buick

First drive: Buick LaCrosse makes hybrid standard

A few years ago GM experimented with a mild hybrid system, giving cars such as the Chevy Malibu a little electric boost by replacing the alternator with a drive motor. That system didn't show enough benefit to justify the cost, and barely reached its EPA-rated fuel economy in our testing. But it seems during the intervening years that GM perfected the system, as our drive in the 2012 Buick LaCrosse revealed.

At this point you may be thinking, "Do they still make Buicks?" The answer is a resounding yes. Buick survived GM's brand paring, alongside Chevrolet and Cadillac. The focus of the new Buick is building luxury cars, leaving out the sport element so well embodied by newer Cadillacs and some Chevrolet models. Buick is going after Lexus.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse showed up with a modern design and a quality build, instantly becoming a desirable luxury car. But in the new automotive order, GM knows it can't rest on its laurels for five years until the next redesign. As such, the 2012 LaCrosse comes out with two new significant technologies. … Read more

The 404 850: Where Jill will do anything for love (podcast)

Aunt Jill's been busy with her own podcast Jill On Money, but today she joins us on The 404 to answer your financial questions. Listen to this episode to find out what each of us did as teenagers to make money, how kids today can make the most of their time, and the best way to handle your monthly credit card debt. Plus, Jill helps us out with another Tang That Tune, now with a video and audio intro thanks to Patrick and Jamey!

The 404 Digest for Episode 850

Listen and subscribe to Aunt Jill's podcast, Jill on Money! Check out #AuntJill's Twitter, and send her your questions!

Episode 850 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

2012 Buick LaCrosse, with eAssist, to start at $29,960

General Motors today announced that the 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist will have an MSRP of $29,960 plus $860 destination charge.

The U.S. automaker announced the "mild hybrid" earlier this year. The new LaCrosse is expected to deliver 25 percent better highway fuel economy than the current model.

According to GM, eAssist will be the standard power train for LaCrosse. It works by using a lithium ion battery to help propel the car with up to 11 kilowatts of power from a stopped position. The eAssist system has an electric motor-generator that enables regenerative braking capability, … Read more

Buick offers better fuel economy with direct injection

The new Buick lineup will offer big-engine performance with small-engine fuel economy thanks to the use of direct injection.

Direct injection works by using high-pressure direct injectors that deliver fuel to the point of combustion in the cylinder so fuel doesn't get left behind on manifold walls or evaporate up out of a carburetor. This process also reduces the temperature of the compressed mixture as the fuel evaporates, which enables a higher compression ratio, allows for more spark advance, and reduces fuel consumption.

"The beefier low-end torque and improved drivability of the direct-injected 2.0L turbo makes it … Read more

GM to use landfill gases as an energy-saver at Orion plant

General Motors has taken steps to make the Orion Assembly Plant even more energy efficient including using landfill gas to cut energy costs.

The plant will begin assembling the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano this fall. With an upgraded paint shop that is heated by natural and landfill gas, the painting process will use half of the energy per vehicle of the one it replaced. The system runs exclusively on landfill gas primarily to generate steam for heating and compressed air for most of the year.

According to GM, both the Sonic and Verano use a new eco paint … Read more

GM to invest more than $30 million in Pontiac Stamping plant

General Motors is investing more than $30 million of investment in its Pontiac Stamping plant to retool and enhance manufacturing equipment, and 290 hourly and salaried jobs at the 79-year-old plant.

The enhancements will include upgrading three conventional press lines already operating at the plant and the installation of two additional presses that are part of the company's stamping consolidation project, GM said today in a press release.

Pontiac Stamping provides parts to the new Chevrolet Sonic and the new Buick Verano, among other products.

"GM continues to invest in our manufacturing operations to ensure we have the … Read more

Use OnStar for a chance to win a new GM vehicle

General Motors is giving a vehicle each to 10 winners of the PushOn sweepstakes. Contestants need to register through OnStar by May 31, 2011, to win a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac models.

The sweepstakes rules allow anyone with a digital OnStar-equipped vehicle--regardless of whether they are a current OnStar subscribe--can enter to win by pressing the blue OnStar button. The eligibility doesn't include fleet vehicles (such as rental or media fleets), only personal vehicles, the company said.

An alternative way to register for the sweepstakes is to send in a hand-written postcard. Details of the contest rules, … Read more

2011 Buick Regal Turbo will be E85-capable

General Motors announced on Monday that the 2011 Buick Regal Turbo will be the first direct-injected turbocharged production car that is flex-fuel-capable. With a new turbocharged Ecotec 2.0-liter in-line four-cylinder engine, the Regal will be able to run on "any blend of gasoline or E85 ethanol."

The announcement was made at the National Ethanol Conference, where participants were given a chance to test-drive the Regal and the flex-fuel GMC Terrain.

The new Regal will offer increased power as well as better fuel economy. "A sensor in the fuel system measures the blend in real time," … Read more

Made in the USA Foundation says GM is stripping 'Made in' labels from show models

Just where is that Buick Regal made? Answer: Germany. But, according to the Made in the USA Foundation, you wouldn't know this from the label if you saw the car at an auto show.

The foundation has charged GM with violating the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA), which requires all new cars in the retail market to include country-of-origin information.

The AALA requires a window sticker on new cars that includes information such as where the car was assembled, where the engine was made, and where the transmission was made.

According to the foundation, these labels are left off … Read more

GM reveals the 2012 Buick Verano, Pandora integration included

Days before the 2011 North American International Auto Show, GM released photos and specifications of the 2012 Buick Verano, its compact luxury sedan. Despite its new model status, the Verano can be fairly described as a smaller, sportier Regal.

The smallest in the Buick lineup, the Verano will offer the same Ecotec 2.4-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines paired with a six-speed automatic transmission as its beefier sibling. However, output will be slightly reduced. The Verano's standard 2.4-liter engine delivers 177 horsepower and 170 lb-ft. of torque (compared to 182 in the Regal), and specs on the … Read more