Buick: What's New for 2012

What's New for 2012: All Makes

2012 Buick Enclave: For 2012, Buick has eliminated CX and CXL trim level names for the eight-passenger Enclave, opting for more descriptive package names instead: Base, Convenience, Leather and Premium. Standard hill-hold assist braking technology has been added, which automatically holds the brakes for 1.5 seconds when the driver's foot leaves the brake pedal on inclines of 5 percent or steeper, and to avoid unintended acceleration, enhanced electronic pedal override reduces power to the engine when the brake and accelerator pedals are depressed at the same time. An accessory power outlet is added to the center console, and new red and gray exterior paint options replace the 2011 red and gray tones.

2012 Buick LaCrosse: Later this fall, Buick customers can order a direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 engine as a no-cost option. The new V6 is rated at 303 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque on the front-wheel-drive LaCrosse. Fuel economy is measured at 17 mpg in the city and 27 mpg highway. An all-wheel-drive LaCrosse will be coming, too.

2012 Buick LaCrosse Hybrid: Buick gets its first-ever hybrid vehicles this year with the addition of the eAssist system as standard equipment on the LaCrosse sedan (on sale now), and later the Regal. For the LaCrosse, Buick mates a 182-hp 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder gasoline direct-injection engine with an electric motor-generator that can provide an additional burst of up to 15 hp during acceleration. The LaCrosse eAssist delivers an estimated 25 city/36 highway mpg, a 20 percent improvement in highway mileage and a 32 percent boost in city mileage over previous models. An ECO gauge on the instrument panel continuously responds to driving behavior, allowing the driver to drive with maximum efficiency.

2012 Buick Regal: Buick will offer four variations of the Regal this year: the base model equipped with a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine, the Regal eAssist hybrid (detailed below), the Regal Turbo and the Regal GS performance sedan (detailed below).

Across the lineup, signature Buick portholes have been moved from the fender to the hood, and the well-known waterfall grille changes to black chrome. Buick IntelliLink is standard on all Regals, and will roll out later in the year. It uses Bluetooth or USB to connect the driver's smartphone to a new high-resolution, full-color touchscreen display radio.

New for 2012 is standard electric rack-and-pinion power steering on the base and Regal Hybrid. The base Regal, now with E85 flex-fuel capability, earns 19 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

Buick considers the 220-hp 2.0-liter turbo-equipped Regal Turbo model a competitor to the Acura TSX, Volkswagen CC and Volvo S60. It shares some features with the sportier Regal GS, including Buick's Interactive Drive Control System, which is available as an option on the Turbo. Keyless-entry push-button start and remote start are two more features the Regal Turbo has in common with the GS.

2012 Buick Regal GS: The performance-oriented Regal GS is equipped with a 270-hp turbocharged Ecotec 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine linked to a standard six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic transmission will be available later in the model year.

The 2012 Buick Regal GS gets push-button start; a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom sport steering wheel with audio controls; metal sport pedals; and leather-appointed, heated and 12-way-adjustable sport seating. A Harman Kardon premium audio system with nine speakers is standard. Twenty-inch, twin-spoke polished alloy wheels and summer-rated performance tires are available.

2012 Buick Regal Hybrid: The eAssist hybrid system is a $2,000 option on the Regal base model with a 2.4-liter Ecotec engine. The Regal Hybrid offers a boost in fuel economy to 25 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway.

2012 Buick Verano: Buick unveiled the 2012 Verano in January at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, and the brand's smallest car has yet to reach dealers. Scheduled to arrive in showrooms late this fall, the compact Verano is styled after the Enclave and LaCrosse.

With a 105.7-inch wheelbase, the Verano shares GM's global compact sedan platform with the Chevrolet Cruze. Power comes from a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at 177 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is the only transmission choice, and Buick is estimating the setup will earn a 31 mpg highway rating. A 2.0-liter turbocharged engine will be offered in the future.

New interior colors (ebony, cashmere, Choccachino) showcase the Verano's interior, which includes leather seating shared with the LaCrosse. There's also a heated steering wheel and heated seats, which are linked to the Verano's remote-start feature and are automatically activated in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Other interior features include 10 standard airbags, push-button start, dual-zone climate controls and an electronic parking brake.