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1987 Buick Regal GNX driven just 54.8 miles heads to auction

The previously unimaginable prices for seemingly anything on any number of wheels continues to lure garage queens into the open. Here we have another Buick GNX headed to auction, this one Mecum's Summer Special in Orlando from July 6-9. Buick only made 547; it feels like half went to owners who never drove them. The last GNX auction we covered, in 2019 on Bring a Trailer, ended up grossing $200,000 for a model with 8.5 miles. This example has been driven much harder than that, praise be to enthusiasts, with 54.8 miles on the odometer. That means the original owner, who kept the coupe until 2017, got more than six times the use out of his GNX than the 2019 owner. Way to go. For those who haven't attended any classes on the Buick Regal GNX, allow us to summarize the subject matter. When Buick greenlit "a Grand National to end all Grand Nationals," out came the one-year-only 1987 GNX. A racier brand back then, it partnered with ASC/McLaren to work up the wheel lip flares, fender vents, 16-by-8-inch BBS rims, more aggressive tires, and the interior treatment. The Grand National trim used a 3.8-liter V6 making 245 horsepower and 355 pound-feet of torque hooked to a four-speed automatic. The GNX benefited from a larger Garrett T-3 turbocharger with a ceramic impeller, a larger intercooler, more aggressive fuel, spark, and waste gate tables, and a dual exhaust system that boosted output to what some say is an underrated 276 hp and 360 lb-ft.  This GNX headed to auction spices up the standard specs with the original order paperwork, window sticker, dealer invoice, ASC documentation, a GNX coffee table book, and a GNX jacket. That jacket could be the denim one or the high school varsity jacket with the cloth front and back and leather(ish) sleeves, which, sadly, didn't include Buick's attacking eagle logo of the time. We'd mention the black and sand gray cloth interior, power driver's seat and mirrors, and Delco Concert Sound stereo, but it's likely that the future owner won't spend much time with them. Likely fated to be a garage or show queen again, the jet black paint, "original parts stickers still affixed on suspension," and "original chalk markings throughout" will be the major points of interest. Mecum doesn't give a pre-sale estimate for this GNX, so we'll be waiting to find out if the 2019 sale price was an anomaly — well, more of an anomaly — or the new benchmark.

2017 Buick Encore freshens up for New York debut

Buick has rolled in to the New York Auto Show this year with a revised version of the Encore, bringing with it a series of revisions to what's billed as "America's most popular small SUV." Most obvious is the new front end that adopts the brand's latest design language with a fresh grille and headlamps – full LEDs on top-spec models. The taillights are also new, the exhaust tips are now chromed, the door mirrors color-keyed to the bodywork, and of course it all rides on a new set of wheels. The updates continue inside, where you'll find new trim, new gauges, and an eight-inch color touchscreen display to run the IntelliLink system that now supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as OnStar 4G LTE with on-board wifi. Buyers will be able to choose between five trim levels and between front- or all-wheel drive. There are three new exterior paint choices as well. The Encore is based closely on the European-market Opel Mokka, which was similarly revealed in updated form at the Geneva Motor Show just last month. In Buick guise, the Encore has only been on the market now for three years, but already stands as the brand's top seller. Last year it alone accounted for nearly one in every three vehicles Buick sold, and has risen 34 percent so far this year as well. Subtle though they may be, these updates ought to keep the Encore at the top of its game for another few years to come. View 5 Photos Related Video: 2017 Buick Encore Gets Latest Tech, Sculpted Design New LED headlights, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto for Buick's best-seller 2016-03-22 NEW YORK – Buick today introduced the new 2017 Encore, strengthening the appeal of America's most popular small SUV with more refined styling and new connectivity technology – including available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. A new front-end appearance and a new premium interior highlight the visual refinements, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported by a next-generation IntelliLink system featuring an 8-inch-diagonal color touch screen. Push-button start, keyless unlock via the exterior door handles and an 8-inch color touchscreen highlight the Encore's roster of new standard features. "The Buick Encore created the premium small SUV segment and remains the top choice for customers seeking premium features and dependability coupled with timeless design," said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick Sales, Service and Marketing.

Hyundai tops VW and Buick in China, survey says

You may be aware of the long-time competition in China between Volkswagen and Buick, but another brand apparently should be in that conversation too: Hyundai. In a recently published annual consumer survey, the Korean company actually took the top spot to beat out its German and American rivals in second and third, respectively. The results were part of the China Brand Power Index that interviewed 11,500 people around the nation and was paid for by the country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. While Hyundai proved popular with voters, its sales haven't necessarily shown that yet. According to Bloomberg, the brand had falling numbers in China for the first quarter of the year. Even Ford outsold the South Korean automaker in the same period, despite scoring lower on the survey. Meanwhile, Audi ranked as the populace's favorite luxury brand, which is hardly a surprise given the Four Rings' strong sales in China. In January alone the automaker saw a 15-percent boost in volume there. Parent company VW's strong performance was somewhat more surprising, though. State media severely criticized the German automaker in March, and customers protested last year for the allegedly poor handling of a recall.