Buick Blog

We have seen the teaser of a Buick compact crossover as early as 2009 which is basically a rebadged edition of the Saturn Vue (which by the way is obsolete now). The only significant design difference is the waterfall grille of the new crossover , and that issue caused bad press and so the production was canceled.

Buick however did not give up and said May last year that they will still pursue the production of the compact crossover.

Just the other day, at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Buick finally pulled the covers of the 2013 Buick Encore which is set to roll out for consumption by next year. The Buick Encore reflects the co-design practice with the Opel division which will release a twin version that might be called the Opel Mokka before the end of 2012.

It seems the design team did a bit of revision and did a pretty decent job as the vents just under the headlamps are not looking as awkward as the earlier teaser versions. The waterfall grille is there with the headlights on the side that makes use of blue rings similar to that of the Enclave. The compact crossover will roll on five spoke alloy rims or an option of seven-spoke chrome rims.

The interior tries to go premium with premium dashboard materials, LCD display-cum-navigation system, and the IntelliLink voice controlled system which comes as standard.

The 2013 Buick Encore will depend on the 1.4L turbocharged powerplant that can give out 148 horsepower with a torque of 140 lb-ft. The engine is coupled with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The company has not revealed the figures for fuel economy. All-wheel drive will be an option.

Buick aims to send the Encore against competitors like the BMW X1 and the Q3 from Audi. We are also awaiting the official pricing for this Buick compact crossover.

Buick announced that their team of engineers spent around 1,000 hours to make sure that the seats of the 2012 Verano are comfortable eliminating hot spots that may occur during long drives. They also made sure that the headrest does not interfere with hair-dos of the occupants.

Buck invested on the interior craftsmanship and comfort for their seats making sure that the Verano can meet head on the competition like the Lexus IS and the Acura TSX. The primary assignment of the designers of the 2012 Buick Verano is to make the ride comfortable and feel that when going to a holiday, the vacation starts as soon as they step into their 2012 Verano. Quite a fitting goal and concept as Verano literally translates as “summer” in Spanish.

The seats of the Verano make use of premium support foam, leather, and padding. The materials are similar to the ones used for the seats of the Buick LaCrosse but the Verano’s seat bolster are made to provide greater side support to provide the most comfortable experience while cruising to your next destination.

Another great feature of the Verano interior is how they made use of noise reduction technologies to make the cabin as quiet as possible.

It is nice to hear that the Trishield brand is exerting all efforts to make their rides comfortable and be at par or better with luxury counterparts like the Acura and Lexus and this just shows that they are serious to move up to a higher segment of the market.

The Verano will be marketed in three trims with the top one with a suggested sticker price of $26,850. All variants of the Verano will be dependent on the 4-cylinder Ecotec engine which gives out 180 horsepower and a torque of 171 lb-ft. This powerplant will be coupled with a six speed automatic gearbox. The Verano can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just around 8 seconds. Fuel mileage is expected to be pegged at 31 miles per gallon on the highway.

For the longest time now, the automotive community has regarded the Buick models as a “sensible luxury” vehicle like its competitors Acura and Lexus. Meaning, Buick isn’t really in line with performance luxury vehicles like the BMW and Audi whose direct competitor from the General Motors line is the Cadillac. Whenever the name Buick comes up in conversations or when you talk to Buick experts, you’d get the idea that Buick isn’t in par with Mercedes-Benz.

Anyway, like most brands, the automotive community still wonders what the world can expect from the brand in the years to come.

There have been reports that American car company General Motors is gearing up to unveil a redesigned version of the Opel Astra as a three-door Buick Astra model to US consumers. However, we still have no reports about the specifications and engine details.

The Buick Astra model is not the only model that’s been getting the limelight. There’s also the production of the so-called Baby Enclave which is a five-seater compact crossover model which is expected to roll out in the 2013 product line. The Baby Enclave will be built on the brand’s Gamma subcompact platform. This model has also been called the Encore.

Lastly, GM is also producing the Buick Enclave crossover which has been improved with massive upgrades for its interiors one of which is the brand’s IntelliLink infortainment feature. As for the revamped Enclave, it might roll out as part of the 2016 lineup some time in 2015.

About a year from its official release in the United States, the 2012 Verano by Buick still tickles the curiosity of the dealers and consumers through a recent online survey initiated by the car manufacturer. The results of the survey give us an idea of how the Verano will be tagged which range between $21,000 and $26,000 depending on the availed trim level and the options.

According to General Motors, the final pricing for the Verano is not yet set. The survey though is looking into the price of four trims:

There will be a base version that might be priced between $20,900 and $21500. This Buick Verano will run on 2.4L 4-cylinder engine linked with a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

The Verano will also have 2 midlevel variants that will have tags at $22,100 to $22,700 and $23,300 to $23,900.

The top of the line version of the 2012 Verano will come with heated seats, 18 inch rims, leather upholstery, Bose audio, park assist, and remote start will set you back from $25,600 to $26,200.

The Buick Verano identity was confirmed around October by General Motors and hinted that the production of the car will start by fall next year at their Orion Township factory in Detroit.

The car manufacturer has earlier rolled out the Verano as the Buick Excelle GT in China. Both vehicles are using the Delta II global platform for compact cars of GM.

China is still using an old system where car manufacturers need to file patents or take the risk of having their vehicles to be copied. News about the Chevrolet Volt coming into China next year with a Buick badge and not a Chrysler bowtie or an Opel is going around.

It just happens that General Motors filed a patent but submitted the one for Opel Amptera that is Voltec powered instead of the Chevy Volt’s. The Volt will also not be branded as Opel since it is not a well-known brand in China leaving Buick, the best brand of GM in China, as the wisest choice.

It makes perfect sense that the Ampera will be sold in China with a Buick badge since it has been the practice of the company to re-brand the Opel cars as Buicks when they reach the country.

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The Saturn brand was offloaded by General Motors but its popular units like the mid-size sedan Aura will be getting a replacement rolling off the shores of the U.S. These cars will be arriving in North America donning a Buick Badge.

The Opel Insignia was tapped to replace the Saturn Aura but due to the sale of the brand, GM decision makers opted to sell the car as the 2011 Buick Regal. The Buick Regal is set to hit the market by the 2nd quarter of 2010.

The 2011 Buick Regal is expected to give other sport sedan in its segment a tough competition. The Regal derives its power from the turbocharged engine, European chassis set up, and selectable suspension system.

The Aura replacement will meet head on with models like the Volvo S60 and the Acura TSX. The new 2011 Regal will have more space and legroom compared to these cars. It has a longer wheelbase, bigger trunk capacity, six speed transmission, and 18-inch rims.

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General Motors is still fixing its own backyard after a financial mess and eventually bankruptcy. GM is looking for a replacement model for its midsize sedan, the Saturn Aura, which should have been the Opel Insignia. With the sale of the brand, GM will be selling the new car as the Buick Regal by late 2010 or early part of 2011 in North America.

Before the sale of the Buick Regal in North America, the Opel Insignia has been rolling off the dealerships in China. According to GM insiders, the Regal will be marketed below the 2010 LaCrosse and will have a few thousand dollars off its sticker price. The LaCrosse has a tag starting at $27,835.

The LaCrosse and the Regal though is built on the same DNA of the Epsilon II FWD. They also share basic lines and curves for the body structure. This could give a good indication of what this model will afford you in terms of car breakdown cover and insurance costs.The LaCrosse has several features that you cannot find on the Regal. The former comes with acoustic glass, hood built with perimeter seal, and absorption material under the chassis.

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For two years, General Motors had been in collaboration with Opel cars and styles with Saturn. Now, General Motors will probe more with Opel as they conceive and design for Buick.

A source that is updated with General Motors’s projects said that the Opel badge, scheduled to be with Saturn as the revamped 2010 Aura, will be at the glazing hood of the Buick and will be known in the United States as the 2010 Regal sedan.

Susan Docherty, vice president of Buick-Pontiac-GMC claimed that Opel is one of the leading brands that they are hoping to work with for future production. But she cleared that her group will also consider other brands in terms of creating upcoming Buicks. They are in the time to explore and make use of all resources.

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Found this awesome photo of a Buick Blackhawk (fully custom) in this post about GM Heritage cars being sold on GM Auto Blog — and I loved it. Enough a reason for a share!

The 2010 LaCrosse will provide the much needed excitement for the Buick brand of General Motors. The production was delayed for a few months but the details leaking over the internet and the car industry circle has everyone excited waiting for the reveal of this almost luxury sedan.

The GM press releases disclose that the 2010 Buick LaCrosse will be sold in 2 variants. One will have an engine base of 3.0L V6 and a higher 3.6L V6. Both engines will be coupled with the 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission of GM.

The power plant under the hood of the 20 LaCrosse will focus on both performance and fuel efficiency. The 3.0L direct injection engine is expected to have an output of 250 horsepower with a fuel rating of 30 mpg running on normal highway conditions.

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