Cadillac ATS and Buick Encore unveiled at Detroit Auto Show

What Cadillac is calling its "most important launch," the 2013 Cadillac ATS was revealed this week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. 


The ATS is "truly setting us off on a path to be the best of the best," Don Butler said, vice president of marketing for Cadillac, who also called the reveal of the ATS a "hallmark of Cadillac."


Check out the video of the reveal here:

Here's a photo of the reveal...

Another thing that sets apart the ATS from its competitor's compact luxury sedans is Cadillac's CUE system - Cadillac User Experience - that "pairs entertainment and information data from up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, USBs, SD cards and MP3 players with a vehicle infotainment system that reduces complexity through customized information, voice commands and fewer buttons and larger icons. For example, most of today's luxury cars have around 20 buttons controlling the radio and entertainment functions... CUE only has four," according to GM's website.

The ATS also will get more than 30 mpg highway, including grille shutters that close at certain highway speeds to reduce drag. LED lighting will light up the interior of the ATS, that includes real wooden trim, and the door handle will also light up. 

These are just a few of the amazing features of the 2013 Cadillac ATS, which is to hit dealerships this summer. Everyone here at Team Auto Group of Salisbury can't wait to see it in person. 

****************

The 2013 Buick Encore, a small crossover that seats five, has 48.4 cubic feet of storage as the front passenger seat is able to fold flat, along with the back seat. The Encore is capable of all wheel drive, come standard with 10 air bags, and has an Ecotec 1.4 liter turbo 4-cylinder powertrain. There is also a Bluetooth or USB hookup for your phone or other electronic device to be displayed on the 7-inch LCD screen. Navigation and rear cameras are also available, along with heated seats and steering wheel. 

Other options include remote start, rainsense wipers, Bose sound system, driver memory seat, and, quiet-tuning reduction of sounds. 

The Buick Encore won't be available until early 2013, but everyone here at Team Auto Group of Salisbury is ready to see it and drive it. It kind of reminds us of a bigger Chevy Sonic. What do you think?

GM enhancing Chevy Volt following investigation

General Motors has decided to enhance the vehicle structure and battery coolant systems in Chevy Volts, a move that will further protect the battery. The enhancements will protect the battery from catching fire days or weeks after a severe crash. 

The following changes (from GM's website) include external and internal battery protection:

• "Strengthen an existing portion of the Volt's vehicle safety structure to further protect the battery pack in a severe side collision
• Add a sensor in the reservoir of the battery coolant system to monitor coolant levels
• Add a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the battery coolant reservoir to help prevent potential coolant overfill"

"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began its preliminary evaluation on Nov. 25 following a severe-impact lab test on a battery pack that resulted in an electrical fire six days later," GM stated on its website. "The test was conducted to reproduce a coolant leak that occurred in a full-scale vehicle crash test last May that resulted in an electrical fire three weeks later."

Through the first 11 months of 2011, Volt owners drove nearly 20 million miles without an incident similar to the outcome of the tests.

"The Volt has always been safe to drive," Mary Barra said, GM senior vice president of Global Product Development. "Now, we will go the extra mile to ensure our customers' peace of mind in the days and weeks following a severe crash."

Of the enhancements being added, Barra said there are no changes to the Volt battery pack or cell chemistry.

"We have tested the Volt's battery system for more than 285,000 hours, or 25 years, of operation," Barra said. "We're as confident as ever that the cell design is among the safest on the market."

Volt customers will be individually notified when the modifications are available for their vehicles. 

Team Auto Group of Salisbury currently has three Volts... come take one for a test drive!

Chevy Sonic earns five-star safety rating

The Chevy Sonic - both sedan and hatchback models - earned five-star safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week. A five-star rating is the highest possible rating a vehicle can receive after frontal and side crash tests and rollover resistance training. 


The Chevy Sonic comes standard with 10 airbags - front, side and curtain - stability and traction control, and a heavy-duty steel frame. More features are listed below via General Motors. 


Come to Team Auto Group today and test drive a sedan or hatchback model. We have a variety of colors available - red, orange, gray, black... and some fully loaded, some basic. You can also call and make an appointment to come out and see one - 704-216-8000. 

Watch the crash video


From GM:

The Sonic is designed to help drivers avoid crashes, while protecting occupants in a crash. Sonic offers an exceptionally strong body structure through the incorporation of a single welded side ring unit and more than 60 percent of the vehicle safety cage consisting of high-strength steel. Other standard safety features include:

• Driver and front passenger dual-stage frontal air bags, seat-mounted side pelvic/thorax air bags, knee air bags and head curtain side air bags with rollover protection that cover front and outboard rear seating rows. The Sonic also has side impact air bags in the outboard rear seating positions for a total of ten standard air bags.
• Rollover sensors, which can activate the head-curtain side air bags if sensors determine an imminent rollover. In a rollover, the air bags stay inflated longer to provide increased occupant protection.
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control helps the driver maintain control by comparing the path being steered by the driver with the actual response and, when necessary, applying the brakes or adjusting the throttle or a combination of both.
• Power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes with ABS, full-function traction control and panic brake assist that activates when an emergency braking maneuver is detected. The system automatically develops additional brake pressure to more quickly engage ABS
• Front safety belt pretensioners to reduce forward occupant movement and load-limiting retractors to help manage forces during a collision
• OnStar, which features the Automatic Crash Response System that uses GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event that a crash is detected.

Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA introduced tougher tests and more rigorous requirements for its 5-star ratings that provide more information about safety feature performance and crash-avoidance technologies. Changes included a new side pole test simulating a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.