Two engines are available for customers to consider. A new, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection delivers highway fuel economy of 30 mpg. Peak fuel economy is achieved in part with an “ECO” mode that is activated via a console-mounted button. When engaged, it lowers the torque converter lockup speed to 1,125 rpm to help save fuel on models equipped with the motor.

gmc-terrain-2010

Also available is a 3.0-liter DOHC direct injected V-6 engine delivering an estimated 264 horsepower. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Terrain’s rack-mounted electric power steering system provides greater fuel efficiency on four-cylinder-equipped models, saving nearly 11 miles per tank of gas.

“The new Terrain brings GMC’s history of innovation and engineering excellence into a smaller, fuel-efficient package for today’s buyer,” said Susan Docherty, Buick-Pontiac-GMC vice president. “The capability attributes that make a vehicle a GMC are ingrained in Terrain, making it an appealing choice for existing traditional SUV customers who are looking for distinctive styling and increased efficiency.”

“GMC is a strong, core brand for GM and the Terrain crossover SUV is the latest example of how we’re adapting to changing market conditions,” said Docherty. “As we first demonstrated with the Acadia crossover, GMC is committed to offering the capable vehicles customers seek, with the personal technologies they expect.”

The Terrain is offered with front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive in SLE and SLT trim levels. A list of standard and available features includes: standard rear vision camera, programmable power rear liftgate, Bluetooth hands-free phone capability, MultiFlex sliding rear seat, remote vehicle start, USB audio connectivity, MP3 playback, a seven-inch touch-screen navigation system, a 40GB hard drive, a DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system with two independent screens, and standard OnStar and XM Satellite Radio.

The Terrain rides on a 112.5-inch (2,857 mm) wheelbase and features a four-wheel independent suspension system, with wide front and rear tracks that promise to offer comfort and solid handling. A family of 17-inch, 18-inch aluminum and 19-inch chrome-clad wheels is available.

GMC Terrain is produced at the CAMI assembly facility in Ingersoll, Ontario with pricing starting in the low $20,000 range.

From Car and Driver:

We will admit to a fair amount of skepticism concerning the necessity of the GMC Terrain seen here. One frequently cited culprit of GM’s past quality-control problems is badge engineering, or the practice of building different versions of the same vehicle for multiple brands. The premier example is the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and its multitude of badge-engineered clones, which even the internet does not afford us the space to list.

The practice seems to be slowly sneaking back into vogue. The full-size Chevrolet Traverse is the fourth vehicle to be built on the General’s excellent Lambda platform. Likewise, the GMC Terrain will be the fourth vehicle to be built on the TE small-SUV architecture or a derivative, following the Saturn Vue, Chevrolet Equinox, and Cadillac SRX.

GM today is less blatant about its badge engineering, with differences in appearance extending beyond just grilles and headlamps to the point that each vehicle wears wholly unique sheetmetal over similar underpinnings. Still, four derivatives is a quantity we feel surpasses the threshold of discretion for badge engineering, and the Saab 9-4X—a vehicle whose future is uncertain at best—would bring the TE total to five, although the Caddy and Saab will be built on a heavily revised version of the platform.

While the Terrain’s mechanicals will be pilfered from GM’s other trucklets, from what is visible beneath the minimal camouflage in our spy shots, it appears that the styling is cribbed both from its Lambda big brother, the Acadia, and the Sierra pickup. The Sierra lends its large-mouth grille and squared-off headlights to the Terrain, while the Acadia donates its high roofline, reverse-canted C-pillar, and the slope of its backlight. Together, those elements should make the Terrain instantly recognizable as a GMC, which is more than can be said of the TrailBlazer family’s grille and badge differentiations.

Like its siblings, the Terrain will likely offer a selection of four- and six-cylinder powerplants, with the most likely choices coming from the Equinox: a direct-injected (DI) 2.4-liter four-cylinder good for 182 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, and a DI 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 255 hp and 214 lb-ft. Power will travel through a six-speed automatic transmission to either the front or all four wheels.

If the handsome and cohesive design is any indicator, this could be GMC’s best small SUV ever. As buyers continue to migrate from full-size, body-on-frame barges into smaller vehicles offering the same sightlines and sense of security, well-executed compact SUVs will be a potentially huge profit center. And, with the future of Saturn, and therefore the Vue, in doubt, perhaps four TE-based SUVs isn’t too many after all.

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2011 Buick Regal

“The 2011 Buick Regal is like nothing you’ve ever experienced from this brand,” said Susan Docherty, general manager of Buick GMC. “The Regal is the next chapter in Buick’s transformation and will expand the portfolio to include a sport sedan.”

The new Regal arrives in the second quarter of 2010, with its sights aimed squarely on competitors like the Acura TSX and Volvo S60. It has a longer wheelbase and greater trunk volume than those vehicles, along with standard features – including a six-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch wheels and OnStar – that aren’t offered standard on either competitor.

The Regal’s development is rooted in Germany, where the globally led engineering team created the award-winning Opel Insignia – the 2009 European Car of the Year. The Insignia has garnered more than 31 prestigious awards and is the best-selling midsize sedan in Europe. Regal will bring all of Insignia’s award-winning design, technology and European-inspired performance capabilities to the American market.

The Regal has already been a success on another continent, in China. It went on sale in December 2008 and more than 64,000 Regals have been sold there. Enthusiastic customers cite its sculpted, flowing design and responsive performance as the top reasons for purchase.

Regal at a glance
Regal will initially be offered in premium CXL trim only, with additional trim levels to be offered in the 2012 model year. The well-equipped Regal CXL includes the following as standard or available equipment:

• Standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected engine rated at an estimated 182 horsepower (136 kW)

• Available 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged and direct injected engine rated at an estimated 220 horsepower (164 kW) – available late-summer 2010

• Both engines have a six-speed automatic transmission standard with driver-shifting control

• Estimated 30 mpg on the highway with the 2.4L and 29 mpg highway with the 2.0L turbo engine

• MacPherson strut front suspension and four-link independent rear suspension

• All-new Interactive Drive Control System (IDCS) available with the 2.0L turbo, offering driver-selectable suspension settings and automatic driver suspension setting adaptability

• Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel anti-lock braking system, brake assist and electronic parking brake

• Standard StabiliTrak stability control system and full-function traction control Standard dual-stage frontal air bags, side-curtain air bags and pedal-release system; rear-seat thorax air bags available

• Available navigation system, Harmon Kardon sound system, internal flash drive (1GB), hard drive with 10GB for music and USB port

• Standard 18-inch wheels (19-inch wheels standard with IDCS)

• Standard 12-way power, leather and heated driver seat; leather and heated passenger front seat; Bluetooth capability; XM Satellite Radio and OnStar. Design story

The Regal’s sleek design blends the sweeping silhouette and proportions of a coupe in a progressive package that suggests motion from all angles. Great attention to detail complements that aggressive styling, with tailored applications of Buick’s signature design cues, such as the waterfall grille, select use of chrome trim and superior fit and finish of the exterior panels.

“Regal is all about great proportions,” said John Cafaro, design director, passenger car. “For example, with the fenders flared to wrap around the tires. It’s an aggressive stance that people aren’t used to seeing in recent Buicks.”

The car’s performance-oriented spirit is also conveyed in sleek, sculpted body-side detail and aggressive headlamps that further suggest motion. At the rear, an abbreviated deck and tucked-in body panels are the hallmarks of a contemporary sport sedan, with bold taillamps and their intricate lighting elements reinforcing Regal’s attention to detail. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard.

The sweeping design motif carries over to the interior, where the side panels flow uninterrupted into the instrument panel. The instruments have the look of expensive sport timepieces and are lit with ice-blue LED lights. The center stack, housing the climate and “infotainment” controls, was designed to allow for a lower, driver-centric instrument panel profile. Features such as a thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped steering wheel and firm, highly bolstered and leather-covered seats also support the sport-oriented driving experience.

“There is great design harmony between the exterior and interior,” said Cafaro. “The feeling of flow and motion carries through in an engaging manner that makes you want to take the Regal out to your favorite twisting road to see what it can do.”

A breakthrough interior
The Regal’s finely crafted, sporty and well-appointed interior builds on the exceptional attention to detail found in the Enclave and LaCrosse, blending signature styling cues with contemporary sport sedan aesthetics.

Regal’s firm, highly bolstered seats were benchmarked against the top import competitors for comfort and support, while a standard flow-through center console offers plenty of storage for passengers in the front and back.

Smart applications of technology are also hallmarks of the Regal, including details such as a multi-function controller on the center console for operation of the audio system, navigation system and the Bluetooth phone. The faceplate for the “infotainment” screen is set at a 30-degree angle to contribute to the car’s flowing interior design.

A new era in Buick design is also seen in the satin metallic, piano black and new, Kibo-patterned interior trim materials. Kibo is a rich, dark, progressively grained wood that lends an international flair to the Regal.

Under the hood
Unique with its all-four-cylinder powertrain, the Regal relies on the excellent horsepower-per-liter ratio of the Ecotec engine family to deliver smart, on-demand performance that is also very efficient.

Both the standard 2.4L engine and the available 2.0L turbo use direct injection technology to optimize performance, reduce emissions and maximize fuel efficiency. The 2.4L is the same engine offered in the Buick LaCrosse, but in the smaller, lighter Regal, it delivers more agile performance. The 2.0L turbo cements the sport sedan credibility of the Regal, with on-demand power comparable to a V-6, but the inherent efficiency of a four-cylinder. To ensure responsive power across the rpm range, the 2.0L turbo uses a twin-scroll turbocharger that builds power quickly at lower rpm.

Distinct, uniquely calibrated six-speed automatic transmissions are paired with each engine. Both offer driver shift control that enhances the sporty driving feel of the Regal.

Driving experience
The chassis and structural systems were developed in Germany and give the Regal the handling and dynamics of a premium European sport sedan, as well as the quiet, refined ride and road manners expected of a Buick. The body structure is one of the most rigid in the segment, which is approximately 25-percent stiffer than the previous Regal. This solid structure supports more precise suspension tuning and a quieter ride.

A relatively long wheelbase of 107.8 inches (2738 mm) gives the Regal refined, well-balanced vehicle dynamics and supports comfortable ride tuning. Additionally, an independent MacPherson strut-type front suspension with single-path mountings and hydraulic ride bushings; a four-link independent rear suspension; hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering; and optimized four-wheel disc brakes are optimized to the capability of the individual powertrains and tailored to the expected use by drivers. Models equipped with the 2.0L turbo engine, for example, feature larger brakes.

Latest-generation electronic stability control (ESC or StabiliTrak), anti-lock brake system (ABS), and traction control system (TCS) are standard with Buick’s innovative, Interactive Drive Control System (IDCS) real-time damping system offered on models equipped with the 2.0L turbo powertrain.

Interactive Drive Control System
Regal’s Interactive Drive Control System chassis technology (available on models with the available 2.0L turbo engine) offers enhanced vehicle stability and greater driving safety. It is designed to change the personality of the car based on the personality of the driver. A sophisticated driving mode control module continually monitors driving style utilizing yaw rate, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, steering wheel, throttle and vehicle speed. It defines the dynamic vehicle state, including acceleration, braking and cornering, to optimize chassis reactions. It also executes all of the IDCS driver selections.

All four dampers are electronically controlled and continuously adapt within milliseconds to the prevailing road conditions, vehicle movements and individual driving style. Chassis settings are adjustable by the driver, with Normal, Tour and Sport settings.

IDCS allows the driver to choose between three different operating modes that change the suspension settings, throttle response, shift pattern and steering sensitivity through the variable effort steering system. The three modes deliver three types of experiences:

• Normal – balanced and optimized for all driving situations
• Tour – optimized for comfort and relaxed driving on long journeys
• Sport – optimized for road holding; enthusiast driving.

Selecting “Sport” mode optimizes the car for dynamic driving, tightening the suspension and steering response and speeding up the reaction of the automatic transmission. The “Tour” mode is optimal for long-distance cruising or rough road conditions, providing an increase in comfort. “Normal” or Default Mode is the perfect all-around setting for daily commuting and city traffic. The other major benefit of Interactive Drive Control is that it automatically adapts Regal’s performance settings to individual driving styles. When a driver begins to drive more aggressively it will tighten the suspension and increase steering effort and change to a more aggressive throttle response. When the vehicle senses that the driver is doing relaxed cruising, it adjusts settings for rolling smoothness and comfort.

Apart from a more rewarding driving experience, IDCS also offers safety benefits in emergency situations. For example, if an obstacle must be avoided when the car is in Tour mode, various chassis sensors convey this to the DMC and the dampers are stiffened within milliseconds, delivering greater body control.

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2. 2010 GMC Terrain
3. GM Shows Off Buick Avant Premium Small Car Concept

60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee:

We know that your new vehicle purchase is an important one. And we’re so certain you’ll love your new GMC vehicle, we’re proud to offer our 60-day Satisfaction Guarantee. How does it work? Simple:

* When you purchase a new GMC, keep it for 30 days.
* If you don’t absolutely love it after 30 days, you have 30 more days to bring it back.
* We’ll refund the actual price you paid to the participating dealer, less any rebates plus applicable sales tax.*

Have more questions? Check out the FAQs. Want more details? See the Details and Limitations.
*Return between 30 and 60 days with less than 4,000 miles. Not available with some other offers. Other restrictions apply. Take delivery by 11/30/09.

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Used 2007 Cadillac

It all depends on whether you are making your purchase based upon emotional or financial considerations.

New cars loose almost 40% of their value in the first three years. With a used car you have lower registration and license fees  which are usually tied to the value of the car as well as lower insurance premiums.  These days, cars last a lot longer than in the past,  so a car with 40,000 or 50,000 miles can still have plenty of life.

A hypothetical new car costing $20,000 with a 3 year loan at 6% and a $3000 down payment will have a first year cost of ownership of $11,500. The total cost over three years will be a whopping $32,300 After five years the value of a $20,000 new car has slipped to a value of around $7000

A hypothetical used car coasting $10,000 with a three year loan at 6% and a $2000 down payment will have a first year cost of ownership of  approximately $6570 and the total cost over three years will be around $18,390. After five years the value of the used car has slipped to $2000

In these two scenarios the total cost of ownership over the five year period  for the new car comes in at $25,388 while the used car only cost $16,390

To sum up if you have to have the latest and greatest and don’t mind spending $10,000 more for a vehicle then go for the new car, but if you only make a modest salary, have kids to put through college or are a frugal person the used car is certainly the way to go .

Many used cars are difficult to tell from new cars if the previous owners took good care of them.

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Buick Concept Cars

If you weren’t sure GM was serious about small cars, especially small Buicks, the latest creation presented on the company’s new Design Lab Web site, a small Buick three-door hatch called the Avant, should convince you.

In researching the project, GM came up with six exterior ideas and four interior schemes and apparently settled on a three-door hatch designed to be as accommodating as possible. Along with the sleek styling, the Avant offers a trunk floor that extends out of the rear hatch to bring your luggage to you, a “micro pergola” roof that uses small vanes to vary the amount of light let in, doors that can either swing open or slide forward in tight spots, and a driver’s seat and controls that move from the center of the car over to the traditional left-hand driving position when other passengers are in the car.

Right now, the Avant exists only as a computer-generated design idea, but Buick has already hinted that premium small cars are on the way. Depending on the feedback GM gets through the Design Lab site, it’s possible we’ll see some of this design turn up in future Buick concepts, and maybe even on a production car some day.

After you’re done looking at the pictures here, take a look at this video GM created that illustrates some of the Avant’s key features, then head over to the Design Lab and let GM know what you think.

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GM officials hope the new Buick LaCrosse sedan, which has drawn strong praise from some seemingly surprised automotive critics, will win the hearts of Lexus and Acura buyers.

For aspiring upper-income consumers, the new LaCrosse “is an opportunity to get all the luxury they deserve without the premium price tag that goes along with the [Lexus] badge,” said Jon Bustetter, regional Buick-GMC marketing manager.

Edmunds.com, comparing the LaCrosse to the Lexus ES350, wrote “we have no doubt that the .?.?. LaCrosse is a game-changing, brand-defining automobile that will go far to both revitalize Buick and promote the new General Motors.”

Since mid-July, GM has brought four new vehicles to the market: the LaCrosse, the Cadillac SRX crossover, and two small crossover SUVs, the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. Early returns on all have been good, with GM announcing increased production to meet dealer orders.

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It was a great car, and probably the most significant GM model of its era in that it ushered in a new level of quality, especially inside where its materials, fit and finish and general ambiance was a cut above almost everything the automaker had made up to that point, well, in recent years anyway, and gave me hope that the new direction that GM execs had bantered about for years leading up to its launch, was actually starting to take shape. The rest is history, with the Saturn Aura that came after winning North American Car of the Year, and the more recent Malibu following suit last year.
Now we have the 2010 LaCrosse… er… Allure. Of course, it won’t matter all that much what it’s called in either country, because GM has started to refigure something they once knew better than almost any other automaker, styling sells. Where some of us were left feeling a bit flat at the original Allure, this upcoming 2010 model, designed via a collaboration between GM’s US and Chinese operations at its new Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), should lay such criticisms to rest. Its Invicta Concept-inspired styling, a car introduced at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show, squarely targets the traditional North American Buick buyer, who remains older than average despite inroads to younger buyers that the brand has enjoyed with its highly successful Enclave crossover while, like that Enclave it should appeal to the forty- to fifty-something crowd too.

“It is instantly recognizable as a Buick, with its signature ‘sweep spear’ body-side styling, portholes inside the character line on the hood, and waterfall grille,” commented Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design.

Personally, I like its new chrome grille, a stronger more masculine look than the original car’s oval Jaguar-esque design and even bolder than the one added to the far superior mid-cycle upgrade, and the Buick signature chromed portholes are now atop the hood rather than the more traditional placement on the sides of the front fenders where the Lucerne wears them; three aside denoting a six-cylinder powerplant underneath. Its sculpted side panels give the new Allure an almost aggressive animality, reaching back to new jeweled tail lamps and stunning chrome embellishments attached to an abbreviated notchback rear end that could land it square in the middle of Lexus ES350 territory, that is if its interior is up to scratch.

Of course, without actually climbing inside we’ll have to leave a full account of soft-touch details, switchgear damping levels and general feel-good quality to an upcoming road test, but if the new Malibu is anything to go by, mixed with the classy nature of the Enclave and brought up to 2009 competitive specs, it should be good in all these respects, and it looks pretty impressive from the photos GM supplied. The perforated leather on the seats and door panels appears high-grade, the plastics have a top-level matte finish and most likely made of that premium-set soft stuff we journalists ramble on about (or at least I do), and the general design is not only attractive, but it looks like Buick put a lot of effort in to make it something very special indeed. Just look at those beautifully shaped door armrests, backlit from below in the fixed door pulls. They mirror the seats’ lower side bolsters and a similarly arcing under-lit centre armrest and cupholder arrangement that swoops down to butt up against a particularly elegant wood covered lower console, itself meeting up with a centre stack of audio, HVAC and general infotainment equipment to rival a high-end home stereo in design. Very nice, Buick.

“The new LaCrosse (Allure) is intended to represent modern elegance,” added Welburn. “Throughout the design, you experience a balance of contrasts. Both the interior and exterior have been designed with harmony in mind. The exterior balances taut, sculpted lines with sensuous accents and surfaces. Inside, smoked chrome accents, warm wood, first-class leather and materials combine with cool blue ambient lighting to create an inviting environment.”

The blue backlighting of the centre stack is complemented by a blue-hued primary gauge cluster, framed by a leather- and wood-wrapped, brushed aluminum-embellished steering wheel that features the blue motif for its horizontal spoke-mounted audio, cruise, phone and what-have-you buttons. A thin strip of wood, most likely the environmentally friendly kind (i.e. faux) visually straddles the entire dash and bends into the door panels where it widens and finishes off in an opposing arc to the aforementioned armrest, a shape shared with the brushed metal-look door release lever cutout. It all looks to be stitched together (with French stitching no less) in leather or a leather-like substitute, possible a derivative of the surprisingly genuine feeling “protein leather” GM uses in its minivans. The power window switch panels fit into their cutouts perfectly, like they do in the current Allure, important for sure, but it’s more than the sum of all the parts and how they go together that makes this a winning interior. Rather, the entire Allure passenger compartment not only appears well made, but it looks like somewhere worth spending time.

“The new LaCrosse (Allure) was created with great attention to detail, craftsmanship and advanced technology,” said Susan Docherty, Buick-Pontiac-GMC vice president. “It builds on the success of Enclave as the next step in Buick’s revitalization. And, as with Enclave, our goal is to attract a whole new buyer to our dealerships for LaCrosse (Allure).”

Yes, the new Allure should do just that and then some with the lineup of techno goodies Buick has integrated into that sweet looking centre stack. A modern touch-screen navigation system can be had, of course, plus Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, auxiliary audio input and a USB port for uploads, while rear passengers can watch a favourite DVD on two separate screens integrated into the front seatbacks while protected from harsh sunlight via a powered rear window sunshade. And that’s just the beginning.

Buick has enhanced forward, sideway and rearward visibility too, with an available head-up display system (HUD) that projects vehicle speed onto the windshield to stop drivers from repeatedly taking their eyes from the road to make sure they’re driving within the confines of the law, while night vision is improved dramatically with an optional adaptive lighting system that “bends” headlights up to 15 degrees to literally see around corners.

GM’s new Side Blind Zone alert can’t see around corners but it can save you from turning into a car that might otherwise go unnoticed in your blind spot, while a new rearview camera that comes as part of the navigation package could potentially save the life of a young one playing on the driveway, sidewalk or street as you’re backing out of your garage.

Add these top-tier features to a long list of standard safety equipment, including front-, side-thorax and roof-mounted curtain-type airbags, Stabilitrak anti-skid stability and traction control, plus ABS-enhanced split, dual-circuit four-wheel power assisted disc brakes, and it’s easy to see that Buick has built one safe car that’s fully designed to meet the criteria necessary for satisfying the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 20 Star Safety Rating. Throw in OnStar, included for the first year of ownership, and there’s nothing quite like it at all.

Of course, the first rule in on-road safety is providing customers with a car capable of avoiding an accident in the first place, and while I’ve already mentioned traction and stability control as well as ABS brakes, the Allure’s dynamic handling abilities have been designed to keep it stable even if the need arises to quickly negotiate around a misguided car backing out in front of you, some twit running a red light or an overzealous driver misjudging the space needed to make a safe pass. GM looked to its German Opel division to engineer the new undercarriage, and if Chevy’s Malibu and Saturn’s Aura which utilize an older version of its Epsilon II chassis architecture are any indication (they get the new underpinnings in 2012 and 2011 respectively, while the recently introduced Chinese 2009 Buick Regal already uses it), the Allure, with its variable-effort powered rack-and-pinion steering and independent MacPherson strut coil-over spring setup with twin-tube dampers featuring gas-charged valving up front, not to forget its hollow direct-acting front stabilizer bar, and four-link rear suspension setup on the base model or H-arm setup with optional real-time active damping on upper trim levels, should be a deft handler without punishing occupants with a rigid ride. Rigidity in mind, ironically it’s the car’s stiff body structure that allows for the reportedly smooth ride yet agile handling, not to mention a more protective body shell that’s free of squeaks and rattles. After all, it’s a Buick, and needs to live up to the brand’s legendary levels of near-silent, compliant luxury, something GM had in mind when continuing forward with QuietTuning, an engineering process used to “reduce, block and absorb interior noise,” says Buick.

The engines should be relatively quiet too, no matter which of the two six-cylinder powerplants is chosen. GM first told us about its new 3.0-litre direct-injected and variable valve timing enhanced V6 when it released info on the Chevy Equinox, due to debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week too. Replacing the overhead valve 3.8-litre V6, an old school yet surprisingly efficient lump, the new state-of-the-art engine makes 255-horsepower and 211 lb-ft of torque in Allure guise while delivering an estimated EPA rating of 13.1 L/100 km in the city and 8.7 on the highway. And don’t get down if you think that these numbers point to a less efficient drivetrain than the Allure’s current base setup, because these are EPA estimates which are much more accurate to real driving conditions than our outdated Canadian EnerGuide system. Direct injection adds power while reducing fuel consumption, a good combination, while it burns cleaner thanks to greater combustion control, specifically during cold starts where emissions are cut by up to 25-percent.

The top-line engine remains the current mid-range 3.6-litre V6 that started life off in the Cadillac CTS, although now thanks to direct-injection and variable valve timing it makes 280-horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque in this application. A flexible engine, it revs smoothly and delivers fairly sweet engine and exhaust notes, while an estimated EPA rating of 13.8 L/100 km city and 9.0 highway is specified – impressive. All-wheel drive will not be on the top-line CXS’ option list, and so far no “Super” edition has been announced, therefore it’s not known whether or not the 5.3-litre V8, or anything like it, will become part of a future Allure package.

Both V6 engines will be mated to a Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed transmission, with enough forward gears to optimize highway fuel economy without diminishing any foot-stomping fun. Buick has added GM’s exclusive tap-up/tap-down manual-shift mode to increase driver involvement, so the new Allure should be a spirited ride no matter the engine choice.

Still, it’ll need all the power it can get as its curb weight is up substantially higher than the car it replaces; 202 kilos (445 pounds) heavier at 1,791 kg (3,948 lbs) than the lightest base model 2009 Allure CX and a whopping 285 kilograms (628 pounds) more than the old top-line V6 model, albeit the new car in its weightiest guise, tipping the scales at 1,904 kg (4,199 lbs), sports all-wheel drive. At the time of writing GM hadn’t reported any dimensions, so it’s difficult to say whether or not its weight gain has anything to do with any notable growth or if it’s due to additional standard content and better overall build quality.

Altogether, Buick will offer three models starting with the base CX and followed up by the CXL and CXS. The CX gets the new direct-injection 3.0-litre V6, premium fabric seats and 17-inch alloy wheels, while the CXL will sport the same engine as well as a leather-trimmed interior with heaters in the front cushions, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lamps, exterior mirrors with integrated LED turn indicators and puddle lamps underneath, plus 18-inch aluminum rims. As an option, Buick will make its “intelligent” AWD system available on the CXL too. Lastly, top-tier CXS models will get the 3.6-litre V6 along with the aforementioned real-time active-damping suspension connecting through to standard chrome-plated 18-inch wheels or optional 19-inch rims to manage all the extra power, plus inside you’ll find perforated heated and cooled leather seats.

The 2010 Allure debuts in Detroit next week on Monday, Jan. 12 with LaCrosse badging, whereas production will begin at GM’s Fairfax Assembly facility in Kansas City this summer, with expected Allure-labeled arrivals showing up at Canadian Buick dealers following shortly thereafter. How well it does will depend on consumer reaction, of course, but some recent improvements at the automaker’s GMAC financial arm should free up a bit of capital to allow it better success with those looking to buy on credit. Also positive, Buick’s strong showing in China, as one of the fastest growing economy’s most respected luxury marques, and its recent growth via the Enclave in North America, goes far to secure its future under GM’s corporate umbrella.

While I can’t yet predict if this Allure will upstage the Camry like I felt the previous edition did when it debuted as a 2005 model five years ago, I’m guessing that it won’t only give the famed Toyota a run for its money, but also its Lexus-badged derivative. And that’s exactly where Buick needs to be shooting if it expects to live on to repeat its glory days of yore, when it was revered as one of North America’s better luxury brands. GM can do it, proven by the Enclave, so we’ll just have to see how the Allure measures up when we get our hands on it. Stay tuned.

Preliminary Specifications (2010 Buick Allure):

Price Range (est. MSRP): $27,000 – $40,000
Body Type: 4-door sedan
Layout: front engine, FWD (opt. AWD)
Base Engine: 255-hp, 211 lb-ft of torque, 3.0L, 24-valve, DOHC, VVT, DI V6
Opt. Engine: 240 hp, 230 lb-ft of torque, 3.6L, 24-valve, DOHC, VVT, DI V6
Transmission: 6-spd auto w/ manual-mode
Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
External Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 5,003 / 1,858 / 1,497 / 2,837 mm (197.0 / 73.1 / 58.9 / 111.7 in)
Track (f/r): 1,565 / 1,587 mm (61.5 / 61.6 in)
Wheels: 17-in aluminum alloy (opt. 18-in and 19-in aluminum alloy)
Curb Weight (CX – CXL AWD): 1,791 – 1,904 kg (3,948 – 4,199 lbs)
Seating Capacity: 5 (optional 6)
Cargo Cap (min/max): TBA
Fuel Economy (3.0L V6 EPA est. city/hwy): 13.1 / 8.7 L/100 km
Fuel Economy (3.6L V6 EPA est. city/hwy): 13.8 / 9.0 L/100 km
Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 comprehensive – 60/100,000 powertrain
Direct Competitors: Acura TL, Chrysler Sebring / 300, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Azera / Genesis, Kia Amanti, Lexus ES350, Lincoln MKZ / MKS, Mazda6, Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon, Volkswagen Passat, Volvo S60

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SHANGHAI, Sept 2 (Reuters) – General Motors Co [GM.UL] said on Wednesday its China vehicles sales in August jumped 112.7 percent from a year earlier, paving the way for a more than 40 percent rise in sales for the full year.

General Motors, which competes with Volkswagen AG and others globally, in August sold 152,365 vehicles in China, its second biggest market, it said in a statement.

From January to August, the Detroit automaker sold 1.11 million vehicles in the country, up 49.6 percent from a year earlier, it said.

“We are now looking at a market of 11.5 to 12 million vehicles, up from 9.1 million units last year,” said Kevin Wale, president and managing director for GM’s China operations, referring to China’s overall vehicle market.

“We expect GM sales for the year as a whole to rise by more than 40 percent from 2008.”

China’s auto market, which overtook the United States as the world’s largest in January, has been a leading bright spot in the struggling global auto industry as government incentives spurred a pick-up in demand.

GM has been among the major beneficiaries of the initiatives, with its China vehicle sales hitting monthly records since January.

Shanghai GM, the U.S. automaker’s flagship car venture with SAIC Motor Corp, sold 63,303 models in August, up 99.6 percent, it said.

Monthly sales of the Chevrolet brand came to 23,771 units, up 99.4 percent, with Buick sales up 102.8 percent to 38,905 units.

SAIC-GM-Wuling, a three-way commercial vehicle tie-up between GM, SAIC and Liuzhou Wuling Automobile, came to 88,711 units in August, up 122.6 percent.

GM had said it planned to roll out 30 new or revamped models in China up to 2014 from 2009, including 10 Buick and Chevrolet models this year and next year.

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“We believe the program was a strong shot in the arm for the economy and that our four core brands – Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac – are well-positioned with new products to take advantage of the ongoing recovery in the market,” said Mark LaNeve, vice president of U.S. sales.

Locally produced GM vehicles fared worse than the company overall.

U.S. sales of the Cadillac CTS tumbled 56 percent, while the STS skidded 65.4 percent. Both sedans are made at the Lansing Grand River assembly plant.

Meanwhile, U.S. sales of the Buick Enclave dropped 31.7 percent, while the GMC Acadia slid 25.1 percent and the Saturn Outlook plunged 68.1 percent. All three crossovers are made at the Lansing Delta Township assembly plant.

There was no tally for the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, also made at Lansing Grand River, because the vehicle just went into production Aug. 19.

Sales of local Cadillac models were down because of a lack of competitive leasing, which GM recently brought back for several models, GM spokesman John McDonald said.

No ‘Clunkers’

Also, the Enclave, Acadia and Outlook didn’t qualify for the Cash for Clunkers program.

“People were just knocking themselves over to get small cars, small crossovers, small pickups. The larger segment of vehicles suffered in August,” McDonald said.

Shaheen  Buick Pontiac GMC in Mt. Pleasant sold 105 cars through the Cash for Clunkers,  and the flow of potential car buyers is continuing.

“Now that the Clunkers has stopped, we still have showroom traffic,” Shaheen said. “Not as brisk as during Cash for Clunkers, but it is still at a decent pace and we’re seeing our used-car department picking up.”

Capitol Cadillac couldn’t take advantage of the Clunkers program because none of the vehicles the Lansing dealership sold qualified, sales manager Greg Miller said.

Inventory low

And although demand has been high for locally made Cadillac models, Miller said sales suffered because inventory was low while the Lansing Grand River plant sat idle for most of the summer. It resumed production in early August.

“We’re optimistic about having a great September,” Miller said.

“New leasing is back; that’s going to be a huge shot in the arm for General Motors.”

GM’s performance was in stark contrast to Ford Motor Co., which saw sales climb 17.2 percent in August from a year earlier. Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. also posted gains in August, with Toyota’s U.S. sales rising 6.4 percent and Honda gaining 9.9 percent.

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The Cadillac, code-named XTS, is expected in 2011 and will replace the front-drive DTS and rear-drive STS, the sources say. The X in the code-name suggests that all-wheel drive will be optional or standard.

The car is part of an emerging strategy for Cadillac that mirrors BMW’s three-car lineup of small, medium, and large. The CTS would be the medium-size car, and a new small Cadillac also is expected in 2011, sources say.

GM has made little secret of the new flagship, showing a drawing of the concept to dealers at a meeting last month in Detroit. Details are emerging about its platform and production site.

The new flagship may be assembled at GM’s Oshawa, Ontario, plant, the Canadian Auto Workers union says.

GM told the CAW last month that the Oshawa plant will be getting two new midsize sedans, says Chris Buckley, CAW Local 222 president.

While the specific models were not revealed to the CAW local, “there is a very real possibility that a Cadillac will be built in the city of Oshawa,” Buckley says.

Oshawa will produce a hybrid, short-wheelbase sedan in the first quarter of 2011, and a long-wheelbase sedan will go into production in 2013, said Jennifer Wright, a GM Canada spokeswoman. She declined to reveal the brand of the new models.

The Cadillac sedan will be developed on GM’s new global midsize vehicle platform, industry sources say. The first U.S. vehicle developed on that front-drive platform is the 2010 LaCrosse, which goes on sale this month.

But sources say that platform will be modified, creating a car that is 1.5 to 2.0 inches wider than other vehicles developed on the same platform. The LaCrosse is 73.1 inches wide, already about a half-inch wider than the CTS.

A source says Cadillac wants the cabin comfort that buyers expect in a luxury vehicle. Overall, the Cadillac sedan will be about 200 inches long. By comparison, the redesigned 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan is 191.7 inches long and 75.9 inches wide.

Still to be determined is whether all-wheel drive will be standard or optional on the Cadillac XTS.

The Oshawa car plant produces the Chevrolet Impala and the Camaro on separate lines. Buckley says the line for the rear-wheel-drive Camaro is flexible and can assemble rear-wheel and front-wheel-drive vehicles.

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The decision was made Aug. 14, after GM earlier in the week showed the SUV and other future vehicles to consumers, dealers, employees, analysts and news reporters, Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said yesterday on a company blog. One blogger called it “hideous” and users of Twitter dubbed it the “Vuick.”

“We were all struck by the consistency of the criticism,” Stephens wrote. “It didn’t fit the premium characteristics that customers have come to expect from Buick.” He didn’t elaborate on the vehicle’s shortcomings.

The decision to cancel the Buick was based on all of the input, face-to-face, blogs and tweets, Christopher Barger, GM’s spokesman for social media, said in an interview. No matter how they expressed it “they just didn’t like it.”

The plug-in hybrid technology that was to be used for the Buick SUV will be applied to another vehicle that Detroit-based GM will discuss soon, Stephens wrote. GM had said it would begin selling the plug-in hybrid version in 2011, after the gasoline- only model began sales in late 2010.

“It’s obviously a sign of a faster GM and a GM more open to outside feedback,” said Jim Hall, principal of auto consulting firm 2953 Analytics in Birmingham, Michigan. “It also suggests there were already concerns inside the company about the product.”

Chief Executive Officer Fritz Henderson has said he wants to transform GM to be more responsive to customers and make speedier decisions.

Dubbed ‘Vuick’

Negative feedback spread on Twitter Inc.’s site after users began calling the vehicle a “Vuick,” a reference to GM’s Saturn Vue that provided the basis for the Buick. It looked more like a retread than a fresh design, they said. Detractors began using the “#Vuick” name as a hash tag — an indexing tool on Twitter that lets users quickly find messages on the same topic.

Rebranding a mediocre model with a new name was typical of the “old GM,” blogger Joel Feder said last week on his Twitter account. He called the car hideous and a crying shame. “#Vuick must die,” Feder wrote.

Twitter, used by Oprah Winfrey, Britney Spears and the British monarchy, lets users post 140-character messages. The speed and popularity of the San Francisco-based service has turned it into a source of breaking news and consumer trends.

Twitter had 20.1 million U.S. users in June, according to research firm ComScore Inc. in Reston, Virginia. That made it the third most popular social-networking site, behind Facebook Inc. and News Corp.’s MySpace.

Other Small SUV

GM still plans a different small Buick SUV that it referred to as the “baby Enclave,” Stephens said. The Enclave is a sport-utility vehicle built on a car platform with three rows of seats.

Buick’s U.S. sales peaked in 1984 at 941,611, according to trade publication Automotive News. By 2008, that total had dwindled to 137,200 units, a 26 percent drop from a year earlier.

The brand is popular in China, where Buick sedans are used to chauffeur Communist Party leaders. Sales surged almost tenfold from 2000 through last year to 280,255, consulting firm IHS Global Insight Inc. said.

Fuel Efficiency

Hall said the plug-in hybrid system that was going to be used for the canceled Buick SUV originally was intended for the Saturn Vue, part of a brand GM is selling. Adapting the system to another SUV will probably mean added costs and reduced performance because the likely candidates, the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, are larger than the Vue, Hall said.

“Bottom line is they probably can’t afford not to do it in some form” with the new emphasis on vehicles powered by electricity, he said.

GM, which is 61 percent-owned by the U.S. Treasury after a government-backed bankruptcy, is introducing models with greater fuel efficiency as federal mileage requirements rise 35 percent by 2016.

The plug-in hybrid system that would have been used in the Buick SUV shares some technology with the Chevrolet Volt car, which is powered by lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged through a household electrical outlet. The Volt, an electric- drive vehicle with an on-board generator, is scheduled to go on sale in November 2010. The Buick would have been powered by its electric motor or gasoline-burning engine.

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The automaker canceled plans for the vehicle, which also called for a plug-in hybrid version, after potential customers invited to G.M.’s testing ground last week said the model did not have the premium characteristics they expected from Buick.

Thomas G. Stephens, G.M.’s vice chairman, wrote Wednesday on a company blog that it did so after “listening to feedback from customers, employees, dealers, media and just about anyone else with an opinion.”

“In the past, this would have been a several-month process,” he said.

At an industry conference on Aug. 6, General Motors announced plans to introduce the five-passenger Buick crossover in 2010 and a plug-in version of the model in 2011.

The Buick was expected to be the first commercially available plug-in sport utility vehicle by a major automaker and to follow General Motors’ heavily promoted Chevrolet Volt plug-in car.

The plug-in hybrid technology will be applied to another vehicle “at no delay” and G.M. will discuss the plans soon, Mr. Stephens said.

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2010 Buick LaCrosse

2010 Buick LaCrosse

According to Car and Driver Magazine “The redesigned LaCrosse has a stunning interior, comfort and convenience features to match anything in its class, and road manners that keep the driver interested. The exterior is a bit derivative, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is the most interesting Buick sedan in a long time.” With a “Gorgeous interior, handsome gauge cluster, a back seat spacious enough for anyone.”

Conclusion: “No longer a plodding sofa on wheels, the LaCrosse is competent and displays some friskiness without being so aggressive as to alienate current Buick owners.”

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2009 Buick Lucerne

2009 Buick Lucerne

Car and Driver says “This is Buick’s top-of-the-line sedan, sharing its underpinnings with the Cadillac DTS. This is a hushed, relaxed-fit full-size car that is smooth, competent, and unlikely to appeal to anyone under 50 years old. The top-spec Super delivers loads of power and luxury.”  With “Plenty of room and power, old-school luxury cruising at its finest, clean interior design.”
Conclusion: “Quiet cabin, predictable dynamics, and smooth ride. It’s a Buick.”

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2008 Buick Enclave

The 2008 Buick Enclave

Motor Trend Says “It’s the type of paradox that makes General Motors’ number of divisions such a dilemma. Buick sells 72 percent of its cars in North America through dealerships shared with Pontiac and GMC. GM hopes to have all those dealers selling all three brands someday soon, so the last thing Buick needs is a rebadged GMC. And yet, to reestablish itself as an aspirational marque for buyers (well) under 65, the first thing it needs is something with the style and elegance of the new Enclave. Success pretty much depends on whether the Enclave’s unique sheetmetal and interior convince buyers to choose it over the likes of Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Lexus RX 350, and Audi Q7. As with other modern unibody SUVs, this living-room luxury-along with market demand for three rows of seats, every type of stability and traction control, and every possible airbag iteration known to man-has offset the weight advantages these new car-based SUVs intend to offer. The 2008 Enclave is 8.4 inches longer than the 2007 Buick Rainier (a two-row SUV) with a six-inch-longer wheelbase. The Rainier tows up to 2200 pounds more than the Enclave and is about 450 pounds lighter. Compared with the three-row V-8 GMC Yukon, though, the Enclave is just 0.2 inch shorter and 600 pounds slimmer. At the $3.50 gas pump, this means plus-2 mpg city and plus-3 mpg highway versus either the Yukon or Rainier six, based on 2007 EPA numbers. The 2008 Enclave uses the new EPA calculation, which drops fuel mileage 1 mpg city, 2 mpg highway for AWD models and 2/2 mpg for FWD models. The real advantage these new things have over trucky SUVs is that they can legitimately be called cars. Tall as it is, with its length and proportions, the Buick Enclave melds SUV and minivan into a modern station-wagon shape, heir to an early 1950s Roadmaster Estate or a 1971 Estate Wagon. Squish one of those wagons at both ends to make it not quite so long, but taller for good interior space, like watching a wide-screen movie on a small, square TV, and you’ve got the Enclave.”

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