Here are highlights of the brand’s plan for the 2011-13 model years, courtesy of Auto Week:
Verano: This compact sedan is the next-generation Opel Astra in Europe and the Buick Excelle GT in China. General Motors Co. will market the car here as the 2012 Buick Verano and probably will build it in Orion Township, Mich., or Lordstown, Ohio.

GM developed the car on its front-wheel-drive Delta platform, which is shared with the Chevrolet Cruze. Look for a turbocharged high-performance engine as an option.

Regal: GM has confirmed it will build the sporty Regal GS concept it unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January. It is expected for the 2012 model year.

The Regal GS will have a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is expected to come to market with a bit more power than the 255 hp and 295 pounds-feet of torque advertised in January at the Detroit show.

LaCrosse: A hybrid version of the sedan is under strong consideration for the 2012 model year, and a reskin could come as early as that model year. The next generation is expected for the 2016 model year.

Lucerne: The sedan dies after the 2011 model year.

Encore: The “Baby Enclave” compact crossover, tentatively called the Encore, will arrive in the 2013 model year. The five-seater is built on the Delta compact-car platform.

Enclave: GM will freshen or reskin this three-row crossover for the 2012 model year and add a 3.0-liter V6. The automaker will drop the current 3.6-liter V6.

This new model would be based on the Premium Zeta architecture, much like the proposed (but not yet confirmed) Cadillac XTS. In order to keep these two models from competing too closely with each other, the Buick model would target the Lexus LS, while the Cadillac would be poised to take on the sportier BMW 7 Series.

Currently Buick does have a flagship sedan based on the Zeta architecture – sold in China as the Park Avenue. There’s a possibility that this new model could also replace the Chinese Park Avenue and bring back the Park Avenue name to North America.

Source, Pics: AutoGuide

The last time Buick attempted to cross over to another platform it was with the now deceased Saturn Vue. Critics of this design combination dubbed it “Vuick” – the plan never made it past concept stages.

Buick executives may release more information later this week or by the end of spring. The Chevrolet Aveo is produced at GM’s Orion Township, Michigan, plant. Buick’s small car will most likely also be constructed there. GM has recently been revamping the plant in order to prepare for it for assembly of its new generation small cars.

Source: Motor Trend

Now that General Motors has almost completed shedding its non-core brands, the company is refocusing attention to its main brands. The company is in research and development of a new sport coupe that could be sold as a Buick.

In an interview with Buick and Chevy design director John Cafaro, Automotive News confirmed that Buick is angling for a younger audience. “My role is really being a zealot for getting Buick more youthful, more spirited and probing ideas [for] coupes, more expressive vehicles,” he said. “That is really my job.”

The automaker is in a similar position as Cadillac had been, with only an aging market segment showing any interest. According to Cafaro, Cadillac knew that they had “to carve a new image. That is where Buick is right now,” he told the news outlet.

Currently, the automaker sells just three different models, including the soon-to-be-cancelled Lucerne. Aside from the full-size crossover Enclave, the company also sells the LaCrosse, completely remodeled for 2010.

“Buick definitely needs more product in the pipeline,” Cafaro said, later mentioning that the company needs a new car that makes a statement. Any such car would become Buick’s flagship. “A coupe is definitely where you say, ‘I’m back.’”

Source: Autonews

“Curves like these inspire poetry” says The Cool List, a blog of…well cool things. They take a look at 1948′s Buick Streamliner. If only GM still made rides like this one. The 1948 Buick Streamliner by Norman E. Timbs is a muse in the world of classic cars, an automobile from a time when curvy was most desirable in the eyes of men. Looking at a car like this makes one lament the slim, simple direction human attraction has gone, when the cars and cover girls leave plenty to be desired in the most important aesthetic quality– shape.

This classic Buick Streamliner is in pristine condition, restored by Dave Crouse for the 2010 Concours d’Elegance. Its original construction took over two years, built with an aluminum body around a steel chassis. Not only is it unlikely you’ll ever see this beauty on the road, it’s likely that you’ll never see it on the auction block. A car like this is far too rare, too beautiful that any owner could ever want to pass it up– no matter the price.

From: The Cool List

…I mean intense action-packed race? Read on to find out.

We already know Buick has come a long way with the exterior design of autos – moving away from the great white whale looking rides your grandparents drove to smaller, economical vehicles with luscious curves and fat grills. The Lexus keeps its usual fluid design back to front; we like the downward angle of its rear-to-front end slope, but we have to give style points to LaCrosse.

Under each hood is where this contest starts to get tricky. Both the LaCrosse and ES 350 have a 3.5-liter V-6 power plants with 280 horses for the Buick and 272 for Lexus. Both share six-speed automatics and have curb weights of 4030 for the Buick and 3694 pounds for Lexus. Lexus and Buick handle just as splendidly around those tight factory curves and shift smoothly in higher RPM’s.

Of course you won’t need to outrun The Joker on a daily commute, so let’s get to the realistic stats. Buick outshines Lexus with a price around the low $30,000 – over the import’s luxury $35,000+ sticker. That and LaCrosses’s impressive fuel economy (17/26 MPG ) makes it our pick for the top new sedan in 2010.

Source: Motor Trend

Buick has been thinking about a coupe again, perhaps another reemergence of the classic Riviera? More specifically, GM, after the success of new, smaller & sportier Buick models, wants to give the B another shot at sports coupes. Last year, an updated Buick Riviera concept hit auto show floors, complete with gullwing doors and an Apple laptop styled instrument panel. It was as if the DeLorean from Back to the Future made sweet love to the Star Trek reboot USS Enterprise and had a Buick baby.

Automotive News recently interviewed Buick design director John Cafaro, who confirmed that Buick is targeting a younger audience. “My role is really being a zealot for getting Buick more youthful, more spirited and probing ideas for coupes, more expressive vehicles,” he said. “That is really my job.” Pretty good gig, if you ask me.

Currently, the automaker sells just three different models, including the soon-to-be-cancelled Lucerne. Aside from the full-size crossover Enclave, the company also sells the LaCrosse, completely remodeled for 2010.

“Buick definitely needs more product in the pipeline,” Cafaro said, later mentioning that the company needs a new car that makes a statement. Any such car would become Buick’s flagship. “A coupe is definitely where you say, ‘I’m back.’”

The Source: WCF

According to Buick execs Craig Bierley and Jim Federico, the reasons for the four-cylinder versus the V-6 are many: The bigger engine doesn’t make as much power when tuned to meet U.S. emissions regulations, and because it weighs more, there’s not a lot of difference in power-to-weight ratios. The V-6 also guzzles more gas than the turbo four, and the latter provides better weight distribution.

Did we mention a zero to 60 time that is less than 6 seconds? Nice. Thanks to Car & Driver for the pics & info.

The new Regal sedan for 2011 features a smaller design based off Opel’s Insignia OPC currently built in Germany. That used to be Saturn’s deal…taking Opels. For now, Buick will get the European designs for GM.

Other sources state the Regal GS will retain all four doors, but have a larger, more powerful engine. Can Buick break 400hp? Not if they want to keep their 29-30 MPG highway rating. We also reported on a possible Buick Regal Wagon last month, but have yet to hear any further confirmation.

Stay tuned to check out full Buick coverage at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Video Source: Kickingtires.net

Accordingto reports, the model will be based on GM’s Delta II architecture, a front-wheel drive platform it will share with the Chevy Cruze, the successor to the outgoing Cobalt. Power options will also likely be shared with its Cruze sibling, including a 1.8 liter gasoline/petrol engine with 141 hp and 176 Nm of torque (130 lb-ft), or perhaps even coming with the Cruze’s 1.6 liter with 113 hp and 153 Nm (113 lb-ft) of torque power plant.

The latest peek at 2012′s Baby Buick came in the form of a press conference for the 2011 Regal, at the LA Auto Show. Buick released a teaser image of the upcoming compact sedan. We’ll keep our eyes pealed for more little GM models.