Woodward Dream Cruise: Athens Coney Island Revving Up the Party for Buick and GMC Vehicles
Noelle and Jameson Wald of Shelby Township, Darlene Trudell of Southfield, and Jaycie Wald of Shelby Township attend the Metro Detroit Buick GMC Dealers Association event Friday, Aug. 19., at Athens Coney Island. Photo by MI Auto Times
One of the Woodward Dream Cruise events MI Auto Times attended Friday was the Metro Detroit Buick GMC Dealers Association booth at the Athens Coney Island, and they kicked it off with an impressive line of Buick Regal vehicles cruising up and down Woodward Avenue.
A parade of 2012 Buick Regals make their way down Woodward Dream Cruise to the Metro Detroit Buick GMC Dealers Association booth at Athens Coney Island. Photo by MI Auto Times.
The crowd on the sidelines stopped whatever they were doing to pause and take in the long line of Buick’s most recent model that’s fully in production.
“We have the entire future lineup of 2012 Buick and GMC vehicles here at the booth,” said Mark Haener, General Motors Buick GMC Zone Manager. Haener oversees the dealership group hosting the event as well as all other Buick and GMC dealerships throughout the entire state of Michigan.
From a 1920 Buick K-44 Roadster to the 2012 Buick Verano coming late this fall, viewers of the event had much to stop and stare at.
“Buick is the fastest growing brand in the industry,” Haener added.” It’s a whole new lineup that started with the Enclave, then the LaCrosse, the Regal and all its variants including Turbo and GS, and the Verano is coming late this fall.”
Many people were seen signing up to enter to win one a free two-year lease on either a 2012 Buick Regal or a 2012 GMC Terrain from the Metro Detroit Buick GMC Dealers Association. Kids were enjoying music by the Viceroys, a live rock and roll band playing the classics like “Last Kiss” made popular in1964 by J. Frank Wilson and The Cavaliers, and later made popular again by Pearl Jam.
Like the song “Last Kiss,” Buick and GMC are once again returning to their heights of popularity with General Motors retaking the title of world’s largest automaker. But it’s not just being the biggest that will bring consumers into the dealership. It’s also the cars.
Some of the newer vehicles consumers will soon discover include the brand new 2012 Buick Verano, a luxury sedan smaller in size to the LaCrosse and Regal but with loads of interior space; the 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist which just started production on Monday; the Turbo and GS variants of the 2012 Buick Regal giving drivers sport-injected performance and appeal; and the all new Acadia Denali, featuring two new exterior colors and more standard features including hill-hold assist braking technology and outside mirrors with integral spotter blind zones.
Michigan Buick GMC dealerships do manage to sell a lot of vehicles, and this network is responsible for a very large part of dealership sales. “We’re the largest zone for sales in the country for Buick GMC sales,” said Brian Erne, District Sales Manager, Buick-GMC Michigan Zone.
The event continues today from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with live bands, displays and the two-year lease giveaway contest.
Live music, classic and antique vehicles at the Athens Coney Island. Photo by MI Auto Times
Live Music
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – The Viceroys
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Two Days Gone
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Teen Angels
The Detroit Pistons Organization and the Automation Dance Team
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Making an appearance for meet and greet and autograph signing
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