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Buick Blackhawk concept headed to auction block again

While the collector car auction market is often criticized for inflating the price of vintage models out of the realm of affordability for many buyers, these sales do give us an opportunity to look back on some of the beautiful, rare designs of the past. Just take a glance at this Buick Blackhawk concept with a shape right out of the '40s or '50s. Despite the heritage styling, it was pieced together from older pieces for Buick to celebrate itself in the early 2000s With styling inspiration from the classic Buick Y-Job concept car, the Blackhawk mixes actual vintage components to create its curvaceous shape. However, the power retractable top is thoroughly modern being made from carbon fiber and stows in the deck lid when the roof needs to go down. After so much work on the outside, the Buick has something equally surprising under the hood. It's a 1970 455-cubic-inch (7.5-liter) V8 GS Stage III V8 with a claimed 463 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, and for easy cruising the mill is linked to a four-speed automatic. Built in-house by Buick, the Blackhawk was once part of the General Motors Heritage Fleet, but the automaker sold it off in 2009 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ, along with many other members of the collection. The concept went for $522,500 after the buyer's premium, according to the auctioneers. Now, it's crossing the block again with no reserve as part of RM Auctions sale of the Andrews Collection on May 2, 2015, in Fort Worth, TX. The 75-car auction also includes highlights like one of seven 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet models bodied by Pininfarina. Featured Gallery Buick Blackhawk Concept News Source: RM Auctions, Barrett-Jackson AuctionsImage Credit: Darin Schnabel Courtesy of RM Auctions Design/Style Buick Auctions Convertible Concept Cars

GM recalling 2013 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac SRX over transmission software

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued recalls for the 2013 Buick LaCrosse and 2013 Cadillac SRX due to a problem with the software for the transmission controller. On about 27,000 SRX and LaCrosse models, the transmission could accidentally be shifted to Sport mode, which would reduce the amount of engine braking drivers experience.
NHTSA says this could increase the risk of a crash, but, fortunately, the required fix is simply an update to the software.
While we're on the subject of General Motors vehicle recalls, a small number (48) of compressed natural gas versions of the 2011 Chevrolet Express are also being recalled for a potential risk of fire or explosion. Yikes. Both official recall notices are posted below.

Chevy Bolt-based prototype may be a Buick EV for China

Late last spring, we got a look at a GM prototype that was clearly based on the Chevy Bolt EV, but with updated styling. It seemed like it could be a more crossover-styled Bolt, given the recently trademarked name of EUV. Now we get another look at the prototype, but the bodywork seems less suggestive of a Chevy, and more of a Buick. This vehicle definitely still appears to be based on the Bolt, rather than on another small GM platform. In the photos of it next to the current model, the size, wheelbase and profile are extremely similar. There are differences, though. The nose isn't as sloped or as rounded, and the rear window kicks up a little earlier. The biggest changes are in the front and rear fascias, and it's here that we see hints of Buick. There are prominent air inlets on each side of the front bumper that give the car a more aggressive look. The headlights still have a fairly rounded, organic look, but with little extensions like fangs underneath. The styled running-light section, rounded shape and the smoked lenses seem very Buick-like. The grille features a large badge that doesn't fit the shape of a bow-tie, and is more that of a round logo like Buick's. Around at the back, the full-width taillights stand out, and in the middle there is obviously a round badge, again like a Buick. The wide taillights would also be a natural evolution of Buick's current light design language that uses somewhat wide and thin lights. The rear bumper has been redesigned with new lower taillights. Now that we've established that this seems very much like a Buick, we don't think we'll see this particular version offered here with the badge. This is more likely a Buick version of the Bolt for the Chinese market, where the brand is associated with luxury and has been the spearhead for GM's electric and hybrid models. In fact, the Chevy Volt hybrid was sold there as the Buick Velite 5, which was part of a family of a electrified Velite models. This would probably also carry a Velite badge as well. While we might not see this specific Buick variant, we probably will see it offered as a Chevy in some form. With its more aggressive, crossover shape, it could be the rumored EUV model. Or it could be just a refresh of the current Bolt, since the model has been largely unchanged since its introduction for the 2017 model year. And extrapolating from this prototype, we can see how the headlights could be tweaked to tie into those air scoops as on the Suburban and Silverado.