Columbia SC Will Love Buick Verano Starting at $23,470

Die-hard Buick fans have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the 2012 Buick Verano luxury compact sedan.  Buick has announced pricing for the new model, and Columbia SC drivers will be able to bring a 2012 Verano home starting at $23,470 for the base model.  The top-tier Leather Group rings in at $26,850, which makes for an exceptional value compared to competitors like the Acura TSX or Lexus IS 250.

Verano comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and standard 18-inch alloy wheels.  EPA fuel economy tests are still ongoing, but Verano is expected to return well north of 30 highway miles per gallon.  Verano comes standard with premium amenities like dual-zone automatic climate control, Buick's new IntelliLink touchscreen system for playing music through your smartphone or MP3 player (including Stitcher and Pandora internet radio), USB connectivity, Bluetooth, remote start, tire pressure monitoring, fog lights, StabiliTrak stability control system with traction control, and the protection of ten airbags to ensure that both you and the ones you love are kept safe on the road.

With so much standard equipment, Buick is able to keep the options list short on the 2012 Buick Verano. This is good news for Columbia drivers, since it increases the chances you'll find the Buick you love on the lot without having to special-order a new Verano.  (Of course, your South Carolina Buick Dealer is more than happy to do it when it's necessary!)  Available options include a Bose 9-speaker premium sound system, pushbutton start with E-Z Key Passive Entry, six-way power driver's seat, heated front seats that automatically activate with remote start below 45 degrees, a heated steering wheel, ultrasonic rear parking assist, touchscreen navigation, and premium 18-inch alloy wheels with Manoogian Silver finish.

The 2012 Verano comes standard with seats finished in premium cloth with leatherette bolsters, available in your choice of Cashmere and Medium Titanium.  Upgrading to the Leather group gives you seats finished in the same premium leather found in the 2012 Buick LaCrosse for sale in Columbia SC, and is available in Cashmere, Ebony, and Choccachino. Five exterior colors will be available at launch, including Quicksilver Metallic, Summit White, Black Onyx, Crystal Red Tintcoat, and White Diamond Tricoat, with Mocha Bronze Metallic anticipated to enter production in March of 2012.

Production of the 2012 Buick Verano is slated to start late this year, and will be available from Jim Hudson Buick, South Carolina's #1 Buick dealer.  Columbia drivers love Jim Hudson for its focus on complete customer satisfaction before, during, and after the sale, and have rewarded Jim Hudson by voting them Best New Car Dealership in The State's annual Readers' Choice poll for eleven years in a row and counting.  Jim Hudson Buick is located at 7201 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, and can be reached at (888) 377-4971.  For more information, visit Jim Hudson's Buick inventory in Columbia SC.

Who Doesn't Love Buick LaCrosse's More Powerful V6 for 2012?

The 2012 Buick LaCrosse's available V6 engine offers more power and less weight. (GM Media)

If you've been shopping for a new Buick LaCrosse here in Columbia, South Carolina, odds are you've fallen in love with the powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine available as an option on the 2011 LaCrosse.  For 2012, Buick is making it even more potent by installing the next generation of the engine under the hood of the Buick LaCrosse!

LaCrosse's new engine, code named LFX, puts out 303 horsepower--a 23-horsepower jump from the 2011 model.  By using new designs with lighter components, Buick's engineers also removed over 20 pounds from the total weight of the engine.  This not only means that LaCrosse's handling is improved (as tends to happen when they "add lightness"), but fuel economy numbers will be unchanged from the current model--17 MPG city, 27 MPG highway.

Another welcome change for buyers of the 2012 Buick LaCrosse in Columbia SC is the fact that the optional V6 will be available for no additional cost on all but the base model.  The standard engine in the 2012 Buick LaCrosse is the 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine with eAssist fuel-saving technologies.  eAssist uses a 15-horsepower electric motor and advanced aerodynamics to provide a 25-percent improvement in fuel economy.  This means an estimated 37 highway miles per gallon, while the instantaneous torque of the electric motor should make for improved acceleration from a stop.  (This same technology, standard on the LaCrosse, will be available as an option on the 2012 Buick Regal as well.)

Production of the 2012 Buick LaCrosse gets underway in just a few weeks, and will be available soon from Jim Hudson Buick.  Jim Hudson Buick is the #1 Buick dealer in South Carolina and serves customers with a focus on complete customer satisfaction before, during, and after the sale.  Customers have voted Jim Hudson the Best New Car Dealership in Columbia ten years in a row and counting in The State newspaper's annual Readers' Choice poll.  For more information on the Buick LaCrosse in Columbia SC, call Jim Hudson Buick toll-free at (888) 377-4971 or visit them at 7201 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia.

Columbia Loves Five-Star Crash Test Rated Buick LaCrosse

Today, Buick announced that the 2011 Buick LaCrosse has received a five-star safety rating from the federal government's crash testing regimen. The NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program has become more stringent starting with 2011 models, incorporating more information on technologies that help avoid accidents and the performance of safety features. With a five-star overall rating in both Overall Front Crash and Overall Side Crash, Buick LaCrosse is one of the safest options among luxury midsize sedans.

Beyond LaCrosse's body-frame integral structure uses high-strength steel in strategic places to protect all passengers in the event of an accident. In addition, six airbags come as standard equipment: the standard front airbags for the driver and front passenger, two side airbags in the driver and front passenger seat that deploy in a side impact to protect the torso, and two side curtain airbags that protect the heads of passengers in the outboard seats on both rows. For additional protection, side torso airbags are available for rear-seat passengers as well.

In addition, the Buick LaCrosse in Columbia SC features a host of other safety features designed to reduce the chances of getting into an accident in the first place. An available heads-up display projects critical instruments onto the windshield, allowing you to see them without taking your eyes off the road. In addition, LaCrosse's side blind zone alert system uses radar to alert you to drivers that may be in your blind spot for an additional degree of reassurance beyond your mirrors and checking over your shoulder. This combination of safety features isn't available on the Acura TL in Columbia SC.

Should you find yourself in an accident, know that the Buick LaCrosse is there to help you using OnStar's Automatic Crash Response system. When the system detects you've been in an accident, either because the airbags deployed or because of violent movements of the car, it will attempt to send an alert to OnStar to connect you with a specially-trained OnStar advisor that can summon local emergency services and relay critical information about the nature of the accident to them. OnStar service with turn-by-turn navigation comes standard on every new Buick LaCrosse for six months.

Of course, many Columbia drivers love Buick because it's never one to rest on its laurels. LaCrosse gets even better for 2012 with the introduction of the eAssist system on the four-cylinder model. LaCrosse with eAssist combines the efficient 2.4L four-cylinder engine with a 15-horsepower electric motor to improve acceleration and fuel efficiency. With estimated highway fuel economy of 37 miles per gallon, this LaCrosse with mild hybrid technology is sure to be a hit among Columbia drivers when it arrives later this year.

The 2011 Buick LaCrosse is available now from Jim Hudson Buick in Columbia, South Carolina, South Carolina's #1 Buick dealership. Jim Hudson has over 30 years of experience serving the midlands of South Carolina including Newberry, Sumter, Orangeburg, and Lugoff with a commitment to complete customer satisfaction. Voted Best New Car Dealership ten years and counting by readers of The State, Jim Hudson is the most trusted name in cars in Columbia. For more information on the 2011 Buick LaCrosse, call Jim Hudson Buick toll-free at (888) 377-4971 or visit them at 7201 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, South Carolina.

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!