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GM seeks national mandate for zero-emissions cars

DETROIT — General Motors says it will ask the federal government for one national gas mileage standard, including a requirement that a percentage of auto companies' sales be zero-emissions vehicles. Mark Reuss, GM's executive vice president of product development, said the company will propose that a certain percentage of nationwide sales be made up of vehicles that run on electricity or hydrogen fuel cells. GM says a nationwide program modeled on such a requirement in California could result in 7 million electric vehicles, or EVs, on U.S. roads by 2030. California wants 15.4 percent of vehicle sales by 2025 to be EVs or other zero emission vehicles. Nine other states, including Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, have adopted those requirements. In January, California Governor Jerry Brown set a target of 5 million zero-emission vehicles in California by 2030. The Trump administration criticizes California's ZEV mandate, saying it requires automakers to spend tens of billions of dollars developing vehicles that most consumers do not want, only to sell them at a loss. Reuss told reporters that governments and industries in Asia and Europe "are working together to enact policies now to hasten the shift to an all-electric future. It's very simple: America has the opportunity to lead in the technologies of the future." A national mandate also would create jobs and reduce fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and "make EVs more affordable," Reuss added. GM, the nation's largest automaker, will spell out the request Friday in written comments on a Trump administration proposal to roll back Obama-era fuel economy and emissions standards, freezing them at 2020 levels instead of gradually making them tougher. Under a regulation finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency at the end of the Obama administration, the fleet of new automobiles would have to get 36 miles per gallon by 2025, 10 mpg higher than the current requirement. But the Trump administration's preferred plan is to freeze the standards starting in 2021. Administration officials say waiving the tougher fuel efficiency requirements would make vehicles more affordable, which would get safer cars into consumer hands more quickly. GM on Thursday said it doesn't support the freeze, but wants flexibility to deal with consumers' shift from cars to less-efficient SUVs and trucks.

Spy photos of the upcoming Buick Regal wagon, via the Opel Insignia

We're pretty sure Buick is working on a Regal wagon. And because the Regal is the Opel Insignia on the other side of the pond, these spy photos show us what's in store when it eventually turns into a Buick. The rakish wagon was lightly camouflaged, giving us our best look at the upcoming vehicle. The wagon shares a lot of the same design cues as the Insignia sedan that we spotted earlier. The bottom of the front end is covered in heavy camouflage, masking the wagon's grille. It's unsure to tell whether the black nostril-like pieces sitting above the grille are vents or just tape. The prototype still shares the same upright nose as the model we spotted earlier, giving the wagon a wider stance than its predecessor. The side profile of the wagon is sleeker, thanks to the extra four inches between the axles, than the current model is, with the design mimicking that of a shooting brake instead of a traditional wagon. The rear end of the wagon is also more upright with the taillights and bottom part of the fender jutting out beyond the glass. The boxy design sitting atop of the rear end doesn't match the rest of the vehicle and appears to be a part of the car's camouflage. With the tunnel-like design at the top gone, the rear end would have a more streamlined design. With the next Regal expected to continue on as a rebadged Insignia, the likelihood of a Regal Wagon in the US look good, but aren't set in stone. Late last year, Buick filed two trademarks for "Tourx" and "Regal Tourx," pointing towards a high-riding wagon with all-wheel drive. Imagine these spy shots with a taller suspension and some crossover-inspired trim pieces and you have a wagon that could take on the likes of the Subaru Outback and Audi Allroad. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Opel Insignia Grand Sport Tourer Spy Shots View 10 Photos Image Credit: CarPix Design/Style Spy Photos Buick GM Opel Wagon Luxury opel insignia

2014 Buick Regal gets the party rolling in NY

Although the first day of the 2013 New York Auto Show kicks off bright and early this morning, Buick got a jump on the competition by unveiling the 2014 Buick Regal lineup last night. While the Regal received many upgrades for the 2014 model year, most of our attention was focused on the sedan's drivetrain.
When the new Regal hits dealers this fall, buyers opting for the new Regal Turbo will be welcomed by an additional 39 horsepower and 35 pound-feet of torque from the 2.0-liter turbo engine; the 2014 Regal GS now features the same output of 259 hp and 295 lb-ft, meaning that it has actually lost 11 hp over the 2013 model year. Buick says the reason for the GS' power loss comes from the fact that the newly available all-wheel-drive system forced the car to use a smaller diameter exhaust system, but representatives on hand assured us that the reduction of horsepower won't affect the car's performance and could even help improve fuel economy. And who knows? Maybe downgrading the power of the Regal GS also helps create a little breathing room for a future Grand National or GNX model...
Although the power under the hood is now the same, it is still impossible to confuse the two cars from the outside. Minor updates give both a fresher look, but the Regal GS has an unmistakeable aggression to it. The GS' interior also helps it stand apart from lower Regal trim levels with an eight-inch configurable gauge cluster similar to what is offered in the 2014 LaCrosse. The cabin of the Regal wasn't given an extensive makeover like the LaCrosse received, but the upgraded IntelliLink infotainment system and the cleaner center stack and steering wheel controls are appreciated changes.