Insignia VXR’s styling cues will be familiar to those who saw this groundbreaking concept at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. A deeper bumper, incorporating bold, twin mesh grilles either side of the main grille, dominates the front of the car, and at the rear, hatch and saloon models gain a rear spoiler, while all VXRs have a bespoke bumper moulding incorporating dual matt chrome exhausts.

This sporting theme continues in the Vauxhall Insignia VXR’s cabin. Recaro front seats, a new VXR steering wheel, VXR gearknob and unique mouldings are standard on all cars, along with different instrument graphics, VXR sill plates and a black headlining.

All VXRs are available with a colour palette comprising Arden Blue, Power Red, Carbon Flash Black, Silver Lake, Olympic White and Technical Grey.

Sitting at the top of the Insignia range, the new model will be an important addition to Vauxhall’s performance-bred VXR family, which already includes the Corsa VXR, Astra VXR and 431 horsepower VXR8.

Since its launch in 2004, the VXR brand has been underpinned by the immensely successful VX Racing team, which currently holds all three British Touring Car Championship titles – Drivers’, Manufacturers’ and Team – for the 2008 season.

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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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One Year Later, Buick Regal Still Turning Heads

Blend of contemporary styling and high quality attracting import owners

DETROIT – Jaclyn Yuppa of Atlanta considers herself an early adopter. The 31-year-old Duke MBA and Fortune 50 marketing professional favors handbags by new, lesser-known designers, likes to try the latest niche cuisine before it goes mainstream, and prefers driving a car that isn’t commonplace. That’s why she recently traded her Mercedes for a new 2011 Buick Regal luxury sport sedan.

“The Regal turns heads,” Yuppa said of her experiences driving around Atlanta’s uptown Buckhead district. “Complete strangers have told me what a great-looking car it is. They’re usually pleasantly surprised to find out that it’s a Buick.”

Yuppa is like many new-to-Buick owners in that she cross-shopped luxury imports, but was won over by the Regal’s luxury amenities, contemporary styling, fuel efficiency, overall high quality and value. In many cases, Regal, which launched from Germany one year ago this month and is now produced in Canada, is the first domestic vehicle these buyers have considered, much less owned. By early 2011, one in three Regal buyers was trading in an import vehicle, according to Power Information Network (PIN) data.

“The addition of nicely styled, more efficient, fun-to-drive products like the Regal opens Buick up to consideration by a completely different set of buyers,” said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific, a marketing research and consultancy firm. “They will tend to be younger, and young-at-heart, more adventuresome and more enthusiastic about the cars they drive. The fact that the Regal is attracting these people to the brand shows Buick is on the right track.”

Consumer interest in Buick, the fastest-growing mainstream automotive brand in the United States, is on the rise. 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.

Another recent convert to Buick is Joshua Hutchison, a 23-year-old Kentucky Wesleyan College graduate and software engineer who chose Regal over cars made by VW, Toyota and Nissan.

“When I was looking at cars with my friends they tried to steer me toward foreign automakers, but the Regal is the absolute perfect car for me. I love it,” said Hutchison, who drives 70 miles a day commuting between Kentucky and Indiana. “I spend a lot of time in my car, so comfort is key. The Regal rides as smooth at low speeds as it does at high speeds, and handles like a sports car without having a sports car’s rough-riding suspension.”

Regal’s chassis and structural systems deliver a dynamic driving experience on par with the best import sport sedans in the segment. This solid structure and Regal’s relatively long wheelbase support more precise suspension tuning without losing the quiet, refined ride and road manners expected of a Buick. In addition, Regal’s firm, highly bolstered seats were benchmarked against the top import competitors for comfort and support.

On the Regal Turbo, the available Interactive Drive Control System changes the driving dynamics by altering suspension, shift pattern and steering sensitivity through the variable effort steering system. Tour mode offers a comfortable, relaxed driving experience for long journeys. Sport mode enhances road-holding capability. And the standard, or default, mode is optimized for all driving situations.

When equipped with a six-speed manual, Regal Turbo gets an EPA-rated 32 mpg on the highway, which is better than the Acura TSX and Volkswagen CC Sport. On the open road, Regal Turbo’s 2.0-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine delivers 220 hp and 258 lbs-ft of torque – also better than its rivals.

With its sweeping silhouette, coupe-like profile and sculpted body lines, Regal exemplifies Buick’s contemporary design aesthetic also embodied in the 2011 Enclave crossover, LaCrosse full-size sedanand the upcoming 2012 Buick Verano compact luxury sedan. Regal’s fenders, for example, are flared to wrap around the tires.

“Regal has a very athletic stance, which is the opposite of what people expect from Buick,” said David Lyon, executive director, global design. “The mix of aerodynamic sheet metal and contemporary sculptural elements make Regal look dynamic even when it’s parked. The look gives Regal a signature like nothing else on the road – an individuality that car buyers are attracted to. People can expect to see more of that from Buick going forward.”