2014 Buick Verano Leather Group on 2040-cars

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2019 Buick Regal to get Avenir luxury treatment

Buick will make the 2019 Regal sedan available in its top-tier Avenir trim, the fourth Buick model to carry the sub-brand name after the Enclave, LaCrosse and the GL8 in China. Buick says the Avenir line is selling faster than other trim levels on both the Enclave and the LaCrosse, and that half of all Regal Sportback buyers are opting for the top trim level, reflecting buyers' demand for more premium midsize cars. "Avenir sales have exceeded our expectations," Phil Brook, vice president of Buick and GMC Marketing, said in a statement. "Buick customers value the exclusive styling, premium features and convenient experience Avenir provides, and we are excited to extend that successful formula to Regal." So what's the Regal Avenir all about? Well, Buick will debut its first cloud-connected infotainment system, bringing embedded apps and enabling owners to set up their own profiles and user preferences for use in things like available navigation and voice-recognition, and carry over that profile to other compatible vehicles. The Avenir will come standard with safety and driver-assist technologies such as rear park assist, rear cross traffic alert, lane-change alert with side blind zone alert, LED headlights with auto leveling, cornering lamps and driver-side auto-dimming mirrors. Advanced adaptive cruise control and other active safety technologies are also available. Inside, there's a "Whisper Beige" theme with ebony accents, diamond quilt-stitched front seats, embroidered first-row headrests and sill plates carrying the Avenir script. An ebony theme is also available. The exterior gets a more dramatic look, with the Avenir 3-D mesh upper grille, script badging on the front doors and 19-inch Pearl Nickel wheels. Under the hood is the Regal's standard 250-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 260 pound-feet of torque and mated to a nine-speed automatic. Avenir was the name of a four-door concept Buick unveiled as a surprise in 2015 in Detroit. The next year the company announced it would use the name as a top-tier trim level starting with 2018 Buicks. Pricing for the 2019 Buick Regal Avenir will be announced when it arrives at dealers. Related Video:

Bring back the Bronco! Trademarks we hope are actually (someday) future car names

Trademark filings are the tea leaves of the auto industry. Read them carefully – and interpret them correctly – and you might be previewing an automaker's future product plans. Yes, they're routinely filed to maintain the rights to an iconic name. And sometimes they're only for toys and clothing. But not always. Sometimes, the truth is right in front of us. The trademark is required because a company actually wants to use the name on a new car. With that in mind, here's a list of intriguing trademark filings we want to see go from paperwork to production reality. Trademark: Bronco Company: Ford Previous Use: The Bronco was a long-running SUV that lived from 1966-1996. It's one of America's original SUVs and was responsible for the increased popularity of the segment. Still, it's best known as O.J. Simpson's would-be getaway car. We think: The Bronco was an icon. Everyone seems to want a Wrangler-fighter – Ford used to have a good one. Enough time has passed that the O.J. police chase isn't the immediate image conjured by the Bronco anymore. Even if we're doing a wish list in no particular order, the Bronco still finds its way to the top. For now (unfortunately), it's just federal paperwork. Rumors on this one can get especially heated. The official word from a Ford spokesman is: "Companies renew trademark filings to maintain ownership and control of the mark, even if it is not currently used. Ford values the iconic Bronco name and history." Trademarks: Aviator, AV8R Company: Ford Previous Use: The Aviator was one of the shortest-run Lincolns ever, lasting for the 2003-2005 model years. It never found the sales success of the Ford Explorer, with which it shared a platform. We Think: The Aviator name no longer fits with Lincoln's naming nomenclature. Too bad, it's better than any other name Lincoln currently uses, save for its former big brother, the Navigator. Perhaps we're barking up the wrong tree, though. Ford has made several customized, aviation themed-Mustangs in the past, including one called the Mustang AV8R in 2008, which had cues from the US Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter jet. It sold for $500,000 at auction, and the glass roof – which is reminiscent of a fighter jet cockpit – helped Ford popularize the feature. Trademark: EcoBeast Company: Ford Previous Use: None by major carmakers.

Next Buick Verano headed to Shanghai Motor Show

Buick is a big deal in China and ranks third in automotive brand popularity there, according to a recent poll. It should come as little surprise, then, that the company is using the upcoming Shanghai Motor Show to debut the next-gen version of the Verano. We are even getting a shadowy tease of the small sedan's look ahead of the April 19 unveiling. Actually called the Wei Lang in China, Buick says the redesigned Verano takes styling cues from the Riviera concept from 2013 Shanghai show and the recent Avenir, as well. Neither inspiration seems too obvious based on this teaser image, but the small sedan does gain two creases down its side: one arches through the front door handle and the other picks up over the rear fender. Buick isn't even hinting at what powers the Verano in China and simply asserts that the model sets class benchmarks for "performance, safety and comfort" there. Of course, as with many foreign market models, it's possible that the sedan could use different engines or wear different altered styling when it arrives in the US. Buick Verano Sports Sedan Named "Wei Lang" in Chinese, Will Make Debut in Shanghai on April 19 2015-04-14 SHANGHAI – Shanghai GM today announced that the Verano, Buick's new-generation sports sedan, has been given the name of "Wei Lang" in Chinese. It will make its debut in Shanghai on April 19, on the eve of Auto Shanghai 2015. As a new strategic model for the Buick brand, the Verano will offer a refreshing driving experience through its stylish and dynamic exterior, exquisite and comfortable interior, and precise and powerful performance. The Verano was inspired by the 2013 Buick Riviera concept car and captures the design essence of the Buick Avenir concept car, which debuted at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Verano demonstrates Buick's insight into the aesthetic preferences of Chinese consumers. It embodies the innovative reimagining of Buick's classic design elements, exemplifying the elegance and dynamism of Buick's new-generation products. It is expected to set new benchmarks for performance, safety and comfort in its class. Like the all-new Excelle GT, which was launched earlier this year, the Verano will serve as a strategic model in Buick's bid for a stronger presence in China's mid-range vehicle segment. General Motors traces its roots back to 1908. GM has 11 joint ventures, two wholly owned foreign enterprises and more than 58,000 employees in China.