Jan
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of a Buick compact crossover as early as 2009 which is basically a rebadged edition of the Saturn Vue (which by the way is obsolete now).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.
