1967 Buick Skylark Super Nice All Original Car on 2040-cars

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Buick Velite 6 MAV is the brand's first all-electric vehicle

Buick is making a big splash at the 2019 Shanghai Motor Show. It just debuted the brand's first all-electric vehicle, dubbed the Velite 6 MAV, which is a production version of the concept we saw a year ago. The vehicle is reportedly built on a new platform GM developed with China's SAIC and will be sold in China. This platform uses a "new-generation pure electric drive system," but it's not based on the new electric vehicle platform GM said is going to underpin new electric cars in the U.S. starting in 2021. Consumers may not want it here anyways. The electric motor makes 114 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. It has a "city" electric driving range of 187 miles, but Buick doesn't quote any numbers as they would pertain to our EPA rating system. That's plenty of range for most folks, but the lack of power would be a tough sell here. Buick calls this thing an MAV, which stands for multi-activity vehicle. It's tough to put a car type on it, because it borrows elements from several different styles. We'll just distill it to a mash-up between a wagon and a crossover, sort of like the Subaru Outback. At least it appears utilitarian. Buick says that it costs about $25,000 after all the Chinese government subsidies for an electric vehicle have been applied. The goal here is to give the Buick-hungry Chinese market an electric option, and this doesn't look half bad. GM is even entering into a car-sharing venture to deploy 5,000 Velite 6s with EVCARD (car sharing company) into strategic areas. Those will reportedly be put into operation on April 28 this year.

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:

GM laying off 500 workers to slow Chevy Sonic production

Due to slow sales of the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano, General Motors is cutting a shift at the Orion Township plant that builds the pair. The move lays off about 500 workers, but most of them are expected to get offers to transfer to other factories, Automotive News reports. The move came just a day after GM announced adding 1,200 employees to the Detroit-Hamtramck plant. GM has been trying all year at the Orion Township factory to align production of the Sonic and Verano with their demand. The automaker first attempted idling the plant several times and eventually resorted to laying off about 100 workers. It also reduced the production rate there. With the huge rise in popularity of crossovers, demand for the plant's small cars is on the downturn. According to Automotive News, there's currently a 116-day supply of Sonics and 100 days of Veranos to sell. Delivers tell a similar tale because the Chevy is off 35.2 percent from January to September, and the Buick does little better with a 27.2 percent drop from the same period last year. While the situation at Orion Township might look rough now, big things are on the horizon. Soon, the new Chevy Bolt electric vehicle will be built there when it hits the market around 2017. Plus, the plant will also get a $245-million upgrade and 300 new jobs for another, unannounced vehicle.