2000 Buick Lesabre Limited Sedan 4-door 3.8l 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

2018 Buick Enclave slims down for spy shots

Most vehicles are refreshed every five years or so. New technology and styling is required to keep up with the latest trends. Although this cycle is common, there are some vehicles, like the Buick Enclave, that seem to stick around far past their expiration date. We now have spy shots of what appears to be the nine-year old Enclave's replacement. Although the vehicle in the photos is completely covered in camouflage, we can make out the new Buick family grill. There are a set of LED running lights up front and what appear to be a location for foglights toward the bottom. The camo covering is cut in places to allow gaps for sensors, presumably for parking and other driver aids. Out back, the rectangular taillights don't appear to be production ready. The whole rear, especially the glass, looks smaller than the outgoing model, though it is difficult to properly tell through the camouflage. The rear bumper has wide cuts for the dual exhaust pipes, and again the camo has cutouts for sensors. The side profile reveals the biggest change with the new Enclave. The current version shares a platform with the Chevrolet Traverse and the original GMC Acadia, some of the largest vehicles on the market. The all-new 2017 Acadia scaled down in order to compete against midsize crossovers and now has more in common with the smaller, Chinese-built Buick Envision. That doesn't mean the Enclave and Acadia are entirely separate. Both the Enclave and upcoming Traverse will ride on a stretched version of the Acadia platform. The general profile remains the same, but it's apparent that the vehicle in these photos is longer than the new GMC. Most other details are speculation. The Enclave will most likely arrive with GM's 3.6 liter V6. With the introduction of the Envision, the Enclave is expected to move upmarket to compete against the Acura MDX and Volvo XC90. Because of the slightly narrower shape, passenger seating is expected to fall to seven. The new crossover will probably lose a bit of weight with the redesign. The new Buick is expected to debut next year as a 2018 model. Look for the reveal of the Chevrolet Traverse replacement as well. Related Video: Featured Gallery Buick Enclave Spy Shots View 20 Photos Spy Photos Buick Crossover

GM mulling Chevy Cruze hatchback for US, Buick 'Panamera' among other new models

We've spoken at length previously about the fallacy of poor hatchback sales in the US, and with the runaway success of its Chevrolet Cruze sedan, it's somewhat unsurprising to hear that General Motors is rethinking its decision not to sell an overseas five-door variant in North America as it looks to plug a number of holes in its lineup. GM North American President Mark Reuss admitted during a media luncheon this week that not offering the model "... was a pre-bankruptcy planning mistake," says Forbes. With the next-generation model already well-along in development, it's likely that the current Cruze hatch (shown above) won't see US dealers.
Reuss admits not offering the model "was a pre-bankruptcy planning mistake"
In what must have been a far-reaching conversation, Reuss hinted at a number of new products for many GM brands, including "a much more beautiful Panamera" range-topper for Buick (which sounds a bit like the line of reasoning the TriShield brand has been pursuing with its Riviera concepts) and a "Ford Transit Connect-fighter" to supplant the recently announced badge-engineered Chevy City Express from Nissan.