If you’ve got a GM vehicle and OnStar, you’ll be able to rent out your idle car and make some extra cash through the RelayRides marketplace.

General Motors much loved LNF engine, the same 2.0L Ecotec that powered the Pontiac Solstice GXP, Saturn Sky Redline and Chevrolet Cobalt SS is continuing on in the Buick Regal Turbo and Buick Regal GS, but a new generation of turbocharged 4-cylinder motor is set to replace the LNF next year, packing even more power.

For quite some time now, GM executives in North America have been contemplating distributing Opel’s Astra GTC as a Buick in America. Now there’s a chance that the three-door, sporty vehicle could even be produced in America.

Targeted at cars like the Acura TSX and Lexus IS250, the new Buick Verano will undercut rivals by many thousands of dollars, starting at just $23,470 – including the $885 destination charge. By comparison, the Acura starts at just over $30K, while the IS begins at nearly $35K. Plus, Buick is touting that its car has more passenger and cargo room than either of those two, despite the fact that it’s underpinnings are those of the Chevrolet Cruze.

The Buick Regal GS’ European counterpart, the Opel Insignia OPC, doesn’t look much different, save for some funny badges and bolder alloy wheels. Under the hood, the OPC gets a 2.8L V6 with a twin-scroll turbocharger making 300 horsepower, as well as all-wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall for 4,077 Buick LaCrosse sedans after finding issues pertaining to the electronic stability control system. The issue only pertains to 2012 model year cars, built between June 9 and July 2.

General Motors will look to slash its R&D costs in the future, by increasingly sharing platforms and engines across models. Company CEO Dan Akerson and product boss Mary Barra spoke to the big changes coming for GM during online seminars billed as the 2011 Global Business Conference.

Buick has announced pricing for their newest additions to the Regal lineup, with their Regal eAssist mild hybrid vehicle starting at $29,530, while the high performance Regal GS starts at $35,310.

There may also be plans to build a Cruze coupe in 2013, and it would compete against the Honda Civic, Kia Forte Koup and Scion tC. The Chevrolet Cruze hatchback was unveiled at the Geneva auto show last March and will arrive stateside soon. The current model will not  be sold in the U.S, but the Cruze hatch will arrive with the next-gen Cruze.  GM has also officially announced the sale of a diesel-powered Cruze in the U.S in the 2013.

With fuel economy being one of the for most issues for the entire auto industry, GM may plan to add eight-speed automatic transmissions and turbocharged engines to its next generation of full-size trucks.

Buick and GMC understand the importance of social networking and have set up online vehicle-shopping experiences that are socially engaging, letting site visitors build, save and share their configured vehicles.

However, if you happen to live in the state of Oregon or Washington, General Motors has some good news for you. If you buy any new Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick or GMC vehicle in these two states, GM will pay for your insurance for up to a year or 15,000-miles. This special offer is a joint collaboration between GM and MetLife to attract more customers.

Rumors of a Chevrolet Cruze 3-door hatchback appear to be just that, after an interview with General Motors North American President Mark Reuss surfaced, stating that the Cruze is too late in its North American product cycle for a hatchback.

Imagine a Chevy Cruze with 250-hp. Soon you won’t have to; except it’ll be badged a Buick.

As is happening across the General Motor’s lineup, the Buick LaCrosse is getting a powertrain update. The previous 3.6-liter V6 is being replaced with a new LFX mill which will be available at no-additional-cost on select trim levels instead of the standard 2.4L four-cylinder engine with eAssist. The new engine features variable valve timing and will crank out 303-hp on the front-wheel drive LaCrosse (an all-wheel drive version will also be available). This is up 23-hp. Torque also goes up, by 5 lb-ft to 264 lb-ft without affecting fuel efficiency, allowing the LaCrosse to retain a 17 mpg city and 27 mpg highway rating.

Satellite radio operator Sirius XM Radio Inc. has decided to offer purchasers of pre-owned vehicles a free three month subscription at more than 1,000 participating GM dealerships across the U.S regardless of the vehicle manufacturer.

Having just announced the official specs on the new high-performance Regal GS, Buick has now released a video highlighting the car’s performance characteristics and the testing it underwent.

The short clip details the everything from the 270-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, to the numerous suspension changes and Brembo brakes, with brief interviews from engineers and plenty of shots on-track at GM’s Milford Proving Ground.

Watch the video after the jump:

The all-new 2012 Buick Regal GS arrives this fall and will pack a serious punch. The GS has ow officially been rated at 270-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque and achieves a 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds. For the record, that’s 15 more horsepower than originally claimed.

The program including Chevrolet, Buick and GMC names will continue to offer the 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty as well as a five-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty with 24-hour roadside assistance and courtesy transportation. Other standard features will include a more thorough 172-point inspection improved from 117 points as well as reconditioning, free trials of OnStar and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.

Hitting the market back in 2007, the GMC, Buick and Chevy large crossover trio have continued with strong sales despite almost zero updates. That will change for the 2013 model year, with changes planned for all three of the Lambda machines, although you might not notice the changes at first glance.

The 2012 Buick LaCrosse will start at $29,960 plus an $860 destination charge, when it goes on sale later this year. The eAssist, which features a 2.4L four-cylinder and a mild-hybrid system, is priced identically to a V6 powered model, but can get 37 mpg on the highway, an impressive figure for such a large car.

Car owners are more satisfied with independent shops for maintenance, according to a latest Consumer Reports Annual Survey. The survey was based on more than 92,000 reports on service visits to independent mechanics and 230,000 service visits to new car dealerships.

A “leaked document” (read: dubious rumor) claims that a coupe variant of the Opel Insignia sedan, may wear the famed Calibra badge. The previous Calibra was known for its slippery styling and turbocharged engines, and the Insignia would make a worthy successor.

GM’s European Opel brand recently unveiled the new Astra GTC hatchback and according to the most recent reports this car will be sold in America, but under the Buick badge. The Buick brand has already had considerable success rebadging the Opel Insignia as the Regal on this side of the Atlantic.

The Volo Auto Museum will be hosting one of the most comprehensive Hollywood car auctions ever on June 8th. Based out of Illinois, the auction will feature plenty of Hollywood’s most famous rides including the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine and Herbie, from Lindsey Lohan’s 2005 feature film. And the coolest part of the auction? No reserves!

Federal regulators are investigating 865,000 General Motors SUVs, including the 2005-’07 Chevrolet Trailblazer and Buick Rainier,for faulty fuel gauges that are inaccurate. The 2005-’06 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, the 2005-’07 GMC Envoy, the 2005-’06 GMC Envoy XL and the 2005-’07 Saab 9-7X are also affected vehicles being investigated.

In this era of relatively high fuel prices, motorists are looking to save every last drop of gas they can. However, if they drive a General Motors SUV they might be carrying less fuel in their tanks than they actually  think.

It’s no secret that Buick is enjoying a real renaissance. Dealers who used to sell single-digit numbers a month now can’t keep the hot Regal and LaCrosse models on the lot, and are certainly going through more free coffee in the process. But while those Chinese and European-inspired (or in Regal’s case, imported directly) sedans might get all the attention now, it was a larger vehicle wearing the Buick crest that started getting butts in seats.

With a new compact crossover tipped to be in the production schedule for Buick, look for it to take inspiration from the new Envision SUV concept, revealed today at the Shanghai Auto Show.

Buick fans disappointed that the forthcoming Regal GS shares little in common with the European market Insignia OPC now have another reason to get mad, after Opel revealed that their hottest sedan is good for an astounding 168 mph when the speed governor is removed.

General Motors European division Opel seems to be playing on the autobahn recently, because they have just unveiled a new version of the Insignia family car (sold as the Buick Regal here in America) called the OPC Unlimited.

Word was leaked yesterday about a Buick version of the Chevrolet Volt being developed by GM.

Buick has just released a teaser image of a new concept vehicle that it will showcase at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show on April 18th.

General Motors has announced that it will be having a car giveaway sweepstakes through its OnStar division. From March 15 until May 31, if you have access to an OnStar equipped vehicle (that’s right, you don’t even need to be a subscriber), you can enter the contest, simply by pushing the OnStar button.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has bestowed their Top Safety Pick to the 2011 Honda Odyssey as well as the GM crossovers, which includes the Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse and GM Acadia.

Ever wonder where Pontiac owner’s are going shopping for new cars since the brand folded? Honestly, we hadn’t, until this new study came to our attention.

For all the dismissive attitudes surrounding GM CEO Dan Akerson, his latest machinations seem particularly astute, even if they don’t quite jibe with the tastes of “car guys”.

General Motors is recalling 10,179 Buick Lacrosse sedans and Cadillac SRX crossovers due to a fault defroster. The problem is actually a software glitch rather than a physical defect, but one that prevents the unit from properly clearing the windshield.

When Buick debuted its new Verano compact luxury car at the Detroit Auto Show, it announced a 177-hp standard model as well as a Turbo version. No specific numbers on the Verano Turbo were available, but Buick did say it would use the same 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder as found under the Regal. That being said, it was easy to assume a similar output of 220-hp.

It’s not too hard to remember the days when Buick was the butt of jokes, with many suggesting that Buick be killed off during the General Motors bankruptcy in 2008, rather than Pontiac.

General Motors today announced its first full-year numbers after emerging from bankruptcy, posting a $4.7 billion profit after a massive bailout by the U.S. and Canadian governments.

Take all your preconceived notions about Buick, ball them up like a snowball, and hurl them at a brick wall for that satisfying “splat” sound. That’s what the all new 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo did for us during our test drive.

Helping change the image of Buick, the new Regal is a different sort of car from what we’re used to from the old-man brand and that’s because it’s actually based on the very German Opel Insignia. Already available as a 4-cylinder and a Turbo model, current Regal models are made in Germany alongside their Opel counterparts. That will change next month, however, when production of the car is moved to the Oshawa Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada.

The fastest growing brand in America last year, Buick is looking to expand its offerings with a new eAssist mild-hybrid version of its new Regal model. Introduced just prior to the Chicago Auto Show the car will sit at the opposite end of the spectrum from the 255-hp Regal GS when it comes to fuel consumption. It will not, however, sit completely opposite in the lineup from the priciest model.

While GM’s announcement of a new car based on the Camaro platform being shown at the Chicago Auto Show stole the spotlight in the automotive press, the Buick Regal eAssist represents a product far more relevant to the average consumer, even if it’s less glamorous.

With an eAssist hybrid system from the Buick Lacrosse, the Regal delivers excellent mileage for a mid-size sedan, returning 26 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. A 15 horsepower electric motor helps to assist during acceleration and also allows for regenerative braking, and a start/stop system.

On the aesthetic front, lightweight 17″ wheels, a 7-inch screen for keeping track of fuel economy and other data, as well as an eco model for the air conditioning all make an appearance only on the eAssist. While the Lacrosse eAssist will be positioned as an entry level trim within the range, the Regal variant will simply complement the other versions, including the Regal Turbo and Regal GS.

Gallery: Buick Regal eAssist

General Motors will reportedly unveil a Buick Regal Hybrid at the Chicago Auto Show that uses similar eAssist technology seen on the its Lacrosse stablemate.

Although there is no high-performance version of the Chevrolet Cruze, its platform-mate, the Buick Verano, could see a GS version sometime in the future, according to GM’s Ed Wellburn, a senior figure in the General’s design department.

The biggest debut at this year’s North American International Auto Show may have been a hybrid, but that doesn’t mean it’s not exciting. On the contrary, the Porsche 918 RSR is 767-hp of proof that hybrids can most certainly be cool. Based on the 918 Spider which also stole the show in Geneva last year, it’s a clear sign that Porsche is serious about hybrids, not just for its road cars, but also for its future in motorsports.

A very long list of other hybrids also made their debut in Detroit, including one surprisingly stylish one from Toyota. While it’s no surprise to see Toyota release a hybrid, the Prius c Concept defies the Toyota corporate mandate to be boring with great styling. As a concept, details are scarce, but Toyota says it will hit the market in 2012. The car is part of a larger effort by Toyota to grow the Prius name; with the Japanese automaker also unveiling a new Prius v wagon that will hit dealers this Summer.

Yet another hybrid on display came from Ford in the form of the C-Max Hybrid. Based on the C-Max MPV (another Detroit debut), the Hybrid version will get better fuel economy than the Fusion Hybrid and will be able to operate on pure electric power above 47-mpg. In addition to the C-Max Hybrid was the C-Max Energi, a plug-in hybrid that promises even better fuel economy and a total range of 500 miles. And let’s not forget the Audi A6 Hybrid, that can travel up to 62-mph on electric power.

Some of the more important mainstream vehicles included the Honda Civic Concept, as well as the official introduction of the 2012 Volkswagen Passat, which is based on an all new, larger platform for the American market and will be built in America too. At Chrysler, the redesigned 300 was unveiled, while Ford showed the Vertrek Concept, which previews the next iteration of the Escape. Chevy rolled out its latest small car, the Sonic, while Buick introduced its first ever compact car, the Verano.

As for the important North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards, it was a no-contest bout with the Chevrolet Volt taking the prize in the car category, while the all new Ford Explorer takes home bragging rights in the truck list.

For the complete 2011 Detroit Auto Show breakdown, hit the jump or see our landing page here.

Continuing Buick‘s model rollout the stereotypical old-man-brand is looking for further growth down-market with the introduction of the new Verano. Billed as its first ever model in the compact luxury segment, the folks at Buick might be being purposefully ignorant of the ’80s Skyhawk – although arguably a compact, it could hardly be called a luxury car.

These spy shots of a purported 2012 Buick Lacrosse GS struck us as a tad strange, but hey, GM did make a Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, so why not do another niche performance luxury vehicle?

What do Conan O’Brien, Old Spice, the Miami Heat and Buick all have in common? We bet you’re stumped. We’ll, they’re all on this year’s list of the hottest brands, compiled by the experts at Advertising Age.

Back in 2007 Buick unveiled the Enclave crossover and the brand embarked on a quest to reinvent itself. With new styling, the LaCrosse pushed the envelope further, adding improved interior trim quality, while still retaining the brand’s big-as-a-boat-and-feels-like-one-too drive quality.

Among the many ‘new’ GM’s plans has been a more focused sales and marketing effort on each of its four remaining core brands.

Buick has already announced that it will bring to market a new compact model in the near future, riding on the same platform as the Chevy Cruze and going by the name Verano. Little else has been revealed about the car – until now.

According to a leaked dealer survey, the Verano will be offered exclusively with the automaker’s 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Ecotec motor producing 180-hp and 172 ft-lbs of torque and use a 6-speed automatic transmission. That’s a good step up from the 138-hp 1.4-liter in the Cruze and should provide for decent acceleration – although the Buick is likely to weight a bit more due to added content.

As for content, most models will come with cloth seats, with a top-level luxury trim featuring content like a push-button start, 18-inch wheels, heated seats and even a heated steering wheel – a first for the compact segment.

Pricing will range from $20,900 to $26,200 for the top trim.

As this is just a survey for dealers, it’s intended to gather feedback so GM can make final decisions. That being said, specifics like price and trim levels aren’t set in stone, but expect them to be close.

UPDATE: Buick Verano Officially Revealed, Click Here for Full Story

[Source: GMInsideNews]

Get more Buick Verano news and info at VeranoTalk.com

For a full list of the dealer survey trim levels, see after the jump:

In the Chinese market, Buick is kind of a big deal. Driven by emperors in pre-Communist times, the brand has carved itself a nice as a premium automaker that’s still accessible to the middle class. Most of their products are carried over from the American market (though built locally), but some, like the GL8 minivan are the kind of oddities that could only exist offshore.

Of all the domestic automakers, there’s something about the way General Motors can elicit an emotional reaction. And so on this Thanksgiving Day, the General has decided to run a rather touching commercial sharing its thanks for all that you, the American taxpayer, have done for it, its employees and more recently, its shareholders.

Silent of any voice, the ad shows iconic images of failure, followed by comeback and ends with the words, “We all fall down. Thank you for helping us get back up.”

See the video after the jump:

We regret to inform you that the subject matter behind the enticing title won’t live up to whatever thoughts are circulating in your head. Rather, Forbes’ list of “Americas Dirtiest Vehicles” has to do with pollution and gas mileage, and is mostly comprised of cars we ourselves would want to own.

Forbes used a variety of factors to determine what qualified for the list, with both carbon emissions and fuel consumption factoring in to the economy. “Heavy Duty” trucks were left off the list, as well performance cars that only get driven on special occasions, like the Ferrari 599 GTO (and, apparently, Mercedes’ AMG lineup).

Hit the jump to see the list for yourself

[Source: Forbes]

Want to see automotive line workers, drinking, smoking and slacking off? Unfortunately, you have to go to Chrysler for that. GM, on the other hand, will be offering tours of all 54 plants throughout 2011 in a pretty cool but transparent PR move designed to shore up public opinion after the company launched its IPO this past week.

Naturally, the emphasis will be on the thousands of jobs that GM provides – and that were saved thanks to the automotive bailout. GM’s Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky was the only GM plant that offered regular tours before this initiative.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

[Source: GM]