Super Bowl Spot Previews 2013 Cadillac ATS

The on-road performance of the  2013 Cadillac ATS compact luxury sedan will be the focus of a new advertising spot this Sunday during  the U.S. television broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI.

The 30-second spot is available today on Cadillac’s official YouTube channel and Facebook page.

“The ad showcases what will make ATS a serious new challenger against the world’s best compact luxury cars,” said General Motors Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick. “It’s an opportunity to reach a big audience with the message that Cadillac is expanding into new territory.”

The all-new ATS is Cadillac’s entry into the world’s most significant luxury car category. The straight pitch is a contrast to many Super Bowl ads, which use humor and other devices unrelated to the product being pitched.

“The car is the total focus of the ad, with actual testing footage of the ATS,” Ewanick said. “Competing head-to-head in an elite class requires authentic performance.”    

The all-new 2013 ATS begins production this summer at the Lansing (Mich.) Grand River plant.  

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology. More information on Cadillac can be found at media.cadillac.com.

 

Special Offers at Williamson Automotive

Williamson Automotive is your dealership for special deals, offers, discounts, and incentives. Come see our current specials or lease offers or click here to view them online http://bit.ly/AiZ9z0

Service Appointment Request Form At Williamson Automotive

Need to make a service appointment? Please contact one of our Service Advisors at (877) 559-3744 to schedule your service, or click here http://bit.ly/A5txnV to fill out a form and we will reach out to you soon to confirm your appointment. (Please note that Saturday service is first come first served). We look forward to talking to you soon!

Cadillac ATS Wagon rendered

After the North American based automaker has officially presented to the public the new Cadillac ATS at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the model is still attracting all the attention towards it. Our recent news is coming from theophiluschin.com, where a rendering of the ATS Wagon has been made, and we must admit that the model is quite appealing. The Cadillac ATS Wagon might hit the production line in the nearby future, along with a roadster model, which will also be based on the same platform, in order for the automaker to expand the lineup.

The direct competitor to the BMW 3-Series, the Audi A4 or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Cadillac ATS, is powered by a 2.5 liter naturally aspirated inline-four cylinder engine, which is generating a total output of 200 horsepower and it has a peak torque of 188 lb-ft. The model has an average fuel consumption of 30 mpg on the highway and it’s weighing 3.400 pounds. The optional 2.0 liter direct injected turbocharged engine, generating 270 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, will also be available on the Cadillac ATS sedan.

Courtesy of In Auto News

Don't forget about our special offer this month!

Hey Fans! Don't forget to take advantage of our special offer this month. Get an Oil Change, 4 Tire Rotation, and 27-Point Vehicle Inspection for $39.95. Offer ends on January 31st. Click here to get your coupon now.

Hearse That Carried JFK's Body Auctions for $160,000

Just about anything that John F. Kennedy was associated with, in life or in death, has become very, very valuable. And now that list includes another one of the vehicles that transported the former president’s body after his assassination in 1963.

After what was described as a somber viewing for visitors to the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event, the 1964 Cadillac hearse that carried Kennedy’s body to Air Force One in Dallas was sold at the Arizona auction this weekend.

It sold for $160,000, four times what it would typically be worth, relayed one collector car insurance company president to CNNMoney, which reported the sale. A commercial real estate developer, Stephen Tebo, bought the vehicle, and will add it to his collection of over 400 cars. Even though the vehicle sold for a six-figure sum, it was once listed for $1 million on eBay, reported The Arizona Republic. 

The hearse is just the latest JFK-related vehicle to be sold. In August 2010, a Kennedy White House limousine was auctioned for $390,000. And in January of last year, a 1963 Pontiac ambulance that carried the president’s body from Air Force One when in landed in Maryland was sold for $132,000, noted CNNMoney. At the time, the ambulance was said to be a fake by historians cited by Jalopnik. The ambulance’s new owner, Addison Brown, was quoted by Reuters saying that she had “no doubt” the vehicle was real.

Courtesy of Time News Feed

Cadillac CUE Wins Popular Mechanics Award

Cadillac CUE, the new user experience for intuitive in-vehicle connectivity and control, received a Popular Mechanics Top Gadgets of CES 2012: Editors’ Choice Award at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Cadillac was the only automaker selected. The awards were announced on PopularMechanics.com at the conclusion of CES.

Each year at CES, the editors of Popular Mechanics select their top picks based on the level of innovation, potential industry impact and overall appeal. Cadillac presented CUE amid thousands of new products and innovations in the consumer electronics showcase.

“After seeing an earlier demonstration of the system at the Los Angeles Auto Show, I knew it would be a strong candidate for an award at CES,” said Andrew Del-Colle, assistant editor, Popular Mechanics. “The show offered a great opportunity to compare the CUE with many other OEM and aftermarket systems, and it stood out to us for its innovative use of new standards such as HTML 5, as well as for its intuitive user interface.”

CUE features the first automotive use of capacitive touch – the use of electrodes to sense the conductive properties of objects, such as a finger. It is a technology used by many of today’s most popular handheld mobile devices.

Other key aspects of CUE are natural speech recognition, Bluetooth connectivity for up to 10 devices and a motorized concealed storage compartment. The system runs on an ARM 11 3-core processor on a Linux open-source HTML5-based software platform

CUE debuts in production on Cadillac’s 2013 XTS luxury sedan starting in late spring in North America. CUE will also be featured in the all-new 2013 ATS sport sedan launching in North American this summer.

Courtesy of Cadillac Media

Enter To Win And Get A Weekend Rentral Of A Select New Car

Hey Fans! Don't forget to enter to win a weekend rental of a new car on our Facebook page. Models include select Cadillac, Buick or GMC vehicles. Contest ends February 29, 2012. Click here for more details http://on.fb.me/xIRIqH

Special Offer On A New 2012 Buick Regal At Williamson Automotive

Lease a 2012 Buick Regal CXL RL1 now for only $219 a month! Click here for more details on this great offer http://bit.ly/xphmmq

 

Remigio Perez's New Car!

Total Buick Sales Up More Than 14 Percent in 2011

The Buick Enclave remains the cornerstone of the brand’s revitalization, posting the best sales since it launched in 2007. Sales of the fullsize luxury crossover were up 5.4 percent in 2011 with a total of 58,392 sold.

“Enclave continues to be as relevant as the day it entered production,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick and GMC Sales and Service. “It serves as the rock on which we continue to grow the evolving Buick brand.”

Total sales for the brand in 2011 were up 14.3 percent and retail sales were up 14.7 percent. This increase comes with the Verano luxury sedan just arriving at dealers and the phasing out of the fullsize Lucerne.

Verano was recently named a  Top Safety Pick for 2012 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. With Verano, every Buick is now an IIHS Top Safety Pick.  

December 2011 was a strong month for Buick’s individual sedan models. LaCrosse, including models with fuel-saving eAssist technology, had its best month of the year with a retail sales increase of 5.3 percent over the prior year. LaCrosse with eAssist was recently named The Detroit News Car of the Year.

The Regal luxury sport sedan family, which grew in 2011 to include a fuel-efficient eAssist model and the performance-oriented Regal GS, ended the year on a positive note by finishing first in a November 2011 comparison test in Car and Driver magazine.

And the Regal GS’s turbocharged 2.0L, which makes 135 horsepower per liter, was named to the WardsAuto World 2012 “10 Best Engines” list for North America.

The Buick family will add another member, the Encore crossover, to its growing portfolio. This five-passenger crossover will officially debut at this month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit and arrive in showrooms by the first quarter of next year.

Courtesy of Buick Media

The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program

Receive up to $100,000 over four years! You are making a difference. In your classroom and in your community. If you have the passion to succeed—especially in fields of study important to the automotive and related industries—the Buick Achievers Scholarship Program is looking for you. This year, we will award 1,100 scholarships, including 100 renewable scholarships of up to $25,000 per year.

Are you the next Buick Achiever? Click here for more details http://bit.ly/ePlJ90

 

The Cadillac ATS reveal at the North American International Auto Show

Watch as the all-new Cadillac ATS is revealed to the world.

2013 Buick Encore Takes the Stage

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 Buick Media

Current Special On A New 2012 GMC Terrain at Williamson Automotive

There's only 15 days left to take advantage of our special offer on this 2012 GMC Terrain. Lease this vehicle for only $249 a month! For more information on this special click here http://bit.ly/wp9TY7

 

 

Cadillac Donates Super Bowl XLVI Tickets

Cadillac  will again support CureDuchenne and its fight against muscular dystrophy in young boys by donating its corporate Super Bowl XLVI tickets in a charity auction to raise awareness and money for the organization.

CureDuchenne, a non-profit based in Newport Beach, Calif., will auction 19 Super Bowl XLVI packages provided by Cadillac. Each package includes hotel accommodations and a pair of tickets to Super Bowl XLVI, scheduled to be played Sunday, Feb. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The auction runs on the charity auction website charitybuzz.com through Jan. 25.  . Proceeds will benefit leading edge research to eventually find a cure for Duchenne, a progressive form of Muscular Dystrophy. Beginning this week, Cadillac will debut a series of announcements featuring NFL Linebacker Clay Matthews to promote the auction.

“This is a meaningful way to support this great innovative organization for this year’s Super Bowl,” said Don Butler, Cadillac vice president of Global Marketing. “This is a disease that knows no boundaries and deeply affects families – including some right here in our own family at Cadillac.”

Matthews, a member of the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers and three-time Pro Bowl nominee, says he is proud to lend his time and support.

“I consider myself very fortunate to be a voice for Duchenne and the CureDuchenne organization,” he said. “With the help and support of Cadillac, and so many great people across the globe, CureDuchenne is getting closer to finding a cure for this devastating disease.”

Currently 20,000 boys and young men are affected by Duchenne in the United States. It is a genetic disease that occurs in one of 3,500 boys worldwide. Boys with Duchenne are usually diagnosed by the age of five, in a wheelchair by age 12, and may be completely paralyzed by their late teens. Historically, most Duchenne patients do not live to see adulthood.

Duchenne can occur in any family, from any race and from any background. Currently, there is no cure, but for the first time there is hope that the current research may result in treatments which will greatly improve the lives of Duchenne boys.

“Last year’s ticket donation raised significant dollars and helped us fund leading-edge, gene therapy research and a dedicated Duchenne clinic at UCLA,” said Debra Miller, who founded CureDuchenne with her husband in 2003. “Our mission of extending and improving the lives of the 300,000 boys worldwide afflicted with Duchenne is more likely realized because of Cadillac’s generosity.”

Cadillac began its support of the CureDuchenne organization in 2010, when its Super Bowl XLV ticket auction  raised more than $500,000 for the organization. That was followed by a contest on the American Chopper series on the Discovery Channel last summer. “American Chopper” challenged the highly competitive father-and-son duo Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. in a contest to design and build the best Cadillac design-inspired chopper.

To date, Cadillac has helped raise more than $750,000 for CureDuchenne and expects this year’s ticket auction to top last year’s.

Courtesy of Cadillac Media

2011 Cadillac DTS Premium Collection

Check out the 2011 Cadillac DTS Premium Collection available at Williamson Automotive! Have peace of mind and no worries with this purchase, it includes a Carfax Title History report. It will only look like you spent a fortune with our great prices. Click here for more details http://bit.ly/vD6yFE

2013 Cadillac ATS Challenges the Status Quo

• All-new, lightweight, rear-wheel-drive architecture with one of the lowest curb weights in the segment – less than 3,400 pounds (1,542 kg)
• Broad lineup of engines, including two four-cylinders and a V-6 for North America, capitalizes on lightweight structure for performance with efficiency
• Cadillac CUE, a comprehensive, in-vehicle experience that merges intuitive design with auto industry-first controls and commands for information and entertainment data

DETROIT – Cadillac introduced the 2013 ATS, an all-new compact luxury sports sedan intended to challenge the world’s best premium cars. Developed on an all-new, lightweight vehicle architecture, Cadillac’s entry into the world’s most significant luxury car segment goes on sale this summer.

The rear-drive ATS brings Cadillac’s blend of technologically driven performance, elegance and design to a new audience of spirited drivers. Its sophisticated driving experience is enhanced with Cadillac CUE, a comprehensive, in-vehicle user experience that merges intuitive design with industry-first controls and commands for information and media data.

“Designed with quick, nimble and fun-to-drive dynamics, ATS expands Cadillac’s portfolio into a crucial global segment,” said Don Butler, vice president of marketing for Cadillac. “For a new group of luxury consumers, this is a car that will fit their lifestyle and challenge the segment’s status quo.”

The Cadillac ATS is a new expression of Cadillac’s Art & Science execution philosophy, built on a foundation of driving dynamics and mass efficiency. It is the most agile and lightweight Cadillac, with one of the lowest curb weights in the segment – less than 3,400 pounds (1,542 kg).

Germany’s famed Nürburgring served as one of the key testing grounds, along with additional roads, racetracks and laboratories around the globe, ATS engineers balanced performance with Cadillac’s trademark refinement. Contributing components and features include:

• Nearly 50/50 weight balance
• Cadillac’s first five-link independent rear suspension using lightweight, high-strength steel and efficient straight link designs
• A multi-link double-pivot MacPherson-strut front suspension with direct-acting stabilizer bar
• Driver-adjustable FE3 sport suspension with Magnetic Ride Control real-time damping
• Underbody aerodynamic shields
• Premium (belt driven) electric variable-effort steering gear from ZF Steering Systems
• Four-channel ABS with available Brembo performance brakes
• Available all-wheel drive

“More than just another new entry, the ATS aims to change the status quo of the European-dominated segment,” said Butler. “That is why our approach in all elements of its development is so extensive and focused.”

A broad lineup of engines – including two four-cylinders and a V-6 for North America – delivers strong power to the ATS and capitalizes on the car’s lightweight structure to complement its performance with efficiency. The optional engines include an all-new 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 270 horsepower (201 kW) and Cadillac’s award-winning 3.6L V-6, estimated at 320 horsepower (238 kW).

At 135hp/L, the new 2.0T is one of the most power-dense engines in the industry, topping engines from European competitors. ATS will offer both manual and automatic transmission options, along with rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive configurations.

The ATS will deliver peak highway fuel economy of more than 30 mpg.

A spirit of lightness and balance

Making the ATS one of the segment’s lightest cars was a fundamental criterion for and the guiding principle during its development, but it was done in a nuanced manner that ensures a refined driving experience.

“Low weight gives the ATS a more nimble and controllable feel, while also optimizing the performance and efficiency of the powertrains,” said David Masch, ATS chief engineer. “But we were careful to manage the weight while maintaining Cadillac’s signature levels of refinement.”

Optimizing the ATS’s mass was the result of a four-pronged philosophy that included strict adherence to original architectural goals, measured load management throughout the vehicle, benchmarking components to see if lighter solutions were available and an overall culture that “weighed” the mass of every component in the car against all aspects of its development.

An aluminum hood, magnesium engine mount brackets and even lightweight, natural-fiber door trim panels contribute to the ATS’s low overall mass – and reflect the systematic approach of evaluating every gram that went into the car. But some weight was deemed not only beneficial, but essential to the ATS’s driving experience. An example is the cast iron differential: Engineers found they could improve fuel economy with a cast iron differential rather than a lighter aluminum version.

And while the rear suspension is mostly steel, the focus on load management and straight links enabled significant weight savings without using alternate materials. This helps offset the weight of the engine and transmission at the front of the vehicle, helping the ATS deliver its near-perfect 50/50 weight balance, while also contributing to lower noise and vibration. A similar approach was taken on the wheels, where extra structural aluminum was strategically added to further reduce vibration.

“We approached development by counting all the grams in the ATS,” said Masch. “We minimized them where we could and put them to the best use where they were needed.”

Tailored design weaves in signature style and refinement

The 2013 Cadillac ATS interprets Cadillac’s Art & Science design language in a new proportion, tailoring the signature styling and refinement cues for the most compact Cadillac while upholding – and advancing – the exemplary attention to detail and technological elements for which the brand is known.

A long, 109.3-inch (2,775 mm) wheelbase and wide front/rear tracks are the cornerstones of the ATS’s firmly planted stance, which is enhanced by short overhangs and taut sheet metal that appears to wrap tightly around the tires. Seventeen-inch wheels are standard and 18-inch wheels are available.

Bold vertical lighting elements – including new LED front signature lighting detail – as well as illuminating door handles and active grille shutters lend technologically advanced style and function to the ATS. The grille shutters close at certain highway speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag and enhance fuel economy.

A driver-focused interior with integrated technology and crafted materials complements the exterior elements and supports the ATS’s driving experience. Everything from the placement of the pedals to the position of the shifter is designed for effortless and intuitive performance driving. Available performance seats have power-adjustable bolsters to optimize lateral support during high-load cornering.

Contributing to the interior’s intuitive feel is an instrument panel that wraps into the doors and a center stack in the mid-instrument panel that flows into the center console. LED lighting for the bold gauge cluster enables clear, at-a-glance viewing in all lighting conditions, while ambient lighting accents functional elements of the console and doors.

Real wood, plated metal plating and carbon fiber trim and Cadillac’s cut-and-sew instrument panel, console and doors enhance the emotional connection to the ATS. Choices of many interior color themes, each with unique accent trim material, cover a wide range of flavors – from light, open and warm to black and serious, to bold, technical and sporty.

CUE and ATS technologies

The ATS is offered with Cadillac CUE, a comprehensive, in-vehicle experience that merges intuitive design with auto industry-first controls and commands for information and entertainment data. It is designed to be unique for each consumer, from the “simple user” to the fully connected “super user.”

CUE, which stands for Cadillac User Experience, 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 has only four.

The heart of CUE is the eight-inch LCD multi-touch sensitive screen, seamlessly integrated into the top of the central instrument panel and a motorized fully capacitive faceplate at the bottom concealing a 1.8L storage area. The vibrant LCD screen displays CUE’s home page, which resembles a smart phone’s screen by using large, easy-to-target icons to execute commands. Capacitive technology refers to using electrodes to sense the conductive properties of objects, such as a finger.

In addition to CUE, the ATS is offered with other technologies, including:

• Bluetooth phone connectivity with voice recognition
• USB, auxiliary and SD memory card ports
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three-month trial subscription
• Keyless access and keyless push-button start
• Reconfigurable 5.7-inch instrument panel cluster display
• Full-color reconfigurable heads-up display.

The ATS is offered as a well-equipped standard model and in Luxury, Performance and Premium Collections. A Bose® Cabin Surround audio system is offered on the standard model, as well as Luxury and Performance Collections. It is standard with the Premium Collection. A navigation system is also available with Luxury and Performance Collections and standard with the Premium Collection.

‘Control and alert’ safety strategy

Safety in the ATS is based on Cadillac’s “control and alert” strategy that employs advanced technologies – including radar, cameras and ultrasonic sensors – to help prevent crashes.

The safety features bolster driver vision and awareness of road hazards, and intervenes to help the driver avert potential crashes. In some cases, Cadillac’s advanced crash-avoidance systems will act without the driver, such as automatic braking, which will activate based on information indicating potential hazards.

Among the most sophisticated of the features is Front and Rear Automatic Brakes. This relies on short-range radar technology and ultrasonic sensors to help the driver prevent front and rear low-speed collisions via a progression of alerts that extend to complete braking, if necessary.

Optional advanced safety features include:

• Full Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control
• Intelligent Brake Assist
• Forward Collision Alert
• Brake Pre-Fill Automatic Collision Preparation
• Lane Departure Warning
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Vision Camera With Dynamic Guidelines
• Adaptive Forward Lighting
• Hill Hold/Start Assist (Standard, manual transmission)

The advanced technology safety features complement the ATS’s roster of other safety features, including eight standard air bags (10 with optional features), safety belt pretensioners and load limiters, StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with traction control and four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS.

ATS also features OnStar standard for one year. It can use GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of a crash. OnStar service also includes myCadillac and OnStar myLink mobile apps, which offer vehicle information, controls and OnStar services via the customer’s iPhone or Android smart phone.

Courtesy of Cadillac Media

2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Premium For Sale At Williamson Automotive

Enhance your driveway today with this great pre-owned vehicle that has been thoroughly inspected for your buying confidence. Click here to view a 2012 Cadillac Escalade for sale at Williamson Automotive http://bit.ly/xC3CQQ

Contextual Research Drives Innovative Tech Design

Cadillac CUE, the new design and technical system for connectivity and control debuting in the Cadillac XTS, aims to solve the biggest frustration for drivers – creating an intuitive user interface.

Breaking new ground required learning how people interact with mobile devices inside their cars, even if that meant the tough assignment of going on vacation with consumers.

Cadillac is sharing what it learned and more on the creation of CUE – Cadillac User Experience – at the 2012 Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Among the many innovations to come from the research was proximity sensing, natural voice recognition, haptic feedback and our unique capacitive touch screen with the concealed storage compartment behind the user interface.

 “Cadillac CUE enables drivers to put the smartphone or tablet away, while channeling the capability and media from those devices through the car, via an elegant and intuitive user experience,” says Jim Vurpillat, Cadillac global marketing director.

Using a clean sheet approach, Cadillac revisited not just the hardware, but the entire interaction between driver and car. Topping the list was the user interface, which in the automotive industry has been an Achilles’ heel for users and critics alike.

The CUE team, made up of designers, engineers and software developers, used a consumer-focused methodology called Contextual Design. It’s a process in which interviewers immerse themselves into the lives of users to understand the most subtle aspects of how they use products, how they work around shortcomings, and how they’d wish for improvements.

So team members rode along with luxury car owners on daily commutes, tagged along on vacations and sometimes squeezed in the back seats with families and groceries. The team constantly sketched their observations, no matter how mundane. Sometimes the observations were troubling, such as cell phones stuffed into cup holders or door pockets for constant reference while driving.

When the team members returned, they categorized thousands of observations, affixing them to a long wall at the General Motors Design Center in Warren, Mich. The CUE team would “walk the wall” to analyze driver frustrations, identify possible new capabilities, and look for common threads of where existing systems were failing or frustrating users. From there, they began to devise solutions.

“Navigation systems, for example, often ask users to input destination information in reverse. They’d have to first input the state, then the city, then the address,” said CUE Interaction Designer Cody Hansen. “That’s unnatural, and we also knew the system could be smart enough to let them enter a destination the way they would typically write it or say it, and even auto-fill the complete address the next time they begin to enter it.”

Eventually, common threads emerged. The team created eight distinct personas or driver archetypes that represented driver personalities, each with priorities for how to optimally use technology inside the car.

“’Spencer’ needed to respond to text messages immediately. ‘‘Emily’ wanted to listen to music from her phone, her iPod and her flash drive,” Hansen said. “We began to model what would represent system designs for all eight driver personas – from both a physical and a software perspective.”

The CUE team began building what would become an extensive design and engineering specification manual that included more than 1,500 pages of storyboards, functions and program wireframes. HMI (Human-machine Interface) state charts were another design artifact the team created that described the detailed interactive behavior of the system to be programmed.

Among the breakthroughs the CUE team developed: proximity sensing that minimizes the display when not in use; capacitive touch screen with haptic feedback; natural voice recognition; icon-based menu functions with home screen and customizable shortcut menu bars, and a concealed storage compartment behind the user interface. The haptic feedback gives users a pulsing sensation when the select menu items while capacitive touch screen allows for swipe and pinching gestures to move and resize items on the main screen.

The team also learned it needed to design for the future. The answer: Opening up the Linux-based CUE platform to developers. That will help ensure that CUE can stay ahead of changes in technology and remain relevant and useful throughout the automotive lifecycle, which is many months longer than the consumer electronic devices that connect to CUE.

“It was great to see the process work through a very complex set of functions and design parameters, and to bring structure to the design and innovation process,” said Larry Marturano, director and business manager at InContext Design, which helped facilitate the contextual research.

Cadillac will offer CUE starting with the new XTS luxury sedan in spring of 2012 and in the ATS compact luxury sedan, followed by the SRX luxury crossover.

Among CUE’s features are a vibrant 8-inch LCD capacitive touch main screen with icon-based menu functions, audio functions which include AM/FM/HD Radio and Sirius XM capability, along with fully integrated iPod/MP3 player connectivity and music library indexing across multiple devices. It also includes built-in 3D navigation with turn-by-turn, natural speech recognition and auto-fill location input.

Additional features include LCD instrument panel cluster displays with a fully configurable 12.2-inch screen optional on certain models, multi-function steering wheel controls which control phones, navigation, audio systems; optional heads-up display, and a standard driver information center in the main instrument panel.

Courtesy of Cadillac Media

OnStar

Built into more than 30 GM models, OnStar keeps you safely connected while in your vehicle. With OnStar, you'll enjoy services like Automatic Crash Response, Navigation, Roadside Assistance and Hands-Free calling. Learn more about it here http://bit.ly/zgMUoX

2012 GMC Loyalty Rewards at Williamson Automotive

Loyalty has its rewards. Find great offers for GMC owners here http://bit.ly/xpKNBw

Start The Year Off Right Event

Lets have a great start to the new year! Now is the perfect time to take advantage of exceptional offers from Cadillac. Click here for more details http://bit.ly/Ar1dky

Road Test: Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum

In the world of tow-and-show, nothing makes a bigger impression than the Cadillac Escalade.

The luxurious behemoth can haul seven passengers and 4 tons of trailer weight while dazzling passersby with its bejeweled exterior. This is a workhorse and a show horse.

The name Escalade is derived from a siege warfare tactic of scaling castle walls with ladders or siege towers. If you can afford this vehicle, you probably live inside a castle already.

With prices beginning at $64,120, Escalade is offered in three body styles. The model range includes the Escalade, the extended-length Escalade ESV and the reconfigurable Escalade EXT.

Escalade and Escalade ESV are available in all-wheel-drive and rear-drive configurations. The Escalade EXT sport utility truck features standard, full-time AWD. All models are powered by a 6.2-liter V-8 engine rated at 403 horsepower.

Escalade Platinum stands at the top of the line and comes with the world's fastest responding automatic suspension system. A hybrid version mitigates the Escalade's thirst for fuel with 50 percent better fuel economy and just slightly less overall power than the standard V-8 versions.

The vehicle tested was an ESV with Platinum trim that provided tremendous power, comfort and luxury features. What it lacked was a degree of maneuverability and fuel economy. It burned premium unleaded at the rate of 13 city and 18 highway miles per gallon for an average of 14 mpg.

The ride quality was outstanding, providing a quiet interior and smooth passage over rough road surfaces. Magnetic ride control, unique to the Platinum edition, includes a real-time damping system that reads the road in 1-millisecond intervals and responds through electronically controlled shocks.

Additional standard interior features include Platinum-specific doorsills and floor mats, a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled cup holders and a power lift gate. In addition to the roof-mounted rear seat entertainment system, the Platinum Edition includes dual DVD screens integrated into the rear of the front headrests. Each has its own player and controls and can be operated independently or in tandem.

Escalade and Escalade ESV models seat up to eight, with capacious cargo room when the third-row seat is removed. Escalade EXT seats five. The seductive instrument panel presents gauges with white needles and blue light inlays with continuously lit, white-LED backlighting. An enhanced navigation system with more features is also standard for 2012.

 

Courtesy of Scripps Howard News Service

$39.95 Certified Service Special at Williamson Automotive

Hey fans! Check out our coupon for this month. $39.95 for Certified Service at Williamson Automotive. Includes Oil Change, 4 Tire Rotation, and 27-Point Vehicle Inspection. Click here for more details http://on.fb.me/vysUYa

The Buick Holiday Event

Today is the last day to take advantage of our greatest offers of the year. Come stop by today, we look forward to seeing you! Click here for more details http://bit.ly/zqF3DB

Ten Little Known Things About GMC

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 GMC News