USA - The Buick Cascada now comes with the exclusive Dark Effects package to make it an even better car.

• New model includes exclusive Dark Effects package

When Buick introduced the all-new Cascada convertible early this year, it was an invitation to drivers who want to live life wide open with features unexpected in a convertible. 

In a market devoid of options, the Cascada has found success by offering a quiet, three-layer insulated top and stress-reducing engineering at a price that leaves room in your budget to explore the open road. 

Cascada also has the honor of being the first 2017 convertible to receive a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for Safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration¹.

In the months since the Cascada launched, its competitive set hasn’t grown, but choice within the Cascada portfolio has. The latest sport touring color introduction — Sport Red — is the response to customers who asked for a brilliant shade of red.

“We’ve heard it from customers all year: ‘What a beautiful car. Can I get it in red?’ Well yes, now you can,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. 

“This new addition to the Cascada portfolio offers a modern style statement with blacked-out exterior trim and red interior stitching.”

Exterior styling is a top consideration for customers, and the Cascada’s new Dark Effects package makes a unique statement. 

The package features a gloss-black finish on the grille, mirror caps and 20-inch wheels, as well as body-color trim across the decklid. Inside, new red stitching adds contrast to the instrument panel, doors and seats. 

The package is paired exclusively with the new Sport Red exterior color and is available only on the Cascada Sport Touring model in limited volume — 150 initial vehicles will arrive starting February 1, 2017.

The new Sport Touring Cascada in Sport Red with the exclusive Dark Effects package is the second unique expression added to Buick’s convertible lineup this year. 

Earlier this fall, the 2017 Cascada Sport Touring launched with a vibrant True Blue exterior color, an exclusive new 20-inch wheel design and sporty interior trim.

A recent Autotrader study² showed that almost a quarter of customers will delay the purchase of a vehicle if the color they want isn’t available, so Buick will regularly offer new color and trim combinations for the Cascada, giving the brand more opportunities to explore new style statements and connect with unique personalities.

Through August, the Buick Cascada has outsold BMW 2 Series, Audi’s A3 and A5 convertibles combined and attracts six out of 10 buyers from outside Buick and other GM brands. Sales since launch have been limited to retail buyers, with no deliveries to fleet customers.

¹Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov).

² Autotrader Trendtracker Consumer Omnibus, June 2016

USA - Buick earned the highest marks, 809/100 in J.D. Power’s 2016 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index 2016.

• J.D. Power study notes new owner education key to higher satisfaction

As Buick continues to delight customers with its beautiful, whisper-quiet and quality-driven cars and SUVs, it is also ensuring they have the greatest possible experience learning about their vehicles. J.D. Power’s 2016 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study ranks Buick the highest among mass market brands. 

A brand’s ability to help new-vehicle owners understand technology and enhance the overall ownership experience are key to high SSI rankings. 

In brand sales satisfaction rankings, Buick earned the highest marks with a score of 809 (based on a 1,000-point scale).

“We know a positive customer experience goes well beyond great product,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. 

“Our sales satisfaction ranking shows that our ability to deliver a meaningful purchase-to-ownership process is paying off for our customers well beyond when they leave our stores.”

The SSI Study is a comprehensive analysis of the new-vehicle purchase experience that measures customer satisfaction with their dealer. It is based on responses from nearly 29,000 buyers who purchased or leased their new vehicle in April or May of 2016.

USA - Buick has hit the million mark with three months still to go in the year, this represents a 23% growth so far this year.

• 23 percent year-over-year growth highest among major international brands

Through September, global Buick deliveries worldwide totaled 1,046,746 vehicles for 2016. At no other point in the brand’s 113 years of business has this milestone been reached so quickly. 

Compared to the same span in 2015, nearly 200,000 more customers have taken delivery of a new Buick car or SUV.

Buick’s year-over-year growth of 23 percent is the highest in the industry for major brands selling vehicles in both North America and China. With three months left in the year, Buick is on track for its fourth consecutive all-time global sales record.

“Demand worldwide continues to grow for attainable Buick luxury and the beautiful, quiet and comfortable cars and SUVs we offer,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. “We complement that driving experience with customer service that consistently ranks among the highest in the industry.”

Buick currently ranks as the second-largest passenger-car brand in China and outsells key competitors including Acura, Audi, Infiniti and Lincoln in North America. In the U.S, year-to-date retail sales are the highest in 11 years.

Buick’s modern, smart SUV lineup is fueling the nameplate’s international growth. The compact Envision is on pace for more than 200,000 global sales in its second year in the market. Sales in North America began in May and demand has been strong, with Envisions averaging just 23 days on dealer lots. That’s far below the industry average of 65 days.

The Encore small SUV has increased its global sales each year since its launch less than four years ago and had its best U.S. sales month ever in September with 7,197 deliveries. A redesigned 2017 Encore just started arriving at dealerships with a standard 8-inch touchscreen, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ― a suite of connectivity features not offered by any competitor.

Recent U.S. Buick buyers cite quality and value among their top reasons for purchase, and the brand continues to provide top safety ratings as well. In September, the new Envision was given a Top Safety Pick Plus by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ― the organization’s highest rating. The Cascada recently became the only convertible on sale today with a NHTSA 5-star rating.

USA - Special edition convertible revealed during 1000-mile road rally, that will be the Buick Cascada Sport Touring.

• New special edition convertible revealed during thousand-mile road rally

The Buick Cascada convertible delivers the freedom of open-air motoring through a driving experience with unexpected luxuries such as UV-reflective leather-appointed seats and a quiet, triple-insulated top. The Cascada’s attainable luxury will now include the reward of a uniquely bold style statement with an all-new Sport Touring edition.

In the 2017 Buick Cascada Sport Touring, customers will have the chance to make an even more stylish statement with a unique paint color, new wheel design, and other custom content that enhances the Cascada’s balanced proportions.

Road-trippers participating in the fifth annual Mille Mitten rally got a first look at the Cascada ST this past weekend on a 1,000-mile drive through the forests and lakefronts of northern Michigan. The Cascada was designed with road rally-like adventures and road trips in mind, and its convertible top retracts in 17 seconds at speeds up to 31 miles per hour so customers can breathe in every second of sunshine and scenery.

The 2017 Cascada ST is only available in True Blue Metallic, a paint color not offered on other Cascada models. The unique paint is complemented by a black cloth top that includes three layers of fabric structure for signature Buick quietness and insulation. Five-spoke, 20-inch wheels are new for the Cascada ST, as are Black Magic interior trim components, sport pedals and a flat-bottom sport steering wheel.

When it arrives at dealers this fall, the Cascada Sport Touring will be priced at $37,885 including destination. Priced and packaged for a simple buying experience, it features all the content offered on other Cascada models.

“The Mille Mitten celebrates the unique combination of features Michigan has to offer, from the deep blue of the Great Lakes to stunning star-filled nights deep in the forest,” said Ben Bator, Mille Mitten founder. “The Cascada is the perfect companion for this memorable experience, and the new Sport Touring builds off the same color palette that makes nature so inspiring.”

To capture the Cascada ST on the open road, Buick worked with photographer Zach Allia on the photos you see here. Allia left a career in Silicon Valley to explore the natural world and express it through his photography, which has gained him an Instagram following of 420,000 fans.

Customer response to the Cascada has been strong since launch, with 2016 sales outpacing expectations. Through the first half of the year, Cascada has outsold the Audi A3 convertible and Audi A5 convertible combined. Cascada offers a base price lower than the A3, but with space on par with the A5.

Cascada continues Buick’s safety leadership with a five-star crash test rating from NHTSA. Buick was the first brand to receive five-star ratings for every model in the lineup.

USA - Buick continues to build on a sound footing with nearly 700,000 units sold in the first six months of the year.

• Momentum speeds after three years of record global sales 

Among the top automotive brands — those selling more than 200,000 units internationally so far this year — Buick is growing at an unmatched pace. With 675,964 sales through June, Buick ended 2016’s first half up 20.1 percent over the same period in 2015.

In this year of rapid growth, Buick has risen to the fifth-largest passenger vehicle brand in China and is outselling key competitors including Acura, Infiniti and Lincoln in North America.

The growth has been fueled by core international products including the Encore small SUV, which this year surpassed a half-million sales since it was introduced 3.5 years ago. Encore has been a success story in every market, though North America has led the way thus far in 2016 with 36,365 sales through June.

Buick’s award-winning Envision compact crossover concluded its first full month of U.S. sales with 1,436 customer deliveries amid limited availability. A full model range starting at $34,990 launches for the 2017 model year this fall. The Envision has quickly become Buick’s best-selling model sold internationally, followed by Encore and LaCrosse.

Buick’s all-new LaCrosse flagship sedan is launching now. Beautifully crafted and thoughtfully innovative, the 2017 LaCrosse launches globally in the second half of the year as a showcase of design and technology for the brand. More than 950,000 customers worldwide have chosen the LaCrosse since the current model was introduced in 2009.

“2016 has been a year of optimism and excitement for Buick as we’ve outpaced our top competitors,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. “As new products continue to arrive to our stores, there’s never been a better time to take a fresh look at Buick’s range of premium SUVs and cars.”

Buick’s momentous 2016 has also included the launch of the Cascada convertible in the U.S. market and continued growth for the Excelle GT, Buick’s best-seller in China. Cascada, which offers a lower base price than an Audi A3 convertible but space and power similar to an Audi A5 convertible, has outsold both of those vehicles combined through the first half of the year.

In the U.S., Buick was named KBB’s “Best Value Luxury Brand” for the fourth year in a row.

USA - Buick achieves an all time high for conquest sales and this makes three years of continued growth.

• Convertible attracts new customers ahead of three more launches

Shattering expectations has led to three consecutive years of Buick global sales growth, and that momentum is carrying through into 2016. Last month, Buick reached an all-time high in conquest sales, or customers trading in models from competitive brands. 

Two models — the new Cascada and the popular Encore — have been growing the Buick community the fastest. In 2016 alone, more than 35,000 new customers have switched to the brand.

Through April, 64 percent of Cascada buyers traded in vehicles from outside Buick or any other General Motors brand. Previous Audi, Toyota and Honda customers have been among the most common. Demand for the Cascada has outpaced supply with 2,487 sales year-to-date through April and 1,090 sales in April alone.

“The lasting impact of the Cascada will be a change in perception that only a sexy, sleek convertible can provide,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick Global Sales, Service and Marketing. “It’s changing minds and attracting customers in the country’s biggest convertible markets, with nearly half of sales coming from New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas and California. These are all key markets for Buick’s continuing success.”

The Cascada is the first of four new vehicles arriving in U.S. showrooms for Buick and one of two in new segments for the brand. The first-ever Envision is now arriving at dealers and will have a 2017 model year starting price of $34,990. In the industry’s most popular segment, Envision will offer the longest available list of standard safety and a starting price $1,300 below the Acura RDX and $6,000 less than an Audi Q5.

More than 57 percent of Encore customers in 2016 have come from competitive brands, with customers citing value, quality and exterior styling as the top reasons for purchase. Priced to offer a premium entry point into the brand, the Encore now represents 40 percent of Buick sales.

As some competitors prepare their first entries into the small SUV segment, Buick is already doubling down on the Encore with an updated 2017 model available later this year. In addition to more sophisticated styling, it offers the connectivity features customers want most, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 4G LTE Wi-Fi for up to seven devices.

Positioned as attainable luxury, Buick’s pricing strategy gives customers the refinement and technology expected in the luxury market with starting prices closer to that of mainstream competitors. This approach has earned Buick recognition as Kelley Blue Book’s “Best Value Luxury Brand” four years in a row.

“With the 2017 Encore, along with an all-new LaCrosse sedan, the Envision and the Cascada, Buick will have four new vehicles this year in U.S. showrooms alone,” said Aldred. “It’s a year in which we’ll stop asking customers to question their preconceptions of the brand and instead make a strong statement about what the brand is today.”

USA - Buick is heading to teh third straight year of record sales with an estimated 1.2 millions units sold.

Buick will set a global sales record for the third consecutive year in 2015. In mid-December, annual sales surpassed last year’s record 1,170,115 vehicles driven by record sales in China and record crossover deliveries in the United States. Yearend sales for Buick are expected to surpass 1.2 million vehicles.

“Buick’s momentum is undeniable as new customers worldwide discover Buick’s lineup of beautiful, approachable premium vehicles,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick.

“We think 2016 will be another watershed year for the brand with the global launch of the new 2017 LaCrosse, the North American launch of the Envision, the U.S. launch of the Cascada, and the Chinese launch of a new Verano hatchback. Our products and our customer service have never been better.”

In China, Buick sales have surpassed 100,000 units for two consecutive months and annual sales are expected to reach 1 million units for the first time.  The all-new Excelle GT launched this year is the country’s bestselling model.

The popularity of crossovers has significantly contributed to brand growth in all markets. In the U.S., Encore small crossover sales have grown for 23 consecutive months and are on track to become the best sales in eight years for a single Buick model. Combined with China, Encore sales will top 140,000 vehicles globally.

Crossover sales industrywide have increased 3 percentage points in the U.S. this year, accounting for 40 percent of all new vehicles sold. At Buick, Encore and Enclave crossover sales account for 60 percent of U.S. Buick sales so far this year.

The GL8 and all-new Envision compact crossover ranked first and second respectively in the 2015 J.D. Power China Initial Quality Study (IQS) in the large SUV segment. The Envision, which was also named Motor Trend SUV of the Year in China, will end its first full year in production with more than 130,000 sales. It goes on sale in all North American markets in 2016. 

Buick has topped J.D. Power U.S. Customer Service Index rankings among mass-market brands for two straight years.

The new Cascada, Buick’s first convertible in 25 years, goes on sale in early 2016 in the U.S. The new 2017 LaCrosse – Buick’s most advanced sedan ever – launches globally next summer, and the award-winning Envision crossover arrives at North American dealers next summer. The new Verano hatchback and Verano GS are available for pre-order in China now.

Opel denies having any "cheat" programs within any of it's products, as the VW scandal widens.

Opel emphatically rebuts the claims of the German Environmental Relief. We would once again like to emphasize the following, valid for all our cars: GM developed software has no features that detect whether the vehicle is undergoing an exhaust emissions test.

The results of the alleged Zafira test conducted by the German Environmental Relief (DUH) are not comprehendible. It is not fair that the German Environmental Relief makes assertions but did not disclose the alleged results, despite us asking for them on multiple occasions.

After receiving the communication from the German Environmental Relief, our engineers immediately put a corresponding vehicle (a Zafira with a 1.6-liter Euro 6 diesel engine) on the test bench and conducted and protocolled additional tests in accordance with the regulations – both on a two-roller and a four-roller test bench. 

The result: the values comply with the legal limits both for testing on two-wheel or four-wheel setups. This is the only result to be expected, as it has no influence on the emission systems whether or not the rear wheels are in motion. This means: The allegations are clearly false and unfounded.

An approach, as implied by the German Environmental Relief, would contradict our integrity, our values and the work of our engineers. We are committed to the reliable compliance with exhaust emissions thresholds in all our vehicles. We have clear global processes that ensure that our products meet all exhaust emission standards in the markets they are sold in.