Blog

America's most storied builder of trucks and SUVs, GMC has been at the forefront of innovation for decades. We love finding out new things about the GMC brand, and we're always coming across some amazing new bit of information about GMC vehicles, history or engineering, including some things that surprise even us. Think you know GMC? Then take a minute to test your knowledge with McLarty Daniel Buick GMC's GMC Trivia Challenge! There's sure to be something here that will be a head-scratcher for even the most seasoned and well-read GMC fan. And when you're ready to do some hands-on research, stop in for a test drive at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC, or check out our full selection of beautiful GMC trucks and SUVs at our website right now. more 1) GMC traces its lineage to two heavy truck makers which were later folded a new company: GMC. One of those original makes was Reliance. What was the name of the other company? A) Atlas B) Rapid C) Giant D) Rand 2) What year was GMC officially founded? A) 1903 B) 1909 C) 1912 D) 1921 3) Built solely in 1991 as a limited edition, the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive GMC Syclone, based on the midsize GMC Sierra pickup, was one of the fastest vehicles built in the 1990s. What was the SUV-based version of the Syclone called? A) Hurricane B) Typhoon C) Twister D) Lightning 4) Which of the following is NOT a GMC model? A) Jimmy B) Envoy C) Safari D) Express 5) In what model year did the GMC Terrain debut? A) 2010 B) 2005 C) 2001 D) 2013 6) Originally the top-level trim group for the GMC Yukon, what year did GMC first use the term "Denali" to refer to a GMC vehicle? A) 1995 B) 1999 C) 1991 D) 2002 7) What does the acronym "GMC" stand for? A) General Mechanical Company B) General Motors Corporation C) General Motors Company D) The initials of company founder George Mayer Chesapeake 8) Between 1978 and 1987, GMC offered their own version of the Chevrolet El Camino, a light-duty truck which employed the front end styling of the Chevrolet Malibu with unique doors and a pickup bed. What was the GMC version of the El Camino produced during those years called? A) Caballero B) Camancea C) Canyonero D) Carillo 9) What model year was the midsize GMC Canyon pickup first introduced? A) 2007 B) 2011 C) 2001 D) 2004 10) Built by GMC for the U.S. Military during World War II, the six-wheel-drive DUKW was instrumental in helping the Allies win the war. What purpose did the DUKW serve? A) It was an artillery tractor specially designed for muddy European roads B) It was a heavy-duty ambulance armored against air attacks C) It was a light-duty staff car for high-ranking generals D) It was an amphibious troop transport that could operate on land or water ANSWERS: B, C, C, D, A, B, B, A, D, D

It's 2020, and the future is now at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC, thanks to Buick and GMC vehicles with features that would have seemed the stuff of science fiction only a few years ago. As we say goodbye to the 2010s, we thought we'd take a look back at some of the technologies and innovations that really came into their own and saw widespread acceptance in the past decade. While not all of them were first introduced in the 2010s, most of the following items found their way into even many lower-priced vehicles over the past ten years, helping make driving easier, safer, more efficient and more fun. We can't wait to see what the next decade of innovation will bring to the vehicles we drive everyday. Want to get behind the wheel of the vehicles of the future you can drive right now? Stop in at... more McLarty Daniel Buick GMC, or check out our full selection of 2020 Buick and GMC vehicles online right now. In-Dash Touchscreens: Once exclusively found in high-end luxury cars, the 2010s saw the widespread use of in-dash, high-definition touchscreens. These days, it's rare to find a new vehicle without one. Much more than just another gadget, automotive touchscreens are a truly great innovation in motoring, with Buick and GMC vehicle screens giving access to everything from smartphone integration to navigation to fuel purchases without leaving the driver's seat. Hybrid and All-Electric Vehicles: There have been electric vehicles since literally the earliest days of motoring over 100 years ago, but hybrid and electric vehicles really came into their own in the 2010s as drivers concerned about the future of the planet (and looking to save money in an age where fuel costs may quickly spike) turned to gas-electric hybrids and full-electric vehicles as a realistic alternative to gasoline- and diesel-powered cars. Better battery technology, increased range and a growing network of fast recharging stations make an all-electric future of motoring look more likely every day. Modern Turbocharging: Another old technology that really found its way to the mainstream in the 2010s, turbocharging was once confined to high-torque diesels and a handful of temperamental, ultra-high-performance gasoline racers. With manufacturers looking to squeeze more power from smaller displacement engines and less fuel, however, modern turbocharging really came into its own in the 2010s, helping smaller, fuel-efficient engines in everyday vehicles produce big power. Once rare, turbocharged engines can now be found in even reasonably-priced subcompact vehicles like the 2020 Buick Encore. The Return of the Muscle Car: If you've a "gearhead," chances are you've daydreamed about time-traveling back to the Golden Age of American muscle cars in the late 1960s, when anybody with a steady job could drop a few thousand bucks and go home with a fire-breathing muscle car. Horsepower fans got a second shot at factory street machine glory in the 2010s, however, as the muscle cars came roaring back better than ever. Thanks to modern computer-assisted engine design and engineering techniques, today's muscle cars feature more speed and muscle than ever before, with today's top-shelf performance cars producing more than 700 horsepower straight from the factory while using a lot less fuel, putting even the hottest 1960s muscle cars to shame. "Smart" Cruise Control and Driver-Assistance Features: Once a hallmark of any futuristic movie worth its salt, cars that drive themselves without steering or braking input from a human driver are getting closer every day, and the 2010s saw the widespread introduction of several steps on the way to that goal, including features like lane-keeping assist, "smart" cruise control that can maintain a set distance between traffic ahead and even manage stop-and-go traffic if necessary, emergency automatic braking that can sense obstacles ahead and brake to lessen or avoid impacts, and even hands-free interstate driving in some models.

2020 is here, and that means a whole new decade of innovation before us here at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC. Before we step into the third decade of the 2000s, however, we'd like to take a look back, with four of our favorite car flicks from the 2010s! The decade saw a host of great, car-themed films, but these were our top-notch faves. Read on, and see if they're tops on your list as well. And when you're ready to get behind the wheel of the vehicles of the future you can drive today, stop in at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC for a test drive, or check out our big selection of beautiful GMC and Buick vehicles online at our website right now. "Logan Lucky" (2017) -- Directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring a host of Hollywood A-listers, including Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Katie Holmes and current... more "James Bond" star Daniel Craig, "Logan Lucky" is a hilarious hillbilly heist film about a pair of hapless brothers, played by Driver and Tatum, who plan to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600 race over Memorial Day weekend with the help of their uncle and safecracker Joe Bang (Craig). One hitch: Bang is in prison, and they have to break him out and back into jail to make the heist happen on schedule. That's just one of the twists in this very funny film, which features plenty of NASCAR action and the hustle and bustle behind the scenes at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015) -- We're huge fans of the original "Mad Max" films of the 1970s and 80s, so we were understandably excited when we heard original director George Miller was returning to write and direct a new vision of the film's topsy-turvy, car-obsessed, post-apocalyptic world. Little did we know that "Mad Max: Fury Road" would be not only a continuation of the original films, but actually surpass the originals in spectacle and quality while rebooting the franchise for a whole new century. Tom Hardy takes over for Mel Gibson as Max, who goes on the run with Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) after she steals an armored, fuel-hauling "War Rig" and the enslaved wives of cult leader Immortan Joe. Packed with incredible action and even more incredible vehicles, the film manages to be not only one of the best car movies of the decade, but one of the best films of the 21st Century so far. "Baby Driver" (2017) -- Written and directed by British filmmaker Edgar Wright, "Baby Driver" is one of the most innovative and exciting action films of the 2010s, nominated for three Academy Awards and winding up on many critics' best-of-the-year lists. Starring newcomer Ansel Elgort, the film centers around the story of youthful street-driving phenom known only as Baby, who has turned his icy-calm nerves and passion for driving into a profitable sideline as a getaway driver for thieves. After getting in debt to a ruthless crime boss played by Kevin Spacey, Baby teams up with a gang of criminals played by Jon Hamm, Jon Bernthal, Jamie Foxx and Christina Hendricks for one last score before he's out. Things go in fast, pulse-pounding directions from there, in a film that's one of the best of the decade. "Ford vs. Ferrari" (2019) -- Directed by the great James Mangold, "Ford vs. Ferrari" is based on one of the most incredible and thrilling true stories in motorsports history: the effort by Carroll Shelby, Henry Ford II and Ford Motor Company to build the legendary Ford GT40, an all-American supercar built solely to take down the dominant racers of Enzo Ferrari in the 1966 24 Hours of LeMans road race. Starring Oscar winners Matt Damon as Shelby and Christian Bale as high-strung British racing driver Ken Miles, the film is non-stop action from the word go, featuring some of the most heart-stopping racing scenes ever committed to film as Shelby and Miles push technology to the ragged edge in search of victory and raw speed. For anyone who ever loved fast cars, it's a true delight that may take home a few Oscars of its own in 2020.

ushered in a whole new era of GMC truck design, building on over a century of beautiful, powerful, capable GMC trucks that truly earned the brand the motto: Professional Grade. GMC has always been about pushing the envelope when it comes to what American drivers can expect from their trucks. That relentless push for excellence has resulted in some truly beautiful and groundbreaking truck and SUV designs over the years, and many of us here at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC have got our favorites. Seen below, check out our top five favorite GMC truck and SUVs. And when you're ready to check out the next chapter of GMC's never-ending push to build the best trucks on the road, stop in... more at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC and check out the all-new 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, the all-new 2020 GMC Acadia AT4, the burly 2020 GMC Sierra 3500HD, or any of the rest of the GMC family of trucks and SUVs. 5) 1975 GMC Sierra Grande Duallie -- General Motors turned the page on styling for 1973 with the introduction of the C/K series. A totally new design from the ground up, the trucks featured a much cleaner and more angular look than previous generation GM trucks, which is why GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado trucks built between 1973-1987 are now known as "Square Body" pickups. For our money, none looked better than early heavy-duty GMC Sierra Grande models with a dual-tire rear axle. Featuring burly fiberglass fender flares to cover the rear tires, great two-tone paint combos and a choice of either single cab or crew cab configurations, the GMC Sierra Grande was the dawn of a whole new era of ultra-capable heavy duty trucks. 4) 1955 GMC Suburban Carrier -- Seeking a more sophisticated pickup for wealthier buyers in the 1950s, GMC's rare 1955 Suburban Carrier -- a companion to the Chevrolet's slightly less-rare Cameo pickups built between 1955-59 -- was all about refinement and style, including a bed that featured sleek fiberglass outer fenders, sedan-style taillights and rear bumper, and a fold-down rear compartment to hide the spare. Paired with the dagmar-style grille and bold styling found on GMC's "Blue Chip" series trucks that began production in 1955, the Suburban Carrier made for a striking and beautiful package that predicted the rise of modern luxury trucks by decades. Never a big seller due to the increased cost of those luxury upgrades, today they're very sought-after by collectors. 3) 1970 GMC "Jimmy" K5 -- After the turmoil and social upheaval of the late 1960s, the early 1970s found many Americans just wanting to get away from it all to find adventure and self-reliance in the remaining pockets of great American wilderness. Helping them get "back to the land" was the first-generation GMC Jimmy K5. The GMC companion model to the first-generation Chevy Blazer, the GMC Jimmy used much of the same sheet metal as the same-year GMC pickup, only on a shorter wheelbase and sporting a lift-off fiberglass top for a full-convertible look. Featuring rugged GMC 4x4 running gear, V8 power and short approach and exit angles to help mount and climb over obstacles, the first-generation GMC Jimmy helped create the idea of the modern SUV. 2) 1999 GMC Yukon Denali -- Almost three decades after helping invent the SUV concept with the first-gen GMC Jimmy, GMC changed the game again with their first high-end luxury SUV: the 1999 GMC Yukon Denali. Named for the tallest peak in North America, the Yukon Denali was also the pinnacle of GMC refinement, loaded with the kind of features, craftsmanship and materials previously reserved for high-end luxury sedans. Well-received by consumers who wanted more comfort and options from their SUVs, the 1999 Yukon Denali started the luxury nameplate that eventually led to today's growing family of top-tier GMC Denali luxury SUVs and trucks, including the 2020 GMC Denali Sierra, Terrain, Acadia, and Canyon. 1) 1991-92 GMC Syclone -- Sinister and fast, with an all-black look and special badging, wheels and body cladding, the limited-edition GMC Syclone was the early-1990's most unlikely high-performance vehicle, sporting a turbocharged 4.3-liter V6 delivering 280 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. Corner-carving all-wheel drive lifted from the GMC Safari minivan helped make the Syclone the quickest stock pickup of the decade and one of the most capable performance machines of the era overall, able to blast through the quarter mile in 13.4 seconds, with a 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds. That's faster than an early-90s Chevy Corvette. With production lasting only two years, the special edition Syclone and SUV-based GMC Typhoon are hot commodities among collectors today, keeping prices for well-preserved examples sky high. Speaking of: GMC seriously needs to make a Syclone version of the all-new 2020 GMC Canyon. Pretty please?

From the luxurious Buick Enclave to the compact but refined Buick Encore, Buick's family of SUV models has been raising the bar on styling, features, safety and comfort for years. Now Buick has released full details on the next member of the Buick SUV family: the 2020 Buick Encore GX. Slated in size and starting price between the compact 2020 Buick Encore and the midsize 2020 Buick Envision, the Buick Encore GX is a game-changer with the uncompromising design, safety and performance today's drivers demand. “Premium SUV buyers are looking for features that fit their lifestyle priorities, and Buick is giving customers more segment choices with our new Encore GX,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president, Global Buick and GMC. “As we look to the future of Buick, and customer demand trends, our four... more -SUV portfolio puts us in a strong competitive position across the most popular SUV segments.” Buick recently released full details on the 2020 Buick Encore GX, including specifics on engine options, technology and safety features. Here at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC of Bentonville, we're counting the days until the 2020 Encore GX is released next spring. For now, though, read on for the latest about this incredible new mid-size SUV from Buick. SAFETY: The Encore GX will continue Buick's commitment to building the most advanced SUVs on the road today, with a wide range of available safety and driver assistance features, including a suit of six safety technologies that are standard on every Buick GX model. These include Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Following Distance Indicator and IntelliBeam headlamps with automatically-adjusting high/low beams. Upping the safety even further are the 2020 Buick Encore GX's available driver-assistance features, including rear park assist with cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert with side blind zone alert, rear camera mirror, adaptive cruise control, heads-up display, automatic parking assist with braking, a high-definition surround-view camera and more. CONNECTIVITY: Buick knows today's drivers deserve the latest in technology advances and the 2020 Encore GX delivers with a huge array of standard and available tech features, including smartphone connectivity by Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, available wireless charging and Bluetooth pairing that allows two phones to be paired simultaneously. will allow up to two phones to be paired at the same time. For even more entertainment options, the 2020 Encore GX also supports the next-generation SiriusXM with 360L, which pairs both satellite on online streaming for more channels than ever. STYLE MEETS FUNCTIONALITY: Buick's family of SUV models shines with the craftsmanship, refinement and attention to detail that has always marked Buick design. the 2020 Buick GX continues that tradition with features like a sophisticated front fascia, 18-inch alloy wheels, and the optional Sport Touring package with exclusive wheel design, body color molding, and a signature black mesh grille with red accents. Inside, the interior of the 2020 Buick GX is all about comfort and flexibility, with Buick QuietTuning noise reduction, premium materials, available leather and an ionizing air filtration system. Need to haul? Lay the 60/40 split rear folding seat to allow cargo up to eight feet long. PERFORMANCE: Power in the 2020 Buick Encore GX is provided by either the standard 1.2-liter turbo or 1.3-liter turbo four cylinder, developing up to 155 horsepower and 174 lb.-ft. of torque while delivering up to 31 miles per gallon fuel economy backed by a "gearless" Continuously Variable Transmission. Available all-wheel drive keeps you sunny side up even when the roads get slick, and can switch to two-wheel drive automatically to help conserve fuel when traction needs are low. Thanks to new models like the 2020 Buick Encore GX, the future of Buick innovation, luxury and comfort has never been brighter, and everyone here at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC can't wait to introduce you to the Encore GX when the model debuts in early 2020. Can't wait? Stop in today to test drive the latest in Buick refinement, or check us out online at our website right now.

It's December, and that means Christmas is right around the corner. For lots and lots of folks out there, what that also means is holiday travel, and nothing cuts a holiday road trip down to size like a great Christmas-themed playlist. From the old classics to the new favorites, there's thousands of Christmas and winter-themed songs to choose from to keep the kids occupied and help everyone ward off those stuck-in-the-car blues all the way to that gathering with family and friends. Seen below, check out seven songs that are must-haves on any self-respecting holiday road trip playlist. And if you need a beautiful, reliable, comfortable vehicle to get you over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house, stop in today for a test drive at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC of Bentonville, or... more check out our full selection of beautiful Buick and GMC vehicles at our website right now. 1) "Little Saint Nick" by The Beach Boys A rockin' good tune that builds on the success of The Beach Boys' other hot rod-themed hits like "409" and "Little Deuce Coupe," the hit "Little Saint Nick," written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, reimagines Santa Claus's sleigh as a tricked out ride, and went all the way to number three on the charts when it debuted in December 1963. It's still a holiday crowd pleaser. 2) "A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives First released by Decca Records in October 1965 and featuring the soulful baritone of crooner Burl Ives -- who, fun fact, also voiced the snowman narrator in the stop-motion classic "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" -- was a big hit when it appeared as the B-side of an even bigger hit for Ives: his classic rendition of the title song from that iconic film about our favorite shiny-nosed deer who led Santa's sleigh one foggy Christmas Eve. 3) "You Make It Feel Like Christmas" by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Lest you think we're biased toward the oldies, there's few holiday classics that can top this Christmas hit from 2017, with Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton rocking out on a Motown-flavored duet about the joys of being with someone you love on The Big Night. It was the title track from Stefani's Christmas album that year -- a stocking stuffed with similar feel-good holiday hits. 4) "Run, Run Rudolph" by Chuck Berry Written by Johnny Marks, who also penned classic holiday hits like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Run, Run Rudolph" kicks Christmas cheer into high gear with a kickin' beat and plenty of rolicking guitar work by one of the undisputed masters of Rock n' Roll. Though it peaked at number 69 on the charts when it was released, it has since gone on to become a Christmas classic, used in iconic films like "Home Alone" and recorded by artists from Keith Richards to Lynyrd Skynrd. Chuck's version will always be the best, though. 5) "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Thurl Ravenscroft While it's often mistakenly attributed to horror-film master Boris Karloff, who provided narration and voices to the 1966 animated Christmas classic "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" the artist singing the most familiar tune in the film was actually the lesser known but just as baritone Thurl Ravencroft, who -- in case you can't place why that voice sounds so familiar -- is also the golden pipes behind a year-round fave: cartoon spokescat Tony the Tiger of Kelloggs' Frosted Flakes fame. Whatever the case, we think "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is about as grrrrrrreat as they come for a holiday playlist. 6) "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy" by Bing Crosby and David Bowie You just knew it was going to be magic when legends David Bowie and Bing Crosby got together in 1977 to record a duet for Crosby's Christmas TV special, but the two icons went one better by doing a mashup, with Bing crooning the classic "The Little Drummer Boy" while Bowie simultaneously provided a soulful, perfectly-matched counterpoint in "Peace on Earth," featuring all-new lyrics by Ian Fraser, Larry Grossman and Alan Kohan and written specially for the occasion. While fans of Bing and Bowie didn't overlap much back then, the result was holiday magic that would go on to be one of the biggest sellers of Bowie's entire career. Great music always makes good times more fun, especially at the holidays, and we hope these suggestions help you get your holiday road trip playlist off to a great start. Need some premium audio to go with your playlist? Then stop in today at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC of Bentonville and check out our full selection of beautiful Buick and GMC cars, trucks and SUVs, or shop us online at our website right now.

Christmastime is here again, and in addition to food, decorations and merriment, this time of year gets a lot of folks thinking about the less fortunate and those who don't have as much. The work to help the less fortunate goes on year round, and here in Northwest Arkansas, we're lucky to have more than our share of stellar non-profits that do the good work of giving people a hand up to a brighter, better future. If you're looking to contribute or volunteer this Christmas season or in the new year ahead, seen below are details on three incredible charities doing great work right here in Northwest Arkansas. Whether you want to give of your time or a cash or material contribution, any one of these would be a great place to do it. They're some of the best examples of the giving, compassionate... more spirit that makes Northwest Arkansas a great place to live, work and raise a family. It's part of the reason why everyone at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC is proud to call this Northwest Arkansas home. From all of us: Merry Christmas, and a very happy New Year to you and yours. Laundry Love Northwest Arkansas If you've ever been without a washer and dryer long term, you understand how tough it can be to keep your clothes clean. Tack on the added expense of using a laundromat -- which, with washing and drying, can be up to $7 per load or more depending on the location -- and you can easily see how many less-fortunate people in Northwest Arkansas often have to make hard decisions between food, rent and clean clothes to wear. Helping fill that gap is Laundry Love NWA. Part of a nationwide Laundry Love initiative, Laundry Love NWA is one of the efforts of the non-profit group Serve NWA, and seeks to provide people the dignity of clean clothes through monthly events at local laundromats, with access to washers and dryers provided free of charge one night of the month. Held at Rogers, Fayetteville and Springdale, these events also include a potluck dinner for volunteers and participants to enjoy while clothes go round and round in the suds. An all-volunteer service, Laundry Love relies heavily on donations of funds and detergent. A little of your time and money can go a long way toward helping people be proud of themselves and their appearance again. For more information or to contribute, visit their website at: servenwa.org/laundry-love/ CASA of Northwest Arkansas Founded in Seattle in 1977, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program has since spread all over the nation, training, recruiting and supporting people just like you who serve as decision makers and advocates for children in courtroom settings, including kids who have been abused, neglected, or who are currently part of the foster care system. Since 1997, the superheroes without capes at CASA of Northwest Arkansas have been fulfilling that mission in Washington, Benton, Madison and Carroll Counties, building relationships with the vulnerable children they serve, learning about their unique situations, and helping kids make the legal decisions that will literally shape the rest of their lives and help them find their way to a more peaceful future. If you have the time and love to spare, there is no specific background or education required to be a CASA volunteer, and they will provide special training in areas like child mental health, working with vulnerable children, and the psychological aftermath of abuse and neglect. If your circumstances allow you to contribute, CASA of Northwest Arkansas accepts tax-deductible donations of cash and other items. For more information, visit their website at: www.nwacasa.org Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas Right now, think back on your childhood and recall that adult in your life who gave you a hand up, a pat on the back or a "good job" at exactly the moment you needed it. Along with loving parents or guardians, those are the adults who truly shape our lives. For over a century, Big Brothers and Big Sisters has been helping provide those life-changing role models to kids all over the nation as the oldest and most effective youth-mentoring organization in America. Founded in 1995, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas has spent over two decades strengthening families in Northwest Arkansas by providing mentoring "Bigs" to "Littles" ages 6 to 14 years old in Benton and Washington Counties. Together, these carefully-paired friends spend a few days every month doing rewarding, low-cost activities together like a day in the park, catching a movie or visiting one of our great local museums. In the process, these volunteers make a real difference in the lives of children, improving their self-esteem, relationships, and outlook on their future while helping them avoid pitfalls that can take their the lives in less-than-positive directions. Anyone can volunteer to be a Big Brother or Big Sister, and the group also accepts tax-deductible charitable donations to help further their mission. For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas, to volunteer or to learn how you can help, visit their website at: bbbsnwa.org

Built for the toughest work America can throw at it, the all-new 2020 GMC Sierra 3500HD is the strongest, most powerful and most ruggedly-engineered truck GMC built in the company's over 100-year history. Constructed from the ground up to be strong to the core, packing the available 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8 with 910 lb.-ft. of torque and 450 horsepower, the 2020 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty has a maximum gooseneck towing capacity of an incredible 35,500 pounds. That's a full 52 percent more than the previous Sierra Heavy Duty, to help take your toughest days in stride. While we're sure you've got some of your own big ideas for what to do with 35,500 pounds of towing muscle, it can be hard to visualize what a number that big looks like in the real world. McLarty Daniel Buick GMC is here... more to help, however. Seen below are just a few of the things you can tow with your 2020 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty, considering you're also pulling a gooseneck trailer weighing 5,000 pounds. And when you're ready to really go to work towing all the big stuff you need to move in your life, come see us today at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC! 1) The 2020 Buick Encore, the smallest vehicle made by Buick, tips the scales at 4,834 pounds, which means you could tow around six of them with your GMC Sierra HD. 2) An African Elephant weighs around 13,000 pounds, so you could easily tow them two by two to that ark you're building in the backyard. 3) Happy Thanksgiving! According to poultry giant Butterball, the average frozen turkey weighs about 28 pounds, which means you can tow 1,089 of them to grandma's house. Who's bringing the gravy? 4) A large consumer-model refrigerator can weigh in at around 410 pounds, which means you can tow 74 of them if you can stack them high enough. 5) A "large" adult male Pomeranian dog weighs in at a beefy 7.7 pounds. Bring your earplugs for all the yapping when you tow away 3,961 of them with your 2020 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty. Fancy! 6) Want some pumpkin pie? A fully-mature pumpkin weighs about 9 pounds, which means you can tow around 3,388 of them. Orange you glad you know that now? 7) A classic 1967 Volkswagen Beetle weighs around 1,700 pounds. With more than flower power on tap, the 2020 GMC Sierra HD can tow up to 17 of them at once, man. 8) By George, a U.S. quarter weighs 5.67 grams, meaning you can tow about 2,436,850 of them in your GMC Sierra 3500HD, equivalent to about $60,9237.50 in greenback dollars. 9) Speaking of quarters, an American quarterhorse can weigh up to 1,100 pounds. Bring plenty of oats, because the 2020 GMC Sierra 3500HD can tow around 27 of them at a time. 10) A 2020 GMC Sierra 3500HD duallie with the 6.6-liter diesel weighs 8,355 pounds, meaning you could tow three 2020 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty trucks in your 2020 Sierra 3500HD! Yeah, some of these are a little absurd. But hopefully this gives you an idea of the incredible power you've got at your disposal when you're behind the wheel of the rugged, reliable, Professional Grade 2020 GMC Sierra 3500HD. Ready to really get to work? Stop in today at McLarty Daniel GMC for a test drive of the next-generation of GMC Sierra Heavy Duty power, or check out our full selection of 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD trucks online right now.

The busy holiday driving season is coming up, and while a beautiful new GMC Yukon or Buick Enclave from McLarty Daniel Buick GMC is one way to make those long road trips to grandma's house more enjoyable, one sure fire way to make the miles seem shorter is tuning in to a great podcast. If you don't know, podcasts are audio-only stories, both fiction and non-fiction, that often play out over several episodes and are accessible online through your smartphone or computer. The world of podcasts has exploded in recent years, with journalists and amateurs alike using today's affordable high-def microphones, recording equipment and processing software to create professional level productions that explore everything from true crime to business, science fiction to cutting edge science fact. Unlike... more music, podcasts require your mind to really engage with the subject. Because of that, getting engrossed in a great podcast is a perfect way to make hundreds of miles seem like a quick trip across town. Seen below are a few of our favorite podcasts we've listened to recently, sure to help cut that long holiday road trip down to size. And if you need a great new or used vehicle to get you there, come see us today at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC! The Dropout With Silicon Valley innovators constantly rewriting our future on a yearly and sometimes monthly basis, a lot of people bought into the medical revolution Elizabeth Holmes was peddling through her high-tech startup company Theranos: a simple, tabletop-sized device that could, with a single drop of blood taken from a finger tip, diagnose hundreds of ailments, helping catch health issues sooner, potentially saving lives and helping people live longer. Surrounded by a star-studded group of innovators and deep-pocketed investors, Holmes soon became America's youngest self-made billionaire. But after years of delays and mounting questions, followed by an avalanche of lawsuits and investigations, the promise of Theranos and Holmes herself came crashing down, revealing a web of best intentions, deceit, misdiagnosis and outright lies. In "The Dropout," investigators take a deep dive into Theranos, plotting the meteoric rise and even steeper fall of both Holmes and the company she founded, in a story that calls into question "startup culture" and even the American dream itself. Dolly Parton's America Since she first broke into country music in 1967 with her debut album "Hello, I'm Dolly," country singer Dolly Parton has risen to the highest ranks of entertainment royalty, building both her star power and her own brand as an artist, songwriter, producer and business entrepreneur. She even made her mark on Hollywood along the way, starring in hits like "9 to 5." These days, she's a true icon for millions of Americans who love her as much for her giving heart as they do for her music, with Parton managing stay in the spotlight for almost six decades that have seen her become a living symbol of the stick-to-itiveness needed to succeed in worlds long dominated by men. Still fabulous well into her 70s, she's a long, long way from her impoverished upbringing in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. This nine-part podcast from WNYC finds host Jad Abumrad exploring the events, relationships and influences that added up to make Parton a legend, with Abumrad accompanying the country music star to various events, both public and private, to try to figure out what makes Dolly the beloved star she is today. Whether you're more into high-technology or low-fi country, these two podcasts are a great way to kill some miles on your way to a great Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner with family and friends. And if you need a sound system to play them on, come see us for a test drive today at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC!

A lot of us here at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC are history buffs. Plus, with November being Native American Heritage Month, it's a great time to look at some of the places in Arkansas where you can explore our state's rich Native American history. While there are no federal Native American reservations in Arkansas, there are dozens of federally recognized tribes associated with Arkansas. These include the Quapaw, Tunica and Osage — all of which left their mark in history. Read on for three incredible places in Arkansas where you can explore Native American heritage! And if you need a top-notch vehicle to get you there, stop in today at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC, or check out our full lineup of great Buick and GMC vehicles right now on our website.... more Start Car Shopping Online Today PLUM BAYOU MOUNDS ARCHEOLOGICAL STATE PARK 490 Toltec Mounds Road | Scott, AR Sprawling over a 100-acre site in Lonoke County near the small community of Scott, Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park (formerly known as the Toltec Mounds) is one of the largest Native American sites in the Mississippi River Valley. The centerpiece of the park is several towering earthen mounds, built entirely by hauling dirt in baskets, which were constructed between 650 and 1050 A.D. The mounds were built by a people known by archeologists as the Plum Bayou Culture, who had long since disappeared by the time Europeans first made contact with natives in the area. Believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes for around 300 years, the site today includes 18 mounds, with the largest being 49 feet high. Several of the mounds, which originally featured flat tops where researchers believe powerful religious leaders constructed temples and homes, were built to line up with where the sun touches the horizon at the summer and winter equinox. Admission to the park is free, and there are well-maintained paved paths to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs. Great Spring Break Destinations in NWA PARKIN ARCHEOLOGICAL STATE PARK 60 State Hwy 184 | Parkin, AR Located along the St. Francis River in Cross County, Parkin Archeological State Park preserves the site of a 17-acre Native American village. The village is believed to be the town of Casqui, which was mentioned in writings from the 1541 expedition by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and home to the Arkansas Archeological Survey Research Station since 1990, the site is believed to have been established at some point between 1000 and 1250 A.D. as an important trading and farming village. Once surrounded by a water-filled moat and a high wooden wall made of locally harvested trees, the fortified village was home to up to a thousand inhabitants at one point. Excavations show they farmed a number of valuable crops, including beans, squash, sunflowers and tobacco, and prowled surrounding forests and waterways for fish, turtles and wild game. Today, park interpreters provide guided tours and educational events at the park, which includes a picnic area, playground and boat ramp to the St. Francis River. Admission is free. Best Dog Parks in Northwest Arkansas THE MUSEUM OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY 202 SW O Street | Bentonville, AR Founded in 2006 by David Bogle, a native of Bentonville who is a registered member of the Cherokee Nation, Bentonville's Museum of Native American History moved to its current gallery space in June 2008. Currently, the museum houses a collection of over 10,000 Native American artifacts. The collection is a mixture of Bogle's own collection along with items loaned to the museum by private collectors. Exhibitions at the museum take visitors through Native American history in the area, showcasing items ranging in history from the Paleo Period of 12,000 B.C. all the way up to art and artifacts from the present day. Admission to the museum is free, and they hold special exhibitions and events throughout the year. Local Coffee Spots Worth Visiting There's a lot of great history out there in Arkansas, and if you need a great new or used vehicle to get you there, stop in and check out our great selection today at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC! Or you can check us out online right now!

While Buick and GMC have been at the forefront of making vehicles safer for decades, we can all do better when it comes to vehicle safety, and nowhere is that goal more important than when it comes to our kids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are the leading preventable cause of death for children between the ages of 1-13. While child safety seat technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the past 20 years, even the best car seat won't work as designed if it isn't installed and fitted properly to your child. Even for seasoned parents, properly installing and fitting a car seat can be something of a mystery. With that in mind, read on for McLarty Daniel Buick GMC's five car seat tips to help keep your littlest passengers safe. Together, we... more can do more to keep everyone safer on the highway. 1) KEEP CHILDREN REAR-FACING AS LONG AS YOU CAN: When you're on a trip, everybody likes to see where you're going. But when it comes to children and car seats, a rear-facing position is the safest and best is bad turns to worse. With that in mind, your child should stay rear facing until they are at least two years old and longer if their height will permit it. 2) WHEN THEY DO FACE FORWARD, USE A TETHER STRAP AND ANCHOR POINT: Like all vehicles sold in the U.S. since 2000, all four-door 2020 Buick and GMC vehicles feature heavily-anchored tether points in at least three positions in the rear seat that can be used to attach a child safety seat when it faces forward. In the event of a collision, using a tether and anchor point can decrease the amount your child's head can move, preventing brain injuries. 3) USE THE RIGHT HARNESS STRAP SLOTS: In the back of the car seat, there are usually six slots that allow the chest harness to be moved up and adjusted as your child grows. Using the right slot is crucial to your child's safety. In rear-facing seats, use the slots located at or just under the height of the child's shoulders. In a forward-facing seat, use the slot located at or above the child's shoulders. 4) MAKE SURE THE HARNESS STRAPS ARE SNUG: Kids may not like having their car seat straps snugged up, but it is crucial to their safety. With the child buckled in place, pinch the straps on each side at the child's shoulders. If there's any slack, the straps are too loose and should be adjusted. 5) MAKE SURE THE STRAP RETAINER CLIP IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE: While that rectangular plastic clip that holds the chest straps in place doesn't look like much, it's a lot more than decorative and important to safety in a crash. The clip should never be placed over the child's stomach or up near his or her throat. Instead, always place it at armpit level, with each strap flat and untwisted in the clip. Car seats are always a pain in the keister for everybody involved, but they save lives. By following these simple tips, you can make sure your child's car seat functions as it was engineered in a collision, turning what could have been a tragedy into a near miss. Worried your vehicle might not be safe enough for your most precious cargo? Stop in today at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC to check out our selection of beautiful, safety-rated vehicles today, or shop us online right now.

As anybody who has been driving awhile can tell you, the only thing about driving that's predictable is that it's going to be unpredictable. From flats to accidents, roadside emergencies to breakdowns on dark and lonely highways, no matter what you drive, you're eventually going to run into an issue. Being prepared for the inevitable breakdown, accident or emergency is always a good idea, and McLarty Daniel Buick GMC is here to help with our list of essentials for your roadside emergency kit as we head into the winter months, when the nights are cold and dark. Read on for our suggestions for the must-haves any time you head out on the road. A STURDY, ZIPPERED TOTE BAG: You can put together all the emergency kits you want, but if your emergency supplies are scattered around your trunk or... more rolling around in the back seat floorboard when you need them, it's going to make a bad situation worse. As such, find yourself a sturdy, zippered tote bag, gym bag or duffel bag in which to store your emergency kit. A FLASHLIGHT: This one can't be overstated. As you may have heard, it gets dark at night, and if you're broke down on the road, you're going to need light. Yes, your smartphone probably has a flashlight on it. But what if you need light while simultaneously needing to use your phone to call for help or look up information? What if every bit of cell phone battery power is the difference between safety and tragedy, and you can't afford to run a cell phone flashlight for hours? Yeah, now you see the issue. So get yourself a small LED flashlight. Bonus points for one with quick-change red filter and/or a flashing function that can be used to signal to other drivers on the highway. JUMPER CABLES: Is there anything more gut-wrenching than coming out to realize you left your headlights on and your battery is dead, especially when it's dark out? We've all been there, which is why a lot of drivers are willing to give you a jump. To do so, however, you need a set of jumper cables to connect your vehicle's battery to that of your Good Samaritan's battery, and you need to know how to use them. So buy a set of jumper cables for your emergency kit and read the instruction manual and your vehicle owner's manual to learn how they work BEFORE you need them. A SMALL COMPRESSOR: Other than the dead battery seen before, the second-most sickening feeling is coming out and finding a flat tire. While you should familiarize yourself with how to safely change a flat, sometimes you may be in a situation where you can't change a flat in a given location or don't want to -- a busy roadside or parking lot, for instance, or a location that may be less than safe. With that in mind, think about investing in a small, battery powered air compressor with a hose and chuck that can air up vehicle tires. These are compact, can be purchased fairly cheaply at any auto-parts store, and plug into the standard 12-volt outlet in your car. While it's not a long-term solution to a flat tire, a lot of times it can get you aired up and back on the road for long enough to get to a repair shop. A TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE: Where the rubber meets the road, few parts of your vehicle are more responsible for your safety on the highway than your tires. Keeping safe means keeping your tires in tip-top shape, including their air pressure. As such, buy yourself a cheap tire pressure gauge, familiarize yourself with your car's recommended tire pressure, and check them often. They're very affordable, and come in either old-school analogue or easy-read digital versions. A BLANKET: Whether you're spending a few cold hours waiting on a tow truck or using it to help comfort someone who has suffered an accident on a February night, a clean, dry, warm blanket can be a literal lifesaver in a roadside emergency. Find a smaller fleece throw, pack it in a large freezer bag and stick it in your emergency kit. A BACK-UP PHONE CHARGER OR CHARGED BATTERY PACK: Most of us are attached to our phones these days, and really don't realize how much we depend on them until that battery level drops to zero. Out on the highway, a fully-charged cell phone can be the difference between life and tragedy. Make sure you're prepared for anything by packing a back-up phone charger in your emergency kit, or -- even better -- a fully-charged back-up phone battery. These can be had relatively inexpensively and are a lifeline if your phone is nearly dead in an emergency. There's all kinds of other things you can drop in your roadside emergency kit, including things like bottled water, first aid supplies, snacks and reflectors or flares. These seven items, however, should probably be seen as the true essentials that your kit can be built around. Worried your old vehicle is going to leave you stranded some cold, dark night? Then stop worrying and stop in at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC to check out our full selection of reliable, dependable new and used vehicles! Or you can check out our full lineup online right now.