2012 GMC Terrain

Have you seen the new commercial for the 2012 GMC Terrain yet? Click below to watch it now!

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GMC Sierra Getting Redesigned For 2014

Scheduled to hit dealer lots next year as a 2014 model year is GM’s newly redesigned GMC Sierra pickup, but it appears that this truck will just be the tip of the iceberg. Now it’s a possibility that GM may be considering extensively redesigning all of their upcoming pickups.

It’s believed that the new 2014 GMC Sierra will not only offer better fuel economy, but a new chassis is also expected with the exterior and interior of the pickup entirely changed. In addition, improved aerodynamics will go along with engine improvements, a lightened load and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Such an overhaul is no surprise as GM has been investing heavily into new technology to improve fuel economy. And with the success of the Ford F-150 EcoBoost, GM knows what they can get away with in the pickup market.

Next year we should be seeing the redesigned 1500 pickups but it’s expected that revamped 2500 and 3500 variants will make an appearance a year later. Expect a ton of engineering improvements to occur across all of GM’s pickups in the next few years.

 Courtesy of Auto Guide

2012 GMC Acadia Denali

In case you missed it during the Ravens and Pats AFC Championship game, check out this new commercial for the 2012 GMC Acadia!

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GM Foundation Donates $400,000 to Cancer Research

Mary and Tony Barra to Chair Karmanos Cancer Institute’s 30th Annual Dinner April 28

DETROIT – The General Motors Foundation is donating $400,000 to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, bringing to nearly $6 million the foundation’s support over the last 15 years.

Separately, GM Senior Vice President of Global Product Development Mary Barra and her husband, Tony, president of Filament Consulting, will chair the Institute’s 30^th annual dinner on April 28. The Barras follow GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson and his wife, Karin, who chaired the event in 2011, when more than $868,000 was raised for cancer research.

A 33-year veteran of GM, Barra is responsible for leading the design, engineering and quality of new vehicles for GM across the globe. She was recently named one of the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes magazine.

“We’re very happy to have the support of Mary and Tony Barra as chairs of this year’s dinner to support cancer research,” said Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D. president and chief executive officer, Karmanos Cancer Institute. “We’re incredibly grateful for the unprecedented commitment from GM and the GM Foundation. Thanks to all of our supporters, we are developing the next standard of cancer care that will be used around the world.”

Health and human services is one of four key focus areas for the foundation.

“The GM Foundation’s grant will help Karmanos continue the important fight against cancer,” said foundation President Vivian Pickard. “We are fortunate to have this leading organization serving our Michigan communities and we are committed to making this year’s annual dinner a success.”

General Motors is the Host Sponsor of this year’s dinner, which will be held at the GM Technical Center in Warren, Mich. The Presenting Sponsor is Compuware Corporation; and the Executive Sponsors are Johnson Controls and Lil and Alex Erdeljan.

“Tony and I are honored to be able to build upon the success of last year’s event by chairing the 2012 Annual Dinner,” said Barra. “The opportunity to serve an organization that is dedicated to eradicating cancer is a special privilege for us.”

Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities for the dinner should contact Maureen Bender at 313-576-8111 or benderm@karmanos.org. To reserve tickets, please contact Lisa Koltunchik at 313-576-8106 or koltuncl@karmanos.org.

Courtesy of GM Media.

Loyalty Has Its Rewards

To our loyal GM customers - Stop by Hardin Buick GMC to take advantage of these amazing incentives, just for you.

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Hardin Buick GMC Weekend Ad

Be sure to stop in to Hardin Buick GMC for unbeatable deals! Click here or see below to check out our weekend ad. Prices are valid through this Sunday, 01/22/12.

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Buick Achievers Scholarship Program Expands Eligibility

Tuition funding now open to current undergraduate students

DETROIT – Buick and the General Motors Foundation today announced an expansion of the 2012 Buick Achievers Scholarship Program to include current undergraduate students, as well as high school seniors and graduates, for the 2012-13 school year. 

“In its second year, lessons learned were incorporated to further the Buick Achievers’ mission to inspire, celebrate and enable human achievement,” said Mary Barra, senior vice president of Global Product Development. “These new steps demonstrate the commitment to a future generation inspired by the college experience and motivated to make a difference in their world.”

The announcement of changes to the $4.5 million-a-year program was made at the North American International Auto Show where Buick revealed the all-new Encore luxury small crossover.

 “Almost one half of college students drop out before completing their education,” said Scholarship America Senior Vice President Donald Lassere. “Many cite the lack of financial resources as the principle reason for dropping out. By including current undergraduate students, the Buick Achievers program will enable many deserving students to complete their education.”

The move also helps identify current undergraduates who have had more time to develop interests in majors covered by the program including science, technology, engineering, mathematics, design, marketing and business administration.

Community service is a consideration in each student’s application, and another change for 2012 increases the weight of those activities.

The program, which Buick and the General Motors Foundation launched in 2011, rewards 1,100 students from across the country who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and in the community, and lack the financial resources to attend college.

The scholarship program provides up to $25,000 a year to 100 students, renewable for up to four years and one additional year for five-year engineering programs.  An additional 1,000 students receive a one-time $2,000 award. The program is funded by the GM Foundation and is among the largest awarded over multiple years.

“Special consideration is given to students who are military personnel, veterans or their dependents, as well as women and other minority groups,” said GM Foundation Chairman Bob Ferguson.  “This ensures that we help build a strong and diverse manufacturing work force that will ultimately strengthen our nation’s global competitiveness.”

In 2011, scholarships were awarded in all 50 states and nearly half were given to students who were the first in their families to attend college.

“My parents and brother never had the chance to attend college, so you can imagine how important it is that I’ll be the first one in my family to do so,” said Yanqui Lin, a business administration student at Ohio State University. “I’m not only realizing my dream, but also theirs.”

Information and applications are available at www.buickachievers.com.  Applications will be accepted through Feb. 29, 2012, and scholarships will be awarded in Spring 2012 for the 2012-2013 academic year. 

Courtesy of GM Media.

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New GMC Acadia Coming to 2012 Chicago Auto Show

We don't know much about it, but expect a new GMC Acadia to arrive at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show in early February, according to GMC spokesman Joe LaMuraglia. When we pressed LaMuraglia to divulge more, all he said was that it "is more than a new trim level." Two years back, GMC unveiled a luxurious Denali trim of the Acadia at the Detroit auto show.

 

The current incarnation of the Acadia has been on sale since late 2006 and was one of the first of GM's large crossovers to go on sale, followed by the Buick Enclave and the Chevrolet Traverse. It's definitely due for an update. Last year, GMC was GM's fastest growing brand and remains the carmaker's second-largest brand in America after Chevrolet.

Courtesy of cars.com

Thank you, Daniel, for continuously providing excellent customer service.

I would highly recommend Hardin Buick GMC. Daniel St. Clair the Sales person there was very helpful and honest. Hardin Buick GMC had the best prices and the largest inventory that i could find. We are very happy with our new Buick Enclave. -rbvabrey

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2013 Buick Encore Takes the Stage

All-new luxury crossover is versatile, efficient and continues brand’s growth.

DETROIT – Buick today introduced the all-new 2013 Encore – a luxury small crossover that delivers Buick’s signature style, interior acoustic refinement and collection of luxury amenities in a maneuverable, versatile and efficient package.

The Encore is on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit through Jan. 22, and goes on sale in early 2013.

“Buick Encore is a great-looking, smart choice for those who want luxury crossover amenities in a more maneuverable and agile vehicle,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “It represents a luxury alternative for a new audience of Buick customers, and delivers features and flexibility not typically found in vehicles of its size today.”

Buick models continue to gain in popularity, with two consecutive years of higher retail sales. The Encore joins Verano – Buick’s third all-new sedan in three years – to round out the brand’s lineup and continues the momentum established by the Enclave crossover almost five years ago.

With room for five and up to 48.4 cubic feet (1,372 liters) of storage space with the rear seat folded, the Encore offers substantial cargo capacity along with the confident, higher driving position, all-wheel-drive capability and contemporary styling of a crossover. In fact, its cargo space compares favorably against similar-sized international competitors:

	Rear Seat in Place	Rear Seat Folded
Buick Encore	18.8 cu. ft. / 533 liters	48.4 cu. ft. / 1,372 liters
BMW X1	16.9 cu. ft. / 480 liters	47.4 cu. ft. / 1,350 liters
Audi Q3	16.2 cu. ft. / 460 liters	48.2 cu. ft. / 1,365 liters

Additional features include 10 standard air bags and an Ecotec 1.4L turbo four-cylinder/six-speed automatic powertrain, along with standard and available technologies such as Buick’s voice-activated IntelliLink – which uses Bluetooth or a USB to connect the driver’s smartphone to a high-resolution, full-color seven-inch LCD display radio.

And because it’s a Buick, QuietTuning is standard on the Encore, which also features Buick’s first use of active noise cancellation technology.

Contemporary design offers versatile spaciousness

In keeping with the global design language that has come to symbolize the brand, the Encore’s sculpted and elegant styling traits – including sweeping character lines – make it instantly identifiable as a contemporary Buick. Signature cues include a waterfall grille, chrome accents and surrounds, portholes on the hood and painted lower panels, similar to the Enclave.

“The Encore brings Buick’s timeless, sculptural design to the crossover segment in a way that blends elegance, efficiency and utility,” said David Lyon, executive director of design. “There’s confidence in its athletic stance and elemental beauty in its rich details.”

Blue-accented projector-beam headlamps and detailed taillamps enhance the premium appearance; and 18-inch, five-spoke painted aluminum wheels are standard. Seven-spoke chrome wheels are available.

Inside, the Encore’s organic styling carries over to a flowing instrument panel that wraps naturally into the door panels. A prominent central instrument panel houses the large, full-color, seven-inch LCD display for the IntelliLink voice-activated radio system. It also features displays for the SiriusXM satellite radio, as well as available navigation and rear camera systems.

A contemporary mix of dark and light tones distinguishes the cabin, which is accented with ice blue ambient lighting, select use of bright trim and wood-grain trim. Premium seats featuring high-density foam for greater comfort on long drives are trimmed with either a contemporary cloth/leatherette motif or available leather. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are available. The rear seat features a fold-down armrest with cup holders.

More of the Encore’s comfort and luxury features – standard and available – include:

• Remote vehicle start
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Rainsense wipers
• Bose premium sound system
• Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls
• Six-way, power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar adjustment and driver memory.

Encore also features plenty of storage capacity and storage compartments. It offers 18.8 cubic feet (533 liters) of storage behind the split-folding rear seat and 48.4 cubic feet (1,372 liters) with the rear seat folded. With the rear seat in place, there’s room for at least six full grocery bags and with the rear seat folded, there’s room for golf clubs and overnight bags for a weekend getaway. Even the front passenger seat folds flat to extend the cargo length and accommodate long items that would not normally fit in a vehicle of this size.

Nine exterior colors and three interior color combinations will be offered.

QuietTuning gets ‘active’

QuietTuning is the process of defining Buick quality, sound and vibration characteristics and designing and refining the vehicle following a three-point strategy of reducing sounds at their source, blocking sounds from entering the cabin and absorbing any remaining sounds.

For the Encore, specific content was applied to achieve 40 sound benchmarks for refinement, including Buick’s first application of active noise cancellation. With it, ceiling-mounted microphones detect engine noise, the frequencies of which are processed by a computer that directs counteracting sound waves through the audio system’s speakers and subwoofer.

Additional standard QuietTuning features include:

• Acoustically treated headliner with a tuned gap between it and the high-strength-steel roof panel
• Sound-absorbing materials used in the cabin, under the hood and in the wheel house liners
• HydraMatic 6T40 six-speed transmission with neutral gear disengagement
• Quiet-tuned 18-inch Continental tires
• Aero-optimized outside mirrors
• Ultra-quiet engine alternator
• Acoustic-laminated windshield and thicker 5mm side window glass
• Foam baffle insulation at the opening of body structure cavities.

‘One-tire’ philosophy sharpens ride and handling characteristics

The new Encore is built on a global small-crossover platform and engineered with a “one-tire” philosophy. Everything is optimized around a single 18-inch tire specification, designed for more precise suspension tuning, driving refinement, quietness and a feeling of control.

The Encore’s 100.6-inch (2,555 mm) wheelbase and wide stance – 60.6-inch (1,540 mm) front and rear tracks – contribute to a more confident-feeling driving experience, while a strong structure enables greater suspension precision and a quieter ride. Tuned engine, including two hydraulic mounts, are tailored to the engine’s inherent torque axis to disrupt the transmission of vibration and noise. This configuration also helps control the transfer of momentum, resulting in improved dynamic balance.

A MacPherson strut front suspension is used with coil springs, a large stabilizer bar and side-load-compensated front strut modules. The rear suspension incorporates a compound crank (torsion beam) design, with a double-wall, tubular V-shape beam profile with gas-charged twin-tube shocks. It combines all the advantages of a conventional torsion beam axle, including minimal space requirements, with low weight and consistent camber control. Urethane spring isolators are used to dampen noise.

The Encore also features a column-mounted, variable-effort electric power steering system. It contributes to a 36.7-foot (11.2 meters) turning diameter, while also saving fuel compared to an engine-driven power steering pump.

Safety technology helps protect occupants

Encore is designed with technologies – including radar-based features – to help avoid crashes and protect occupants in case one occurs. Technologies that help avoid them include:

• Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control
• Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution
• Cornering brake control and brake assist
• Available all-wheel-drive system that seamlessly shifts power to the rear wheels when required for better traction and handling
• Available forward collision alert and lane departure warning
• Available front and rear park assist
• Available rear vision camera.

When it comes to occupant protection, the Encore’s body structure forms a protective cage around the passenger compartment. Sixty-three percent of the underbody structure is comprised of high-strength steels, while 57 percent of the upper body uses high-strength steels, including ultra-high-strength steel. That protection is complemented with 10 standard air bags, which include:

• Driver and front passenger frontal air bags
• Driver and front passenger knee air bags
• Front and rear thorax air bags (all outboard positions)
• Side curtain air bags for front and rear outboard passengers.

Encore’s suite of safety features is rounded out with exclusive OnStar technology, which includes the Advanced Crash Response System, emergency assistance and more.

Ecotec turbo engine drives efficiency

The Buick Encore is powered by an efficient, power-dense Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. It generates an estimated 140 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm. The wide rpm range for the maximum torque – a specific trait of turbocharged engines – helps it deliver a better driving experience and performance.

The 1.4L’s turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold, for reduced weight and greater packaging flexibility. A reinforced crankshaft and forged connecting rods deliver additional strength to support the engine’s pressurized power and torque over a wide rpm band.

Several of the engine’s features contribute to the Encore’s overall fuel efficiency, including:

• A high-efficiency alternator
• Regulated voltage control
• Electronically controlled returnless fuel system
• Deceleration fuel cut-off.

They complement other vehicle-wide systems and components that also help improve efficiency, including low-rolling-resistance tires, electric power steering, neutral idle feature and optimized aerodynamics.

A Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic transmission backs the Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine. It is part of a family of six-speed front and all-wheel drive transaxles developed for small cars and crossovers. It has a unique design, with the planetary gearsets positioned on the same axis as the engine crankshaft centerline, making the entire powertrain unit shorter fore-to-aft. This design enables a shorter overall vehicle length, increased interior space, enhanced safety crush zones and lower weight.

The Hydra-Matic 6T40 offers a “steep” first gear and a “tall” overdrive top gear to achieve a wide ratio spread of 6.14:1. This allows the Encore to achieve robust acceleration, as well as fuel efficiency and lower engine noise at highway cruising speeds. A neutral-gear disengagement feature helps enhance smoothness and efficiency.

The Buick Encore will begin arriving at U.S. Buick dealerships in the first quarter of 2013.

Courtesy of GM Media.

Thank you to the author of this stellar 5-star review.

"We found a great used vehicle on Hardin's website. Came down to take a test drive and decided to buy. We had to visit family, but Ali was great to negotiate via phone and we agreed on a deal quickly. Came back to the dealership to complete the purchase and now have a great vehicle for my wife. Next time we are in the market for another vehicle this will be the first place we look." -padstack

Ten Little Known Things About GMC

War stories from past and strong sales today help define century-old brand name.

DETROIT – GMC is one of the longest-running brands in the General Motors portfolio, the second-largest of the four GM brands in U.S. sales, and a standard bearer for engineering in pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossover vehicles. Here are 10 little-known facts about GMC:

1. The GMC name turns 100 years old in 2012. In 1912, Rapid Motor Vehicle Company was merged with two others – Reliance and Randolph – to become GMC.
2. On August 1, 1909, a Rapid F-406-B – a GMC predecessor – was the first truck to reach the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak.
3. If GMC was a standalone manufacturer, it would be the tenth-largest automaker in the United States in terms of total vehicle sales from January to November of 2011.
4. GMC built some of the world’s earliest electric vehicles from 1912-1917. These trucks had single-digit model names, each denoting load capacity, from one-half-ton to 12 tons.
5. GMC’s luxury-focused Denali trim level currently outsells the entire product lines of some premium automakers, including Land Rover, Jaguar, and Porsche.
6. GMC was tasked with engineering and production of the 1936 Parade of Progress vans and the 1941 Futurliners, which toured the country carrying mobile road shows.
7. Today, GMC and the Denali trim level are among the fastest-growing nameplates in the U.S. with respective sales increases of 22 percent and 91 percent year over year.
8. During World War II, GMC manufactured approximately 584,000 military vehicles, including the CCKW-353 “Deuce-and-a-Half” and the amphibious “Duck.”
9. The GMC Sierra – the brand’s top selling model – outsold the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan combined, with 40,000 sales to spare, through the first 11 months of 2011.
10. From 1973-1978, GMC produced motorhomes in 23- and 26-foot lengths. They appeared in Bill Murray’s 1981 movie, Stripes and the 1996 blockbuster, Twister.

 

Courtesy of GM Media.