1962 Buick Lesabre 4dr Hardtop - 1 Owner - 41,000 Original Miles on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Buick Blackhawk concept headed to auction block again

While the collector car auction market is often criticized for inflating the price of vintage models out of the realm of affordability for many buyers, these sales do give us an opportunity to look back on some of the beautiful, rare designs of the past. Just take a glance at this Buick Blackhawk concept with a shape right out of the '40s or '50s. Despite the heritage styling, it was pieced together from older pieces for Buick to celebrate itself in the early 2000s With styling inspiration from the classic Buick Y-Job concept car, the Blackhawk mixes actual vintage components to create its curvaceous shape. However, the power retractable top is thoroughly modern being made from carbon fiber and stows in the deck lid when the roof needs to go down. After so much work on the outside, the Buick has something equally surprising under the hood. It's a 1970 455-cubic-inch (7.5-liter) V8 GS Stage III V8 with a claimed 463 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, and for easy cruising the mill is linked to a four-speed automatic. Built in-house by Buick, the Blackhawk was once part of the General Motors Heritage Fleet, but the automaker sold it off in 2009 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ, along with many other members of the collection. The concept went for $522,500 after the buyer's premium, according to the auctioneers. Now, it's crossing the block again with no reserve as part of RM Auctions sale of the Andrews Collection on May 2, 2015, in Fort Worth, TX. The 75-car auction also includes highlights like one of seven 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet models bodied by Pininfarina. Featured Gallery Buick Blackhawk Concept News Source: RM Auctions, Barrett-Jackson AuctionsImage Credit: Darin Schnabel Courtesy of RM Auctions Design/Style Buick Auctions Convertible Concept Cars

Buick Encore GX fuel economy out, 1.3L more efficient than 1.2L

EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2020 Buick Encore GX are out, the most powerful engine taking the overall trophy. The new, slighty-less-compact subcompact crossover comes with a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder as its base engine, putting out 137 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. Available solely with front-wheel drive and with a continuously variable transmission, the powertrain gets 26 miles per gallon in the city, 30 on the highway and 28 combined. The optional engine is a turbocharged 1.3-cylinder with 155 hp and 174 lb-ft. Mating it to the CVT in front-wheel drive guise returns the best fuel economy in the Encore/Encore GX family, being 30 city, 32 highway, 31 combined. That's spot on GM's prediction last year for combined fuel economy. Buyers who opt for the 1.3-liter with all-wheel drive — the engine costing an additional $395, the drivetrain a $2,000 upgrade — get a nine-speed automatic transmission, that combo returning 26 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg combined. Among luxury front-wheel drive entries, the 2020 BMW X1 sDrive28i gets 27 mpg combined utilizing an eight-speed automatic, the Lexus UX 200 gets 33 mpg combined with a CVT. Among less the expensive options, the Nissan Kicks returns 33 mpg as well through a CVT, the Mazda CX-30 rated at 28 mpg combined and employing a six-speed auto. The Encore once offered two versions of its turbocharged 1.4-liter, but is now left with the lesser-powered unit producing 138 hp and 148 lb-ft, paired with a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy with front-wheel drive is 25 city, 30 highway, 27 combined; with all-wheel drive, that shrinks by one mpg across the board to 24 city, 29 highway and 26 combined. The Encore GX is scheduled to hit dealership sometime this spring. Related Video:

2019 Toyota Avalon vs. full-size sedans: How they compare on paper

Full-size sedans aren't exactly in great demand at the moment, and at least one of the vehicles in this comparison has been rumored to be on the endangered species list. Yet, we've just had our first drive in the 2019 Toyota Avalon, and if anything has a chance of rejuvenating the segment a bit, it's an all-new version of what has long been the segment's benchmark. To see how the new Avalon compares, we've put together the below spreadsheet featuring the Avalon's primary apples-to-apples rivals, the Buick LaCrosse and Chevy Impala. We also included the Nissan Maxima, which is comparable in price, sales and non-luxury badge, and which offers the sort of increased driver engagement promised by the new Avalon XSE and Touring trim levels. We also included the outgoing Avalon for reference as well as that car's luxury cousin, the Lexus ES, which can definitely be cross-shopped with the luxuriously trimmed Avalon Limited. You can use our Compare Cars tool to create your own comparison, such as one featuring the rear-wheel-drive Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger or even Kia Stinger. Alright, enough chit chat. On to the spreadsheet. Performance and fuel economy The GM sedans may come standard with four cylinders, including a mild hybrid system in the LaCrosse, but puh-lease. The V6 is the name of the game in this segment, with outputs now surpassing the 300-horsepower mark. The LaCrosse is the horsepower and torque champ, though it also weighs a bit more than the new 2019 Avalon, so acceleration is likely to be comparable. The Impala weighs a lot more and has only a six-speed automatic, so despite having a wee bit more power, one should expect it to be pokier (not a good sign for a car rumored to be on the chopping block). One would expect the Maxima's 300 hp and lowest curb weight to result in the quickest acceleration, but then it's also strapped to a CVT, which despite being better than ever, is still a CVT. Things get worse for Chevy when you consider the Impala's base four-cylinder gets the same 25 mpg combined as the Avalon's V6 — once again a segment best. Now, should you really prioritize fuel economy, the 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid really stands out with a 43 mpg rating (or 44 with the base XLE trim) that bests the outgoing Avalon Hybrid. Honestly, after driving this new Hybrid, it actually seems like it would be the best bet for most buyers. There's sufficient power, and it only costs $1,000 more than the comparable V6 version.