!NEW! Buick Launches Updated Encore SUV in China

Updated Buick Encore was launched in Chengdu, China.

Buick introduced the updated version of its popular Encore SUV in China on June 18. Encore was Buick’s best-selling vehicle in North America in 2015, accounting for nearly a third of overall sales, and one of GM’s most popular SUVs in China, with deliveries of 81,766 units last year.

SAIC-GM Medium and Small Vehicle Platform Executive Director Gu Yebin introduced the highlights of the new Buick Encore.

The new Encore adopts Buick's latest exterior design language and comes with an upgraded interior design, more advanced technologies, a segment-leading powertrain and the intelligent all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. Five variants are available, priced from RMB 139,900 to RMB 189,900.

Youthful and Dynamic Exterior

New Buick Encore: Full LED headlights with double-wing-shaped daytime lights

An urban SUV for a new generation of young consumers, the new Encore comes with an all-new winged chrome grille complemented by wing-shaped Full LED headlights and sharp double-wing-shaped daytime lights, which are appearing for the first time on a Buick model.

New Buick Encore: Wing-shaped LED taillights

All-new wing-shaped LED taillights surrounded in chrome trim echo the design of the front. A roof-mounted luggage rack and new 18-inch, 10-spoke aluminum alloy wheels add to the youthful and dynamic look.

New Buick Encore: New 18-inch, 10-spoke aluminum alloy wheels

Premium Interior

The new Buick Encore’s interior is on par with interiors in upper-medium passenger cars. The SUV has a wealth of soft materials, including new maple-leaf red premium Alcantara® suede complemented by French double-stitching craftsmanship, to cater to the tastes of younger buyers.

New Buick Encore: Premium interior with soft materials, red Alcantara and French double-stitching

The new Encore incorporates Buick's signature 360 degree wraparound interior layout. It introduces a new center console design, a new-generation 7-inch HD touch screen and a standard three-spoke multifunction steering wheel.

New Buick Encore: New center console design, new-generation 7-inch HD touch screen and standard three-spoke multifunction steering wheel.

Buick's patented QuietTuning technology gives the new Encore a peaceful interior that is best in class. Adding to the comfort is a spacious cabin with 986 mm of headroom and 908 mm of legroom in back. The new Encore also provides 1,372 liters of cargo space.

Precise Handling and High Efficiency

A powerful 1.4L turbocharged engine comes standard across the new Encore lineup. It generates segment-leading power of 103 kW at 4,900-6,000 rpm and peak torque of 200 Nm at 1,700-4,800 rpm, enabling the driver to overtake effortlessly.

The engine is paired with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed DSS intelligent transmission with smooth acceleration and gear shifting. All variants come with engine stop/start technology, which enhances fuel economy and reduces emissions in stop-and-go driving.

The new Encore rides on a professionally tuned European-style chassis and adopts the electric power steering (EPS) system. The Sport driving mode maximizes driving pleasure through precise handling and agility, while the adoption of electronic stability control (ESC) adds to the smooth handling and safety.

The new Encore is available with the intelligent AWD system, which can switch between different driving modes in two-tenths of a second. The system  continuously controls torque distribution, automatically varying the front-to-rear torque split between 100:0 and 50:50. This allows the SUV to confidently tackle low-friction conditions such as wet, muddy, slippery, snow-covered and gravel-covered roads.

Advanced Infotainment and Safety

The new Encore comes with Buick's new-generation IntelliLink infotainment system with Baidu CarLife compatibility and a navigation system with voice control. Users have multiple ways to connect with their smart devices.

Advanced technologies such as cruise control, keyless entry, push-button start and remote engine start (RES) are complemented by the OnStar full-time online assistant, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), an anti-dazzle rearview mirror and heated outside rearview mirrors.

Joins 2016 “Route Awakening” Buick China Culture Tour

The new Encore will accompany other members of Buick's SUV family on the 2016 “Route Awakening” Buick China Culture Tour. This is Buick’s third year joining the National Geographic Channel in sponsoring the activity, which is among the largest and longest culture tours in China. The “Route Awakening” documentary series will showcase China’s magnificent landscape and splendid ancient civilization.

!NEW! Opel in Germany with Sales Growth of 26 Percent in May

• Passenger car sales up nearly 4,400 units
• Market share up by more than 0.8 percentage points to more than 7.4 percent
• New Opel Astra generates additional impetus

New Astra drives growth: Opel has increased its May sales figures in Germany by 26 percent. 

Opel continues to grow on the important German market. The Rüsselsheim-based brand’s passenger car sales were up by nearly 26 percent or by roughly 4,400 units to around 21,260 in May. Opel therefore grew at more than twice the rate of the total German passenger car market. Opel’s share of the passenger car market was up by more than 0.8 percentage points to more than 7.4 percent.

Opel also continued its growth path in the course of the year. With almost 103,000 passenger cars, Opel increased its sales for the period from January to May by around 13,250 units (15 percent). Also in this period, the brand grew more than twice as strong as the total German passenger car market. Market share was up by more than 0.5 percentage points to around 7.4 percent, which is the best result in this period for five years.

Europe’s “Car of the Year 2016”, the new Opel Astra, was once again the main driver of this growth. So far this year more than 26,600 Astra have been sold – an increase of around 30 percent compared to the same period of last year.

Car of the Year 2016: New Opel Astra has been sold more than 26,600 times this year – an increase of around 30 percent compared to the same period of last year.

Elsewhere, the Opel Mokka was another guarantee for success. Sales of the successful SUV increased by almost 40 percent in May alone, thus taking top spot in the monthly and the year-to-date SUV B segment rankings.

“Things are continuing to look up at Opel. I am sure that our new models will add further impetus to our sales. Especially given the fact that the new Opel Mokka X has been available for order in Germany since the beginning of the week,” said Jürgen Keller, Opel Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales in Germany.