Happy Birthday, Buick!

Timbrook Buick GMC would like to say Happy Birthday to Buick! Buick has been around for 110 years, and a lot had changed since they released their first vehicle, the 1904 Model B.

With such a long and rich history in the automotive world, Buick has plenty of landmarks to show for it. And since we’re honoring their birthday, we thought that there could be no better way of doing so than to look back at some highlight of what Buick has done throughout its time.

  • 1904 – Buick’s first production vehicle, the Model B.
  • 1907 – Buick’s first 4-cylinder makes its debut in the Model D.
  • 1908 – Buick is the number one producer of vehicles with 8,820 units.
  • 1923 – Buick builds its one-millionth vehicle.
  • 1925 – Buick introduces the 6-cylinder Standard Six economy line.
  • 1931 – Buick produces its first 8-cylinder.
  • 1936 – The 1936 Buick Century is the first production Buick to top 100 mph.
  • 1938 – Buick creates the world’s first concept car with the Y-Job concept.
  • 1942 – Due to the war, Buick builds over 2,500 M18 Hellcat tank destroyers.
  • 1961 – Buick introduces its very first performance line with the Invicta.
  • 1970 – Buick releases the high-performance package for the Gran Sport, the GSX.
  • 1978 – Buick introduced the turbo-charged 3.8L V-6 with the Turbo Regal Sport Coupe.
  • 1981 – The Buick V6 Regal sets the pace at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  • 2002 – Buick introduces its first truck-based vehicle since 1923 with the Buick Rendezvous.
  • 2012 – The Buick Regal GS is the fastest production vehicle in Buicks history, recording a top speed of 162 mph.

Celebrate EcoDriving Month With These Tips

EcoDriving Month is coming up, and in honor of that we’d like to go over some ways to help you save some money at the pump!

There are many things that you can do, no matter what you drive, to help increase your miles per gallon. One of the easiest is to be mindful of your acceleration. Punching the pedal to the floor is a sure-fire way to lower your MPG. Instead of slamming on the gas, steadily work your way up to speed. Once you’re up to speed work on maintaining speed. Beyond that, you can also save gas by slowing down for stops earlier. Instead of keeping up to speed right before the stop sign and mashing the brake pedal gradually slow down for the stop. Not only does this help save gas, but it also help extend the life of your brakes.

Using these tips from Timbrook Buick GMC, you can easily find yourself getting more bang for your buck when it comes to filling up.

 

Buick Riviera Previews the Future

Buick decided to give a sneak peek into the where the brand is heading with the Buick Riviera concept. The Riviera gives hints as to where the styling of future vehicles is headed, and from what we see us at Timbrook Buick GMC think they are headed in the right direction.

Buick Rivirea“The new Riviera offers a preview of Buick’s future design language,” said Shanghai GM President Ye Yongming. “By seamlessly integrating advanced technologies, flexible functions and contemporary aesthetics, the new Riviera heralds the start of a new chapter for the 110-year-old Buick brand.”

Styling isn’t the only thing that the new Riviera has going for it; Buick is also this concept to showcase some of the technology they are working on. One of these is their dual mode W-PHEV (wireless plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) propulsion system. This systems offers sports are like handling and performance while operating in electric mode.

GMC Rocks March Sales

Timbrook Buick GMC is excited to announce that GMC has had its best March sales since 2008. Total sales were up 12 percent while retail sales increased by 4 percent. Compared to 2012, GMC retail sales are up 15 percent and total sales are up 14 percent, year-to-date.

Specifically, the 2013 Acadia crossover SUV saw retail sales increase by 44 percent and total sales increase by 77 percent. Nope, you don’t need glasses—you read correctly! That’s 77 percent over last year. In fact, it was the Acadia’s best March to date.

Our beloved Sierra full-size pickup truck also had a fantastic March—its best since 2008. Sales are up half a percent over last year, and retail sales shot up 18 percent.

Such a successful sales month is a huge deal for all of us in the American automotive industry, as we are still fighting our way back to the top after the American auto crisis a few years back. But American buyers are proving why we’re still in business—people love our vehicles because they’re great for hard work and fun play.

Want to see for yourself? Then stop by Timbrook Buick GMC today and take the all-new Sierra 1500 out for a spin! Trucks not your style? Then hop into the Acadia and see what a real SUV is made of. We hope to see you soon!

2013 GMC Acadia

Introducing the Technologically Advanced 2014 Buick Regal

The 2014 Buick Regal is many things, but one of those is not lacking in technology. The new Regal has a plethora of technology to not only keep the driver and passengers safe, but also provide extra-ordinary creature comfort.

Buick revealed the 2014 Regal at the 2013 New York Auto Show, and when they did one of their focuses was the technology within the vehicle. The new Regal features technology such as radar and camera-based safety warnings which include rear cross traffic alerts, lane change alerts, side blind zone alerts, lane departure warnings, and forward collision alerts. Also found in the 2014 Regal is the next-generation IntelliLink system which features simpler, more intuitive controls and natural speech recognition.

“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.”

Timbrook Buick GMC expects the 2014 Buick Regal to arrive in our showrooms this coming fall; so keep an eye out for it as the year goes on.

2014 Buick Regal

Need Help with Your IntelliLink, GMC has a Person for that

Do you find yourself asking questions regarding your IntelliLink system like, ‘How do I…?’ ‘What is this?’ ‘Why did it..?’  It’s no wonder with all the new technology offered in vehicles now, it can probably get overwhelming trying to get it to work properly, or to figure out all of the functions and nifty short cuts.  Well, for GMC owners, there is a person for that.  GMC has created the first ever team of tech-savvy Connected Customer Specialists to help GMC owners, like you, figure out how to use the IntelliLink system to its full potential.

They first started the program last November with 25 specialists, and due to great success, they will be adding another batch of 25 new hires in the coming months.  These specialists help GMC customers customize their IntelliLink system to fit their daily lives, for instance you can put your must used apps on the home screen for easier access.   They can also explain to you any of the new features or details that you don’t quite understand.

Adam Luebbers, a Connected Customer Specialist in Michigan commented on how he helps customers, “If they love Pandora we’ll show them how to move that on-screen icon to a prominent location.  I also like to point out fun short-cuts.  Most users don’t know that instead of browsing into the phone menu, an owner can just say ‘Connect’ with voice command and IntelliLink will start pairing a Bluetooth phone. They’re always amazed by how quick and easy the system is to use.”

With new features being introduced all the time, having a tech savvy specialist on hand is an ingenious customer service program!  Check with our staff, at Timbrook Buick GMC, to find a Connected Customer Specialist near you.

IntelliLink

Sometimes Dreams Do Come True with 4G LTE Connectivity in GM Models

Some things are just too good to be true, but GM and AT&T teaming up to bring you 4G LTE technology right to your car isn’t; it’s actually a real dream come true for some of you!  Beginning with the 2015 model year, most Buick and GMC cars and trucks will be equipped with this high-speed connectivity.

The new 4G LTE technology will be able to transfer data up to 10 times faster than current 3G technology.  This will allow new in-car entertainment options such as video streaming for your kids in the back seat and faster download speeds for new apps.  It will also enhance real-time information, bringing you even more up-to-date navigation, traffic reports and weather updates.

A major component to this new technology is the focus on safety that Mary Chan, Global Connected Consumer, General Motors, talks about in an interview, “As we implement 4G LTE connectivity into our vehicles the most important piece we will consider is delivering this technology to our customers in a safe manner, staying focused on reducing any related distractions.”  This also includes new OnStar services with the high-speed connectivity.

Technology in our cars is always evolving, they can warn us of impending collisions, help us park and read our text messages and emails.  What will be next with this 4G LTE connectivity…the possibilities are limitless.  Our staff, at Timbrook Buick GMC, is excited to see this new technology in action!

Buick Continues Strong Start to 2013

Buick once again had a strong month. In February Buick saw a 15% increase in total sales, which includes sales to individual customers as well as commercial and fleet sales, when compared to February of 2012. Not only that, but this has been Buick’s strongest February since 2004.

The Enclave, a luxury crossover SUV, has been going strong; this makes it the fifth straight month that the Enclave has seen an increase in total sales versus last year’s sales numbers. The Enclave isn’t the only vehicle to post good sales numbers for February though; two other star performers this month were the Verano and Encore.

The Verano was recently named one of the top Cars for the Money by U.S. News and World Report, so it is no surprise that the Verano is doing so well! The Encore, which is all-new, hit the ground running. Since shipping to dealerships in mid-January there have been more than 1,834 sold.

“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.”

Timbrook Buick GMC would like to thank all of its customers for helping to make Buick a strong brand. And if you’re not a Buick customer yet and want to see what all the hoopla is about, come on in and we’d be glad to set you up with a test drive you’re sure to remember.

2013 Buick Enclave

GMC Trucks Named Most Dependable Full Size Pickups

Are you looking for a tough truck that will go the distance for you?  Well GMC has the perfect trucks and large SUV’s that will get the job done!  J.D. Power and Associates named the 2010 Yukon, the 2010 Sierra HD and the 2010 Sierra LD the most dependable vehicles in their 2013 Vehicle Dependability Study.  This study measures the percent number of problems experience in three year old models per 100 vehicles (PP100).

“The Sierra HD is the most powerful, most capable pickup GMC has ever built. Our engineers designed this truck to do the job well and to do it every day.” said Tony DiSalle, Vice President of GMC Marketing. “We expect all of our vehicles to perform at the highest level every time a customer gets behind the wheel.”

That means you can count on the new and used models to start up early in the mornings, haul heavy loads back and forth and let you enjoy the small conveniences such as music and nice cool air condition.  The Yukon was awarded the second place spot in the full size SUV segment while the Sierra HD and LD took first and second respectively in the full size pickup segment.  This year marked the first year that significantly redesigned and new models were more dependable than carryover models.  This is due in large part to the advancement in technology and safety.

Come on down to our dealership, Timbrook Buick GMC, to test drive some of GMC’s most dependable models!

The Roar of the Buick Verano Turbo

I think we can all agree that the sweet song of a turbocharged engine is one of the best sounds we can hear while driving down the road. Well, In the Buick Verano Turbo, that is no different. However, there is one big difference between the roar of the Buick Verano Turbo and most other sports tuned cars, and that is that in the Verano, background noise is not there to try and drone it out.

The Buick Verano Turbo, like all other Verano models, has Buick’s exclusive QuietTuning technology. The QuietTuning technology is designed to block or absorb sound and dampen or eliminate vibrations. This technology makes the Verano have the quietest cabin of all other compact sedans.

2013 Buick Verano TurboSince there is less for the Verano Turbo’s exhaust to compete with, it could be finer tuned to not only give you that sporty turbo-based song you love to hear, but also be right there at that perfect spot. Not too loud, not too quiet; but just right. Carl Sperling, the vehicle performance engineer said “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 continued “A loud, droning exhaust can be fatiguing over a long highway drive.”

If you haven’t had a chance to take the Buick Verano Turbo for a ride, come on in to Timbrook Buick GMC and take this great car for a test drive; don’t forget to listen to the symphony the Verano Turbo will play for you!