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GM trademarks 'Sport Touring' for Buick Regal, LaCrosse

Discovering trademarking or patents from automakers always fascinates us since the filings hint at the possible future of motoring. Based on two recent applications, Buick has something possibly brewing for two of its sedans, because the company now has the trademark for Sport Touring on the Regal (pictured above in GS trim) and LaCrosse. According to GM Inside News, both trademarks are dated April 27 and are simply described to the US Patent and Trademark Office as being for "motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles." That doesn't narrow things down at all. However, since the moniker is specifically for both sedans, Sport Touring might be a new trim or special edition for them. Buick had no comment when reached by Autoblog. Of course, there are a whole host of automotive trademarks that are claimed that end up with no actual vehicle in showrooms. Unfortunately, we just have to wait to find out if this is another case like the Buick Enclave Tuscan where the filing offers a preview of the future or a situation like the still long-awaited return of the Supra.

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.

1969 Buick Riviera is latest Hot Wheels Legends finalist

The Hot Wheels Legends Tour traveled to Southern California, one of the bastions of car culture in the United States, to find the next custom-built car that it will add to its catalog of scale models. The winner of the latest stop is a 1969 Buick Riviera turned into a head-turning lowrider. Owned by Mario and Nora Zamudio of Los Angeles, the big coupe is finished in a color called Pagan Gold and fitted with bright wire wheels. The husband-and-wife team spent four years working nights and weekends to build the Riviera. They removed the exterior trim pieces to achieve a cleaner look, spent a considerable amount of time detailing the engine bay and fitted a hydraulic suspension system. The interior received the custom treatment as well. Pagan Gold accents on the dashboard complement the exterior, there's an aftermarket steering wheel with three bright spokes, and the beige and brown upholstery finishes to the look. Readers familiar with Riviera models from the 1960s will notice that some of the switches aren't original; they're used to control the hydraulic suspension. Power for this Riviera comes from the original 430-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8, which was rated at 360 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque in 1969. It spins the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission, and we bet it sounds excellent. One Buggy Mud Muncher Raptor View 13 Photos This eye-catching Riviera will move on to the semifinal round this fall, where it will compete against previous winners for the chance to get scaled down into a Hot Wheels model. The list of past winners is stunningly diverse: it includes a Volvo-powered 1968 Volkswagen Beetle, a kei truck turned into a monster truck, and a 1973 Toyota Celica powered by a General Motors-sourced V8 and nicknamed Tokyo Trans Am. Related Video: Buick Wildcat EV Concept Walkaround