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2018 Buick Enclave slims down for spy shots

Most vehicles are refreshed every five years or so. New technology and styling is required to keep up with the latest trends. Although this cycle is common, there are some vehicles, like the Buick Enclave, that seem to stick around far past their expiration date. We now have spy shots of what appears to be the nine-year old Enclave's replacement. Although the vehicle in the photos is completely covered in camouflage, we can make out the new Buick family grill. There are a set of LED running lights up front and what appear to be a location for foglights toward the bottom. The camo covering is cut in places to allow gaps for sensors, presumably for parking and other driver aids. Out back, the rectangular taillights don't appear to be production ready. The whole rear, especially the glass, looks smaller than the outgoing model, though it is difficult to properly tell through the camouflage. The rear bumper has wide cuts for the dual exhaust pipes, and again the camo has cutouts for sensors. The side profile reveals the biggest change with the new Enclave. The current version shares a platform with the Chevrolet Traverse and the original GMC Acadia, some of the largest vehicles on the market. The all-new 2017 Acadia scaled down in order to compete against midsize crossovers and now has more in common with the smaller, Chinese-built Buick Envision. That doesn't mean the Enclave and Acadia are entirely separate. Both the Enclave and upcoming Traverse will ride on a stretched version of the Acadia platform. The general profile remains the same, but it's apparent that the vehicle in these photos is longer than the new GMC. Most other details are speculation. The Enclave will most likely arrive with GM's 3.6 liter V6. With the introduction of the Envision, the Enclave is expected to move upmarket to compete against the Acura MDX and Volvo XC90. Because of the slightly narrower shape, passenger seating is expected to fall to seven. The new crossover will probably lose a bit of weight with the redesign. The new Buick is expected to debut next year as a 2018 model. Look for the reveal of the Chevrolet Traverse replacement as well. Related Video: Featured Gallery Buick Enclave Spy Shots View 20 Photos Spy Photos Buick Crossover

The 2020 Buick LaCrosse we won't get looks exceptional

GM is killing off the Buick LaCrosse in the United States after the 2019 model year, but elsewhere it lives on. Buried by all the Geneva news this week, GM quietly took the wraps off a 2020 Buick LaCrosse facelift for China. It only makes sense to keep selling the big Buick in the popular Chinese market (now Buick's largest), but we're a tad jealous of what we can't have stateside. The changes Buick has implemented make the LaCrosse into a far more handsome option. Both the front and rear get massaged here. A new horizontal patterned grille, slimmer headlights with a neat LED design, plus new lower bumper surround all work together to provide a more upscale look. The view out back is an even larger departure from the old and somewhat awkward rear end on the 2019 LaCrosse. Smaller, flowing taillights mesh well with the chrome strip on the trunk lid, then dual exhaust outlets offer a sporty flair to the squat rear end. The Buick badge looks cohesive with the look as a whole now, instead of just chilling out alone on the expansive trunk lid. An updated powertrain package goes along with the new looks, too. GM is snagging its new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder LSY engine it uses in the Cadillac XT4 for duty here. It makes 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to GM's nine-speed automatic transmission. China will be the only market to see this generation of LaCrosse as GM plans to exclusively produce it in its Shanghai facility. The Detroit-Hamtramck plant that previously made it for all North American markets was among those facilities GM announced would close, bringing with it the LaCrosse and other vehicles. Related video:

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.