Buick Encore Shipping to Dealers

[nsap]

Buick's latest is now en route to it's final stop.
www.GMInsideNews.com
January 17, 2013
By: Nick Saporito

Today Buick announced that it's latest new product, the Encore crossover, is en route to dealerships across the United States. Within the next few weeks potential customers will be able to test drive the Encore and take it home if they so choose to purchase the little ute. The new Encore is opening the Buick brand to a new, emerging segment of small crossovers that the brand hopes will bring much success in the next few years.

Based on a variant of GM's global subcompact architecture, the Encore is the smallest overall Buick ever, though space on the inside is surprisingly vast considering it's small stature. Encore is powered by GM's 1.4-liter turbo, making 138 horsepower with a EPA rating of 25/33 mpg in front-wheel drive formation.

GMI recently drove the Encore in Atlanta and walked away fairly impressed.

The Encore is the first new Buick for the 2013 calendar year, which is shaping up to be another busy year for the brand. Later this year Buick will launched refreshed versions of the Regal and LaCrosse sedans for the 2014 model year. Once the new sedans arrive at the end of this year the oldest Buick product will be the Verano, which launched late in 2011. GMI has been told that both the 2014 Regal and LaCrosse will likely nudge upmarket a bit with more premium content and a design that will bring both in line with Buick's latest.

Encore wears a base price of $24,950 and is produced at GM's Bupyeong, South Korea assembly plant.

[jzchev28]

It's a neat little thing, too bad it's not made in the U.S. I'd settle for Mexico over Korea. Also too bad they didn't give it a bigger engine.

[Envoy4Life]

So the already slumping Regal will move "upmarket" and will move even higher up in price near ATS territory? Nice.

[nsap]

So the already slumping Regal will move "upmarket" and will move even higher up in price near ATS territory? Nice.

Regal was never intended for volume.

[FenwickHockey65]

I think the NA Regal is just profit icing on the cake considering Insignia sales in Europe and Regal sales in China.

[bronco5280]

A little off topic, but why didn't we see anything from Buick or GMC at the NAIAS?

[Envoy4Life]

Regal was never intended for volume.

Well, I understand that, but sales have fallen off a cliff since Verano was introduced.

Regal is an unneccesary car in North America. ATS and LaCrosse kill it on the high end, while Malibu and Verano squeeze it out from the low end. There is no need for the car in North America anymore.

But then again, that's how I feel about Buick in general.

[MCGARRETT]

So the already slumping Regal will move "upmarket" and will move even higher up in price near ATS territory? Nice.

Q:Hey hows the weather?


A:Let me tell you about how sh**ty the Regal is and how much I dont like it


Q:What time is it?


A:I dont know, but what I do know is the the Regal sucks


Would you also like to add a comment about the Malibus rear sear room while were at it?

[ILikeNiceCars]

Well, I understand that, but sales have fallen off a cliff since Verano was introduced.

Regal is an unneccesary car in North America. ATS and LaCrosse kill it on the high end, while Malibu and Verano squeeze it out from the low end. There is no need for the car in North America anymore.

But then again, that's how I feel about Buick in general.

Oh great, you sound like another one of those "it should never have been Pontiac that was killed...." whiners. I am so sick of that stupid crap it makes me want to vomit.

[AeroPower]

Oh great, you sound like another one of those "it should never have been Pontiac that was killed...." whiners. I am so sick of that stupid crap it makes me want to vomit.

I concur! And if i may also add:
Nelson HAHA.jpg

And besides, I thought Buick was to against Lexus, Acura, Volvo (premium brands) and Cadillac to against BMW, MBenz (luxo-performance brands).

[tripowergto]

YEAH, a Korean Buick! ...and Regal gets ANOTHER price increase, WHY? I hope they at least give it more power.

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

What is a, "little ute"?

[SeetheUSA]

We shall see if it'll sell. Buick buyers like big...IDK if Grandma is going to feel safe in such a small vehicle. The price is decent though!

[CaddyLac10]

Regal was never intended for volume.

Buick really has some things to sort out with their sedan lineup. The Regal really needs to be repositioned for the next gen. Right now Buick just offers a bunch of FWD sedans that are more of less of the same, just differen sizes.

An entire Alpha Regal line ranging from 30K - 45K would be the thing to do next gen. Buick could offer the heart of their sporty and higher performance models in the range - GS, GNX and coupes, etc.

[BlackGTP]

Well, I understand that, but sales have fallen off a cliff since Verano was introduced.

Regal is an unneccesary car in North America. ATS and LaCrosse kill it on the high end, while Malibu and Verano squeeze it out from the low end. There is no need for the car in North America anymore.

But then again, that's how I feel about Buick in general.

I think you need to readjust your view of Buick. It is no longer a major volume channel, its now more of a niche brand in the USA. I don't think we will be seeing any Buicks moving 20,000 units a month anymore. That was the old GM. And I'm fine with that. Build a good, upper level product off of other market platforms and GM will make decent money with minimal effort. Icing on the cake. And most likely my next car will be a Buick - so for me the new Buick hits the mark where I would never be caught dead in a pre-bankruptcy "old mans car" Buick.

And what's the big deal if the Regal is low volume? I bet GM fully expected the Regals volume to drop off with the introduction of the Verano.