Amid news of an introduction for both the Cadillac ATS and Chevrolet Sonic RS at this year’s 2012 North American International Auto Show comes news of a third vehicle – a Buick crossover – that will also make its debut.

The crossover will reportedly be based on a platform that underpins the Opel Meriva (above) though it will ditch the minivan-look for a more traditional crossover bodystyle. The Meriva also shares a platform with the Chevrolet Sonic, though dimensions and powertrain choices have not been revealed.  A small four-cylinder turbo with forced induction is a likely candidate. The Meriva is about 5 inches shorter than a Sonic, and it would be reasonable to expect GM to make the car larger to suit North American tastes.

[Source: Automotive News]

BMW and Mercedes-Benz have always been the German luxury brands for the well-to-do set in the United States, but in China, the two companies have been considered cars for the new money and retirees respectively.

Audi and Buick continue their dominance over the hearts and minds of Chinese consumers. Buick has historically been a hot brand in China, thanks to their long tie-up with the Chinese emperors of yore, but according to the New York Times, Audi’s prestige was cemented in the post-1949 era.

“Audi is still the de facto car for government officials,”  said Wang Zhi, a Beijing taxi driver who spoke to the paper. “It’s always best to yield to an Audi — you never know who you’re messing with, but chances are it’s someone self-important.”

Audi has produced cars in China since 1988, 15 years ahead of BMW, and Audi cemented itself as the car of choice for government officials. The A6, in particular, has been especially popular, while BMW has become the car of choice for the country’s entrepreneurial class.

Meanwhile, Buick, which is seen as the car of choice for the 65+ set, sold 550,000 cars in China in 2010, triple what it sells in the United States. Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, is viewed as the car for the geriatric set in China.

[Source: The New York Times]

Over the past few decades, one of the main criticisms that could be made against Buick models is that they were quasi-luxury cars, never quite rising to the status of a the Germans or Japanese. Buick now seems ready to raise the bar, with the debut of the LaCrosse GL Concept at the LA Auto Show.

Starting on the outside there’s an impressive Cabernet Red paint finish offset by tinted chrome brightwork, and 20 inch wheels. That’s nothing compared to the interior, which features  two-tone cabin with dark cocoa brown and caramel chocochino leather with light blue stitching. Inside, with a suede headliner, a swirled wood grain on the dash and steering wheel inspired by Les Paul guitars and storage boxes that have been lined in high grade materials.

What isn’t yet clear is if Buick plans to move their vehicles upmarket, or if GL models will be an exclusive trim level, much like Cadillac’s Platinum range.

GALLERY: Buick LaCrosse GL Concept

Overshadowed by a lot of other produts, even within the GM umbrealla with Cadillac’s new XTS flagship sedan, the Buick LaCrosse GL Concept

Over the past few decades, one of the main criticisms that could be made against Buick models is that they were quasi-luxury, never quite rising to the status of a the Germans or Japanese. While this is partly so as not to complete with Cadillac, Buick now seems ready to raise the bar, with the planned debut of the LaCrosse GL Concept at the LA Auto Show next week.

Starting on the outside there’s an impressive cabernet red paint offset by tinted chrome brightwork, with massive 20-inch wheels. That’s nothing compared to the inside, however, which receives a two-tone cabin with dark cocoa brown and caramel chocochino leather, with ice-blue stitching throughout (sounds strange, we know). The details have not been overlooked wither, with a suede headliner, a swirled wood grain on the dash and steering wheel inspired by Les Paul guitars and storage boxes that have been lined in high grade materials.

What isn’t yet clear is if Buick plans to up the levels of luxury across the board, or if (as the GL trim designation seems to signify), the three-shield brand will get a new high-grade trim, much like Cadillac’s Platinum badge.

GALLERY: Buick LaCrosse GL Concept

See AutoGuide’s complete 2011 LA Auto Show preview here

While currently operating brands Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Wuling in China, the very first China division GM crossover, the Buick Envision, will come to market next year, according to a report from the Beijing Times Newspaper.

Shanghai GM first introduced the Envision concept at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show and presented a very progressive shape, further evolving Buick’s design philosophy. A GM representative said, “Envision merges Buick’s global design language with Chinese aesthetics and was designed specifically for the China market.”

The Buick Envision will receive a plug-in hybrid powerplant. To highlight the technology fitted to the vehicle, the Envision’s technology driven interior will feature a futuristic dashboard, flat bottomed steering wheel, an oversized central instrument tunnel and a flat floor to optimize passenger cabin comfort.

Some initial reports indicate the Envision may be built in China and for the Chinese market, but production and sales of the hybrid crossover are expected for other markets as well.

GALLERY: Buick Envision Concept

[Source: InAutoNews]

With the new Verano compact luxury sedan on sale this year, Buick will look to expand its offerings in a green direction with a hybrid version. The news comes via a list of suppliers printed by Automotive News, detailing all of the companies and parts involved in the current Verano.

According to the published data the Verano is set to get a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain, likely the next-generation of the current 2.4-liter hybrid used in the 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco. It’s also expected that the Verano hybrid’s system will be a version of GM’s eAssist mild-hybrid technology.

In the new hybrid Malibu the eAssist system delivers fuel economy of 26/38-mpg. In a smaller car, look for city mileage to approach 30-mpg, with a 40-mpg rating at least.

Have your heart set on a hybrid compact Buick, but don’t have the funds? Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to save up, with the car not set to arrive until 2015.

GALLERY: 2012 Buick Verano

[Source: GreenCarReports]

Tentatively named Encore, Buick is expected to get an innovative sub-compact crossover in the near future, but will Chevy get a version as well? That’s the question product planners at GM continue to debate,

Currently Chevy offers both the Traverse and smaller Equinox crossovers, although since the introduction of cars like the Nissan Juke, it’s thought that there’s space for a mainstream high-riding sub-compact model from the bowtie brand. Based on the same platform as the Chevrolet Sonic the new model could be powered by a range of engines, ranging from the turbocharged 1.4-liter making 138-hp and 148 lb-ft of torque to a peppy 181-hp 1.6-liter turbocharged engine currently offered overseas.

GALLERY: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

[Source: AutomotiveNews]

Read AutoGuide’s 2012 Chevy Sonic Review Here

For the second year in a row, General Motors has sold 2 million vehicles in China, with 10 weeks left in the calender year 2011.

GM reported strong demand for Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac vehicles, up 24, 18 and 73 percent respectively. General Motors’ SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture also reached a milestone, selling its 1 millionth vehicle in China in October of 2011. General Motors sold 2.35 million vehicles in China in 2010. That year marked the first automaker to sell more than 2 million units in what is now the world’s largest car market.

If you’ve got a GM vehicle and OnStar, you’ll be able to rent out your idle car and make some extra cash through the RelayRides marketplace.

General Motors has teamed up with RelayRides, a peer-to-peer carsharing marketplace, that’s targeted to owners of a Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle. This innovative program puts the vehicle owner in control – you can choose the rates and availability of your car.  Done through RelayRides online marketplace, there’s a $1 million insurance policy to make the transaction safe and convenient.

Using the OnStar system, RelayRides lets borrowers unlock GM cars with their mobile phones – no additional hardware is needed. If you don’t have OnStar but want to take part in the program, you’ll have to install a small device in your car so borrowers can access it.

“We’re using technology to make both our older and newest models carshare ready and available for those owners who choose to participate in carsharing,” said Stephen Girsky, GM vice chairman. “Our goal is to find ways to broaden our customer reach, reduce traffic congestion in America’s largest cities and address urban mobility concerns.”

This RelayRides mobile application is planned for early 2012, so we’ll pass along the information once we hear about it.

General Motors much loved LNF engine, the same 2.0L Ecotec that powered the Pontiac Solstice GXP, Saturn Sky Redline and Chevrolet Cobalt SS is continuing on in the Buick Regal Turbo and Buick Regal GS, but a new generation of turbocharged 4-cylinder motor is set to replace the LNF next year, packing even more power.

While the LNF makes as much as 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft in the Regal GS, the new engine, dubbed the LHU, will be used as a replacement for V6 engines in mid-size cars, and is expected to make at least 280 horsepower in standard trim. Given that GM’s current “high feature” V6 makes 306 horsepower, we should expect a figure somewhere in that area.

The LHU will get its first use in the Cadillac ATS sports sedan and the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Expect it to migrate to other products in the near future as well.

[Source: GM Inside News]

For quite some time now, GM executives in North America have been contemplating distributing Opel’s Astra GTC as a Buick in America. Now there’s a chance that the three-door, sporty vehicle could even be produced in America.

In order to satisfy the UAW, GM has plans to build an additional compact car at an unnamed plant in America, which points fingers at the Astra GTC. Though it’s all speculation right now, GM has been committing to reopening its Spring Hill, Tennessee plant and with the addition of the new compact’s production, could generate 500 new jobs. Could Buick’s version of the Astra GTC be rolling off the Tennessee assembly line by early 2013? We’ll just have to wait and see.

[Source: Left Lane News]

Targeted at cars like the Acura TSX and Lexus IS250, the new Buick Verano will undercut rivals by many thousands of dollars, starting at just $23,470 – including the $885 destination charge. By comparison, the Acura starts at just over $30K, while the IS begins at nearly $35K. Plus, Buick is touting that its car has more passenger and cargo room than either of those two, despite the fact that it’s underpinnings are those of the Chevrolet Cruze.

All Verano models will come powered by a 180-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include leatherette seating, a high-res 7-inch LED screen, 10 airbags, automatic climate control, remote start, 18-inch wheels, plus power windows and steering wheel audio controls.

Available options include heated seats, a heated steering wheel and push-button ignition. Top-trim models will continue to offer competitive pricing, starting at $26,850.

GALLERY: 2012 Buick Verano

Watch a preview video of the Buick Verano after the jump:

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Legendary auto executive Bob Lutz will return to General Motors as a part-time consultant, according to the automaker. “Maximum Bob” retired in May 2010 at the age of 79, but has retained a high profile in the industry ever since.

“This formalizes a relationship that’s essentially continued since he left General Motors,” GM spokesman Jay Cooney told Automotive News. Lutz was apparently consulting with GM product boss Mary Barra since January of 2011, but will now be on board officially.

Lutz had a nine year tenure at GM and is generally credited with helping navigate the company through its difficult bankruptcy. Lutz also worked at Chrysler and BMW throughout his 47 year career.

[Source: Automotive News]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall for 4,077 Buick LaCrosse sedans after finding issues pertaining to the electronic stability control system. The issue only pertains to 2012 model year cars, built between June 9 and July 2.

According to the recall notice, “The StabiliTrak system has an incorrect calibration that may cause the system to not properly detect if a sensor were to malfunction, and the warning light indicating that the system is not operating would not illuminate, as required in the safety standard”.

If the ESC malfunctions, there is a possibility the system could falsely activate, resulting in sudden changes to the vehicles driving dynamics. If this were to happen, there is a higher probability in loss of driver control, which could lead to a crash.

The recall will begin towards the end of August, and affected vehicles will have the electronic brake reprogrammed free of charge.

General Motors will look to slash its R&D costs in the future, by increasingly sharing platforms and engines across models. Company CEO Dan Akerson and product boss Mary Barra spoke to the big changes coming for GM during online seminars billed as the 2011 Global Business Conference.

According to Barra, the number of vehicle platforms stood at 24 in 2010. That will drop to just 14 by 2018. The automaker’s engine lineup will also shrink considerably from 20 in 2009 to just 10 in 2018.

Diversifying the product offering may be a way to build success through vehicle sales, but when it comes to profitability, the ideal plan is to build as many vehicles with shared parts. They key then is to differentiate them enough through unique style and equipment so as to avoid the sort of rebadging that many believe got GM into its pre-bankruptcy financial mess.

Apart from R&D savings, reduced platforms and engines will also allow GM to save on tooling for plants, while allowing better flexibility of production.

GM is hardly alone in its plan, with Ford proudly proclaiming its “One Ford” plan of sharing vehicle architectures globally, while Chrysler recently made the move to replace seven different engines with its new Pentastar V6 engine.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Buick has announced pricing for their newest additions to the Regal lineup, with their Regal eAssist mild hybrid vehicle starting at $29,530, while the high performance Regal GS starts at $35,310.

The Regal eAssist uses a stripped down regenerative braking system to deliver hybrid-like fuel efficiency gains without the weight or added complexity of a full hybrid system. Fuel economy numbers aren’t quite as high as other full hybrids, but the vehicle still manages to deliver 25 mpg in town and 36 mpg on the highway.

The Regal GS offers a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Despite early concept vehicles that were displayed with all-wheel drive, the Regal GS is front-drive only, but also adds adjustable damping, upgraded brakes, a 19″ wheel and tire package and a harmon/kardon stereo system. The Regal GS is also expected to deliver 27 mpg on the highway.