Not long ago, Buick released the behind-the-scenes video of its Enclave commercial with Marisa Miller, and now the supermodel's 30-second spot has begun airing. Note: This is a spot for the current Enclave, not the refreshed 2013 model the debuted during April's New York Auto Show.
The Sports Illustrated staple and lingerie model might just be the first person ever to wear a swimsuit in a Buick ad. We could say more about it, but that would delay you from watching Ms. Miller and the Enclave in action. So just scroll down and check out the video, why don't you.
Continue reading Buick begins airing Marisa Miller Enclave ad
Buick wants you to know that the 2013 Enclave is smart and sexy and has enlisted the aid of Marissa Miller to help get the point across. The redesigned crossover seems more distracting than anything when Miller's in the picture, but we'll assume that's in a good way. And since we don't expect she comes with the car, buyers should be able to focus on the smart and sexy part.
To see the video of the Enclave and Miller behind the scenes, you know where to go.
Continue reading Buick takes us behind the scenes with Marisa Miller
Autoblog reader Ed sent us this screen shot from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, showing that General Motors has apparently trademarked the name Riviera for use on automobiles. It's no secret that the Riviera name resonates well with anyone familiar with Buick's history, and since the production coupe's death in 1999, the name Riviera has only been resurrected once for the 2007 concept car you see here.
So, why is GM registering the Riviera name again? Your guess is as good as ours. As GM Inside News points out, it could be nothing - automakers will, from time to time, trademark a host of words or alphanumeric sequences (Ford, for example, has trademarked everything from MKA to MKZ for potential Lincoln use). But then again, this isn't the first (or second, or third) time that we've heard rumors about Buick potentially adding a coupe to its lineup, and the Riviera name would certainly be appropriate.
Baby Buick Makes Quiet Case As An Almost-Luxury Car
It's no secret that Buick is one of the most prominent automakers in China, but the vehicle that's leading the charge in the People's Republic may come as a surprise. The top-selling car in the world's largest auto market last year was the Buick Excelle, a C-segment sedan that just so happens also to be a version of the 2012 Buick Verano that's now on sale here in the United States.
The Verano has only been on sale here for a few months, but as you might expect, U.S. buyers aren't quite as excited about the latest Buick offering as our Chinese counterparts, at least not in the early going. March sales came in at a modest 2,497 units (the Excelle family scored 23,179 April sales in China), making the Verano the least-purchased Buick for that month, while April's 2,989 units were just enough to beat the Regal in Buick's sales portfolio. Do Chinese buyers know something that we don't, or does the littlest Buick just need time to win us over?
Toyota Supra successor, Nissan Juke-R, Cadillac ATS pricing, GM Europe restructuring, Prius PHEV sales
Episode #281 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Chris, Dan, and Zach chat about the fresh rumors of a new Toyota Supra, the Nissan Juke-R heading for (very) limited production, Cadillac ATS pricing, GM Europe headed for another restructuring, and sales of the Toyota Prius PHEV. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #281:
Topics:
Toyota Supra successor rumors
Nissan Juke-R headed for limited production
General Motors Europe restructuring... again
Toyota Prius über-alles
In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Ford Flex SEL
2012 Buick Enclave
Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman
Runtime: 01:19:48
Get the podcast
[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
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General Motors has announced a recall of certain 2011 and 2012 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia models for wipers that may fail under heavy snow. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, snow or ice buildup may restrict the wiper movement, which may in turn lead to the wiper arm loosening from the vehicle. The ensuing reduced visibility could increase the risk of an accident. The recall only covers models currently registered in heavy snow states - about 50,000 units - including Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware and Idaho, among others. The full list may be found in the recall report after the jump.
GM is expected to begin notifying owners on Monday, April 16, and dealers will address the issue free of charge. In what sounds like one of the simpler and quicker recall fixes we can remember, dealer technicians will tighten the wiper arm nuts to prevent the wiper arms from becoming inoperable. Click past the jump for the full recall notice.
Continue reading GM wipes out with recall of 50,000 Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave crossovers
It's no secret that the Buick Regal is an Americanized version of the Opel Insignia, and Buick even uses this fact to try and persuade the public that the car is a European sport sedan rather than just a way to try and make some profit from the black-ink-challenged Opel unit. The Opel Insignia is headed for a mid-cycle facelift very soon, and camoflaged test cars have been snagged by spy photographers.
While the models in the photographs are a European-spec hatchback and a wagon, there's clearly a new grille in the works, and the headlights and tail lamps will be changed, plus some other minor nips/tucks. The Insignia will debut the changes first, and we'd expect the Regal to pick them up soon after.
The Chevrolet Traverse isn't the only grandiose crossover from General Motors to get the refresh treatment at the 2012 New York Auto Show. Buick also unveiled a face-lifted version of its 2013 Enclave today.
Though the tweaks appear slight at first blush, the vehicle boasts an all-new front fascia with a redesigned grille and black-chrome accents, contoured headlamps and a more aggressive hood up front. LED daytime running lights are standard equipment, as are the LED tail lamps out back. A revised rear fascia wraps up the changes out back.
Indoors, designers threw in LED ambient lighting as well as a smattering of soft-touch materials across the dash and door panels. The cabin can be swaddled in a total of four interior combinations with associated "complimenting" wood tones. The center stack has also been reworked with touch-capacitive controls. Here's hoping GM has better luck with the technology than what's found on various Ford vehicles. Keep scrolling for the full press release.
Continue reading 2013 Buick Enclave does a slightly different song and dance
The Enclave has been a boon for Buick since it arrived in 2007, with impressive sales complemented by profitable transaction prices. And even though the big Buick has gone without a refresh since its debut, the Enclave managed its best year ever in 2011, with a segment-leading 58,000 units sold.
Buick is hoping to stretch that streak with the Enclave's first refresh for 2013. The tweaked three-row crossover will receive several updates, starting with a new front fascia that includes a black chrome waterfall grille and redesigned hood. The front also includes a new headlight design with standard Xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights. Out back, the 2013 Enclave features new LED taillights and a fresh design with integrated exhaust outlets.
Overall, the exterior redesign is evolutionary, but more dramatic changes await inside. The Enclave's cabin was fast becoming outdated, but Buick upped its game with a fresh dash that includes more modern-looking materials and contemporary center stack. There are also tasteful wood treatments, a smattering of chrome accents and attractive stitching throughout. The cabin also features blue LED ambient lighting that accentuates the size of this voluminous crossover.
The 2013 Enclave will also inherit Buick's IntelliLink infotainment system, which offers a brilliant LCD and interactivity with smart phones via Bluetooth and USB connections. The Enclave also features tri-zone climate control and an industry-first front center airbag for additional crash protection.
Buick engineers hasn't made any changes to the tried-and-true 3.6-liter V6 or the six-speed automatic, but the ride and handling setup has been given a bit of love. The front and rear dampers were revised for a smoother ride, with adjustments that also ensure big bumps don't loosen your fillings. The ride has also received more "Quiet Tuning," (read: insulation) which keeps even more unwanted road noise out of the re-imagined cabin than before.
The 2013 Buick Enclave will make its official debut at the New York Auto Show tomorrow. Scroll down to read over the press release from Buick and peruse official high-resolution images in the gallery above.
Continue reading 2013 Buick Enclave debuts with new look over same drivetrain
Congratulations are in order for Buick after its new Verano earned top scores in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests. This now means that every new Buick model is on the Institute's Top Safety Pick list.
The Verano's safety credentials weren't really in question though, since the Chevy Cruze with which it shares a platform also made the Top Safety Pick list.
"When we started the vehicle development of Buick Verano, we had a comprehensive safety strategy that enabled us to achieve the highest safety rating and to be among the best safety performers in the segment," said Sigit Santosa, General Motors' Engineering Group Manager of Vehicle Safety Performance Integration.
Scroll down to read GM's official press releas on the Verano's ratings. There's a video of the new Buick compact being smashed up, as well.
Continue reading Verano completes Buick sweep of IIHS Top Safety Pick awards [w/video]
Overall, the exterior redesign is evolutionary, but more dramatic changes await inside. The Enclave's cabin was fast becoming outdated, but Buick upped its game with a fresh dash that includes more modern-looking materials and contemporary center stack. There are also tasteful wood treatments, a smattering of chrome accents and attractive stitching throughout. The cabin also features blue LED ambient lighting that accentuates the size of this voluminous crossover.