Sharp 2003 Buick Regal Ls Leather, Heated Seats, Cd & Sunroof on 2040-cars

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1969 Chevrolet Chevelle vs 1987 Buick GNX in Generation Gap showdown

Generation Gap generally tries to adhere to a theme for each episode, and for the final video from the Lingenfelter collection, the series might have its best idea yet - limited-production muscle cars from General Motors.
On one side you get a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle COPO, and it's an absolute sleeper. Other than the SS wheels, this classic coupe looks practically bone stock, at least until the engine fires up. Under the hood is a 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 making a claimed 425 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. This was the sole year for the COPO package on the Chevelle, and Chevy only made about 323 of them.
The Chevelle's challenger is almost as rare and arguably just as cool. The 1987 Buick Grand National GNX looks just as mean today as when new. It eschews a traditional muscular V8 in favor of a 3.8-liter turbo V6 making a claimed 276 hp and 360 lb-ft, although that number is supposedly a bit underrated. Also, just 547 examples of the GNX version were ever built making it quite a collector's item too.

Buick confirms 2017 Encore for New York Auto Show

Buick will unveil the refreshed 2017 Encore at the New York Auto Show in March, company spokesperson Stuart Fowle tells Autoblog. The brand isn't ready to divulge info about the updated compact crossover, but a recent revision to the Encore's European platform-mate, the Opel Mokka (above), might provide hints about what to expect. "While we have no additional details to announce, we're excited to confirm that media and customers will see the new 2017 Encore at next month's New York Auto Show. The Encore joins the Cascada convertible, Envision crossover, and LaCrosse sedan as the fourth new product arriving in Buick showrooms this year," Fowle said to Autoblog. Expect the 2017 Encore to have its own twist on the the Mokka's (now called the Mokka X) exterior styling, and spy shots hint the Buick has a new front end with a smaller grille. The Encore could benefit from the Opel's redesigned dashboard, which integrates the infotainment system into the center stack. It's a very attractive change, and we hope to see the switch in the US. The Mokka X also gets improved safety tech. The German compact CUV now sports adaptive LED headlights that adjust to traffic. US law doesn't allow these intelligent parts, but the Encore might get dumber LED lights. The Opel's improved front-mounted camera also increases the traffic sign detection rate. The Mokka X is available with the updated powertrain from the Encore Sport Touring, so there might not be any engine upgrades for the Buick. Buick needs to keep the Encore fresh, as the compact CUV is the brand's best selling model. It delivered 67,549 of them in 2015, a 38.2-percent jump over the previous year. The popularity continued into January 2016 with 4,920 deliveries – up 42 percent. Related Video:

5 reasons why GM is cutting jobs, closing plants in a healthy economy

DETROIT — Even though unemployment is low, the economy is growing and U.S. auto sales are near historic highs, General Motors is cutting thousands of jobs in a major restructuring aimed at generating cash to spend on innovation. It's the new reality for automakers that are faced with the present cost of designing gas-powered cars and trucks that appeal to buyers now while at the same time preparing for a future world of electric and autonomous vehicles. GM announced Monday that it will cut as many as 14,000 workers in North America and put five plants up for possible closure as it abandons many of its car models and restructures to focus more on autonomous and electric vehicles. The reductions could amount to as much as 8 percent of GM's global workforce of 180,000 employees. The cuts mark GM's first major downsizing since shedding thousands of jobs in the Great Recession. The company also said it will stop operating two additional factories outside North America by the end of next year. The move to make GM get leaner before the next downturn likely will be followed by Ford Motor Co., which also has struggled to keep one foot in the present and another in an ambiguous future of new mobility. Ford has been slower to react, but says it will lay off an unspecified number of white-collar workers as it exits much of the car market in favor of trucks and SUVs, some of them powered by batteries. Here's a rundown of the reasons behind the cuts: Coding, not combustion CEO Mary Barra said as cars and trucks become more complex, GM will need more computer coders but fewer engineers who work on internal combustion engines. "The vehicle has become much more software-oriented" with millions of lines of code, she said. "We still need many technical resources in the company." Shedding sedans The restructuring also reflects changing North American auto markets as manufacturers continue to shift away from cars toward SUVs and trucks. In October, almost 65 percent of new vehicles sold in the U.S. were trucks or SUVs. That figure was about 50 percent cars just five years ago. GM is shedding cars largely because it doesn't make money on them, Citi analyst Itay Michaeli wrote in a note to investors. "We estimate sedans operate at a significant loss, hence the need for classic restructuring," he wrote. The reduction includes about 8,000 white-collar employees, or 15 percent of GM's North American white-collar workforce. Some will take buyouts while others will be laid off.