Buick Is Coming with the Verano Compact Sedan

Shopping for a Buick, but still think it's a car for your parents? Think again.

GM plans on building a compact sedan for the revered Buick brand. We here at Bradshaw are very excited about the news for the new Buick. While were at it, we also want to make you aware of our sales and service departments.

It will be built at the factory in Orion, Mich., where the Chevrolet Aveo subcompact is also made. More details will be available this week. The addition of the Verano to the factory in Michigan means that GM will build two types of vehicles there, which has been closed for the past two years.

Buick marketing new Regal with new 'Moment of Truth' website and... partying?

In its ongoing quest to reinvent the Buick brand as something other than the official car of the AARP, General Motors has launched a new social media marketing campaign complete with swanky parties in cities like Miami, Chicago and Philadelphia. There will be no shuffle board. The move is part of The General's new "Buick's Moment of Truth" campaign, where party attendees are given flip cameras to record their impressions – positive or negative – of the brand's products. The videos will then be posted to a site for all to see.

According to Brand Week, the Regal Remix parties are designed to help people become aware of exactly what the Buick brand means in post bankruptcy trim, and the shindigs dovetail with an aggressive internet marketing campaign targeted to 35-40 year-olds. That's a smart move, considering that most consumers hold opinions on the brand that range from apathetic to downright negative.

Automotive News says that while West Coast buyers have little idea of what Buick means as a brand, mid-westerners remember the malaise days of Tri-Shield engineering better than most. Buick's new campaign should kick off later this month with the launch of the Moment of Truth site.

Contact Bradshaw Buick to see the all new 2011 Buick Regal.  www.BradshawGreer.com or 864-879-7111.  We carry the full line up of GM vehicles...Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac.  Come see why we are the Superstore in the Upstate. 

Source: Brand Week, Automotive News

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Preview: 2011 Buick Regal

I found this great preview article on the new 2011 Buick Regal by Scott Deveau. Get information on the new Regal at Bradshaw Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac 14000 E Wade Hampton Blvd Greer, SC 29651.  Shop 24/7 at http://www.bradshawgreer.com/.  Stop by today to see all of the new Buicks.

Frankfurt, Germany • The Nürburgring Nordschleife race track is widely held to be the most dangerous and difficult in the world. Not only has it been the cause of countless deaths, but its 73 turns over 21 kilometres are some of the most difficult to drive.

At first blush, it would seem the infamous track should be the last place to test a new Buick, screaming around curves at 100 kilometres an hour like a roller coaster but with no promise of remaining hinged. Yet the Nürburgring turned out to be an excellent test of Buick’s new 2011 Regal sport sedan. Not only did the base CXL model prove adept at handling the pounding delivered by the Nürburgring, but the 2.0-litre turbocharged version actually appeared built for just such a test.

There’s a very strong reason why. The Regal, which is sold as the Opel Insignia in Europe, underwent hundreds of thousands of hours of testing during its development at General Motors’ facilities at the Nürburgring.

GM makes it no secret the track was the “birthplace” of the Regal, and it will likely figure heavily in the car’s marketing. The result so far is a sleek, sexy sedan that can handle the switchbacks of the German countryside as smoothly as being opened up to 220 km/h on the autobahns.

The Regal is Buick’s most aggressive foray into redefining the embattled brand, carrying on where the LaCrosse and Enclave models made inroads.

For decades, Buick had aligned itself with the Greatest Generation — Second World War veterans and the like — creating vehicles GM would have described as “big, safe, quiet and comfortable.” But the limitations of that market have become abundantly clear, with the buying power of the subsequent Baby Boomer generation shifting to more youthful brands.

The Regal is not your grandfather’s Buick. The car was designed by a team of engineers and designers based at GM’s Opel facility in Germany, but incorporated the talents of the company’s counterparts in China and the United States to create the Buick’s truly global platform.

While the Regal is already sold in China and carries the Insignia name in Europe, the model destined for North America has more than 230 different parts, many due to regulatory demands (such as different headlights), but also aesthetics, including the car’s trademark waterfall grille. Interior designers from China put their stamp on the interior — the Regal’s cabin has a sexy, slick look that borrows from premium brands, including ice-blue lighting for the instruments, a thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped steering wheel and raised stitching in its leather seats.

But the most noticeable departure of the Regal’s previous incarnations comes in the sculpted and contoured exterior that draws heavily from tight European designs. Buick is attempting to position the Regal as a sport sedan and is taking aim at the likes of Acura’s TSX and the Volvo S60.

The Regal CXL (base price of $32,990) comes standard with a 182-horsepower 2.4L four-cylinder, the same engine as in the LaCrosse, as well as a six-speed automatic transmission and 18-inch wheels. Later this year, a sportier version with a 220-hp 2.0L direct-injected turbocharged four will be available, carrying a base price of $35,990.

The Regal is just a starting point for Buick as it looks to expand into other segments. The brand estimates its vehicles cover about 14% of the North American market. By 2012, it plans to have another, smaller crossover in its portfolio as well as another compact car, based on the Excelle it sells in China. This will expand its product portfolio to the point where it covers 42% of the North American market. By 2016, Buick wants to have enough models on the road that 60% of the market’s segments are covered. It’s through the continued introduction of products that GM hopes that it will finally be able to appeal to a younger demographic, as well.

The question remains whether Buick will be able to successfully reposition itself in the North American market, where it still carries a connotation for being the brand of choice among an older demographic. While acknowledging it might take a decade or more to entirely reposition the brand, GM believes that as more products are introduced into its lineup — such as the Regal  — the company will be able to reinvent itself for a younger clientele.

Only time will tell, but the Regal is certainly a step in the right direction.

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BradshawGreerTV — April 28, 2010 — 0% Financing on Chevy and GMC Trucks at Bradshaw Chevy Buick GMC Cadillac in Greer SC. Visit us 24/7 at www.BradshawGreer.com. You can also see the best selection of used vehicles in the upstate. All of our inventory is also posted on www.autotrader.com, and www.cars.com. You can also see our Blogger page.

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Test Drive: Buick LaCrosse

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From Mark Eckos Complex.com

By now you’ve seen the commercials where Buick calls out Lexus and claiming that their new LaCrosse is as good, or better, than the ES series. And not only is it better, that it’s cheaper, too. Sounds too good to be true, don’t it? We thought so too until we hopped behind the wheel of Buick’s new mid-sized luxury sedan. The car that was designed partly by GM’s Chinese arm—Buick’s are HUGE in China. It packs in a hell of a lot of luxury in a package that doesn’t look as if it was made for your grandmother. Read on to see if Buick latest offering is as good as they claim. Spoiler alert: it is!

RIDE: The goal for the LaCrosse, as you can see by the commercials, was to go head to head with Lexus’ ES. But in order to do battle against their mid-sized, front wheel drive offering, they had to make sure the LaCrosse was just as comfortable to drive. And they’ve succeeded. The CXS we drove with the 3.6 L, 280 hp V6, was a smooth as any Lex we’ve driven. There’s a real sense of calm when you drive it. The six-speed automatic transmissions shifts smoothly, the road noise is kept to a minimum and the steering is nicely weighted to provide you with just the right amount of info. Not enough for you to confuse it for a sports sedan, but enough so you don’t fall asleep behind the wheel.

EXTERIOR: The LaCrosse is the best design to come out of Buick in decades. Most people resign Buicks as cars for the elderly, but the LaCrosse, though it sounds old, actually envokes a youthful spirit. It’s curvy, but sharp. We could go without all the chrome slathered on the rear and grill, but what can you do? It looks substantial and expensive, without coming off as stuffy and pretentious. The latter is probably due to the fact that it’s a Buick, but it is what it is.

INTERIOR: Back in GM’s heyday, when they had a number of overlapping brands, Buick served as the nameplate that delivered the same a features as the higher priced Cadillac’s but in a more reasonably priced package. The LaCrosse carries on that tradition with its interior. It doesn’t have all the trick electronics that Caddy’s have, like the navigation screen that rises out of the dash. But we’d be damned if the interior wasn’t the one of the best in GMs entire line up. That may have something to do with the fact that it was designed in China where Buick is considered better than Mercedes-Benz. Everything is comfortably set up. From the nice blue that shines through the gauges and the dash, to the nice wood trim swirling throughout, it all just works. However, there are some pieces that were overlooked. In our test car, the indicator stalk was very loose and rattled at times while driving. But one thing we did like is the rear legroom. Because the car is used to chauffeur rich business and government types, the rear legroom was made to accommodate accordingly.

TECH: Besides GM’s OnStar service, our LaCrosse CXS came with a CD/DVD player that had an 3.5″ aux connection for your MP3 player, a 40 gig hard drive and a rearview camera. All of which worked well.

SUMMARY: The LaCrosse is a great step in Buicks goal to once again become the affordable luxury car maker. For about $1200 less than a comparable Lexus, you get most of the same tech and features as well as a car that can ride just as comfortably. It ain’t the end of the road—there are still a couple things the Lex does better: fit and finish, audio quality. But Buick managed to create a package that would do well against other luxury marquees in any country. If you’re looking for a comfortable cruiser, it’s worth the look.

Motor Trend Declares 'Buick is Back!'

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Buick graces the cover of the premier automotive magazine for the first time in 28 years
General Motors

DETROIT, March 8 -- /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in 28 years, Buick dominates the cover of Motor Trend magazine, along with a headline declaring "Buick is Back!" The April issue of the premier automotive publication features photos of the Buick LaCrosse, Regal Turbo and Regal GS Concept and touts the growing momentum behind Buick.

The April 2010 edition of the magazine includes two Buick features; a drive review of the new 2011 Regal called "International Rescue" and "Trading Places," a comparison of the 2010 LaCrosse and the 2010 Lexus ES350, in which LaCrosse emerges the winner. The Century T-Type was the last Buick to grace cover of Motor Trend in August of 1982. The April issue of Motor Trend is now available on newsstands.

"We are thrilled to be honored with the placement of Buick models on the cover of Motor Trend," said John Schwegman, U.S. marketing vice president, Buick GMC. "The declaration that 'Buick is Back' attests to the transformation of the Buick brand and the buzz building for the LaCrosse and Regal. It shows that we are introducing cars that merit the attention of auto enthusiasts, including the editors of Motor Trend."

In his review of the 2011 Regal, Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Angus Mackenzie says the Regal "is the first Buick in history with internationally chic sheetmetal and sophisticated road manners to match," and that it "is truly likely to appeal to young, affluent, trend-setting import buyers."

Available in dealerships this spring, the Regal is the next chapter in Buick's transformation. The vehicle features a dynamic driving experience with a standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected engine rated at an estimated 182 horsepower (136 kW). Also available later this year is the 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged and direct injected engine rated at an estimated 220 horsepower (164 kW). Customers will also experience many advanced personal technologies, making it a premium sport sedan without the premium price. Pricing for the Regal starts at $26,995.

The LaCrosse, a luxury sedan completely redesigned for 2010, continues to attract buyers to Buick and the 2010 model is selling three times faster than its predecessor. The car has been praised for its exterior styling and luxurious interior and features a suite of advanced personal technologies and safety features that rate among the best in the industry. In addition to two fuel-saving V-6 engines, a new fuel-efficient, direct inject Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder engine will be available with the LaCrosse CX model this spring. LaCrosse will be the only sedan in its segment with an available four cylinder engine.

About Buick

Buick is in the midst of a transformation that started with the Enclave luxury crossover and continues with the completely redesigned LaCrosse luxury sedan and Regal sport sedan. Buick is emerging as a modern, premium brand with vehicles characterized by sculpted designs, personal technologies, luxurious interiors and responsive performance. Future new sedans and crossovers are planned and will continue to expand Buick's portfolio both in North America and China. More information can be found at www.buick.com. To see the best Buick's in the Upstate visit www.BradhsawGreer.com

SOURCE General Motors

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Bradshaw Automotive

Bradshaw Automotive began in 1979 when William Bradshaw and his wife, Annette, purchased a small Oldsmobile / Cadillac Dealership in Greer, South Carolina. Shortly after entering the automotive business as an office manager, William knew he wanted to become a dealer and his aim was to achieve that goal by the time he was thirty-years-old. At age twenty-nine, William and Annette sold their home, and using that equity and their small savings, along with the help of a financial investor / mentor, they purchased that small store in Greer. The stakes were high, but it was the opportunity of a lifetime. The risk, along with hard work, the contribution of many dedicated employees, and some good luck, paid off. That small store with fifteen employees has now grown to include eight dealerships and seven different franchises with almost four hundred employees.

As Bradshaw began to grow, a small Buick store was added in 1987 and in 1988, Chevrolet was acquired. Then came Acura, Honda, Saturn, and Infiniti. Additional franchises may be added as time and opportunity permits. While the organization has grown considerably, it is still a family run operation. William is active in the day-to-day operations of all of the dealerships and is aided now by his son, Wes Bradshaw, and his son-in-law, Bill Donovan. The growth and success of Bradshaw Automotive can be best explained by William's philosophy of treating employees and customers like family, and always respecting their needs.

William's automotive accomplishments are easy to measure in sales, but his total accomplishments are less obvious. His contributions to his community, both in time and financially, his leadership position with Greenville Tech Foundation, his selection as South Carolina Auto Dealer of the Year, his recognition as a Time Quality Dealer and a National Finalist for that award, and most recently his service with NADA (National Auto Dealers Association, an organization representing over 20,000 new car dealers across the nation) are all indications of his service to his community and his industry. In 2006, William served as National Chairman of NADA, furthering his service and impact on the automotive community.

Through it all, William still operates with those same philosophies that have served him, his employees, and you, his customers, very well.

2011 Buick Regal Returns After Seven-Year Absence

Once up a time in the '80s, it was fashionable in Detroit to create so-called Euro-sedans by taking conventional mainstream grandma-mobiles and painting all the chrome black, dispensing with the white walls and installing overly stiff springs. Fortunately, those dark days are gone and General Motors and Ford at least have gotten their heads around how to build the kind of cars they sell in Europe. Just bring over European cars.

When bankrupt GM decreed that Buick would survive as one of the company's four core brands, it quickly became clear that Buick would need more models to flesh out its showrooms alongside the LaCrosse and Enclave. It wasn't long before it became obvious that the next addition would be a new Regal. The Regal is already available in Buick's biggest market of China and it's coming back to North America in 2010 as a 2011 model. Anyone familiar with the Opel Insignia will immediately recognize the Regal as the same car with the brand's trademark waterfall grille swapped in.

The new Regal shares its Epsilon II platform with the recently redesigned LaCrosse, but the wheelbase is 6.7 inches shorter overall. While the LaCrosse will soon add an available four-cylinder engine, the Regal will launch with only four-cylinders. The base engine will be the increasingly prevalent 2.4-liter EcoTec with direct injection. As an option, buyers can choose a de-tuned version of the fabulous 2.0-liter DI EcoTec turbo that was used in the Pontiac Solstice GXP, Chevrolet HHR SS and Cobalt SS. For the Regal, output has been trimmed to 220 horsepower while torque remains at 258 pound-feet with a peak at just 2,000 rpm. Both engines are paired only with 6-speed automatic transmissions, the normally aspirated motor getting a Hydramatic unit and the turbo using an Aisin unit.

Only the the premium CXL trim will be available at launch, although others will be added later. When the turbo is added to the lineup next summer, it will have an optional Interactive Drive Control (IDC) system available. The IDC will let drivers pick from three different response modes for the suspension, throttle, steering and transmission. The system offers the usual Sport, Tour and Normal modes but even when the car is in Tour mode, the dampers will automatically stiffen up when the sensors detect a sudden evasive maneuver that could be indicative of an emergency maneuver.

To stay up with the latest on the new Regal subscribe to our blog or visit our website often, http://www.bradshawgreer.com/.