Over 249,000 SUVs are being recalled for a possible fire risk with the window and door lock switches for vehicles sold or registered in 20 states and Washington, D.C. where salt and other chemicals are used to clear roads in the winter.

Arriving at dealerships this November, the 2013 Buick Verano Turbo is aimed at entry-level luxury sport sedans, though it might miss the mark in some segments. 

Buick‘s IntelliLink infotainment system, which debuted on the 2012 Verano, is now being made standard equipment for every single model year 2013 Buick vehicle.

Toyota has announced its sales figures for the first half of 2012, and the numbers look like Toyota will be able to beat out  GM and Volkswagen in sales for 2012. In the first six months of this year the Japanese automaker sold 4.97 million vehicles.

Earlier last month, Buick unveiled its 2013 Verano Turbo model, sporting a new 2.0-liter, turbo-four with 250-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.

Black Air, a documentary on the Buick Grand National, will be released on December 11, 2012; but those attending the Buick Performance Group’s Nationals on August 4 will see a sneak preview of the flick.

Currently available on three models, GM’s eAssist technology is a product and packaging gamble the automaker has made that does not appear to be paying off. While the first two Buick models to receive the mild-hybrid system received modest praise, the new Chevy Malibu Eco has drawn so much criticism it was recently named “the most disliked vehicle of 2012” according to Fortune magazine.

The impact of that title, not to mention all the bad press that’s led up to it, can’t be understated. The reputation, and sales, of an entire lifecycle of Malibu models (the Malibu being one of GM’s largest volume products) is hanging in the balance.

The latest in Buick’s series of celebrity-sponsored comedic commercials will air next Wednesday starring NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, but we’ve got a sneak peek for you today.

Turbocharged vehicles are quickly becoming the answer to having a fuel-efficient vehicle, with exciting performance. They seem to all be geared towards the sensible enthusiast, offering sporty dynamics, while still getting solid fuel efficiency. 

Even though they’ve been around for well over a decade now, hybrids still have that ‘new technology’ feel. Consumers continue to be apprehensive to hybrid technology and there’s plenty of misinformation surrounding it.

Buick will introduce new premium features to its Verano compact luxury sedan in 2013, perhaps in an effort to remain competitive against the more youthful Acura ILX. 

Buick recently released detailed specifications on the surprisingly powerful Verano Turbo. Along with the 250 hp engine is the continued option of a six-speed manual transmission.

Regarded as a simplified and comprehensive car scoring site, TotalCarScore.com released its list of the “Top 10 Best Car Brands” for 2012 today.

Buick’s new compact premium Verano has just received a boost in the performance department, with the arrival of the new Verano Turbo for 2013 sporting a 2.o-liter turbocharged direct-injection 4-cylinder engine delivering 250 hp.

Weeks after it was discovered that General Motors had filed for trademarks on the Riviera badge, two other iconic Buick nameplates also appear to be resurrected: the GNX and Grand National.

About 15 years ago when this author began to ride motorcycles, we were inundated with advice from experienced riders on surviving riding out on the street. Advice ranged from watching out for anyone using a cell phone or eating in a car, to avoiding riding behind semi trucks that could shred a tire or block a rider’s view of road debris, etc. And we were cautioned to never follow a Buick, because the old man or blue haired granny driving it would be traveling 10 mph slower than the posted speed limit, have their right turn signal on for miles and then make a left turn with no warning.

We’ve heard plenty of stories of ‘old’ turbo Buick Regals, ones with solid rear axles and blown V6s hitting high speeds, but 162 mph from a front-drive four-banger?

Sports Illustrated swimsuit girl, lingerie model and “attractiveness expert” Marissa Miller is appearing in a commercial for the 2012 Buick Enclave, starting this week. 

Every car, whether it has a big V8 engine or an electric motor powering the wheels, is being equipped with fuel saving technologies.

Recall variable-valve timing. Introduced on the Acura NSX, and at one time a revolutionary technology, now practically all cars have some form of VVT. Now more technologies are being introduced as innovations for saving fuel. Let’s take a look at some of the more important and popular features being introduced on new models; many of which will soon be as prevalent as variable valve timing.

Buick is the latest brand to leave a breadcrumb trail for its future products by filing for a tradermark on May 3 to cover its Riviera moniker. While that doesn’t prove anything on its own, the company isn’t known for flippantly filing for trademarks on the off chance they might one day come true.

After recent ads featuring Ving Rhames and Shaquille O’Neal, Buick is moving from strength to sexiness in its latest ad, employing the talents of supermodel Marisa Miller.

Known for his deep voice, striking figure and diverse talent, actor Ving Rhames is turning his attention to Buick in a new commercial campaign. 

Buick has gained a reputation for being a car meant for the elderly, but the brand is slowly changing its image to be more youth oriented.

Remember the last Buick Skylark? General Motors hopes not, but just in case it’s trying to erase those memories with the all-new Verano.

General Motors is recalling 50,001 SUVs, specifically from states where dealing with snow is regular, because the wiper arm may slowly loosen and become inoperative. 

The vehicles affected are certain model year 2011-2012 GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enlcave. All owners will be notified, and your local GM dealer will fix the issue, free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin on April 16, 2012. For more information you can contact the NHTSA safety hotline at  1-888-327-4236.

For a list of all States affected, see below.

The Buick Enclave is the best selling three row luxury crossover in the business, and today the updated model was fully revealed to us at the 2012 New York Auto Show.

The exterior of the vehicle gains a new slightly more sculpted design as well as LED daytime running light and LED taillights.  An all new front fascia, 19-inch or 20-inch wheels, new hood and grille and monochromatic color scheme with chrome highlights round out the new look of the vehicle.

All new ice blue LED interior cabin lighting is one of the features which adds to the Buicks premium feel. Other interior uprgades include soft touch materials with live stitching, new interior color combinations with wooden accents and and all new center stack. The stack will be include the new IntelliLink infotainment system which outfits the vehicle with the latest in technology, including Bluetooth connectivity, USB and Aux in ports, the capability to handle smart phone apps and navigation among others.

At least that’s the news according to statistics released by the two American automakers. Chrysler said it sold 34 percent more vehicles this March, versus the same period last year, delivering some 161,381 cars and trucks, versus 121,730 in March 2011.

The  Buick Enclave has been a great seller for the company, helping it beat out competitors from Acura, Audi and Lincoln. Before its 2012  New York Auto Show debut, Buick is showing off the latest chapter in its Enclave success story.

Now that the legendary Shaquille O’Neal has retired from playing NBA basketball, the giant has become a natural fit for television commercials. His latest endorsement — the Buick LaCrosse which shows it has plenty of room even for a giant like Shaq.

The commercial, titled the “Oh Effect”, was shot in Pasadena, Calif. and has Shaq and his 325-lb frame highlighting what very few might know about the Buick LaCrosse. Features of the vehicle include its 36-mpg highway fuel economy courtesy of eAssist, a “light electrification” system which utilizes a lithium-ion battery system and electric motor-generator to enable regenerative braking capability and of course, its roominess.

As Shaq says in the commercial, he enjoys the Buick LaCrosse because he hes “shoes that are bigger than a hybrid…and are more stylish.”

The ad was directed by the infamous Erich Joiner whose past creations include the “Got Milk?” campaign. The Buick LaCrosse commercials starring Shaq will air during the NCAA Final Four tournament.

Watch a behind-the-scenes on the new Buick LaCrosse ad after the break.

In today’s safety conscious world, having a vehicle earn “Top Pick” status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a big deal for many automakers, especially when it’s not just one car, but the entire brand’s lineup. 

Buick has already been awarded IIHS top safety picks for its LaCrosse and Regal sedans, plus the Enclave crossover and now the Verano compact sedan, which was recently bestowed with the same award. That means each model in the current 2012 Buick lineup has been awarded Top Pick status, with the exceptions of the Encore compact crossover, since it hasn’t hit the market yet.

According to IIHS president Adrian Lund the results indicate that “Buick is building state-of-the-art crash protection into every model from the ground up. This means the best overall protection in the most common kinds of crashes, along with standard electronic stability control for helping drivers to stay out of many crashes to begin with.”

Among the key features that have enabled current Buicks to enjoy Top Pick safety status, include the use of high strength steel in the vehicle body structure, ABS and panic braking technology, collapsible pedals, GM’s Stabilitrak dynamic control system and a plethora of airbags – the Verano alone has 10 of them.

Lund’s sentiments are echoed by Jack R. Nerad, veteran auto journalist and editorial director of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com website, who stated in response to the Top Safety pick awards that “Buick buyers want to make certain that any vehicle they buy has state-of-the-art safety features. With this in mind, Buick engineers have incorporated an unprecedented combination of safety systems to more than address that need.”

Interestingly, the newest IIHS Top Pick Buick, the Verano, was also named by kbb.com as one of it’s “Ten Best sedans under $25,000.” Clearly it seems that Buick is indeed back.

Watch the IIHS Verano crash test below.

The Buick Enclave is getting a makeover for 2013, and to preview what we will see next week at the 2012 New York Auto Show, GM Inside News has released an interior photo of the vehicle. 

In 1966, Buick introduced its second generation Riviera, America’s take on the personal luxury car. Even though the Riviera died a silent death in 1999, early models of the vehicle were highly praised by automotive journalists and writers.

Buick is on a mission to redefine itself as a modern luxury car maker and is introducing what the company calls “Experience Buick” as a part of that campaign.

J.D. Power and Associates’ annual Customer Service Index Study offers crucial automotive information for consumers and the latest results are out.

Lexus tops the list  this year in the luxury segment while MINI made the top spot for mass market brands.

J.D. Power statistics are based on responses from over 84,000 new vehicle owners that rate dealer service performance during the first three years of vehicle ownership. Five facets of customer service are measured in the study: service quality, service initiation,  service advisor, service facility and vehicle pick-up. The responses are gathered from around the world to avoid regional bias, with statistics from 16 countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany and India.

The study is divided into two categories: luxury brands and mass market brands.

For the luxury brands segment,  Lexus was rated with the best customer service for the fourth consecutive year, scoring 861 points of a possible 1000. The average luxury brand CSI ranking score was 835. Rounding out the top five top brands, from second to fifth are Cadillac, Jaguar, Acura and Porsche.

In the mass market segment, MINI took the top spot with an overall CSI ranking score of 809 where the average score for all automakers in the mass market segment was 778. While the company didn’t win overall,  GM dominated the top five mass market brands. From second to fifth they are Buick, GMC, Chevrolet and Hyundai.

Overall, J.D. Power reports that almost every brand has improved on the Customer Service Index scale in 2012, with 28 of the the 33 eligible brands improving their score. A leading factor in overall attitudes towards customer service is the change from less repair work to more maintenance that is happening at dealers thanks to better built cars, J.D. power says.

In 2012 72 percent of vehicle owners say that their latest dealer encounter was for routine maintenance and not repair work, a 9 percent increase from 2011.

Review the J.D. Power CSI charts below for a list of all car manufacturers.

While it’s probably not the most dangerous issue to merit a recall, General Motors will fix defective parking lights in some 2012 Buick Regals. 

Forget about the Geneva Motor Show for a minute. Ignore the sexy exotic cars, the allure, the mystique. Buick is teasing the new Enclave, set to debut at the New York Auto Show on April 4.

Street Legal Performance (SLP), the boys known for beefing up muscle cars, are hatching a plan to bring the Grand National nameplate back to Buick.

Announcing its 2011 financial results, General Motors has reported record profits of $7.6 billion, an incredible 62 percent increase from last year. Its previous record was $6.7 billion in 1997.

Posting respectable 2011 sales numbers, the quietly successful Buick Regal outsold the Audi A4, Lexus IS250 and Acura TSX last year. For 2013, the Buick Regal has received some drivetrain upgrades. First, the performance trim Buick Regal GS will receive an automatic transmission. Second, the 2013 Regal will possess eAssist technology as standard.

When it comes to cars, what defines collectibility? In many cases it’s often a vehicle that breaks the mold, or one that delivers more style and sizzle compared to its more pedestrian counterparts.

More than 1,900 GMC and Buick dealerships are getting a face-lift by 2013, but it’s about more than just a look. It’s also about a new atmosphere that enhances the customer experience.

Classic car insurance company Hagerty has just released its annual list of vehicles that it expects will become the collector cars of the future. The list of “affordable” collector cars is capped at $100,000 and comes on the heels of the annual Scottsdale collector car auction week.

When GM sold 9.03 million vehicles globally to become the world’s largest automaker of 2011, a great deal of the American automaker’s success came down to its dominant popularity in the Chinese market.

Buick has launched an app for iOS and Android smartphones to help raise MPG awareness. A trio of eAssist Fuel Efficiency smartphone games are packaged into a single app that’s now available to download for free and offers a fun way to hone your driving techniques in order to maximize fuel economy.

The Rasumssens won’t be offended if you tell them they have a nice set of headlights. That’s because they’re combining their passion for classic cars and supporting breast cancer research by bringing their “Buick for the Breasts” to this year’s O’Reilly Grand National Roadster Show.

In North America, Buick is trying hard to shed its blue-rinse, AARP image. In China, however, the brand’s status is very much revered. In fact, to own a Buick in many aspects, is to know that you’ve arrived.

In 1989, Rick Moranis played a nerdy dad who accidentally downsized his children to an insect scale in Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. He probably wouldn’t have believed it if someone told him that 23 years later automakers would be doing the same thing to their cars.

Buick has achieved two straight years of growth and the brand is looking to keep up the momentum, targeting new buyers with unconventional new products. The Enclave SUV kicked-off the new Buick and it’s been a smash success, and even near the end of its product cycle continues to be the brand’s best seller. So if one crossover is a good idea, two must be better… right?

Looking like a jacked-up hatchback, Buick has unveiled its newest model today at the Detroit Auto Show today. Called the Encore, it’s part of the GM premium brand’s plan to move further down-market in search of added sales – an area it’s actually been very strong in recently with two full years of gains.

We’re 75 percent there! Well not really, you can probably guess what’s hiding behind the last square in Buick‘s little puzzle-style picture of their Encore small SUV. In case you’re missing the joke, it’s a wheel.

Before the veil is fully lifted off this new model, Buick is using the same trick many other car companies have used, by releasing styling details one piece at a time. Well now they have shown us a lot more than before, by showing the entire greenhouse of the vehicle.

Chevrolet‘s Cruze conundrum is causing collateral damage for Buick and continuing longer than expected.

Making its way on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick for 2012 is the all-new Buick Verano. This raises General Motors IIHS Top Safety Pick award count to 14 in 2012 – not too shabby.

General Motors is targeting a safety issue with new equipment that until now has been unaddressed.

Ward’s Auto released their 10 Best Engines List for 2012 today, and no surprise here but direct-injection and turbocharging – the two big trends for today’s automotive era – are heavily represented.

Amid news of an introduction for both the Cadillac ATS and Chevrolet Sonic RS at this year’s 2012 North American International Auto Show comes news of a third vehicle – a Buick crossover – that will also make its debut.

After growing rumors that the Buick Regal GS might be joined by a larger sporty sibling, GM has finally gone on the record and quashed any notion of a LaCrosse Gran Sport model.

Over the past few decades, one of the main criticisms that could be made against Buick models is that they were quasi-luxury cars, never quite rising to the status of a the Germans or Japanese. Buick now seems ready to raise the bar, with the debut of the LaCrosse GL Concept at the LA Auto Show.

There may still be two months to go, but General Motors is all but certain to reclaim the title of World’s Largest Automaker for 2011. GM last held claim to producing the most vehicles back in 2007, and for the 76 years before that, before being ousted by Toyota in 2008. Toyota has since retained that position for two more years, with Volkswagen emerging onto the scene to be a major player.

Over the past few decades, one of the main criticisms that could be made against Buick models is that they were quasi-luxury, never quite rising to the status of a the Germans or Japanese. While this is partly so as not to complete with Cadillac, Buick now seems ready to raise the bar, with the planned debut of the LaCrosse GL Concept at the LA Auto Show next week.