Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Cadillac XTS Safety Seat Alerts Drivers to Dangers
When the all-new Cadillac XTS luxury sedan begins production this spring, it will be the industry’s first car to use directional tactile sensation – vibrations of the driver’s seat bottom – to warn of crash threats while driving and parking.
The patented Cadillac Safety Alert Seat generates vibrating pulse patterns on the left and/or right side of the lower bolster to alert the driver of potential dangers, such as drifting from a traffic lane or toward nearby objects while parking. Threats from the front and rear trigger pulses on both sides of the seat.
“It’s good to see automakers experimenting with new technology to help communicate to drivers when their driving is about to get them into trouble,” said Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “We commend GM for their innovative use of haptic feedback and hope that drivers find it helpful.”
The system works in tandem with other visual alerts, and research shows that it can quickly and accurately focus driver attention to the direction of potential dangers.
“It’s akin to someone tapping on your shoulder in a crowd to get your attention,” said, General Motors Active Safety Technical Fellow Raymond Kiefer. “Using the tactile sense to communicate crash threat direction provides an effective and intuitive way to cut through the clutter of visual and auditory sensory information that drivers routinely experience.”
The seats are part of the Cadillac Driver Awareness and Driver Assist packages, a combination of active safety systems designed to help drivers avoid crashes. The Driver Awareness Package, available for the launch of the Cadillac XTS this spring, includes Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
The Driver Assist Package, available this fall, also uses the Safety Alert Seat and features Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Collision Preparation, and Front and Rear Automatic Braking Systems.
The Drive Assist Awareness and Driver Assist packages will also be available this year in the Cadillac ATS luxury sedan and SRX luxury crossover.
According to Kiefer, GM research shows that the seat may direct driver attention to the location of a crash threat more quickly and accurately than beeping alerts.
“Vibrating alerts also may help drivers who do not hear beeping alerts due to hearing loss or competing noises, and may be preferred by drivers and passengers who might be annoyed by beeps and shut crash avoidance features off,” Kiefer said. “The last thing we want is for drivers to turn off features with safety benefits.”
The Safety Alert Seat works with a variety of sensors and cameras installed in the car that help “intelligently” decide when to activate warnings. For example, if a turn signal is on, lane departure warnings are not presented.
Safety Alert Seat vibrations can be selected by the driver, via an in-vehicle menu, to replace the audible beeping alerts used across much of the industry.
The seats also will be connected to the XTS Park Assist system and Rear Cross Traffic Alert system to help make parking in tight spaces easier.
Using exterior cameras, drivers can see the outside of the car along with dynamic parking guides on the eight-inch LCD screen, located on the center instrument panel. As the car backs up, the seat provides a few quick pulses to both sides of the seat when an object is first detected directly behind the car, and then provides repeated pulses when an object is closer. Meanwhile, the Rear Cross Traffic Alert system looks for approaching cross traffic behind the vehicle that is signaled with either left or right pulses to the driver.
“We feel customers will appreciate the intuitive elegance of the Safety Alert Seat, and more importantly, will appreciate the ‘good vibrations’ afforded by the features linked to this seat,” Kiefer said.
Courtesy of Cadillac Media
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
O’Connell Second, Pilgrim Third in Round 2 for Team Cadillac in World Challenge St. Petersburg Grand Prix
Team Cadillac capped a tremendous opening weekend in St. Petersburg with a double-podium finish on Sunday, as Johnny O’Connell finished second and Andy Pilgrim third in Round 2 of the Pirelli World Challenge Series.
That means the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe drivers are first and third in the points heading to Round 3 next month at Long Beach, and Cadillac is a point off the lead in the Manufacturers’ points as well.
Lawson Aschenbach led all 29 laps to post the victory, and O’Connell and Pilgrim were in hot pursuit most of those laps. In the end, Aschenbach crossed the finish line 4.591 seconds ahead of the Team Cadillac duo.
The weekend could not have gone better for Cadillac, said Pilgrim.
“I was hoping we would both get top-fives this weekend and get out of here,” said Pilgrim. “You never know with this place. There’s a lot of damaged equipment for a street race. I’m very happy with third today, Johnny got a great win yesterday and for me, it’s always a team deal, but I’m glad to be on the podium.”
“We’re out of here with two top-fours and I’m happy.”
Technical Director Steve Cole said much the same.
“This was just about perfect for us this weekend,” he quipped. “We got a victory and four top-four finishes. That puts us in great shape heading to Long Beach.”
At the start, Pilgrim’s shifter stuck in first gear and wouldn’t release, and it cost him three spots. O’Connell sneaked past for fourth behind Aschenbach and the Volvos of Alex Figge and Randy Pobst.
Full-course cautions slowed the first part of the race, and there was little change in the running order until Figge and O’Connell made contact on a restart. Fighting for position into Turn 1, Figge’s car sustained suspension damage that ended his day.
A few laps later, Pobst had a mechanical issue and slowed, finally pulling off and out of the race.
“I got past Figge on a restart, and there was inch from my mirror to the wall and an inch over to him,” O’Connell said. “Somebody got into the back of me, and I had Randy Pobst outside of me. The smart thing was to let him have the position, and hopefully he’d come back to me. Sure enough, a few laps later, he had an issue.”
That set up the run to the finish, and while both Cadillacs were fast, they were unable to reel in the speedy leader.
“It was tough,” O’Connell admitted. “I was pushing so hard, and I was hoping that Lawson would get caught in traffic or make a mistake, but he didn’t. I couldn’t get close enough, but it’s still a great weekend for Cadillac. I couldn’t get a good run at him, and I didn’t allow myself to get into position to get one. On the last restart, I got tagged a little bit from behind and that messed me up a little bit in trying to set him up for Turn 3.”
Pilgrim didn’t let O’Connell forget he was back there, either.
“It seemed like I was quicker than everyone through certain parts of the course, but I gave up some time in others,” Pilgrim said.
O’Connell was aware of his teammate’s presence.
“I just put my head down and pushed as hard as I could. Andy was faster than me at some places, but I was better than him in others. He faded back there a little bit, and I was thinking he was saving his tires for a late run.”
In all, however, Team Cadillac posted a first, a second, a third and a fourth in two races.
After the first two rounds, O’Connell leads the driver points, 265-239, over Aschenbach, with Pilgrim third at 204. In the Manufacturers’ standings, Porsche leads with 17 and Cadillac is a point behind with 16.
The first two rounds of the Pirelli World Challenge season will be broadcast on NBC Sports, Sunday, April 8 at 4:30-6 p.m. EDT. The races will also be broadcast on www.world-challengeTV.com after initial broadcast.
The next race for Team Cadillac is April 13-15 in the annual Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Courtesy of Cadillac Media
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Cadillac Signature Styling Enhances ATS Performance
The 2013 Cadillac ATS’s all-new vehicle architecture provided Cadillac designers with the unique opportunity to tailor the compact luxury sedan’s styling and refinement cues to improve driving performance. This aspect of the ATS’s development is highlighted in the fifth chapter of a YouTube video series.
“The primary function of the ATS is to be a driver’s car, fun to drive, nimble and quick,” said Bob Boniface, Cadillac exterior design director. “It has a great powertrain, great chassis, so we wanted the exterior design to reinforce that message. We worked very closely with Engineering to ensure our design met all of the performance metrics they had set out.”
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.
Cadillac’s prominent shield grille is more agile and athletic, featuring active grille shutters that close at certain highway speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag and enhance fuel economy. The center, high mounted stop light (CHMSL) on the rear decklid provides downforce to improve aerodynamic performance.
“When you start a new program, a new architecture, it’s much different than re-skinning something else. The opportunity is both challenging and rewarding,” said Taki Karras, Cadillac ATS exterior design manager. “The ATS has a lot of gesture in the line work and that leads to the overall performance nature.”
The ATS’s clay models and full sheet metal models spent hundreds of hours in wind tunnel testing to reduce wind noise and drag, improve air flow and performance 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
“I think what will surprise people most when they get in the ATS is we’ve given them a beautiful driving environment with plenty of space in what seems like a small exterior,” said Eric Clough, Cadillac interior design director.
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.
“When you drive this car, its combination of design, powertrain and engineering and interior design. It’s the entire package,” Boniface said. “This isn’t just another car, it’s a Cadillac.”
Courtesy of Cadillac Media
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Cadillac CTS "Front to Back" | Multi-Angle
Many of you were surprised to learn that our CTS ad with the two vehicles driving side-by-side was 100% authentic. Now, as promised, we're giving you all the extended footage of our amazing drivers in action.
Spring Selling Event At Williamson Automotive
Williamson Automotive is your dealership for special deals, offers, discounts, and incentives. Check out our Spring Selling Event here http://bit.ly/wFFrpu 
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Experience Buick Gives Customers All-Inclusive Luxury
Buick is announcing a new initiative that supports the brand’s mission to redefine itself as a modern luxury automaker and leader in customer satisfaction. Experience Buick offers the security and convenience of a 24-month lease that includes routine maintenance, an OnStar Directions and Connections plan and SiriusXM radio, all bundled into one simple monthly payment.
Buick sales have increased two years in a row with four all-new or significantly revised products introduced during the same period. At the same time, many Buick dealerships across the country are in the process of makeovers. Experience Buick is available on all models – the Enclave luxury crossover SUV and the LaCrosse, Regal and Verano luxury sedans.
“New drivers continue to find the Buick brand,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick and GMC Sales and Service. “The vehicle lineup has never been stronger, and our dealer network continues to modernize its facilities. The Experience Buick program represents the next step in the brand’s reinvention by providing buyers two full years of all-inclusive, worry-free driving.”
Also included in every Experience Buick lease is a bumper-to-bumper warranty for the duration of the lease and beyond – four years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first). Routine maintenance includes services like oil changes and tire rotations.
Experience Buick should help build lasting relationships between customers and dealerships, according to DMEautomotive, a marketing solutions and research provider in Daytona Beach, Fla.
“Programs like this are a strong strategy for raising customer retention rates,” said Doug Van Sach, DMEautomotive vice president of Strategy & Analytics and author of “The Changing Service Loyalty Landscape” white paper. “By removing cost from the decision about where to service a vehicle, Buick is creating the opportunity for dealers to establish a service relationship with their customers based on expertise and workmanship rather than on discounts and promotions.”
“Because the leases are all-inclusive, younger buyers, who are more price sensitive, will be inclined to return to a dealership for their service needs,” Van Sach said.
The Experience Buick lease is offered through Ally Financial.
Courtesy of Buick Media
Monday, March 19, 2012
Request A Quote On Tires At Williamson Automotive
Do you need new tires? It's easy to get the price on tires from our dealership! Just complete the form here http://bit.ly/FPTT6b to provide our service department with the information they need to prepare your tire quote.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Cadillac Named 2012 Customer Service Champion
Cadillac was recognized as a 2012 Customer Service Champion at the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Roundtable in Orlando, Fla. The luxury automaker was one of only 50 companies out of 800 studied to earn the distinction.
To qualify for inclusion, a company must excel within its own industry and stand out among leading brands in 20 major industries evaluated by J.D. Power.
The 2012 Champions were identified based on customer feedback, opinions, and perceptions gathered primarily from J.D. Power’s syndicated research in 2011. The group of 50 represents the highest-performing U.S. companies that deliver service excellence – both within their specific industries and across all industries measured.
“We’re in the midst of a mission to enhance every interaction a consumer has with Cadillac,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of Cadillac Sales and Service. “We are strongly committed to customer satisfaction, and appreciate this external confirmation of our efforts.”
Cadillac has instituted wide-ranging changes to enhance the luxury customer experience, conducting comprehensive customer experience training for dealership personnel and developing an improved suite of owner benefits called Cadillac Shield.
The Cadillac Escalade received highest honors in the Large Premium Crossover/SUV category of the J.D. Power 2011 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), which measures the number of problems consumers experience during the first 90 days of ownership.
In February, Cadillac was named the most-desired automotive brand in the United States by men, according to results of a market research test by the global strategic neuro-insight firm Buyology Inc and uSamp, which measured personal and emotional connections to 220 well-known brands across 10 industries.
Courtesy of Cadillac Media
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
2013 Cadillac XTS Offers Country Club Credibility
To learn first-hand what today’s customers expect in a full-size luxury sedan, Cadillac XTS designers and engineers spend time in homes making observations and taking notes. A recurring theme was the desire for more space to accommodate active lifestyle gear, like golf bags.
The Cadillac engineering team responded by setting a target to fit four adults and four golf bags without stretching the car’s modest footprint. Such intelligent use of space defines the XTS development process.
“We used computer simulations to model golf bags, as well as other common types of goods our customers are likely to transport,” said XTS chief engineer Sheri Hickok. “That also includes cases of bottled water, luggage, groceries and more. Just as we did with the rest of the XTS, we spent a lot of time maximizing every inch of storage space.”
While most vehicles on the market today carry four passengers, a lack of trunk space can still require a second vehicle to get four sets of clubs to the golf course. XTS offers almost 40 inches of rear legroom and 18 cubic feet (509 liters) of trunk space, more than the Audi A8L, BMW 7-series, and Mercedes-Benz S-class.
“Our owners want to comfortably take four adults out for a round of golf and dinner afterwards,” said Hickok. “The challenge was to give customers what they expect in terms of interior spaciousness, comfort and luxury, but to do so without compromising exterior looks and handling dynamics.”
XTS’ country club credibility is on display at the Cadillac Championship at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami. With equipment provided by Callaway, four adults and four bags fit in the sedan with room to spare.
Ryan Hershberger, group golf sales manager at Doral Golf Resort, participated in loading the clubs. “For a sedan, the room was really impressive,” he said. “It’s really convenient to fit four sets of clubs like that with no force or wedging necessary.”
Security takes as high a priority in the new XTS as storage space. While the sedan handles golf bags with the ease of a crossover vehicle, contents of the trunk remain completely out of sight and behind a locked lid.
Likewise, the passenger cabin was designed to keep valuables hidden. More than a dozen storage compartments offer space to stow items, including a space under the front center armrest that can conceal a smartphone. XTS even has a bin behind the advanced new Cadillac User Interface (CUE) accessed by a hidden button and motorized door.
Courtesy of Cadillac Media
Monday, March 12, 2012
Lease Special on a 2012 Cadillac CTS Sedan
Start your week off right by checking out this great deal at Williamson Automotive! Get this 2012 Cadillac CTS Sedan for as low as $199 a month. Click here for more details http://bit.ly/AtB790 
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
GMC Sierra HD Total Sales Growth Hits 20 Straight Months
With a strong February performance, GMC Sierra HD fullsize pickup total sales hit 20 consecutive months of sales increases. Owner John Jay Johns Jr. says the trucks’ capability is one reason he recently purchased his second Sierra HD.
“I live at 7,000 feet above sea level, work at 2,500 feet, and trailer horses and cattle to my ranch up at 9,000 feet,” said Johns, who purchased his second HD, a 3500 Denali at James Wood GMC in Decatur, Texas. In addition to driving up to 7,000 miles a month as salesman at a family-owned food processing plant, he owns a horse ranch high in the mountains and volunteers with a local disaster relief group in Ruidoso, N.M.
“My new GMC already proved itself on these inclines when I stopped to help a disabled semi on an incline while towing 17,000 pounds of equipment,” he said. “Even with that load, the truck got moving again and later, the exhaust brake and trailer brake control helped me avoid an accident when I needed to stop in just 1/8th of a mile coming down a hill.”
The Sierra HD was redesigned for the 2011 model year and boasts a best-in-class maximum towing capacity of 23,000 pounds and an optional Duramax diesel engine generating 397 horsepower and 765 lb-ft of torque.
With his varied pursuits, Johns needs that kind of strength. With his previous GMC Sierra 2500, he delivered supplies to teams battling wildfires and helped trailer dozens of horses out of a fire’s path. “Like most of my friends, the local fire department has traded in Dodges and Fords for all General Motors trucks,” Johns said.
His 2007 Sierra HD had 135,000 odometer miles at trade in. Johns is hoping for 200,000 miles in his new truck. “So far, I’m averaging about 19.5 miles per gallon, and I really love my Bluetooth, which lets me keep my eyes on the road while making phone calls.”
In February, total sales of the GMC Sierra HD, including ¾-ton and 1-ton models, were up 19.9 percent year-over-year. Commercial truck sales – those sold to businesses in industries like construction and utilities – were up 49.0 percent.
The GMC Terrain small SUV also showed strong sales in February, with year-over-year total gains of 12.5 percent amid rising fuel prices. Terrain is EPA-rated at a segment-leading 32 highway mpg.
“Sales successes for GMC this past month were led by the brand’s most efficient crossover as well as the most-capable pickup truck,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick and GMC Sales and Service. “That is a testament to a strong product line that is relevant to a diverse customer base.”
Total GMC sales for February were up 0.1 percent compared to February 2011.
Courtesy of GMC Media
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Williamson Automotive Is Seeking...
Williamson Automotive is seeking an out-going, energetic and professional person for our receptionist position as a part-timer. Must be bilingual. Please email resume to jlowe@williamsoncadillac@gmail.com 
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Cadillac Benefits Golf Fans and Charities
With many of golf’s biggest stars scheduled to participate this week, the Cadillac Championship at the TPC Blue Monster, Doral Golf Resort & Spa will benefit several South Florida charities.
As Nick Watney defends his 2011 championship on the course, the tournament will raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County as well as Miami-based charities.
“PGA TOUR events are a win for our sponsors and local communities,” says Eddie Carbone, executive director, World Golf Championships–Cadillac Championship. “Tournament sponsors receive tens of millions of dollars in global media exposure, while delivering $30 million to $60 million in economic impact to the community and millions of dollars to local charities.”
The Cadillac Championship also uses the unique Tickets Fore Charity initiative in which local charities can sell tournament tickets to fans, with 100 percent of the net proceeds benefiting the local organizations enrolled.
Cadillac is adding to the charitable giving with a special celebrity test drive of the brand’s high performance CTS-V series. With Cadillac Racing driver Andy Pilgrim leading the way, TOUR stars like Hunter Mahan and Matt Kuchar will race to raise money for Miami-based charities including The First Tee and Miami Children’s Hospital’s Brain Institute.
The Cadillac Championship is the second of four annual World Golf Championships events for which only the top players from the world’s major golf tours qualify. In the second year of a multiyear agreement, Cadillac’s World Golf Championships umbrella sponsorship provides a high-profile global marketing platform, including extensive branding and advertising across the four-event global series.
All 50 players from the Top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking are scheduled to compete this week, including defending champion Watney, world No.1 Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. Television coverage in North America will be on the Golf Channel and NBC.
During the tournament, Cadillac will offer fans professional instruction and a chance to win a 2012 CTS-V Coupe at the Cadillac Performance Center. The center will feature swing and putting analysis systems, ball-fittings by Bridgestone and playing simulators that put fans on one of the course’s Par 3 holes.
On one of the hole-in-one simulators, the five-closest shots to the pin each day will be invited back for a chance to make a hole-in-one and win a 2012 CTS-V Coupe. During official tournament play, any professional golfer making a hole-in-one at the 13th hole will win an all-new 2013 XTS luxury sedan.
In addition to the Cadillac Performance Center, Cadillac will host fans at the Cadillac Experience, a showcase for the newest vehicles in the luxury brand’s line. Guests will receive a complimentary sleeve of Bridgestone golf balls and exclusive access to a viewing area located between the 18th tee and the 1st green.
The Cadillac Performance Center and Cadillac Experience are open each day during the tournament from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and available at no extra charge to ticketholders.
To purchase tickets to the Cadillac Championship, visit www.worldgolfchampionships.com.
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.
Courtesy of Cadillac Media
Monday, March 5, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Cadillac XTS Named Connected Car of the Year
Connected World magazine awarded the Cadillac XTS a Connected Car of the Year award in the luxury category. Available in late spring 2012, the new XTS will debut Cadillac CUE, a comprehensive in-vehicle experience that merges intuitive design with auto industry-first controls and commands for information and media.
“Rather than just looking for power, speed, and performance, a connected car means turn-by-turn directions, voice-activated controls, and precollision systems,” says Peggy Smedley, editorial director, Connected World. “Car buyers now want it all under one hood and in the cabin.”
CUE, which stands for Cadillac User Experience, is a highly customizable user interfaces including a standard eight-inch (203 mm) screen in the “center stack." CUE features several auto industry firsts, including capacitive-touch control with proximity sensing, gesture recognition and natural voice recognition.
The intuitive touch interface used in CUE is the same technology employed by many of today's most popular handheld phones and tablets. Designed for both tech savvy and tech averse users, it allows consumers to securely store those mobile devices while channeling the information on those devices, along with navigation tools, weather maps with Doppler radar and AM/FM and XM radio.
In addition to CUE, the XTS will debut a network of safety cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors to bolster driver vision and awareness of road hazards and intervene to help avert potential crashes. In some cases, Cadillac’s enhanced vision and sensing systems will act without the driver, such as though automatic braking based on information indicating potential obstacles.
The Connected Car of the Year awards honor vehicles with technology that strike the right balance of safety, convenience, and infotainment. Chosen by the editorial team at Connected World magazine, the 2012 winners were named in small, mid-size, luxury, and ultra-luxury categories.
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.
Courtesy of Cadillac Media
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Cadillac Current Offers
Now is the perfect time to take advantage of exceptional offers from Cadillac. Including 0.9% APR for 36 months on a 2012 Cadillac CTS Coupe. Click here for more details http://bit.ly/zRSMql