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. 

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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.

Team Auto Group's Best-Selling Cars of 2011 Are....

 Drum roll, please.... Introducing the four top-selling cars at Team Auto Group of Salisbury for 2011: Chevrolet Cruze, Chevy Malibu, Chevy Silverado and Chevrolet Equinox!

It should come as no surprise that the Chevrolet Cruze was a top-selling car in Salisbury, because it happens to currently be the top-selling car in the United States! You can get a new one for under $20,000, which comes with 10 standard airbags, is turbo-charged and the Cruze Eco gets up to 42 mpg on the highway! 

The Chevy Malibu was also another popular choice in 2011, which might have something to do with being Consumer Digest's "Best Buy" for the third year in a row. A mid-sized sedan that gets 33 mpg on the highway, and starts at $21,000... who wouldn't pass it up?

 

Trucks continue to be a huge need here in Salisbury, and the Chevy Silverado became one of Team Auto Group's best-sellers for 2011. The Silverado, that comes standard with 20-inch chrome clad aluminum wheels, 300 horsepower and 300 lb - foot torque, is great for hauling things around.

Last but definitely not least, the Chevrolet Equinox was also among the top four vehicles sold in 2011. The Equinox, a crossover SUV, gets the best gas mileage in its class topping out at 32 mpg on the highway. There are also 18 storage areas around the car for laptops, kid's toys, and more, and also comes with a forward collision alert, meaning, if you're coming up to someone at a light or someone in front of you on the road, and the car senses you may be getting too close, it will alert you. 

So, that's it.. the Top Four for 2011. I wonder what 2012 will bring???? 

Everyone here at Team Auto Group wishes you a great start to 2012!

Mary Kay keeps Salisbury woman behind the wheel of GM

Melissa Waller worked at Food Lion's corporate office in Salisbury for 15 years, and during her fifteenth year, decided to start selling Mary Kay Cosmetics. She was able to quit her corporate job and work full time for Mary Kay, where she has been for the past 16 years. 


A single mother, Waller was "very part time" 16 years ago when she began her journey with Mary Kay, she said, but was able to build her business and is now a Sales Director and on her eighth free car with Mary Kay. 


"It's do-able for anyone, truly," she said. 


Last week Melissa and some of her sales team members stopped by Team Auto Group to pick up her 2011 Chevy Malibu adorned with a big red bow and bouquet of pink balloons - Mary Kay's signature color. 


Melissa gives her sales team a lot of credit for her success.
"It's not just me, it's my leadership with people that creates the amount of money that it takes to earn the cars," she said, noting that about the top 10 percent of the company drives around in Mary Kay cars. 


Mary Kay Ash founded Mary Kay in 1963, and in 1968 purchased her first pink Cadillac. Mary Kay, Inc. is now a leader is cosmetics, totaling $2.5 billion in wholesale sales. Mary Kay does not test on animals, the first cosmetic company to stop testing in the 1980's. And 39,000 women are sales directors around the world, just like Melissa. 


Congratulations, Melissa! We are so happy for your success in Mary Kay, and hope you enjoy your Chevy Malibu (and the free car washes)! 


Check out the photos and video below highlighting Melissa's pick-up of her eighth Mary Kay car, a 2011 Chevy Malibu.

Video:

Want to win $10,000????

Chevrolet has decided to take its coveted Super Bowl XLVI 30-second commercial space and let consumers decide what will be played for millions across the globe.

Today Chevrolet introduced the Chevrolet Route 66 film contest that allows independent film makers from 32 different countries offer their take on Chevrolet's "Everyday Hero." There are 50 videos total, and anyone can vote and share their favorite. Not only will the director behind the video win cash and have their commercial aired during the Super Bowl, the person who shared the video the most will win $10,000. You also have to submit a small but inspiring essay to start sharing videos. Top prize is $10,000, second is $3,500 and third is $1,500. 

My two favorites are "School's Out," and "Miss Van Der Volt." 

"School's Out" features a teacher (who happens to drive a Camaro SS) and instead of the kids running out the door when the dismissal bell rings, they all follow their teacher out to his car, and one kid says, "I want to be a teacher when I grow up," which is followed by the narrator saying, "From today's role models to tomorrow's brightest minds... Chevy Runs Deep."

"Miss Van Der Volt" features a woman who turns the ignition of a neighbor's Chevy Volt and turns into a superhero, helping a man propose to his future wife, and helping fetch a stuffed animal out of a tree for a little girl. "For the everyday hero in you, the Chevy Volt. From fantasy to reality, Chevy Runs Deep."

Visit the website - http://chevroletroute66.msn.com/ - to view and vote on your own. And for a chance to win cash! It's pretty easy... just share through your Facebook account!

'Tis the Season!

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the dealership... cars were flying off the lot! We had a lot of folks come in last week and purchase a few cars before the holiday. Check out some of their videos. Everyone here at Team Auto Group of Salisbury hopes you and your family had a wonderful holiday!