1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport Base Hardtop 2-door 6.6l on 2040-cars

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2024 Buick Envision previewed with new design, Super Cruise technology

The second-generation Buick Envision will enter the 2024 model year with an array of updates inside and out and Super Cruise hands-free technology. While the model won't make its full debut until later in 2023, an official preview image gives us a good idea of what to expect. Buick designers gave the Envision's front end a complete overhaul; this is not a subtle nip-and-tuck. The crossover gets a bigger grille positioned lower on the front fascia, bright trim, and the new Buick emblem on its hood. The headlights are now integrated into the bumper, Jeep Cherokee-style (or Citroen-style, depending on where your automotive references lie), and LED daytime running lights replace the outgoing Envision's headlights. The revamped look brings the Envision in line with other recent additions to the Buick range, like the Encore. We'll need to be patient to find out what the rear end looks like, though the overall proportions haven't significantly changed. Similarly, Buick hasn't released photos of the interior yet. We're guessing that infotainment- and trim-related changes will be part of the 2024 updates. The updated Envision will bring the Super Cruise technology already available in several General Motors products, including the Chevrolet Tahoe, to the Buick brand for the first time. Likely offered as an option with a four-digit price tag, the system will allow drivers to take both hands off the wheel when the right conditions are met; the car notably needs to be on a highway that General Motors has mapped. Super Cruise won't make the Envision autonomous, the driver will need to remain focused on the road ahead and ready to take over if needed, but it should make long trips less tiring. As of writing, General Motors has mapped over 400,000 miles of roads in the United States and Canada. Built in China, the 2024 Buick Envision will go on sale across the nation before the end of 2023. More details about it will emerge in the coming months. It's too early to tell what's next, but the company promised it will unveil two additional new vehicles before the end of 2024.

Movie Review: Black Air: The Buick Grand National Documentary

As Buick currently claws and scratches its way back into relevance to compete against luxury brands like Lexus and Acura, it's hard to believe that not too long ago, the brand had a car that was mentioned in the same breath as Corvette, Lamborghini and Ferrari. That car? None other than the Buick Grand National. All black with a turbocharged V6 and some of the quickest acceleration of its time, the Grand National, in today's standards, is along the lines of a 2013 Shelby GT500 with both cars essentially being a working man's supercar.
The last Grand National rolled off the assembly line in Flint, MI on December 11, 1987, and to mark the silver anniversary of that somber occasion, Black Air is a documentary of the Grand National from the perspective of the enthusiast, the collector, the media and even from those at General Motors responsible for creating such a sinister legend. Like the car itself, Andrew Filippone Jr. shoots the documentary in a raw fashion, and it definitely helps to show why a low-volume muscle car from the 1980s is still the object of obsession for many automotive enthusiasts to this day.

Buick lowering base prices on Regal, Verano

Buick might have two new options for buyers in the market for an inexpensive luxury sedan. In a move similar to the introduction of the LaCrosse 1SV base trim a few months ago, the brand is ready to offer cheaper, entry-level versions of the Regal and Verano. Like the LaCrosse 1SV, the Verano 1SV mostly cuts dealer margins to reduce the cost for customers. The small sedan is priced at $21,065, plus $925 destination, which is a significant $2,315 drop compared to the next higher trim. The powertrain is still a 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque and a six-speed automatic, but buyers lose out on satellite radio. According to CarsDirect, dealers are making just $106 on this model, versus $935 on the higher grade. Meanwhile, the Regal 1SV charts a slightly different path to a lower price. The trim starts at $27,065, which is a $2,925 savings over the next trim. Buyers still get leather seats too, but the powertrain here is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder without eAssist that makes 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque and a six-speed automatic. That's a 77 hp deficit compared to the turbocharged Regal, and combined city/highway fuel economy dips to 23 miles per gallon combined, compared to 24 mpg with forced induction. Buick is introducing the 1SV models in hopes of grabbing more attention for the brand. "We added this new base level to some models as a means of expanding the opportunity for more customers to experience Buick vehicles. The addition of these trims will create an increased awareness and consideration of these vehicles when being compared to the competition," said company spokesperson Nick Richards to Autoblog. However, you might not see many of these inexpensive Buicks on the road. "On the Verano, we suspect dealers will opt to stay away from a car with around $100 between invoice and MSRP - that's the pattern we've been seeing on the LaCrosse 1SV, which is practically impossible to find," said CarsDirect Senior Pricing Analyst Alex Bernstein to Autoblog. Also, the Regal 1SV's switch to a less powerful, naturally aspirated engine "could be a turn-off for some shoppers," he said. Related Video: