Buick got the attention of classic car insurance firm Hagerty Insurance with its latest Regal GS model, which made the insurer’s “2012 Hot List”, receiving special recognition.

The Hot List is a list of mass market classic cars priced under $100,000. ”In order to be included on the annual Hagerty Hot List, the vehicle must be geared toward the driving enthusiast beyond just being a form of transportation,” said Hagerty.” Like the other Buick classics listed here, the 2012 Regal GS will be remembered more than most of its peers for many years down the road.”

Given Hagerty’s strong opinion of the Buick, it was placed on the Hot List amongst all classic cars. One of the outstanding factors of the model is the manual transmission, which they commented “at a time when allegedly more sporting makes don’t offer real three-pedal manual transmissions, Buick is doing it with the Regal GS.”

“The Regal GS is a unique and thrilling vehicle for the Buick brand,” said General Motors North America President Mark Reuss. “As someone who drove a classic Skylark to prom and owned other incredible Buicks like an ’87 GNX, I can say it deserves to be viewed among the best Buick has built.”

Along with the Hot List, Hagerty put together a list in collaboration with Buick of the Top 10 most-collectable Buick models. The list is as follows:

•  2012 Buick Regal GS
•  1932 Model 90 sport phaeton
•  1937 66C Century convertible coupe
•  1940 Super Model 59 Woody Estate Wagon
•  1947 Roadmaster Woody Wagon
•  1949 Roadmaster Convertible
•  1953 Skylark
•  1963 Riviera
•  1970 GSX Stage 1 Hardtop Coupe
•  1987 GNX

While the Hot List includes models under $100,000, this Buick list includes some valued well over that mark.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Buick has just released some news stating that there’s a new transmission option for their Regal lineup, specifically for the performance-oriented GS. Previously offered with only a six-speed manual transmission, the new 2013 Regal GS comes with a no-cost option for an Aisin AF40 automatic.

“With the Regal GS, we made a conscious decision to go against the current trend and give enthusiasts the manual transmission they desire as standard equipment” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “Adding an automatic simply makes the performance of the GS even more accessible.”

And with that statement, it seems that General Motors, or at least Buick, is making a bet that manual transmissions are still desirable and it’s comforting to hear that GM is keeping the enthusiast in mind.

Actual performance figures for the automatic-equipped Regal GS have yet to be announced, but Buick says that it will match the manual version’s sprint to 60 of just 6.7 seconds while returning 19 mpg’s in city runabouts and 27 on the highway.

The new six-speed automatic will also be equipped to the Regal eAssist, boosting its EPA estimate to around 36 mpg’s in the combined average cycle. At the expense of this newly equipped Regal eAssist is the discontinuation of the base 2.4L Regal.

“Buick is committed to increasing innovation across the lineup,” said DiSalle “By making the advanced eAssist powertrain standard on a second vehicle, we are putting the spotlight on smart technology.”

- By: Chris Chin

Smartphone apps are wildly popular, and automakers are taking advantage of the technology to integrate automotive technology and handheld technology to meet these new consumer demands.

Buick has released three new apps for both Apple and Android app stores that come bundled as the eAssist Fuel Efficiency games, which help drivers improve gas mileage and driving techniques.

“Consumers today want purposeful technology in the products they buy,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “Buick is offering exactly that with fuel-saving eAssist,”

Play it here.

The first of the three apps is Regeneration Road, which focuses on the regenerative breaking, reflecting the amount of energy that would be wasted in a standard vehicle that eAssist reuses as power for the car’s lithium-ion battery. The object of the game is for players to make it through town before running out of gas.

Second in the bundle is Roll and Boost, a game that challenges players on a distance run using one tank of gas and good battery management. This is to show owners how the energy conserved can be later used for an energy boost.

Wind Tunnel Tester is the last of the three apps that gives you the opportunity to be an automotive engineer and modify the car’s dimensions, showing how important aerodynamic design is.

“The driving force behind eAssist’s development was to make great vehicles like the LaCrosse and Regal even better,” said Dan Cottrell, General Motors assistant chief engineer for the eAssist powertrain. “With eAssist we can improve both vehicle performance as well as fuel economy.”

The games come to life on the dash in vehicles like the LaCrosse and Regal models with eAssist information reflected via and “Eco” gauge, allowing drivers to see how efficiently they are operating the vehicle.

-  By: Alexandra Koken

GMC and Buick are making efforts to improve the dealership experience for consumers in the same fashion that many already have.

Enhancements include an exterior facelift with new sinage, a station designated for greeting guest upon arrival, a bright, airy atmosphere, and a lounge that includes free Wi-Fi, along with other perks that may include a salon or a café.

Behind the new design is prominent global architecture firm Gensler, which is working on each individual location.

With 40 percent of Buck and GMC’s consumers coming from automakers outside of GM’s labels, the brand decided to do the update as a way to cater to this market.

“Luxury shoppers today expect a certain level of treatment when purchasing a vehicle,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick & GMC Sales and Service. “Those expectations are now being met at many Buick and GMC stores around the country. These aren’t just new faces on old buildings. We’re creating the complete and convenient dealership experience that attracts these buyers.”

Since both brands are featuring models with successful sales and redesigns, consumers also have a strong selection standing behind the new showrooms that feature them.

- By: Alexandra Koken

The General apparently enjoyed a very strong 2011 moving more than 9 million vehicles on a global scale, a gain of 7.6 percent when compared with 2010. Of course, Chevrolet was GM’s pride and joy with the brand moving 4.76 million units around the world in 2011.

The jump in sales helped the Detroit automaker gain four-tenths of a point of market share to 11.9 percent of the global vehicle industry.

The U.S. obviously led the way for Chevy with total vehicle sales coming in at 1,775,812, up more than 13 percent from 2010. China posted record sales of 595,068, up 9.5 percent from the previous year.

“Chevrolet’s impressive growth in both established and developing markets is the result of a strong new product lineup that meets the diverse needs of consumers around the world,” said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson. “In addition to Chevrolet’s record-setting sales, the entire lineup of GM vehicles is meeting customer needs for fuel-efficient cars and work vehicles as well as unmatched luxury.”

The Chevrolet Cruze highlighted most of the brand’s sales figures with more than 670,000 being sold in 2011, making it the best-selling Chevy model around the world with more than 1.13 million sold since its launch 4 years ago.

- By: Omar Rana

General Motors has been known to be one of the many leaders in automobile innovation and technology. Such examples include the brand’s hybrid technology, a wide range of advanced engine technologies and vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt.

But such things wouldn’t have happened without GM’s Vice Chairman and Chief Technology Officer, Tom Stephens. And to cap a 43-year long career, Mr. Stephens announced that he will be stepping down from his position on April 1^st, later this year—this is most likely not an April Fool’s joke.

“Tom Stephens is an engineering icon within our company and within our industry,” said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson.  “We have all benefited greatly from his passion, wisdom, and commitment to product excellence.  His talent and contributions to GM are deeply appreciated and his expertise will be missed.”

Stephens held positions at Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, and several others before his last and final position as Chief Technology Officer, leading departments such as GM’s newly created GM Powertrain Division. And during those times, Stephens helped develop the first ever Cadillac Northstar engine, develop nearly all of GM’s advanced engine technologies today such as Displacement-On-Demand or “Active Fuel Management,” and GM’s plug-in hybrid powertrain, like in the Volt.

- By: Chris Chin

“Buick Encore is a great-looking, smart choice for those who want luxury crossover amenities in a more maneuverable and agile vehicle,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “It represents a luxury alternative for a new audience of Buick customers, and delivers features and flexibility not typically found in vehicles of its size today.”

Powered by GM’s global 1.4L turbocharged Ecotec four-banger, the Encore gets an estimated 140-hp and 148 lb-ft of torque to play with. But the engine also receives some changes to help boost the Encore’s fuel economy such as a high-efficiency alternator, regulated voltage control, electronically-controlled returnless fuel system and deceleration fuel cut-off. Power is delivered to the front-wheels through GM’s Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is also optional.

Unique to the 2012 Buick Encore is an active version of Buick’s QuietTuning, a system that actively cancels out certain sound frequencies and vibrations to give the Encore a new level of luxurious quietness and refinement.

The 2013 Buick Encore will be available in your local showrooms in early 2013 with pricing to be announced closer to that time.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Chris Chin

Buick definitely stepped in it when they named a North American car the “LaCrosse”, a French Canadian Freudian slip for masturbation, but now it seems that the innocuous offering may be in further trouble as the next Lexus ES is set to offer many things that the Buick doesn’t.

The expanding new ES, may just be a tarted up Camry, but Lexus (are rumored to) say that the car will be the quietest car that they have ever produced. Fuel economy is said to be impressive too with a hybrid version offering high 40s on the highway and touching the 50s in the city.

Check out more news on the Lexus ES.

The next ES is set to show up in dealerships as a 2013 model. Will this make GM kill off Buick in the way that Ford killed off Mercury? Probably not, but it will give them something to think about.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: GM Authority

Prior to its debut next week at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Buick has released the third teaser to its upcoming 2013 Encore crossover. The model, which will be based on the upcoming Opel Astra based SUV, will go on sale in the United States later this year.

Click here for more news on the Buick Encore.

The final image will be released on Jan. 10 but at that time we’ll also get the full details and high-res photos of the Encore.

Stay tuned.

- By: Omar Rana

Buick has just revealed a little bit more of its Encore SUV that will make its world debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show next month. Word has it that the Encore will be based on the same platform as an upcoming Opel Corsa SUV for the European market.

Like the Buick Regal, the Buick Encore is expected to receive an all 4-cylinder engine lineup.

We’ll have more details for you from the 2012 Detroit Auto Show starting Jan. 9.

Note: See first and second teaser here.

- By: Omar Rana

Following a teaser of the front headlamp this past week, Buick has released another teaser of the Encore crossover prior to its debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Obviously, this teaser is a bit weak but we’ll take what we can get. Buick says every week before the press days at the Detroit Auto Show open, it will release a teaser.

The 5-passenger crossover will likely share its platform with the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.

Sales of the model will start in the middle of 2012 with the powertrain lineup looking very similar to the full 4-banger engine choices offered with the Buick Regal.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Facebook

A recent survey of the 65 and over crowd and their preferences in cars shows that seniors are the lifeline of some of their common picks.

The top ten list is mostly models that wear Cadillac, Buick, and Lincoln badges. Sales to seniors make up to 90 percent of some of the models on the list, composed by TrueCar.com. Analyst Jessie Toprak, who tracked the last two years of sales, comments that seniors usually go for what’s familiar from their youth. Although Hyundai is on the list, Toprak attributes this to the brand’s low cost.

The following are the top ten cars, the first five of which would have been retired if it were not for those over 65:

1. Lincoln Town Car, 90 percent
2. Buick Lucerne, 87 percent
3. Cadillac DTS, 85 percent
4. Cadillac CTS, 74 percent
5. Cadillac STS, 71 percent
6. Hyundai Azera, 25 percent
7. Chevrolet Impala, 51 percent
8. Buick LaCrosse, 59 percent
9. Lincoln MKZ, 54 percent
10. Toyota Avalon, 54 percent

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Detroit News

Buick today confirmed that it will be introducing the new 2013 Encore at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show next month. The new 5-passenger crossover will be shown at the Cobo Center in Detroit next month.

“Encore joins a rapidly expanding family of Buick vehicles that has recently seen the additions of the Verano compact luxury sedan, the Regal GS sport sedan, and fuel-efficient eAssist ‘light electrification’ technology on both LaCrosse and Regal,” Buick said in a statement.”

Buick says the Encore will offer the brand’s signature ‘QuiteTuning Technology’ and a host of features that customers expect from Buick.

Additional details will be announced closer to launch. The teasing will continue each week until the reveal on Jan. 10.

- By: Omar Rana

Last week week, General Motors’ Senior Vice President of Global Product Development Mary Barra told the Automotive Press Association that the automaker plans on showing four concept or production vehicles at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show next month.

Barra confirmed that one of the models to debut would be the production Cadillac ATS, which will go on sale late summer of 2012. What will the other three models be?

Our sources tell us that one of those three models will be a global production crossover. The model will most likely be a mid-size crossover based on the same platform as the GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox. It will take design cues from the Buick Envision Concept that you see in the pictures here.

Another model that will debut in Detroit will be a production version of the Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept, which was first shown at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. The production model will carry the Sonic RS name.

The fourth will be a pair of new Chevrolet concepts from the company’s design center in North Hollywood, California. No details on what the concept will be.

- By: Omar Rana

General Motors has said that the 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist is spending just 14 days on dealer lats nationally before being sold.

Due to the strong start of the LaCrosse eAssist, Buick retails through November are expected to be up more than 17 percent year to date. Along with the Enclave, the new Buick Regal eAssist and the Regal GS are expected to continue to grow in sales with year-over-year gains.

Click here for more news on the Buick LaCrosse.

“LaCrosse eAssist is a highly efficient sedan that doesn’t compromise on the refinement that comes standard on every Buick,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick and GMC Sales and Service. “Getting 36 highway mpg is great, but what’s better is that customers won’t have to give up style, passenger comfort, or the car’s great suite of technology features.
The new Buick Verano should also help, which starts arriving at dealers shortly.

- By: Omar Rana

“Verano is the perfect setting for music-lovers to enjoy their favorite recordings on the road, because its interior is well-insulated from outside noises, letting the Bose system shine,” said Chuck Russell, Verano vehicle line director. “Verano owners will be amazed by how great the Bose system sounds on the road, even at low volume.”

The optional 7-channel, 9-speaker Bose audio system started life with a ‘Clean Sheet’ approach. Meaning, Bose engineers completely analyzed the car’s interior before tuning and equalizing the system.

Click here for more news on the Buick Verano.

“There is an art and a science to designing a great vehicle sound system,” said Joe McCabe, Bose audio systems engineer. “Acoustic measurements are an essential starting point, but it also takes a human approach to fine-tune a premium system like the one in the Buick Verano.”

The nine-speaker Bose sound system is standard on any leather-appointed 2012 Verano and is a $595 stand-alone option for other trim levels.

Refresher: The 2012 Buick Verano will be offered in three trim-levels with the top model carrying an MSRP of $26,850. All models of the 2012 Verano are powered by an Ecotec 4-cylinder engine making 180-hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2012 Buick Verano will run from 0-60 mph in 8 seconds and should estimate 31 mpg on the highway. Prices start at $23,470.

- By: Omar Rana

Some upgraded luxury touches include  a palette of trims including cabernet red, dark cocoa brown and caramel chocochino; French-stitched premium leather seats; suede on the headliner; and a red exterior with tinted chrome accents.

No word of a production model yet. We guess Buick is just testing the market to see what type of reaction the LaCrosse GL receives before making any decisions.

Check out our original post on the Buick LaCrosse GL Concept for more details.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Omar Rana

However, at the 2011 LA Auto Show, GM designers will capture the essence of Buick luxury with the new LaCross GL Concept. For ultimate luxury, designers worked with a palette of trims including cabernet red, dark cocoa brown and caramel chocochino. The seats of the Buick LaCrosse GL Concept, designers picked a French-stitched premium leather seats. There is also a touch of suede for the headliner.

“Every surface in the interior of the LaCrosse GL has been crafted with the knowledge that Buick customers enjoy the finer things in life, but don’t need to flaunt it,” Magdalena Kokoszynska, creative designer on LaCrosse GL said.

The exterior of the LaCrosse GL Concept is colored in red with brushed and tinted chrome accents on the grille, door handles and deck lid, as well as around the windows, taillights and headlights.

“The LaCrosse GL concept expresses Buick’s distinctly human kind of luxury – one that is as warmly inviting as it is elegant and refined,” said David Lyon, executive director of design. “The design cues that already distinguish the production LaCrosse – such as the premium leather-upholstered seats, ice blue ambient lighting and soft touch surfaces – are amplified in the GL and serve as inspiration for future Buick models.”

- By: Omar Rana