IntelliLink In-Car Connectivity Standard on all 2013 Buicks

DETROIT – Buick will make its IntelliLink in-car connectivity standard on every 2013 model year vehicle, including the redesigned Enclave luxury crossover SUV and the all-new Encore luxury crossover. And the brand will help owners get acquainted with the advanced technology with real-time over-the-air help.

IntelliLink debuted on the 2012 Verano luxury sedan and is currently available for the Regal luxury sport sedan and LaCrosse luxury sedan. Designed to be used with two hands on the wheel as often as possible, IntelliLink’s layout was created with an emphasis on minimizing distractions. New features for 2013 integrate more functionality into the system’s voice control commands.

Using the Pandora Internet radio app interface when paired with a smartphone, owners of 2013 models can tune to a favorite station solely by voice command. Likewise, saying “More like this” while an iPod or other USB media device is playing generates a random music playlist based on the current song.

The “More like this” feature uses Gracenote media database technology to identify artist and song titles. For 2013, Gracenote’s album cover art display capability expands to include genre and artist art.

“As smartphones that stream and hold music grow ever more popular, we want to ensure Buick customers have connectivity that’s both intuitive and safe to use,” said IntelliLink lead engineer Tony Kraatz. “These updates make it easier to access the songs they love.”

Other IntelliLink updates include added features for SiriusXM satellite radio, a subscription to which is included for three months with every Buick. SiriusXM Tune Select allows drivers and passengers to tag an artist or song name, triggering an on-screen notification whenever a favorite tune plays on any SiriusXM channel.

For most Buick models, SiriusXM Travel Link takes the provider’s services beyond radio, offering nearby fuel prices, movie theater show times, and weather reports. For vehicles with navigation, the driver will have the option of mapping a route directly to a selected gas station or movie theater.

To speed the use of IntelliLink and keep the driver’s eyes on the road, a new “Quick Info” icon allows access to the most popular features, including SiriusXM Travel Link features, audio info and turn-by-turn navigation. An added “Transfer to Private” icon allows a Bluetooth-paired phone call to be moved off the vehicle’s speakerphone.

In addition to upcoming in-car updates, Buick has created a support network for customers who need help familiarizing themselves with new IntelliLink technology. Based in Austin, Texas, the Customer and Relationship Service (CARS) Infotainment Customer Support Team will provide one-on-one guidance for owners.

“Our next generation infotainment customer will demand a higher level of service, support and solutions due to their interactive technical experience,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick Sales and Service. “This is one more way that we are working to deliver an exceptional customer service experience.”

Dedicated specialists at CARS will be trained to provide customers the quick and thorough support they need. New 2013 Buick models will begin arriving at dealerships later this year.

Buick is a modern luxury brand offering vehicles with sculpted designs, luxurious interiors with thoughtful personal technologies, along with responsive-yet-efficient performance. Buick is attracting new customers with its portfolio of award-winning luxury models, including the Enclave crossover, LaCrosse sedan, Regal sport sedan, Buick Verano sedan and the all-new 2013 Encore crossover. Learn more about Buick cars and crossovers at www.buick.com, on Twitter @buick or at www.facebook.com/buick.>

Monday Maintenance Tip : Rotating Your Tires

 

What is this? Directional tires have to stay on the same side of the car. They often feature arrows on the sidewall to show the proper direction.

We know that all tires rotate. But we're talking about another kind of rotation -- rotating tires to different corners of the car and maybe even reversing the direction in which they turn.

Many tires are rotated front-to-back and side-to-side, but some tires are directional, which means they're only supposed to turn in one direction. They have to stay on the same side of the car. Directional tires often have arrows on the tire's sidewall to show you the direction in which they should turn.

If you're not sure which kind of tires you have, check with your mechanic.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?

You should do this service only if you can do it for $20 or less, in our opinion.

The financial benefit of rotating tires is that you'll increase the useful life of the tire. But if you pay more than about $20, you'll probably wipe out any savings you might have gained.

Instead, ask your mechanic to rotate your tires when they're already off your car for another service, such as a brake repair. That way, you won't have to pay extra -- unless your mechanic is a jerk.

Can I Do This Myself?
It depends on where you rank on the Car Talk do-it-yourself scale:
If you have access to a floor jack and jackstands, you can rotate the tires yourself. Otherwise, it's a pain in the rear and you should take your car to your mechanic to have the tires rotated.
	There are two kinds of screwdrivers?
	I've successfully hung pictures around the house.
	I've changed my own oil.
	I've fixed things on my car that involve removing more than five bolts.
	I've built a working nuclear reactor out of wood

Why do I have to do this?

You don't have to rotate your tires. But by rotating them, you will increase your tires' life because they'll wear more evenly.

What happens if I don't do this?

Nothing bad will happen, but you'll get fewer miles out of your tires.

Is there any maintenance required between intervals?

No.

Car Talk Tip: Don't forget Newton's Seventh Law: Tires in balance tend to stay in balance. If you're having your tires rotated, don't pay extra to have them rebalanced. You probably won't need it. Have your tires rebalanced only if you feel a shimmy or vibration.

photograph by Joe Wiesenfelder, Cars.com

Weekly Maintenance Tip - Tire Inflation

Checking tires is quick and easy - and vital to safety

Tires are one of the most important -- and oft-overlooked -- components of our cars. Tires are the only thing that attach our cars to the road, and tire problems affect your car's ride comfort, handling and safety. Here are some simple tire safety tips to help keep you and your car's occupants safe.

Check your tire pressure regularly.

Tires tend to lose air over time. Buy a digital tire gauge and check your tires once a month and before a long trip. Proper inflation pressures can be found in your owner's manual or on a sticker on the car (usually on the driver's doorjamb or fuel-filler lid -- see photo.) Remember to check tire pressure only after the car has been sitting for several hours in order to ensure that the tires are cold -- the friction of driving heats the tires and increases pressure, which can hide an under-inflated tire.

Address under-inflated tires immediately.

An under-inflated tire has more rolling resistance, which increases fuel consumption. It also creates more heat, which can lead to tire failure.

Don't forget the spare.

Getting a flat tire and discovering that your spare is also flat is a miserable experience. Inspect your spare as you would your other tires. If you have a compact spare, the inflation pressure will usually be written on the tire. If your car comes with a compressor and/or flat repair kit in lieu of a spare, check their operation regularly.

Check for tread depth.

Check tread depth by placing the edge of a penny upside-down into the grooves of the tire's tread. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, it's time for a new set of tires. Never buy a single tire -- it's best to replace all four tires at once, but at the very least they should be bought as axle pairs (both fronts or both rears). Rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles will help ensure that all four tires wear at the same rate.

Check for even wear.

When you check tread depth, check both the inside and outside edge of the tires. Uneven tire wear is usually a sign that your car is out of alignment. Proper alignment optimizes handling and helps prevent premature tire wear.

Look for tire damage.

When you check pressure, inspect the sides of the tires for nicks, bulges, cracks and cuts. Such damage often cannot be repaired and will require replacement of the tire.

Stay balanced.

If your car develops a shimmy (a back-and-forth vibration, usually felt through the steering wheel) at a certain speed, it's possible that one of your tires has lost its balance weight. Having your tires re-balanced is a fairly inexpensive job.

Buy the right tire for the job.

Most cars come with all-season tires, the tire equivalent of a jack-of-all-trades. If you live in the rust belt, consider a set of dedicated snow tires for the winter; they do wonders for safety. If you live where it's always warm and dry, "summer" performance tires can vastly improve your car's handling.

And most importantly:

Never hesitate to replace a worn or damaged tire.

Tires are not cheap, but they are vital to the safety of you and your car's occupants. Remember, the tires are the only things that connect your car to the road. Advanced safety features such as antilock brakes and electronic stability control can't do their life-saving jobs without four good tires. Take care of your tires -- because whether you know it or not, you're counting on them to take care of you.

 

Courtesy of About.com Cars

GM HERITAGE CENTER

 

The GM Heritage Center has archived over 1000 vintage, custom, and show cars dating back to the turn of the last century. The Heritage Center is not open to the public, we get a rare tour of 200 of from Manager Greg Wallace. His current favorite? The '62 Bel Air 409, as in "She's real fine my 409."

GM VP of Global quality talks about GM car owners

Alicia Boler-Davis is putting the customer at the center of everything GM is doing. As vice president of global quality and U.S. customer experience, she works on making the products the best they can be, and making sure the owners are treated well.

Active Safety a Common Element in Expanding Buick Brand

DETROIT – In addition to the redesigned Enclave luxury crossover SUV arriving this fall, Buick’s lineup will continue to expand in the coming year with two all-new models – the 250-horsepower  (187 kW) Verano Turbo luxury sedan and the versatile Encore luxury crossover. No matter the size, safety is a cornerstone of every new Buick.

Both Verano and Encore offer 10 standard air bags and body structures that consist of more than 60 percent high-strength steel. In the 2013 model year, each model also receives new active safety systems. Unlike passive safety features – such as safety belts and air bags – that are designed to protect occupants when a crash occurs, active safety systems use sounds, visual warnings and automated actions to help prevent crashes.

Later this summer, Verano will make standard a Rear Vision Camera on all models and an optional safety package that includes Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. These two technologies share a set of radar sensors hidden in the corners of the rear bumper that may help drivers avoid crashes when changing lanes or backing.

When backing, Rear Cross Traffic Alert senses cross traffic up to 65 feet away that may not be visible to the driver when backing out of a parking space or driveway. The driver is alerted with a red directional arrow displayed on the Rear Vision Camera screen and three directional beeps.

“We want to integrate our backing visual warnings onto that screen so drivers know where to look and can quickly see for themselves what’s causing the warning,” said Raymond Kiefer, General Motors Active Safety Technical Fellow. “That way, they can react quickly to what the camera, radar and ultrasonic sensors are detecting.”

Side Blind Zone Alert technology makes its way to the Verano from the larger LaCrosse luxury sedan and Enclave luxury crossover SUV. It cautions drivers when a vehicle is in a blind zone in an adjacent lane. According to sales data, it is among Buick’s most popular active safety features.

Encore, which arrives early in 2013, carries its own active safety resume and will be the first vehicle in its segment to offer the combination of Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning. Both features use a single forward-looking camera sensor that has a lower cost to consumers than competitive systems that use radar or a combination of radar and camera.

“Studies suggest that people can use changes in object size as they approach to estimate how long until they collide,” said Kiefer. “Buick’s single-camera detection system works much like a human eye, with state-of-the-art image processing equipment analyzing 10-12 scene images per second to decide if the changes in the size of a vehicle ahead suggest a crash may be just a few seconds away.”

Forward Collision Alert can be adjusted to near, medium and far timing settings.  Although an “Off” setting is also provided, the majority of owners report they keep the system active. 

At speeds above 25 mph, Forward Collision Alert gives audible and visual warnings when a collision may be imminent. Lane Departure Warning alerts drivers when they may have crossed a detected lane marker without using a turn indicator when driving at speeds over 35 mph. It, too, can be deactivated with the push of a button.

Like every current Buick, Encore will be offered with a Rear Vision Camera.

Enclave, the industry’s top-selling three-row luxury crossover, will debut this year with safety innovations of its own, including the world’s first front center air bag. Every Buick also comes standard with six months of an OnStar Directions and Connections plan, which includes Automatic Crash Response and roadside assistance.

Every 2012 Buick model is rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and every Buick model tested by the U.S. government’s New Car Assessment Program this year has received a Five Star Overall Vehicle Score. To discover more about how the brand designs vehicles around occupant safety, visit the Buick vehicle safety page.

Buick is a modern luxury brand offering vehicles with sculpted designs, luxurious interiors with thoughtful personal technologies, along with responsive-yet-efficient performance. Buick is attracting new customers with its portfolio of award-winning luxury models, including the Enclave crossover, LaCrosse sedan, Regal sport sedan, Buick Verano sedan and the all-new 2013 Encore crossover. Learn more about Buick cars and crossovers at www.buick.com, on Twitter @buick or at www.facebook.com/buick.

Peyton Manning calls out audibles in his new Verano

 

Peyton Manning, signal caller, loves using the Verano's voice activation features to call out commands, just like when he's on the field.

Next Generation Silverado Put to the Test

 

 

We love getting feedback at Beck & Masten Buick GMC!

"This was the first time i have bought a new vehicle in over 10 years and the service I received was the very best I have had. I will be a repeat customer!" -Jamesk67

"What is in the sauce that is in the Big Mac?"

 

The secret is finally out fans! We now know what's in the McDonalds 'secret sauce'. Can you think of any other top secrets you'd like to know?

Untitled

 

Introducing the all-new Buick Encore, the first luxury crossover of its size. Complete with signature Buick elements; this vehicle defines Buick style in a small luxury crossover.

Happy Almost 4th of July Fans!

We wish you a fun and safe holiday.

 

Welcome to a new week fans! Check out your Monday Maintenance tip.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Lighten up your key chain.

Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys? That’s a pretty heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition.The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure.

Courtesy of rd.com