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The upcoming 2012 Regal GS is more and more likely to come featured with a standard new 2.0 litre inline 4-cylinder DOHC turbo-charged engine, which can output around 255 horsepower and 295 lb-feet of torque.

Since 1987, this model is the first to come equipped with a turbo-charged engine option. The engine will be incorporated by a standard 6-speed manual transmission for power transmission between engine and wheels. Combined with the 270 horsepower, the Regal GS sprints to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds with its six-speed manual transmission. GM says that so-equipped Regal GSs will be rated at 28 mpg on the highway.

The Regal GS features a six-speed manual transmission that distributes its power to the front wheels through the HiPerStrut system – which is aimed at reducing torque steer. Further helping to control its power the, Regal GS comes standard with an electronic limited-slip rear differential, a lowered suspension, 19-inch wheels (or optional 20-inch forged aluminum wheels), performance tires, massive Brembo brakes, a sport steering wheel and pedals and Recaro racing-style seats. The Regal’s StabiliTrak stability control system is specially-tuned to work directly with it’s Computer Damping Control to provide several performance driving modes including an exclusive GS ultra-performance level.

“We designed the Regal GS to explore the appeal of a high-performance variant of the Regal,” said Craig Bierley, product marketing director for Buick. “Like the Regal, the Regal GS is based on the award-winning Opel Insignia, and we believe it will reinvigorate Buick’s storied Gran Sport legacy.”

Stop by your Bill Dodge Buick dealer in Westbrook, Maine sometime in 2012 to see the new Buick Regal GS when it launches.

Female car buyers are purchasing more cars from U.S.-based automakers, especially from some brands that have historically been aimed at men. Automotive research site Edmunds.com recently tracked cars purchased by women and found that Porsche has had the biggest gain. During the first eight months of 2010, only 19 percent of Porsche buyers were women. By 2011, that was up to 23 percent.

Applying sales figures to Edmunds’ percentages reveals even more striking changes. At Buick during the first eight months of this year, overall sales were up 25 percent, but sales to women were up 36 percent. Of the 10 brands that increased in popularity among women, seven were owned by Detroit-based companies. Domestic automakers are still far behind the competition in appealing to women.

Jody DeVere, chief executive of female-oriented auto advice site AskPatty.com, said marketing chiefs at General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have gotten better at offering vehicles that appeal to women and getting that message to potential buyers.

“The challenge has not been creating the perfect car for women so much as getting information out there on what they have available,” DeVere said.

Traditionally, automotive marketing has concentrated on power and performance – commercials showing cars taking turns at high speeds or the sounds of revving engines. DeVere said companies are learning that those sales pitches don’t actually appeal to most women. Successful marketing has shown that female buyers respond to advertisements that highlight safety features and new technology, DeVere said.

Another example would be a popular commercial for GM’s is the Chevrolet Cruze. A man in the commercial stands in front of a Cruze in a driveway and calls his wife who is boarding a plane. He asks her if she “wouldn’t mind doing it again.” The wife then uses her iPhone to connect to the Cruze through GM’s OnStar system, and starts the car’s engine. DeVere called it a great commercial because it showed off the car’s technology, but it also showed a tech-savvy woman using the latest technology, a message that resonates with many young female car shoppers.

“Automakers are understanding how women operate in today’s world and depicting them appropriately,” DeVere said.

Car companies downplayed the importance of the trend, saying that they’ve understood women’s buying power for quite some time. While they make up less than half of car buyers, automakers say women influence about 85 percent of all purchases. Dora Nowicki, marketing manager for Chevrolet’s small vehicles, said men may buy most of the family sedans and crossovers on the road. But they don’t buy those vehicles if their partners don’t like them. She also said that the company hasn’t changed its message specifically to appeal to women. She said automakers in the past made the mistake of pitching some cars to men and others to women and found that limited the appeal. She said GM has put more effort into social media and other online marketing tools in recent years. DeVere said those techniques are very popular with female buyers.

“You have to appeal to everybody every day,” Nowicki said.

Ladies, are you looking for professional, courteous and knowledgeable dealership? Stop by any Bill Dodge Auto Group locations in Westbrook or Brunswick Maine, and see the difference our staff will make for you when you purchase your next vehicle from us!

Buick, GMC and OnStar are having a little Halloween fun of their own this year and you are welcome to join!

Avoid zombies, vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts and any other ghouls that may cause havoc this Halloween with OnStar’s new “Monster Dodger” service. Specially trained OnStar Advisors can help save you from that herd of undead doing their best “Thriller” in the road ahead or provide turn-by-turn directions to the nearest costume shop.

“Halloween is a fun holiday, and our new Monster Dodger service reflects that,” said Terry Inch, director, OnStar Subscriber Services. “This year, in addition to OnStar providing help to subscribers who need directions to the closest costume shop or convenience store to pick up candy, we are offering families an entertaining button push opportunity.”

On October 31, subscribers looking for a Halloween treat can push their blue OnStar button and ask for the location of the closest “monster” so they can dodge a potential encounter. Advisors will provide the radius of the closest “monster.”

OnStar joins other organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Halloween fun. On its website, the CDC recommends a creative Zombie Preparedness Kit to help in the event of a zombie attack.

“Although a zombie attack maybe farfetched, our Advisors are available 24/7 to help drivers with any emergency or service request they may have,” Inch adds. “We’ll continue to see customers through emergencies and less-serious situations – whether outpacing a zombie herd, or directions to a Halloween Monster Mash.”

Stop by and test drive a Buick today at your Westbrook Bill Dodge GMC. Whether your dodging zombies or vampires with your OnStar system, we assure you there is nothing to fear here!

Buick was long seen as the lowliest of luxury vehicles, a “doorstop” if you will in the luxury sector of the automotive industry. With Lexus reveling in being the “United States best-selling luxury brand”, Buick has come out of the gates in February of 2011 with growing sales that surpassed Lexus for two months straight.

Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Acura were left in the proverbial dust by Buick, with only BMW outselling Buick. This was by a mere 800 units. Buick managed this feat with only four vehicles (Enclave, LaCrosse, Lucerne and Regal) while Lexus offers nine models in the States.

In the mid-20th century, GM’s golden age, Buick was known as the poor man’s Cadillac, the understated luxury make to its flashier cousin, the Cadillac. Buick garnered a reputation as “the doctor’s car” or a vehicle for white-collar professionals but two decades ago Lexus moved into the neighborhood and took over this niche in the automotive world.

Along with the boost in sales, buyers are spending more to get their Buicks. The average transaction price has increased by $11,113  since 2003,  according to Buick spokesman Nick Richards. Buick has switched from affordable comfort to something more premium, like Lexus. With the smaller, less expensive Buick Verano going on sale at the end of this year — and the brand reportedly considering adding a convertible, coupe, station wagon and a compact crossover to the lineup — it could be difficult for Lexus to retake its No. 1 spot from Buick, let alone from Mercedes-Benz or BMW.

Here at Bill Dodge Auto Group in Westbrook Maine, we have all the cars mentioned above for you to come in and discover. Whether you are looking for a flashy symbol of your lifestyle in a Lexus, Cadillac, or Audi or piece of mind (and not a large piece of your wallet) in a luxury vehicle such as the up and coming Buick lines, we have all the choices your heart could possibly want to explore.

It has been almost two years since General Motors filed for bankruptcy and their Pontiac brand was discontinued. In that time, GM has really made an effort to retain those customers by making their other brands appealing to them. With Oldsmobile not having much success with future GM purchases when they were cut, they wanted to make sure their Pontiac customers didn’t suffer the same fate.

A recent study by RL Polk & Co. has shown that the majority of Pontiac owners are still very loyal to GM. 54% of them have come back to purchase another GM product. That’s extremely impressive! Given the options of affordable, main stream vehicles to choose from in today’s market, the fact that Pontiac customers have chosen to stay with GM shows that they were happy with what they got. GM put in a lot of effort to provide excellent service for Pontiac owners, not only with the mandatory replacement parts for 10 years but also by making them available at any GM dealer and encouraging OnStar. Of the 54% that stayed with GM, 34% defected to Chevrolet and 20% defected to GMC, Buick and Cadillac.

Those former Pontiac owners who went with foreign brands, particularly Japanese, will most likely return to the GM brand as well due to the recent track record of safety recalls that brands like Toyota and Honda have dealt with. The Bill Dodge Auto Group is a great place to do just that here in Westbrook, Maine. We have a great selection of brand new Buicks, Cadillacs and GMC’s to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a practical sedan, full size truck or sporty luxury coupe, we’re sure to have the right fit for you. Stop by today to speak with a friendly client advisor and find the best deal in Southern Maine!