Car and Driver Loves Buick LaCrosse with eAssist!

2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist (GM Media)

Car and Driver magazine recently had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a development version of the 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist, which is designed to offer increased fuel economy of up to 25 percent without sacrificing the ride quality and quiet interior Columbia drivers have come to love in the new Buick LaCrosse.  Indeed, Buick's own benchmark for ride quality on the Buick LaCrosse with eAssist was a standard 2011 Buick LaCrosse that has been immensely popular among South Carolina's Buick drivers.

Buick estimates that the mild hybrid LaCrosse will achieve EPA fuel economy ratings of 25 city MPG and 37 MPG highway, fuel economy estimates that would have been impressive for compact cars of just a few years ago in a much roomier package.  The four-cylinder Ecotec engine makes 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque, aided by a new electric motor that makes an additional 15 horsepower and 79 pound-feet of torque.  As electric motors make maximum torque right as they begin acceleration, this will provide a significant boost in acceleration from a stop.  Indeed, C&D was told to expect an improvement in 0-60 times of about 0.2 seconds compared to a four-cylinder LaCrosse of today.

There are additional tricks underneath the Buick LaCrosse with eAssist that improve fuel economy further, including active air shutters that close for improved aerodynamics when the additional cooling capacity is not required by the engine, additional underbody panels that smooth airflow underneath the car, and special low-rolling-resistance tires that maintain the current LaCrosse's lateral grip all combine to maximize the energy drawn into the regenerative braking system.

The 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist goes on sale this summer. Exact pricing has not been announced, but Buick has indicated that pricing will start around $30,000, and that pricing will match the popular V6 option featuring the same standard equipment.  When looking for a Buick LaCrosse in Columbia SC, we encourage you to visit Jim Hudson Buick, the #1 Buick dealership in the state of South Carolina.  Jim Hudson Buick is located at 7201 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, and can be reached at (803) 783-0110.

You've Got To Love Buick's Fuel-Efficient Offerings

Gas has shot up over the past couple of weeks, rapidly leaving the $3-a-gallon mark in the dust.  Ever since the first trip into holy-cow-that's-expensive-gas territory in 2008, Buick has brought a host of models that achieve an estimated 30 highway miles per gallon or better--and the list will grow even longer by the end of the year!

Ever since its second generation launched, the Buick LaCrosse has seen exceptional demand in Columbia.  2011 saw the widespread availability of the 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine option, which is standard on CX and CXL models.  The 182-horsepower engine delivers an EPA-estimated 30 highway miles per gallon, no small feat for a car of its size.  For 2012, LaCrosse models equipped with the four-cylinder engine will receive the eAssist suite of gas-saving technologies including a 15-horsepower electric motor to help acceleration from a stop (which uses the most gas), regenerative braking, and subtle aerodynamic tweaks--The net result is a GM-estimated 37 highway miles per gallon, and it comes as standard equipment.  Whether you want to wait until summer for the eAssist system or want to enjoy 30 MPG right away, it's hard to go wrong with the Buick LaCrosse.

The all-new 2011 Buick Regal CXL benefits from the same great 2.4L engine as the LaCrosse, netting it the same 30 MPG rating in a sportier package than its bigger sibling.  In addition, the Buick Regal CXL Turbo is FlexFuel capable, allowing it to run on blends of ethanol and gasoline up to an 85%/15% split.  If the news about the eAssist platform as you torn between the Regal and LaCrosse, fret not; the eAssist package of technologies will be available on the Regal as an option.  Production on the 2012 Buick Regal with eAssist should begin in the fall of this year.

If you're looking for Buick luxury in a smaller package, consider the 2012 Buick Verano, which will arrive in the fall.  Verano offers many of the features you've come to love in a modern Buick, such as pushbutton start, leather-appointed seating, plenty of connectivity options (including Pandora online radio), and your choice of 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, all while achieving a GM-estimated 31 highway miles per gallon.  Verano may the new entry-level Buick when it goes on sale late this year, but it is still a Buick through and through.

Of course, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the Buick Enclave luxury crossover SUV.  Although its 24 highway miles per gallon is short of the magical 30, it still provides exceptional fuel economy for an eight-passenger crossover--better, for the record, than the seven-seater Acura MDX or Lincoln MKT.  Columbia Buick owners have fallen in love with the Enclave's mix of style, capability, and efficiency, and we think you will as well!

Buick Verano Unveiled - Columbia Will Love It!

This past week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Buick took the covers off of the all-new 2012 Buick Verano.  The Buick Verano for sale in Columbia SC features a standard 2.4L four-cylinder engine rated at 177 horsepower, about 45 more than the Chevrolet Cruze that rides on the same revised Delta platform.  In the future, the 2.0L turbocharged engine from the Buick Regal Turbo will be offered.  If visions of over 200 horsepower in a small compact sedan strike your fancy, look no further than the new Buick Verano!

Verano will offer Buick's exclusive QuietTuning technologies, which Columbia drivers love for its ability to reduce, deflect, and absorb all manner of road noises to provide a world-class ride.  Even in a compact sedan rated for 31 highway miles per gallon, the Verano will offer a library-quiet ride.  Pricing has not been announced as of yet, but the Verano will arrive in Columbia, SC in the fourth quarter of 2011. More photos  can be had at our special microsite, http://www.BuickVeranoColumbiaSC.com/.

Columbia Loves a Buick, and So Does America!

As the dust settles from the rebound year that was 2010, many manufacturers are releasing their end-of-the-year sales numbers.  With all the major brands reporting, we're thrilled to announce that the fastest-growing brand in the United States of America is Buick!

In 2009, Buick delivered 102,306 vehicles in the United States.  In 2010, following the launch of the all-new Buick LaCrosse in Columbia SC (up a staggering 112 percent in 2010 alone) and the revival of the Buick Regal in Columbia, and on the continued love shown by Columbia drivers to the Buick Enclave crossover SUV, a whopping 155,389 new Buicks found their homes--a boost of over 51 percent!

December saw Buick sales increasing 40 percent year-over-year, the fifteenth consecutive month of retail sales increases.  Many Columbia shoppers are drawn to the exciting new lineup, as about 41 percent of Buick buyers are coming from outside the General Motors family, and 27 percent from import brands.  Needless to say, the demand has kept Columbia Buick dealers busy for the past year, and you know that we look forward to an even stronger 2011 with the arrival of exciting new models like the Buick Regal GS, Buick LaCrosse with eAssist, and the all-new Buick Verano.  Stay tuned as these exciting new models will be arriving soon!

Love Buick, Columbia? Love Santa? Connecting the two is an OnStar button away!

For many Columbia residents, driving to see loved ones on Christmas Eve is a common choice.  Naturally, we think that driving to see family in a new Buick from Jim Hudson Buick (the premier Columbia Buick dealer) is an even better choice, in no small part because of the connectivity and safety provided by OnStar service that comes standard for six months with the purchase of a new Buick.  OnStar performs many functions, including providing turn-by-turn navigation, emailing you diagnostic information about your Buick, unlocking the doors should you lock yourself out, and notifying emergency services should you be involved in a serious accident.  This year, OnStar will be providing another crucial function: letting you know where Santa Claus is!

On Christmas Eve, OnStar advisors will be prepared to give subscribers specific location-based updates on Santa Claus’ journey around the world based on data received in partnership with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Beginning at 6 a.m. Eastern on Christmas Eve, if you are an OnStar subscriber you can press the blue OnStar button to request a “Santa Update.” OnStar advisors will share Santa’s whereabouts through 5 a.m. EST Christmas morning. If your Buick doesn't have an OnStar subscription, you can still visit www.noradsanta.org or call 877 HI-NORAD (877-446-6723) for Santa’s location.

“It’s great to provide our customers with a fun, highly informative benefit during the holidays,” said Scott Kubicki, executive director, OnStar Sales, Services and Marketing. “Our advisors also enjoy hearing children’s surprise and joy when they learn that St. Nick is only hours away from their home.”

For more than 54 years NORAD has used its North Warning Radar System, geo-synchronous satellites with infrared sensors and other technologies to monitor Santa’s Christmas Eve travels and share the information with children and families around the world.

All of us at Jim Hudson Buick wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas season.  We will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and will reopen to serve you the following Monday morning.

Columbia Loves Buick Regal - So Does Esquire Magazine!

The 2012 Buick Regal GS is coming soon to Columbia, SC.

If you've had the chance to drive the Buick Regal in Columbia, SC, you've probably fallen in love with the  crisp handling, the premium amenities that come as standard equipment, and the distinct styling.  And if you do love Buick's latest premium sedan, you're in very good company--so does Sam Smith in Esquire magazine.

The 2011 Buick Regal, as you no doubt know by now, is the American sibling of the Opel Insignia, a car that found much love in Europe--enough to become the 2008 European Car of the Year.  As Smith writes, "And in this version it does something few American cars have done: take down the competition while reinventing a brand.  Save a few trim changes and minor chassis tweaks, the Regal is undiluted Opel."  Smith goes on to praise the Regal as a return to the glory days of Buick. "Don't remember what that is? Once, Buicks were admirable machines, the kind of comfortable, capable vehicles driven by doctors and fathers. Men might not have lusted after a Buick, but they didn't settle for one, either. Charmingly, the Regal seems cut from the same cloth, albeit updated for the times — it's refined but not distant, sporty but not harsh."

With the more potent Buick Regal Turbo arriving in Columbia, SC, and the Buick Regal GS coming soon, it's easy to find a lot to love about the Buick Regal in Columbia--and Jim Hudson is here with the best selection of Buick Regal sedans in town.

Love Buick's fuel efficiency, Columbia? Get ready to love it even more!

Buick LaCrosse, coming soon with eAssist
technology to Columbia, SC

Even with gas still below $3 a gallon (knock on wood), fuel efficiency remains a concern for a lot of drivers in Columbia, South Carolina.  Buick's fuel economy has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few years with new models like the Buick Enclave crossover and the new Buick Regal.  Perhaps the best example of the improvements, though, has been in the Buick LaCrosse.

The final model year of the LaCrosse's first generation offered a V6 engine rated for 28 highway MPG, or a 5.3L V8 rated for 24.  For 2011, LaCrosse offers a 4-cylinder engine rated for 30 highway MPG.  Now, for the 2012 model year, Buick is introducing the eAssist system to the four-cylinder Buick LaCrosse as standard equipment with an estimated 37 MPG!

Don't call it a hybrid--you won't be driving on the electric motor alone--but the eAssist system uses an electric motor coupled to the four-cylinder engine on the LaCrosse in lieu of a traditional alternator.  A 115V battery pack in the rear of the car provides the motor with up to 15 horsepower (or 11 kilowatts) of electric assistance during heavy acceleration.  This is a huge leap over the 2 kilowatts of the last-generation system found on models such as the Saturn Aura Green Line and Chevy Malibu Hybrid.  The eAssist system also provides up to 15 kilowatts of regenerative braking power, capturing energy for later use that would otherwise be lost to heat and friction.  The system also allows the 2.4L Ecotec engine to shut down fuel delivery in certain situations, allowing the motor to spin the engine to a stop at just the right position to restart smoothly.  Unlike many hybrid sedans available in Columbia, the LaCrosse will retain its split-folding rear seat; cargo space will be reduced slightly to make room for the battery.

LaCrosse with eAssist will also include improved underbody aerodynamics and actively-controlled shutters on the lower grille.  When cooling is not needed for the engine, such as while cruising down the highway, the shutters will close to force air around the body of the car to reduce drag.  In cases where more airflow is needed, such as in the city or while going up a steep grade, the shutters will open to provide better cooling for the engine.

All of this, save for an ECO gauge on the instrument panel, is invisible and effortless to the driver as you'd expect from a Buick in Columbia.  Although pricing has not been announced for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist, Buick expects the sedan to come in "about $30,000".