We hope everyone has a fun and safe New Years Eve!

Tomorrow, it is time to put our new years resolution(s) into action!  What do you have planned?

Have a great New Years weekend!

We here at Beck & Masten Buick GMC hope you have a great weekend and holiday!  Stay safe!

The engines found in the 2014 GMC Sierra are the best ever released.

Check out a small glimpse of vast amount of technology that went into the creation of these engines!

Buick to use micro-patterned polycarbonate at core of LED lighting

"Microstructured plastic inner lenses enable even illumination and design freedom in rear tail lamps, while reducing the number of LEDs required and part complexity in lamp. The first such inner lens thermoformed from polycarbonate (PC) has debuted in the 2013 Buick Enclave.

Developed by 3M (Minneapolis, MN) and known as Uniform Lighting Lens (ULL) technology, the precision engineered inner lens incorporates two types of microstructure with detail of less than 100 micrometers. These structures are designed to balance the optical properties of uniform illumination from all angles and luminous intensity.

Close-up of the lighted cavity shows consistency of light as it wraps around a tight corner, enabling design flexibility of tail lamps.

Thermoformed and micro-structured inner lens realizes uniform lighting.

Production of the lenses involves extrusion of a 1-mm-thick PC film with micro-replicated features using Makrolon 2447 from Bayer Material Science (Leverkusen, Germany), followed by forming of the lens itself in a multicavity thermoforming tool. Tool making process innovations have enabled the combination of micro-structure and macrostructure features in the finished tool. Post-process trimming is carried out in a metal die. A micro structure size of 100 micrometers on an inner lens is not possible with the injection molded part process according to 3M.

The lenses are shipped to Tier 1 Magna International (Troy, MI), which worked with 3M on the development of the lens, in optimized packaging to ensure moisture control, for integration into the lamp assembly.

The ULL lamp employing the new lens with two LEDs weighs 620g versus 1134g for the original Enclave bulb lamp whose inner lens was injection-molded. The minimal thickness achieved by thermoformed microstructured lens also has potential to reduce number of LEDs needed to execute lamp design, contributing to reduced energy consumption and weight reduction in rear lamps. Power requirement has been reduced to 3.5W versus 35W for the stop function. A further bonus is that lamp lifetime has been extended from 5000 hours to 30,000 hours.

"Our Uniform Lighting Lens technology is a solution to several challenges our customers face," said Jeff Boettcher, new business development manager, 3M Automotive. "It can be used not only to create new, modern lighting designs, but also allows for manufacturers to create signature images to generate brand differentiation."

Courtesy of Plastics Today

Pop quiz: Why did old Buicks have portholes on their sides?

Answer:  It's actually quite simple!  The portholes--and the amber lights that would flash intermittently inside of them-- were there to mimic superheated exhaust firing out of the headers of a WWII era warplane!  Buick designer Ned Nickles came up with the idea originally (after having done the modification to his personal '48 Roadmaster convertible no less!), and decided to add them to production model schematics only 7 months before mass production.  

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by today's monstrous shooting.

We continue to grieve for the loss of so many innocent men, women, and children in today's sickening school massacre.  Please give your thoughts and prayers to those affected by this monstruous act.

We will never forget you.

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"Just bought a GMC Terrain from Arial and Beck & Masten.  Great experience and would send everyone I know to their dealership.  

Fair pricing and gave a VERY competitive rate on our trade in.  Very happy with the experience."

-Jennifer Y. on Yelp

Thanks Jennifer!