96 Buick Regal Custom on 2040-cars

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2020 Buick LaCrosse images leaked on Chinese website

Buick is planning a refreshed version of its LaCrosse full-size sedan for the Chinese market, judging by these photos discovered by the site Auto Verdict on a Chinese government site used to certify upcoming new models. We can only see exterior cosmetic changes, but they bring the LaCrosse more in line with the styling of the new Regal and Enclave models, leading to speculation that it won't be long until the changes show up in the U.S. The front three-quarters photo shows off a redesigned front fascia, with slimmed-down headlights that are now tied to the grille instead of set apart by body-color surround, thanks to some new chrome treatment. There's also a chrome wing on the grille, similar to what's seen on the 2019 Enclave and new Regal. The lower front fascia is also different, with new L-shaped fog lamps. On the rear, there's a new chrome wing connecting and intersecting the taillights and surrounding the badge. There's no word about any interior changes, but they'd likely be minor in keeping with the exterior updates. Buick most recently debuted a 2019 LaCrosse Sport Touring version, while a mild hybrid model arrived for 2018. China, of course, has become Buick's largest market, but the picture is less rosy stateside amid dimming prospects for sedans, as consumers flock to crossovers and SUVs. In the third quarter, U.S. sales of the LaCrosse fell 31.1 percent from the prior-year period. Between January and the end of September, GM had sold 13,409, which was a decline of 14.2 percent. Its full-year 2017 sales totaled 20,161, which was down almost 27 percent from 2016. For perspective, Buick sold more than twice that number — 42,035 — as recently as 2015. The current generation launched in 2017. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2020 Buick LaCrosse China Image Credit: Buick Design/Style Buick Luxury Sedan

Best and worst car brands of 2022 according to Consumer Reports

It's that time again, Consumer Reports this morning lifting the curtain on its 2022 Annual Car Brand rankings and its 10 Top Picks in the car, crossover, and truck category. Drumroll, please: This year, Subaru climbs two spots to claim the winner's circle, having come third the last two years. Last year, Mazda climbed three spots from 2020 to take the crown. This year, Mazda slipped to second, BMW taking the last spot on the podium, also a one-spot drop from 2021. Six automakers in the top 10 hailed from Japan, which is one more than last year, and five luxury makers occupied the top 10, which is two more than last year. And South Korean representation didn't crack the top this year, after Hyundai managed tenth last year. The seven makes after BMW are: Honda, Lexus, Audi, Porsche, Mini, Toyota, and Infiniti.  The magazine and testing concern says its Brand Report Card "[reveals] which automakers are producing the most well-performing, safe, and reliable vehicles based on CR’s independent testing and member surveys," and that "Brands that rise to the top tend to have the most consistent performance across their model lineups." The domestics also took steps back among the 32 OEMs ranked on the 2022 card. Chrysler and Buick were the domestic carmakers who made last year's top 10 in eighth and ninth, respectively. This year, Buick dropped to eleventh, Chrysler to thirteenth. Dodge went from fourteenth to sixteenth. CR continues to ding Tesla's yoke steerer, the not-exactly-natural handhold responsible for the electric carmaker going from sixteenth last year to twenty-third this year.

Opel did a great job on the 2018 Buick Regal

Ladies and gentlemen, the 2018 Buick Regal. The car you see is actually the Opel Insignia Grand Sport, but General Motors will bring it to the United States as the next-generation Regal virtually unchanged. The Insignia, revealed Wednesday by Opel, gets a sleek new design punched up with LED lights and sweeping proportions meant to conjure a fastback silhouette. It will debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show and launch next year in Europe. Expect the Regal to go on sale in the middle of 2017 in the US. The Opel-Buick relationship has been tight in the last decade, with the outgoing Regal earning strong praise for its German-tuned chassis and premium appearance. While Buick has been the recipient of much of Opel's work, the Insignia is now borrowing one of Buick's great names: Grand Sport. View 12 Photos Opel points to the Monza concept as the source of inspiration for the Insignia, though Buick will undoubtedly say the Avenir concept was the Regal's creative stimulus. Some think it looks like a Mazda. Mark Adams, vice president of GM Design Europe also oversees the automaker's global styling operations. "Its design combines flowing lines and subtle surfaces with crisp, precise lines to even exaggerate its dramatic proportions: it looks longer, lower, and wider than it actually is, and it definitely looks upscale," he said in statement. Expect similar thoughts for the Regal. Opel is also working on an Insignia wagon, which we've captured in spy photos before. We've also heard whispers that it will come to the US market with a Regal badge. Opel's announcement previews many of the details we'll see in the new Regal. Based on a new chassis, the Insignia is 386 pounds lighter than the previous car. The wheelbase is 3.62 inches longer and the track is .43 inches wider. Opel tapered the front and rear overhangs, so there's only a slight gain in overall length. The interior has more room, Opel says, and features a touchscreen with GM's IntelliLink system. The car will also have several drive modes, which tailor the chassis, throttle response, and shifting dynamics. Other technologies includes a head-up display, 360-degree camera, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and cross-traffic alert. The Insignia will offer an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive with torque-vectoring. We expect both to come to the US market. Meanwhile, another GM brand, Vauxhall, unveiled the Vauxhall Insignia for the British market.