Pretty much all auto makers are heading into the luxury crossover / hatchback segment. Everyone from Audi to BMW, Mercedes and possibly even Cadillac are getting in while shoppers are looking for these kinds of vehicles.

Buick’s answer is Encore, introduced at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. More of a European model (it’s based off an Opel design, and hatches are intensely popular overseas), Encore offers up “1,372 liters of storage space, and that’s more than what BMW X1 or Audi Q3 offer.”

Powering the 2013 Buick Encore is Ecotec’s 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, attached to a six-speed automatic transmission. This powerplant makes 140 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque.

As a smaller vehicle, 2013 Encore is well-equipped for its class. The cabin is luxuriously trimmed with leather and wood, full-color seven-inch LCD display for IntelliLink voice-activated system, and a slew of other standard or available features:

Remote start
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Rainsense wipers
Bose premium sound system
Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls
10 standard air bags, plus
Available front and rear park assist
Available rear vision camera.

Source: Motorward

With the days of “rebranding” cars throughout GM’s line up apparently over, Buick takes its glorious next stride towards automotive awesomeness. Unlike Regal GS and LaCrosse, this sedan is all new, without a past (good or bad) to back it up. This fresh start is exactly what the auto maker needs.

The small, Michigan build sedan from Buick will start to grab attention from those younger car buyers stopping into dealer lots. Anyone looking for an economic ride that won’t kill their car loans, and is easy to parallel park, will be fulfilled. Aside from its large grille, Verano looks like someone shrunk a 2012 Regal. But inside, there’s plenty of room for those over 6 ft, and enough tech gadgets (BlueTooth, iPod integration, navigation, infotainment and OnStar) to please those who live out of their vehicles.

Performance specs on 2012′s Verano are as equally impressive. With a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, along with front-wheel-drive, Verano easily produces upwards of 180 horsepower, with rumors that a 250-hp bump up is coming in 2013.

The auto maker claims Verano can hit the 0 to 60 mark in 8.9 seconds. EPA fuel economy ratings are also estimated at 21 mpg city, 31 highway.

Starting with a base price of $23,470, drivers will get themselves a manual transmission and comfortable cloth seating. The top trim price of $26,850 will add in luxurious leatherette and a bigger boost in engine, as well as matting it to an automatic tranny.

We can’t wait to see what direction this powerful little Buick heads towards as the years go on. GM is predicting big things for the Buick Verano, and so are we.

Recent reports suggest that while GM is not going ahead with their Volt convertible drop-top, they are looking towards a more luxurious Buick Volt-style electric car. Several immediate questions are raised – Will this be a rebranded Chevy? What features can be added to make it ‘luxury’? Will the already pricey Volt go up even more with a Buick logo on it?

Chevrolet Volt’s ‘Voltec’ technology, developed by General Motors, was designed to underpin more than one vehicle. One Voltec concept GM unveiled was the Cadillac Converj, which was given the green light then quickly canceled.

It makes sense that GM would look towards Buick, their once almost extinct brand that has been making a huge comeback, thanks to the likes of Buick Regal. GM already debuted its ‘eAssist’ mild hybrid tech on the Buick Regal and Lacrosse.

A Bloomberg report suggests this ‘Volt’ will be a re-badged Opel Ampera. That vehicle is already built alongside the Volt in Warren, Michigan. It would receive a Buick-styled front end and grille, and a slew of unconfirmed add-ons. But the Ampera costs around $60,000 USD in Europe. Being Green and Luxurious can get costly.

There’s also the question of power. Buick cars are known to have a little more speed and horsepower then their Chevy siblings. Will the same go for Buick’s EV? Maybe they’ll reach out for a greater driving-before-recharge range.

Via: Gas2

Luckily, Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry (Or, as we call him around the Buickpedia offices, GOD) did not go in for such corporate hype.

But CBS tried like hell. Executives attempted to get some sponsorship money by having stars of the greatest science fiction franchise of all time endorse products, like this 1960′s Buick Riviera. Maybe that’s the story behind this picture of Uhura riding a bicycle:

Source: Jalopnik

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

…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

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.