2000 Buick Century on 2040-cars

Auto blog

GM sees 'strong year' in 2018, then gold in Chevy Silverado for 2019

DETROIT — General Motors said on Tuesday it expects earnings in 2018 to be largely flat compared with 2017, but that profits should pick up pace in 2019 as its revamped line of high-margin pickup trucks hits the U.S. market. The 2018 earnings outlook was above market expectations, sending GM shares up more than 3 percent in premarket trading. "GM had a very good 2017 as we continued to transform our company to be more focused, resilient and profitable," GM Chief Executive Mary Barra said in a statement. "We are positioned for another strong year in 2018 and an even better one in 2019." GM and its Detroit rivals, Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, are bringing on new trucks at a time when overall U.S. new vehicle sales have been falling, but truck sales continue to grow as consumers abandon passenger cars in favor of pickups, SUVs and crossovers. GM on Saturday fired a new round in the battle for profits from one of the U.S. auto industry's most lucrative segments when it showed a new generation of its Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck at the Detroit auto show. The new Silverado, a highlight of the event, is the successor to GM's best-selling vehicle in North America. Sales of the current Silverado rose nearly 2 percent to 585,000 vehicles in 2017. In the coming months, the company will also reveal a revamped GMC Sierra pickup truck. U.S. new vehicle sales fell 2 percent in 2017 after hitting a record high in 2016, and are expected to drop further in 2018 as interest rates rise and more late-model used cars return to dealer lots to compete with new ones. GM said on Tuesday that while it retools a factory in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to make the new pickup trucks, it will shift some production to an Oshawa, Ontario, plant in order to avoid missing sales in a hot market for the vehicles. The No. 1 U.S. automaker said it will record a $7 billion non-cash charge for its fourth-quarter 2017 earnings related to deferred tax assets. GM said it expects capital expenditure in 2018 of around $8.5 billion, about $1 billion of which will go toward funding self-driving car technology. Last week, the company said it is seeking U.S. government approval for a fully autonomous car — one without a steering wheel, brake pedal or accelerator pedal — to enter the automaker's first commercial ride-sharing fleet in 2019. GM said it expects 2017 earnings per share at the high end of its previously forecast range of $6 to $6.50.

Shanghai debuts, Jeep's new Rubicon anniversary rigs | Autoblog Podcast # 777

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Byron Hurd for a recap of the past week's worldwide debuts along with some updates from their recent adventures. They start off discussing the rumors of a new Ford Mustang Raptor and what that means in the context of previous rumors of a Corvette SUV. Then it's time to talk Shanghai, where Polestar, Buick, Volkswagen, Porsche and Lincoln all had big reveals. After that, they segue to Byron's trip to Moab for the 2023 Easter Jeep Safari preview where he drove the AEV Level II Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition. From there, they reminisce about Mustangs in a nod to the nameplate's 59th anniversary, after which they stick to the theme with a sub-$15,000 RWD used-car discussion. Is there anything worth buying in this price bracket in today's economy? Autoblog Podcast # 777 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown ShanghaiPolestar 4 is a Polestar without a rear window 2024 Lincoln Nautilus debuts with big redesign, new hybrid option Volkswagen ID.7 fully revealed as VW's sleek and spacious flagship electric sedan 2024 Porsche Cayenne gets more power, screens, equipment 2024 Buick Envista revealed as a good-looking, quite-affordable crossover 'coupe' News Ford Mustang Raptor off-road coupe rumored for 2026 2025 Chevy Corvette SUV said to start with ICE power, not be EV-only What we're driving 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition: On the trail to six figures 2023 Easter Jeep Safari: The search for the missing pink Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video: Podcasts Rumormill Auto Shanghai Buick Chevrolet Jeep Porsche Volkswagen Crossover SUV Concept Cars Electric Future Vehicles Luxury Off-Road Vehicles Performance Sedan Polestar

2024 Buick Encore GX spy photos reveal Wildcat-based design

After the reveal of the Buick Wildcat concept car, the company made it clear the styling would appear on many upcoming cars. We've seen it on the recently revealed Envista for China and the U.S., and it will appear on the first Electra electric SUV. But apparently the design language will be adapted to current Buick models, too, as evidenced by the spy photos of the new Encore GX shown above. This is clearly a refreshed Encore GX, as it's mostly the same from the A-pillars back. But the whole front end has been given a radical makeover with the Wildcat's basic looks. There's one large grille placed low in the fascia with horizontal slats. It has a pointy nose and angry headlights. It's a much more aggressive design compared to the borderline cute look of the current Encore GX. The only other significant change to the Encore GX, at least from the outside, is the use of the new Buick badge. It has the three new shields placed at the same height and without the circle. At the back, the word "BUICK" is spelled out in chrome lettering below the new badge. Since this car is completely uncovered and in production-ready guise, we're betting the refreshed Encore GX will launch sometime next year as a 2024 model. Being a refresh, it will likely have the same turbo 1.2- and 1.3-liter three-cylinder engines with front- or all-wheel drive and either a CVT or nine-speed automatic transmissions. Related video: Buick Wildcat EV Concept Walkaround