1972 Buick Skylark Vinyl Top Coupe on 2040-cars

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Next-gen LaCrosse, Cascada convertible coming to Buick showrooms in 2016

It's difficult to overstate how significant the post-bankruptcy years have been for General Motors' Buick brand. Arguably the most improved American automaker, Buick has rounded out its range with an excellent compact in the Verano, a well-balanced midsizer in the Regal and a segment-busting mini-CUV, with the Encore. Seeking to keep that momentum going, the next several years will see the brand address a trio of its most obvious issues. First and foremost will be a replacement for the aging LaCrosse, a vehicle whose only bit of attention since its 2009 debut was a very light refresh in 2013. According to Automotive News, we should expect the next-generation LaCrosse to arrive late next year or early in 2016, as a 2016 model. AN expects big design changes, as Buick attempts to further the LaCrosse from its popular platform-mate, the Chevrolet Impala. The changes won't be so radical, though, as to do away with its front-drive architecture, as the latest version of the Epsilon platform will underpin the next LaCrosse. The 3.6-liter V6 is likely to carry on, although a smaller, budget-minded offering is also extremely likely (we'll eat our hat if it's not the 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder from the Regal, Verano and Cadillac CTS et al.). The other issue plaguing Buick's lineup is a lack of a midsize crossover. This is particularly damning for the brand as most of its showrooms are shared with GMC, which boasts its own midsizer in the form of the Terrain. With the upcoming Envision (see here for teasers), that problem should be addressed. Like the LaCrosse, the Envision will likely be a 2016 model. It will debut and launch in China early next year, while we can expect it to arrive stateside later next year, or even early in 2016. For American consumers, both a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and the aforementioned 2.0T could see action in the Envision. Finally, while Buick can boast a pair of vehicles available with manual transmissions, it's still far from what we'd call a brand for fun driving experiences. Of course, one way of solving that problem is with a two-door convertible. Yes, it's extremely likely that the Euro-market Opel Cascada convertible will be sold in the US early in 2016. Whether it keeps the Cascada name is unclear (all in favor of Skylark, say "aye"). Regardless, adding a reasonably priced, relaxed, two-door droptop to the Buick range to fill the space left by the not-so-dearly departed Chrysler 200 Convertible seems like a no brainer.

Next Buick Regal to inherit styling cues from Opel Monza concept

Ever look at a concept car from a foreign auto marque like Opel and wonder what relevance it will have to you as an American consumer? Well, we'll tell you: at least as far as the Opel Monza concept goes, it could mean a lot.
Speaking with Automotive News at the Paris Motor Show, Opel chief Karl-Thomas Neumann said, "You will see the Monza when you see the next Insignia." And the Insignia, we needn't point out, is essentially ported over to American showrooms as the Buick Regal.
The relationship between the Regal and Insignia only stands to grow closer as Opel design chief Mark Adams has also been charged with tightening the bonds between the two automakers positioned on opposite shores of the Atlantic. Adams also intends to imbue the next Insignia with more "premium brand values" in order to "add polish to the brand." Which in turn means that the Regal will be designed to look more upscale, too.

2021 Buick Envision fuel economy revealed

Despite being revealed a few months ago, the 2021 Buick Envision has been lacking in in-depth details. But thanks to the EPA, we have a bit more information on the luxury crossover, specifically fuel economy. And it seems the new model is significantly more efficient than its predecessor. The only powertrain combination we have numbers for at the moment is the turbocharged engine with all-wheel drive. The Envision is expected to have a front-wheel-drive version, too, though an example with the old model's naturally aspirated four-cylinder is probably long gone. As for the turbo, all-wheel-drive Envision, it will get 22 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway, and 25 combined. That's the exact same as the old naturally aspirated, front-drive Envision, and it's an improvement of 2 mpg in town, 4 on the highway and 3 in combined driving over the previous turbo, all-wheel-drive version. As an extra bonus, the EPA notes that the new turbo Envision runs on regular gasoline, rather than premium like the old Envision. So not only will it use less gas, what it uses costs less. We're expecting the new Envision to go on sale early next year. While we know that the Envision will have a turbocharged engine, and the naturally aspirated one is probably discontinued, we don't know which engine it is. It could be an updated version of the old engine, which made 252 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, or it could be the engine from the Cadillac XT4, which makes 230 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The latter seems more likely, since the XT4 gets similar fuel economy. A nine-speed automatic and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive are also planned for the crossover. Related Video: