Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Goes To Bat For Local Youth Baseball League

The Long Ball Program – Durham Triple Play, a youth baseball league in Durham, has partnered with Hendrick Durham Auto Mall through the Chevy Youth Baseball program.

Under the program, the dealership will provide the league with new equipment, instructional opportunities and monetary support.

The Chevy Youth Baseball Test Drive Fundraiser is a program by which Hendrick Durham Auto Mall will provide $20 on behalf of every customer that visits the dealership and takes a test-drive in any one of the new Chevrolet vehicles in stock, up to a maximum of $500.

Stop by Hendrick Durham Auto Mall between now and June 30, and while you wait for your oil change or other service to be completed, take a test drive to support the league.

Hurry in as the test-drive program officially ends on June 30, 2015, r whenever the supplies are exhausted.

The Chevy Youth Baseball Test Drive Fundraiser is easy:

1.Test drive a new or used vehicle at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

2.Ask for a validation card with a unique validation code tied to Durham Triple Play.

3.Go online to www.experiencechevrolettoday.com. Enter in the code found on your validation card and answer a few quick questions.

4.Click Submit on the questionnaire.

From Hot-Selling Equinox To Best-Value Buicks, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Has Deals For All

A beautiful Valentine's Day-President's Day weekend in Durham, during which the sun is expected to beam long and strong, will present a beautiful opportunity to buy an affordable, low-maintenance vehicle.

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall offers many of them.

Among the top-sellers is the Chevrolet Equinox - the second-best selling vehicle in the Chevy lineup behind the Silverado full-size pickup.

The Equinox has enjoyed five consecutive years of record sales. Annual sales in the U.S. increased to 242,242 last year, accounting for more than nine (9) percent of the rapidly growing compact SUV market. Compact SUVs eclipsed midsize cars in 2014 for the first time to become the auto industry’s largest segment.

Chevrolet introduced its updated 2016 Equinox on Thursday at the Chicago Auto Show. No need to wait for that version, however, as plenty of the award-winning 2015 models remain at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Three of the other best vehicles around, all produced by Buick, also can be had for a bargain at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

For the second consecutive year, the Buick Verano, the Buick Encore, and the Buick Enclave were among the winners in Kelley Blue Book's 2015 5-Year-Cost-To-Own awards.

KBB's data for new cars for the initial five-year ownership period is the basis for the awards. Categories include lowest projected depreciation, expected fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs, and state registration fees. The KBB data suggests substantial potential in cost-of-ownership savings for these three vehicles.

All these vehicles are available for lease or purchase at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, which has been offering unprecedented discounts as part of its "Moving Sale" ahead of its exciting and long-awaited move into a new state-of-the-art facility in the Southpoint area of Durham.

Come and get them while you can, as a special Valentine's gift for that special someone, or because you have the opportunity of a Monday off for President's Day.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Rick Hendrick No Ordinary Car Guy

It's been a Hall-of-Fame week for Rick Hendrick.

First, he was chocen for induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

Then, he was chosen for induction into the National Corvette Hall of Fame.

The honors show that he is much more than just a "car guy."

Hendrick is a familiar personality to anyone who follows the American automotive industry or auto racing at any level. His dealership empire, which includes the Hendrick Durham Mall, encompasses 13 states and nearly 100 dealerships. His NASCAR operation has won 15 championships.

Perhaps more impressive than his business success could be his killer car collection - of which the most recent addition is the first Z06 Corvette Stingray that he purchased for $1 million at an auction benefitting cancer reseatch.

In an article posted to the Hendrick Motorsports Web site, Hendrick is described as one of the "most influential individuals in the history of the Corvette."

He said he considers induction into the Corvette Hall of Fame a bigh honor:

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be selected," Hendrick said. "My love for Corvettes goes back to when I was a teenager, and it was the love for the car that got me into racing and the automobile business."

Hendrick, a car collector for more than 30 years, owns a large collection of Corvettes that includes many of the first and last in models and generations.

As reported in a 2014 article in USA Today, Hendrick's grandchildren ultimately will own three of Hendrick's Corvettes. He bought each of the cars on the day a respective grandchild was born and plans to present a Corvette to each grandchild on the landmark 16th birthday.

The Corvette Hall of Fame was founded in 1998 by the National Corvette Museum Board of Directors. Entry into the Hall recognizes "those people who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, each having reached the highest level of accomplishment. Inductees must also possess the highest standards of integrity and character to positively reflect and enhance the prestige of the Corvette and the National Corvette Museum."

Hendrick is entering the Hall in the category of Enthusiast, in the Racing and GM/Chevrolet categories, respectively.

"To be honored at a place where so many of the Corvette greats are honored (is) just humbling," Hendrick said. "I never dreamed that I'd be recognized in such a way."

The Corvette Hall of Fame announcement kept Hendrick in the automotive spotlight just days after his induction into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame was announced. Given what Hendrick has meant to the sport of auto racing, that announcement was no surprise.

In the 30 years since he started Hendrick Motorsports in 1984, the organization has grown from five employees to more than 500. It has achieved victory in at least one Winston/Sprint Cup-level race in each season since 1986 - the longest active streak in the sport.

A native of North Carolina, born in Warrenton, Hendrick in 1996 won the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers, and many years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by which recipients are selected for this award.

Hendrick's Corvettes may mean more to him than any honors or accolades. And there is at least one other big fan of his collection.

"A lady called me about 10 years ago and said she had heard that I collect Corvettes," he told USA Today in 2014. "She said her husband had died. She wanted to sell his 1957 Corvette, but she wanted it to have a good home. She wanted me to promise that she could come here to see it and that I wouldn't sell it at (the well-known) Barrett-Jackson (auction). I said: 'You've got a deal.' Every year, she brings her friends down from Virginia Beach to look at the car."

Be MVP In Chevy's Most Valuable Product

From GM News Service

You can drive what Tom Brady drives. Be an MVP in your own right by purchasing one of Chevrolet's Most Valuable Products

Chevrolet presented Super Bowl XLIX Most Valuable Player Brady with a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado - the Official MVP vehicle of Super Bowl XLIX - in recognition of his tremendous effort on the field in the New England Patriots' 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

The Colorado, named Motor Trend's 2015 Truck of the Year, is on sale at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall. As the dealership's Moving Sale continues ahead of its impending move to the Southpoint area of Durham from its location downtown, you can get the best deal around on perhaps the best Chevy truck around.

Sunday night, a media panel and fan vote on NFL.com/MVP determined the MVP Award winner, announced during the Super Bowl Postgame Show on NBC.

The Colorado was engineered to be the most capable, most versatile and most technologically advanced midsize truck in the market. With class-leading horsepower and fuel economy, along with a 4G LTE built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, the Colorado adds a new dimension to the Chevy truck line.

"The Chevy Colorado, like Tom Brady, is truly a game changer," said Paul Edwards, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet Marketing.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is among the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than four million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality.

More information on the Colorado can be found at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Stays Atop Auto Industry Entering New Era Of Sales

Rick Hendrick and his staff at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall know that if the dealership cannot execute business in the nanner today's consumer is looking for, it's irrelevant to the consumer.

Being relevant, being prepared for a consumer's visit, and being able to execute on information quickly are becoming paramount to success in today's automotive industry.

What car consumers are looking for these days are ease of doing business, transparency of transaction and dealership cooperation with their plan about how to purchase.

This is not about the greatest generation and the old way of buying cars. It's about the latest generation and the new wave of car buyers.

With the influx of Gen-Y customers into the car and truck market, dealerships are having to change their business model and habits to remain successful. The ability of the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall to stay at the forefront of that change is essential to its ability to stay ahead of the competition.

Fortunately for those consumers considering Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, the dealership staff has been able to prepare for and adapt to the change without missing a beat.

According to reports, the Gen-Y demographic, also known as Millenials, could represent as many as 75 percent of car buyers over the next 10 years. They are considered tech savvy and educated and may determine where they will buy a vehicle based solely on their shopping experience: How is it from a digital standpoint? How is it when I get to the dealership?

Millenials reportedly may visit as many as 25 Web sites before coming to a dealership. Social media also is an influence on Mellenial consumers - a study from eBay Motors indicated that more than half of Millennial car buyers are strongly influenced by what their friends have to say on Facebook.

One way the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is staying on top of its game and appealing to today's consumers is with the "Shop-Click-Drive" program - a simple, innovative way to shop that enables the consumer to combine the convenience of the Internet with personal customer service. An easy-to-use tool helps shoppers find the perfect vehicle, pick the trim and accessories, select extended warranties and even schedule delivery.

Furthermore, visitors to the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Web site can estimate their trade-in value and monthly payments, find the latest incentives and apply for credit from the comfort of their own home.

It's not only about convenience, but also about allowing the customer to be able to control his or her own buying experience and make it easier for the dealership to form a relationship with them.

Another important step the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall has taken to stay relevant is not a small one, nor inexpensive. The completion of a brand-new, state-of-the art facility in the Southpoint area of town is just weeks away and will utilize the latest, greatest technology and resources to make for a customer experience that will rate second to none.

HDAM, Local Coalition Work To Keep Kids Safe

Representatives of the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall were guests at a luncheon held Friday by Safe Kids Durham County.

The dealership is a member of the Safe Kids Durham County coalition.

Coalition coordinator Theresa Cromling thanked the dealership for its involvement in coalition events and its continuing support of the coalition effort to keep kids safe in Durham County. Cromling also reviewed the highlights of a successful 2014, in which Safe Kids Durham County was named Coalition of the Year by Safe Kids North Carolina.

Safe Kids Durham County was established in 1989 as a way to reach parents in Durham County to give them vital information related to the safety of their children. The vision is to prevent childhood injuries through education. The coalition believe kids should grow up safe, healthy and injury free!

Because the leading cause of death and disability for children ages 1-14 is accidental and unintentional, the coalition mission revolves around providing injury prevention education to the families of the Durham community. Safe Kids Durham County operates under the 501C3 umbrella of the Duke University Medical Center. Lead agencies for Safe Kids Durham County are Duke Children's Hospital and Duke University Hospital Emergency Department.

The Durham coalition is one of many coalitions of Safe Kids USA, the first and only national non-profit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall staff often participate in the events, whether demonstrating how quickly parked cars can heat up on a warm day, or explaining the perils of an improperly installed car seat, or promoting pedestrian safety by helping walk kids to school.

It is an effort very much in keeping with the mission of the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall and essential to the wellness of its' customers' communities.

"I am proud to work with this wonderful group of dedicated safety advocates," Cromling said. "I thank you all for your commmitment to our community, and thank your families for supporting your commitment to our goals. I am looking forward to a very successful 2015."

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is among a group of strong core supporters of Safe Kids Durham County that includes the Durham Police Department, Durham COunty Sheriff's Office, Fed Ex and Durham Bike Co-op.

Plans are underway for a special Safe Kids event at the dealership's new location. The dealership is moving from its current downtown location to a spectacular state-of-the-art facility near Southpoint Mall in the next few weeks, and Cromling plans to offer car safety-seat checks and other car safety programs at the new location.

The coalition's work in 2014 was testament to the importance of promoting and raising awareness of keepikg kids safe. Various events were held in Durham County at which 1,600 car seats were checked for proper installation. It was detemrined that 60 seats were installed incorrectly.

The list of Safe Kids Durham County's events for 2015 is long - with emphasis on car safety, water safety, bike safety, firearm safety, pedestrian safety, and the dangers of Hyperthermia. Last year, 52 kids died from hyperthermia in North Carolina.

Safe Kids Durham County was named Coalition of the Year at the 2014 N.C. Safe Kids Conference, beating out 40 other coalitions.

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is proud to be associated with such a successful group.

Thank You, Jeff Gordon

Perhaps the biggest advantage that the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall holds over other dealerships is the Hendrick name.

Being part of the Hendrick empire proves positive in maany regards: core values, knowledge, experience, resources, customer focus and the employees themselves.

Hendrick is synonynous with success - be it a car dealership or NASCAR team.

Synonymous with the Hendrick name is Jeff Gordon, perhaps the most fanous name in NASCAR racing since he signed with Hendrick Motorsports in 1993. He has won four NASCAR championships, won the Daytona 500 three times and ranks third in all-time victories.

Gordon has visited the Durham dealership. There are photos of him adorning walls in the showroom, hallways and parts department. There are photos of him on sales desks, posing with sales reps. His car has been on display in the showroom. His likeness has been worn on many hats and T-shirts of customers who have come to the Durham dealership to buy Chevrolets like Gordon drives and owns.

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall has benefited from the Gordon-Rick Hendrick relationship in many ways, for many years - parlaying their success and popularity into success for the dealership, which soon will move into a new upscale state-of-the-art facility in the Southpoint area of Durham.

Thursday morning, Gordon announced that he will retire as a full-time driver following the 2015 season that starts next month.

On behalf of the dealership, we say: "Thank you, Jeff." You have helped us thrive in Durham. Congratulations on your career, and good luck in your final season.

For the story of his announcement and what he has meant to Hendrick Motorsports, the Durham dealership, and the sport of auto racing, Click Here.

Buick's Impressive Heritage On Display At Hendrick Durham Auto Mall

When you come to the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall to browse through or purchase the many beautiful Buicks in its extensive on-site inventory, you can thank a late sewing-machine inventor for his impact on making these vehicles a reality.

In 1899, Adam Opel converted his sewing machine and appliance factory into an automobile works in Russelheim, Germany, where the first Opel automobile was produced on Jan. 21.

Later, in 1902, Opel introduced its first original car, a 2-cylinder runabout.

In the decades that followed, Opel became one of the premier forces in the European automobile industry, modernizing its factories and adopting the continuous-motion assembly line before its European competitors.

Today, Opel is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, produces about a quarter of all German cars and exports heavily to South America and Africa.

The company also was founded on this date, Jan. 21, in 1862, in Rüsselsheim, Hessen, Germany. At the beginning, Opel just produced sewing machines in a cowshed in Rüsselsheim.

In March 1929, General Motors, impressed by Opel's modern production facilities, bought 80 percent of the company, increasing the percentage to 100 in 1931. The Opel family gained $33.3 million from the transaction.

The Opel influence is prevalent in the Buicks of today. Come to Hendrick Durham Auto Mall to see for yourself.

The Buick Regal is a rebadged Opel Insignia.

The Buick Encore is the Buick version of the Opel Mokka.

The Buick Lacrosse is based on a long wheelbase version of the Opel-developed Epsilon II-platform and shares many key components with the Opel Insignia and the Regal.

Buick is in the process of producing its first convertible since the first Bush administration. The 2016 Cascada convertible, which is sold today in Europe as an Opel of the same name, will reach Buick showrooms this year.

Unlike the largely forgotten Buick Reatta convertible, the Cascada is a four-seater and is based on the compact Opel Astra platform.

So, thank you, Adam Opel, for getting out of the sewing-machine business in order to produce the cars of the future.

Understanding, Planning, Adapting

Alvin Toffler is a world-renowned futurist - a strong believer that the awareness of our need to understand, plan and adapt to the future forms the foundation for everything we do.

He is famous for a quote being coined by many of today's businesses and corporations:

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."

Although Toffler first made that statement several years ago, his words appear to be ringing true today more than ever as the country, consumers' habits and lifestyles continue to evolve and change.

Change has been great in the automotive industry, as well as at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall. Our business is moving toward a new level of trust and transparency.

Consumers are more knowledgeable than ever before, with so many more research resources available to them than ever before. Dealerships are forced to be knowledgeable, straightforward and consumer-oriented like never efore.

That movement is fine with Rick Hendrick and his staff at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, which trains and focuses every single day on giving its customers the shopping experience they want.

Among Hendrick's and the dealership's core values are "Commitment to Customer Enthusiasm" and "Commitment To Continuous Improvement."

Whether it's the construction of a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility near Durham's Sreets of Southpoint, to which the dealership soon will move its operation, or scouring the Internet and the used-car market to determine accurate and competitive vehicle values, or researching the shopping ways of today's consumers, or taking time to simply ask every vistor what we can do to enhance their experience, or training the sales staff on "Selling the Hendrick Way," everything that's done is done for the benefit of the consumer.

The goal is to ensure our clients' complete satisfaction - "Completely Satisfied" is the only passing score. Anything else is a failiing grade.

In this ever-changing time, it's the right thing to do.

Thank You, Mr. Michelin, For Adding Value To GM, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Inventory

Thank you, Mr. Michelin - and happy birthday.

On this date 162 years ago - Jan. 16, 1853 - Andre Michelin was born in Paris, France. In 1888, at age 35, he founded with his brother the Michelin Tire Company, which invented the pneumatic tire found today on many vehicles at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Michelin is one of the three largest tire manufacturers in the world, along with Bridgestone and Goodyear. In addition to the Michelin brand, the company also owns the BF Goodrich tire brand.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall sells a complete General Motors product line that includes Buick, GMC, Cadillac and Chevrolet vehicles. Adding to the value of those brands - all of which enjoyed historic success in 2014 - is the fact that they can be equipped with Michelin tires, considered the premier tire brand in America.

Buick vehicles are known for their luxury, which includes available Michelin tires.

The Michelin company announced two months ago - November of 2014 - that it had plans to open a plant in North America dedicated to the manufacture of airless tires called "Tweels."

A punctured tire can cause a bad, not to mention expensive, day for many vehicle owners and drivers. Michelin's proposed $50 million plant will be used to make the Michelin X Tweel Airless Radial Tire and others for commercial and agricultural applications - a move toward eliminating the possibility of tires that puncture.

Happy Birthday, American Motors Corporation

Say what you want about General Motors vehicles. You cannot say they are unattractive.

Since the days of Bill Mitchell - perhaps America's most famous automobile designer - GM has placed extraordinary emphasis on the design and styling of its product line. You can see that for yourself when you examine and drive the latest and greatest inventory at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Mitchell was responsible for creating or influencing the design of more than 72.5 million automobiles produced by GM, including such landmark vehicles as the 1938 Cadillac Sixty Special, the 1949 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, the 1955-57 Chevrolet Bel Air, the 1963-65 and 1966-67 Buick Riviera, the 1961-76 Corvette Stingray, the 1975-79 Cadillac Seville and the 1970-81 Chevrolet Camaro

Since then, GM's vehicles have continued to get more and more beautiful. Recent redesigns of the Cadillac SRX and Chevrolet Equinox, Malibu and Impala are testament to that, as well as the creation of elegant new products like the GMC Terrain and Buick Encore.

The appealing pricepoints and low-maintenance qualities of GM vehicles have been well-documented reasons that many consumers choose GM vehicles for their purchases and other transportation needs. But the aesthetic qualilty of all the vehicles across all the GM brands has been moving to the top of the appeal meter.

Anyone who believes any GM vehicle is unattractive needs to just remember back to the days of the now-defunct American Motors Corporation.

It is appropriate that we go back there today because it was on this day in history - Jan. 14, 1954 - that the American Motors Corporation was founded. The company was formed by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company, which at the time was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.

AMC was known for producing such beauties as the Pacer and the Gremlin. Remember those? The nmuber of people who drove those vehicles with pride has got to be small.

If you Google "Ugliest Cars In America," pages and pages of artlcles and lists appear. Prominently featured on most of those lists are the AMC Pacer and AMC Gremlin. Those cars were ugly.

The Pacer has been described as a fishbowl. It was the widest car on the road, with room in the backseat for four people to sit side by side, but also was terribly heavy and slow. It was in production for just five years - between 1975 and 1979 - and its unconventional styling was commonly cited in its lack of success.

The AMC Gremlin, meanwhile, is ranked on many lists of the 50 worst cars of all time by several measures. But you will be hard-pressed to find an uglier vehicle. It was manufactured for just eight years, from 1970-1978, at the same Kenosha, Wisconsin, plant that rolled out the Pacer.

Unlike the Pacer, the Gremlin today has a following among old car hobbyists and collectors of historic vehicles. In some cases, the Gremlin enjoys a cult-like following in today's collectible car market.

Perhaps we can credit the founding of the American Motors Corporation 61 years ago today for influencing and adding to the beauty of today's vehicle designs and styles. Certainly GM engineers have taken note and used the many years since to tweak and add to the beauty of Cadillacs, Buicks, GMCs and Chevrolets.

We should all be thankful for that.

Market-Based Pricing Makes Shopping Pleasant At Hendrick Durham Auto Mall

As important as selling vehicles to the sales team at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is providing a pleasant straightforward experience for its many customers.

As part of sending that message to the staff, when they notice a visitor to the showroom, managers often ask the sales consultants: "Why is that person here?"

The correct answer is not "to purchase a vehicle."

The correct answer is that would-be buyers come to the dealership to validate and verify the research they have done.

By knowing that, the sales staff at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is better equipped to provide their customers with a pleasant straightforwad experience.

By aligning its sales process and research with its customers' process and research, the dealership is more successful and enjoyable.

The dealership uses the same protocol to set its online prices, compare its prices and set itself apart in the market as the customers do. So, we can truly say we are here for them.

The experience begins with three objectives regarding online inventory:

1. Provide the customer all of the information we can about each vehicle, including pictures, video and a full description with all important details.

2. A competitive market-based price based on the vehicle's year, make, model, miles, equipment and condition so that the customer does not have to come and waste time negotiating. We price our cars using the same information on the Internet that our customers use and then price it to be competitive.

3. Our commitment to total customer satisfaction.

At Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, we use a comprehensive technology system to competitively shop and then price our vehicles before they go on the lot for sale.

Market-based pricing is pricing determined by the consumer. It is the price that we find in the marketplace that a consumer will pay for a vehicle. It is typically one of the lowest, if not the lowest price on a particular car.

We use a tool that allows us to search all listings of similar vehicles in a given radius. We price our cars, regardless of what we own them for, around the lowest price we find, if not lower.

The main benefit of Market-Based Pricing is that it saves time. It also takes away the back-and-forth people are accustomed to in the car buying process. Upfront and transparent pricing is what everybody seems to desire today, no matter what they are buying.

Finally, we recondition the cars to Hendrick standards. And because we aren't using artificial markups to create big discoounts, our customers have found us easy to work with.

So, there you have it - pleasant and straightforward.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Ingenuity Helps Improved Sales Numbers For GM, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall

A higher level of ingenuity at General Motors has contributed to a higher level of sales of GM vehicles, perhaps setting the stage for a record-seting 2015 for America's top automaker and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

General Motors and its dealerships nationwide, which includes the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, enjoyed their best December for sales in seven years last month.

An item commonly found on an infant’s changing table contributed to that result.

The baby diaper helped GM engineers simulate snow year-round, ensuring that heating systems in cars like the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze can warm their interiors quickly and efficiently.

Packed snow can prevent air from entering the inlet panel at the bottom of the windshield, obstructing the flow of air into the heating system and reducing the amount of air it can push out. This can lead to less-efficient warming of the car’s interior and windshield defrosting.

"The last thing anyone wants to do when it’s freezing cold out is scrape their windshield," said Nicholas Jahn, GM Vehicle Thermal Systems engineer. "The testing we perform on the Chevrolet Cruze with the diaper material allows us to maximize the car's heating capabilities."

According to a news release from General Motors, Jahn stumbled upon his diaper-based testing method in the middle of summer, during a swim with his daughter. He noticed that when her diaper came into contact with water, it multiplied in size.

Turns out that sodium polyacrylate – the absorbent material found in diapers – starts as a powder but turns into a snow-like substance when saturated.

In Jahn’s test, according to the GM news release, he sprinkled the reusable snow onto the air inlet vents along the bottom of the Cruze's windshield, then started the car and let it idle. After a few minutes, he removed the inlet panel and inspected how much "snow" was sucked into the system and how much of the intake vents remained blocked.

Before discovering the material, Jahn had to rely on Mother Nature to provide snow, or find a schedule opening at one of GM’s state-of-the-art climatic wind tunnels. Just submerging a diaper in water solved that dilemma.

A more efficient heating system is particularly important and beneficial for those who use the OnStar Remote Key Fob services, which allow drivers to remotely start their car from anywhere with a cellular connection. As part of the OnStar Basic Plan, Remote Key Fob services - remote start, lock, unlock and activate horn and lights – is free for five years on all new, properly equipped GM vehicles.

The benefits of Onstar as well as sales of the heat-efficient Cruze helped GM dealers nationwide record retail sales figures last month that were up 23 percent compared to December of 2013.

The Cruze was among seven GM vehicles - along with the Chevy Equinox, Sonic and Spark, the GMC Terrain, and the Buick Enclave and Encore – that posted their best annual sales total in 2014.

GM’s unique three-pickup strategy – with new models spanning the light-duty, heavy-duty and mid-size segments – drove combined deliveries to a 43-percent increase over December of 2013. It marked the best December for the Silverado since 2005.

Five GM vehicles – the Chevrolet Corvette and Spark, the Buick Enclave and Encore, and the GMC Sierra – had their highest December sales in history.

Chevrolet, Buick and GMC retail deliveries were up 25 percent, 28 percent and 29 percent, respectively, compared with a 10 percent increase for the industry as a whole.

Chevrolet had its best December retail sales since 2005. Buick and GMC, meanwhile had their best December retail sales result since 2004.

Every Buick car and crossover posted a sales increase, with the largest gains posted by the Enclave, up 53 percent, for its best month in history.

All that leads to 2015, in which General Motors and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall expect to continue to upward trend of sales.

In Durham, a brand-new, state-of-the art facility in a new location across the street from the Streets of Southpoint - among the busiest retail shopping malls in the Southeast - continued ingenuity and product development by GM engineers, improved inventory and a favorable economy all combine to present much excitement and expectation for the new year.

Why Not Hendrick Durham Auto Mall?

When Miami Heat team president Pat Riley was asked how confident he was that superstars Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James all would choose to play together in Miami as they faced free-agency together in 2010 and give the Heat a "Big Three" of skill and experience that would be almost too good to be true, he replied that he was very confident they would all come.

And then he said: "Why would they not?"

The same question can be used to answer why someone would want to buy or service a vehicle from the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Why would they not?

Lower prices, a greater selection of and access to vehicles, and superior customer service are just three of many reasons.

The Hendrick brand and resources also factor into our favor. But the individual employees on our staff make the real difference.

They work here, at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, and no other dealership. So, if you buy or service a car at any other dealership, you miss out on an experience that only our epmployees here in Durham can provide.

So, again: why would you not come here?

Try it once, and see how you like it.

You'll find knowledge, experience, courtesy, respect..

...and even popcorn!

We'll be operating at our current downtown location on Roxboro Street, across from the Durham Bulls stadium and Durham Performing Arts Center, for about seven (7) more weeks - til the end of February, 2015.

Beginning in March, we will be doing business at a brand-new, state-of-the art facility across the street from the Streets at Southpoint with plans of being the nicest, friendliest, largest and best auto mall in North Carolina.

We're doing it for you because you deserve the best.

So, the next time you're asked why someone would not buy or service a vehicle at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, you will know the answer:

Why would they not?

Sharing Significant Automotive News On Historically Significant Date

Today's date, Jan. 2, is a significant date in American history. Many events happened on this date over the years that have had much social and societal impact.

It seems fitting that we take today to tell you about significant news regarding General Motors and Hendrick Durham Auto Mall and the vehicles they build and sell. Perhaps the information will have a positive impact on you as you enter 2015 with your transportation needs in mind.

First, a look back:

Jan. 2, 1945 - The University of Kentucky men's basketball team started an incredible 130-game home-game winning streak that stretched all the way into 1955.

Jan. 2, 1960 - John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for the Presidency.

Jan. 2, 1965 - The New York Jets of the National Football League signed Joe Namath out of the University of Alabama to be their quarterback. He later famously guaranteed victory in his first Super Bowl appearance and delivered on the promise.

Jan. 2, 1974 - President Nixon signed into law the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act, setting a new national maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour. The act was intended to force Americans to drive at a fuel-efficient speed and curb the U.S. appetite for foreign oil. But people showed they preferred driving fast to conserving fuel, and Congress repealed the act in November of 1985.

Jan. 2, 1990 - Alan Hale, Sr., who played "Skipper" on the popular sitcom "Gilligan's Island," died of cancer at the age of 71.

That brings us to today, when we share with you the announcement of several significant GM awards in the realm of safety and value.

Spark, Volt, Equinox Top Safety Picks

The 2015 Chevrolet Spark, Volt, Malibu and Equinox have been named 2015 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Picks.

The designation goes to models that achieve an acceptable rating in the challenging small overlap front test – introduced in 2012 – and a good rating in each of the Institute’s four other crashworthiness evaluations: moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints.

IIHS is a nonprofit organization wholly supported by auto insurers. For 2015, the number of models earning the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards rose from 39 to 71 compared to a year ago.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world's largest car brands, selling more than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year.

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall sold an average of about 52 Chevrolets a month in 2014, with the Equinox leading the way. Sales of the Equinox continue to grow year over year becauuse of its value and safety.

Canyon Named Top Truck For 2015

GMC Canyon has been named Autoweek’s best truck for 2015. Editors praised the all-new premium midsize truck for its design, utility, features and "perfect size."

Autoweek’s annual Best of the Best awards are based on the evaluations of eight vehicle finalists selected for their performance, design, build quality, value and significance. A three-day test session at Michigan International Speedway by the editors determined the awards, which include one car and one truck.

"Of the hundreds of vehicles Autoweek tests each year, only a relative few truly stand out from the rest," said Autoweek editor Wes Raynal. "The GMC Canyon is not only one of the best new vehicles on the market, it’s one of the most important, signaling an exciting return to the mid-sized truck segment."

Canyon, on sale now at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, starts at $21,880. It comes in three trim levels, Base, SLE and SLT, with extended cab and crew cab body styles.

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902. The brand has evolved to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover

Barra Named Forbes' 'Crisis Manager Of Year'

Fortune Magazine has named GM CEO Mary Barra "Crisis Manager of the Year."

Barra took over GM in January of 2013 with celebrity-like media coverage, ranging from lifestyle magazines to auto tabloids.

"Over the past year Barra has presided over perhaps the most challenging time in the automaker's 106-year history," Fortune’s Ben Geier wrote about why Barra is Crisis Manager of the Year.

Barra was announced as Dan Akerson’s successor last December. She started as CEO on Jan. 15. Prior to leading the company, she was executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, and held several other executive, engineering and staff positions.

New Years Eve May Be Best Day To Buy Vehicle

(CBS) – Today is New Year’s Eve. But before popping the bubbly, you may consider buying a car.

Experts tell CBS that today is the best day of the year to get a deal.

As the hours of 2014 dwindle down to a precious few, car dealers are scrambling to meet year-end sales quotas and sell off inventories to save on taxes.

As they are about to close the door on the old year, they are creating what experts say is the best time of the year to trade up.

"Everything comes together," said John Webb of the Chicago Auto Trade Association. "Manufacturers are aggressive. Dealers are being aggressive. I think the customers have some either Christmas bonus money or what have you flowing through their pocket."

At Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, the deals are really flowing. The sense of urgency is high on the showroom floor as the GM dealer closes in on 200 sales for the month.

The savings can be as much as 25 percent off sticker price on certain vehicles. So, as the closk winds down toward 2015, the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall inventory of Cadillac, Buick, GMC and Chevrolet is dwindling by the minute.

On Birthday Of America's 1st Freeway, HDAM Helps Ease Stress Of Traffic Gridlock

Next time you’re stuck in traffic, excessively burning fuel as you idle on the freeway during your morning commute, you can thank Dwight Eisenhower.

You also can thank General Motors and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall for manufacturing and selling a multitude of highway-friendly vehicles that can add to your comfort and decrease your fuel expense as you experience the world’s second-longest interstate highway system behind China.

The United States Interstate Highway System runs a total length of 47,714 miles. About one-quarter of all vehicle miles driven in the country are on interstates. The cost of construction for all those miles of roadway has been estimated at upwards of $425 billion.

North Carolina has the largest state maintained highway network in the United States.

Today marks the 74th birthday of America’s first freeway - the Arroyo Seco Parkway, which opened Dec. 30, 1940, in California. At the time, it was considered an engineering marvel, reducing travel time between Los Angeles and Pasadena from 27 to 12 minutes.

The six-lane, six-mile long highway was designed for 27,000 automobiles a day. These days, it carries more than 122,000 cars daily.

Although the concept of an interstate highway system was proposed in Congress in 1939, it wasn't until Eisenhower became President in 1953 that he made the revitalization of national highways a goal for his first term. Having spent time on the Autobahn during his military service in Germany, Eisenhower believed the U.S. also could benefit from an equally effective roadway system.

Well, turns out the creation of the U.S. Interstate Highway System gave way to the creation of a phenomenon known as Gridlock – a traffic jam in which no vehicular movement is possible.

Gridlock, in turn, led to depleted gas tanks as cars and trucks idled their way to empty, a chaion of events that continues to this day.

Fortunately, General Motors and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall have teamed up to offer some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in history to help ease the anxiety and expense of traffic jams and Gridlock.

General Motors builds 24 models of vehicle that can achieve an EPA-estimated 30 miles per gallon or better on the highway. All of those vehicles can be purchased at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, including the car with the best highway mileage of any gas engine in America - the 42 mpg Chevrolet Cruze Eco.

Furthermore, GM and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall are offering incentives on the Cruze that can knock 20 percent off the sticker price.

Other vehicles in the GM arsenal against highway congestion and aggravating commutes are the Chevy Volt, an electric car that can achieve the equivalent of 98 miles per gallon, the Buick Lacrosse with eAssist technology, and the Chevy Spark. The eAssist Lacrosse and Spark both can surpass 40 mpg on the highway.

Although exceeding the speed limit is a factor in fuel efficiency, people may not be aware that automobiles can burn more than half a gallon of fuel for every hour spent idling. That is where the GM eAssist technology, which also can be found on the Chevy Malibu, makes such a difference.

On the open road, once they get moving again after the latest round of Gridlock, drivers want to make up for lost time with speed. But, according to the U.S. EPA, every five miles over the 60 mph level is equivalent to paying 20 extra cents per gallon for gas. GM has designed vehicles that help in that circumstance, as well, equipping many of its vehicles with Active Fuel Management that will shut off half the cylinders in the vehicles’ engines once ideal cruising speed is reached.

Because highways and the accompanying Gridlock will not go away, GM has plans to introduce a Cadillac model in two years that can travel on the highway without the driver holding the steering wheel or putting a foot on a pedal. The 2017 Cadillac model will feature "Super Cruise" technology that takes control of steering, acceleration and braking at highway speeds of 70 miles per hour or in stop-and-go congested traffic.

"With Super Cruise, when there’s a congestion alert on roads like California’s Santa Monica Freeway, you can let the car take over and drive hands-free and feet-free through the worst stop-and-go traffic around," GM CEO Mary Barra said in a 2014 speech at the Cobo Center in Detroit. "If the mood strikes you on the high-speed road from Barstow, California, to Las Vegas, you can take a break from the wheel and pedals, and let the car do the work. Having it done for you -- that’s true luxury."

So, as we say "Happy Birthday" today to the Arroyo Seco Parkway and "Thank You" to Dwight Eisenhower for the Interestate Highway System, let us celebrate the evolution of motor-vehicle travel the best way possible – in a vehicle from General Motors and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, General Motors To Carry Momentum Into New Facility, New Year

As the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall prepares to move to its spectacular new facility next to The Streets of Southpoint Mall and General Motors continues to move back into prominence as an automaker, the stage is set for 2015 to be an outstanding year for those two entities locally.

Less than 10 years removed from a record plunge that saw GM stock reach a 20-year-low of $18.33 a share, the manufacturer recently has been mentioned on the list of Forbes' top-10 favorite stocks in 2015. As of Dec. 29, 2014, GM stock prices were up to $34.51 a share.

That's great news for fans and followers of GM and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, which sells and services the entire line of GM vehicles, including Cadillac, Buick, GMC and Chevrolet.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2015, the dealership will be conducting business out of its spacious new, state-of-the art location that will feature not one, but two service drives and a regular shuttle service to and from the busy mall across the street. This facility was designed and built with our incredible Hendrick customers in mind, and will be a great benefit to our customers.

The new facility has been in the works for some time, which is a good thing given how brisk business has been in 2014.

The success of the dealership has mirrored the 2014 success of General Motors. Widely publicized recalls have done little to diminish sales or service volume at the dealership's current downtown Durham location. The recalls actually have given us an opportunity to reconnect with many of our customers. We feel like this interaction has built a lot of value with our customers, both in our company, and the GM brands that we represent.

We think that most of our consumers have seen our excellent customer service, and GM’s commitment to them.

An outstanding new product line, a visionary executive branch of leadership, an emphasis on an impeccable business process, reputation management and accountability all have combined to propel the national GM resurgence. Add to that mix unprecedented sales discounts and incentives, as well as strong communication with and resources for its local dealers, the success only can continue.

At the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, its employees are its greatest asset.

"It's all about the people," said Rick Hendrick, owner of the Durham dealership and its parent Hendrick Automotive Group - a network of nearly 100 dealerships nationwide. "I don't care what you're doing or what your business is; it's all about the people. They have to be able to work together, believe in each other and be able to share information. They have to be motivated to come in and go through it every day."

Mr. Hendrick also requires of the dealership a high-level of transparency, accountability at all levels, and commitments to customer enthusiasm and continuous improvement. In a time of change at General Motors in particular and the automotive industry in general, those Hendrick hallmarks will continue to make both the Durham dealership and its flagship manufacturer standouts in their field.

Furthermore, Mr. Hendrick rarely has a conversation in which he does not stress the importance of our customers. We are here to serve our customers, whether it be from our current location or at the new place.