We hope everyone out there is enjoying their weekend. Maybe you’re watching the Lions complete their rout of the San Diego Chargers, or possibly wishing there was more snow on the ground. Maybe you’re making cookies. As for the GM Authority crew, we’re pretending to have the day off. And how can we when we’ve stumbled upon more leaked photos of the upcoming Opel/Vauxhall Mokka small crossover?
These new photos of the Mokka not only help solidify the first leaked photo published yesterday, but they also build on the overall appearance of the vehicle, revealing an image of the tail as well as the interior. For North America, expect a very similar model from Buick with the upcoming Encore that will be revealed in a few weeks at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI. For more photos, visit burlappcars.com
Comments
lookd muvh nryyrt
I have to say I like this the more I look at it. I can’t wait to see it in Buick form.
This rear view angle is about 10000x better-looking than the front angle. The inside looks sweet, very much in line with the current Buick mold. I think it has a shot of working, but only time will tell.
So is this essentially the successor to the Pontiac Vibe?
It looks ok then you see the Buick slatted grill,Then you know its still the same old boring buick !
RVers will love it if it can be towed 4 down. Does anyone know if it will be able to be towed behind an RV in this manner?
That C panel!!! Not too sure about that!!
This is exactly the vehicle my family has been begging GM to build – premium but company. Enclave is simply too large for my purposes, this is exactly what I had hoped for. I will reserve judgement until I see it in the metal – but so far I am very encouraged. Throw some sexy, Buick curves it’s way and I am in….
sorry folks, company = compact 🙂
It’s less overwrought than the Vibe/Matrix and the C-pillar isn’t a disaster. The bat wing rear glass provides visual interest on what would otherwise be a standard small economy wagon. I see Sonic, not Encore, but I guess with a few Buick styling cues, GM will claim it’s the logical shrinking of the Buick brand. I don’t think the Chinese will like a small Buick. They think it’s a big, soft, quiet luxury car in which the new rich are proud to be driven in.
GM is going to have to work hard to make me think of this as a Buick and not a Chevy Sonic. I think it would make a fun addition to the Sonic family.
Well, there will be a Chevy version as well… But I don’t see the problem with using a platform across a luxury brand and a mainstream one.
It needs to be done right — like the Camry/ES or Matrix/HS. And from what we’ve been hearing, the Buick wont share any powertrains with the Chevy variant.
Platform sharing doesn’t bother me. No manufacturer does it better than VW. First it was the Golf showing up under everything from a Jetta to an Audi TT (and many products from its Skoda and SEAT units). Now VW’s MQB platform is flexible enough for more than half of all VW Group products, and you’d never know it. VW is also king at sharing drivetrains, tuned slightly differently depending on the brand and model. It works for VW and it can work for GM too.
(Old) GM’s fault was not sharing platforms but its incestuous rebadging the same car for a different brand. That said, I’m still not sold on a Buick that small. And if Chevy is going to have its own version (an inevitability these days), I’m concerned that GM’s divisions are going to start poaching each others sales again.
The newer iterations of the Camry/ES are better than the first two generations. However, my understanding is that the HS is an unfortunate shotgun marriage of the (last generation) Camry Hybrid, the Toyota Avenis (Euro Camry), and an intern Lexus stylist.
Alex, I think the other commenters on the site are seeing most likely what you have seen in the embargoed images as a very nice small cuv that does leave room for a mid size suv with good towing capabilities and great comfort like a 5-7 seat trailblazer. that will be introduced next in the buick line up. the GMC version is very solid looking unit and the chevy will be a good value of the bunch. the General public will not know the relationships between the three due to substantial differances, Alex on a scale of one to 10 how much do you like the photos you have seen Manoli what would your rating be. Here internally at GM the vehicle is getting high marks for design and looks your opinion does count. thanks
So there are going to be a Chevy version that’s on the Gamma plus?
I LOVE the looks of the Encore and I am very anxious to test drive this vehicle. I believe this CUV will be very well received as it fills a market need for single folks and young families wanting a smaller SUV for better gas mileage and for the fact that they simply have no need for more space that the larger SUV’s offer.
The Encore is good looking and appears to be very luxurious inside which puts it above the Nissan Juke (which handles beautifully and has the best bang for the buck IMHO) because the Juke interior is very cheap and gimmicky. Quite frankly the Juke’s interior spoiled the vehicle for me personally. The Juke really caters to a younger crowd, by virtue of its design and interior. The Encore is more refined, polished, elegant and exudes a more expensive luxury vehicle feeling, catering to those people looking for a CUV that doesn’t look and feel like a cheap toy. Not putting the Juke down because I appreciate and respect the vehicle very much and would have purchased it if not for the poor interior design.
The Encore however, is SLIGHTLY more mature in presentation and not embarrassing to drive if you are over 25. Its sexy and refined which is the winning combination in my opinion. One drawback may be the lack of HP. 140 HP is dismal by most standards, however, the TURBO may make the difference. We’ll see…would have liked at least 160HP or 180HP even better. I feel that most car enthusiast would have a higher opinion and more respect for the vehicle if it had better HP. That being said, if this car drive’s at least somewhat sporty and doesn’t drag or feel sluggish I will most likely purchase it. Have never bought a Buick before so for me to say that I will actually purchase a GM car that has no history from a company near bankruptcy means I have to like it whole lot. To be honest…I actually love it! Can’t wait for first quarter 2013. Bring it Buick…don’t let me down! :o)
I don’t like that wheel design
http://www.carspied.com/2011/12/17/buick-encore-small-suv-i-real-life/
These are some good photos of the encore
it looks great but it looks like a vibe-replacement.
But then again if this IS the one then I would have to say the screen is way too small.
Will someone please confirm for all of us who are dismayed that this might actually look like a Buick product, that it is infact purely an Opel and that the Buick will infact have dramatically improved sheet metal fitting of a Buick, if this indeed what the Chevrolet will look like then fine but Buick, heck no, GM will need to go back and rethink the direction for Buick if this abomination becomes a Buick. Please tell me the sheet metal is different for the Buick, please. How is it that this vehicle would become a Buick, and what relation does this have to do with the beautiful Encore concept.
I think this is just a opel version and I think for Buick it will have different sheet metal. But hunter has the better picture of it though
I wish that was true, but if the regal is anything to go on, then I doubt it.
The Buick looks much better.
I have been looking for a high-end hatch-back that is made in the USA by a U.S. company. I care about the U.S. auto industry and, like many others, want to keep my money working for the U.S. economy. To me, build quality is essential. That doesn’t necessarily mean more electronics that might be prone to fail. Like many buyers in the “upscale” market, I’ll pay a lot more up front if I know I’m not going to be hassled with problems down the road.
I want something fun to drive that also minimizes fuel consumption for a long commute, but I also want to transport an 18 foot sea kayak on weekends. Impossible? I currently do this with a 2006 Base MiniCooper. I gladly paid a mint for a dealer-installed, bolt-on roof rack. (Not some clip-on gimmick a la the Sonic All-Activity Concept.) I’ve been lobbying Chevy to provide roof rails as an option for the Sonic, and to give the Sonic some up-scale features. (Better arm-rest, ambient lighting, rear disc brakes, better materials, etc.) Did Buick step in and meet my needs with the Encore? If someone like me isn’t the target for this vehicle, who would that be?
GM and Buick could convince me that they have changed. There’s one little thing they will probably miss for all of us looking to switch to the Encore from a MINI, and it should cost almost nothing…We are accustomed to a digital speedometer. Why can’t the display toggle to a larger, readable speedometer? Even Ford missed this. I love the speedometer in the Sonic. I now find an analog dial difficult to read at a glance. Another nice touch about the MINI…It has eye-bolts that screw into the bumpers to tie down my kayak….very, very stable, and I don’t need to lift my boat to the height of an SUV. Also, for a small “utility vehicle” it would really be nice to have the front passenger seat fold flat. Hauling a long item is an occasional need that should not force one to a larger, gas-guzzling vehicle with poor handling.
My bright yellow sea kayak on a MINI always draws comments. It’s been a nice advertisement for MINI, which has grown in Houston and now even has a dealership in my part of town. I’d much rather advertise for GM, but it’s little things that make one ask “What were they thinking? Why won’t they lead?”
Great point – I think you are the exact customer that Buick wants. Now, I am only assuming here, but from what we have seen GM is going to go to great lengths to elevate the Buick past what Americans think compact cars are. The Verano compact has a beautiful (and expensive) interior with many premium options. It’s funny, you mention Mini, because I thought that this is exactly the vehicle that the Buick will target. Great post.
Jim, I am glad you are open to moving to an American name plate and asking for a higher standard in vehicle. This is exactly what we need to call for, although I don’t know to many people hauling a kayak with a sub compact vehicles but if mini was able to accommodate with there niche vehicles then GM should be able to as well.
@Jim, I had a MINI Cooper Clubman S for an extremely long 2 year lease (It wished was over after 3 months, as I hated the car so much – too much road noise, punishing ride, uncomfortable seats and run-flats).
The MINI works as a premium small car because of its unique looks and styling and because BMW is behind it. I loved the digital speedo and all the premium features like Xenon headlights, heated seats, automatic headlights and wipers, Bluetooth and Lounge Leather. The cap cost of my MCCS was a whopping $38k. So there is a market for small, premium wagons or SUVs. In fact, almost 100% of MINI’s 2011 US sales increase comes from the MINI Countryman. It seems like almost every new MINI I see in the LA area is the larger, more expensive, more useful, slightly hiked up Countryman.
Mazda thinks there’s a market for a smaller too with its upcoming CX-5 (still much larger than the Encore). Audi’s upcoming Q3 takes premium small up a notch too.
For Buick to make the Gamma II platform work in the premium small segment, it will have to spend quite a bit extra in suspension and interior upgrades as well as give its sheet metal a premium look. The NVH engineers are also going to have to work overtime too to get it where it should be to wear the Buick Shield.
GM has the capability to do it, but will the cost accountants ruin the party? And will it be more than just a few styling changes like we see with the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. I guess we will find out soon with the Encore’s introduction coming in a couple of weeks.
Todd, I’m with you on the harsh feel of MINIs, which is one reason I’m interested in Buick. It’s a tough balancing act though, as I also love the go-kart handling and would miss most of that feel in a CUV or other vehicle with a cushy ride.
Yaba…There would be more people hauling kayaks and other sporting gear with subcompacts if they believed they could do it. But, now we have a society full of people in big houses and big cars that they think they need but can’t afford.
The actual reason I bought the MINI six years ago is interesting and telling. At just six feet tall, it was the only nimble compact car with style that I could fit in comfortably. That’s right, a MINI. Incredible how short-sighted car companies have been. They skimped on front leg room with short tracks to get rear leg room “specs” on paper, and thereby eliminated a huge segment of the market. The Asian companies tend to build their cars for people that are short as per the pedal positions in relation to the steering wheel, even if adjustable. That left the Europeans and a company like BMW to win with ease. BMW can charge exorbitant maintenance fees and get away with it because people like their designs and engineering. Had they Honda’s reliability, well ….
I disagree with many on this board, and agree with GM’s apparent strategy to make Buick more broad-based but fill the market between Cadillac and Chevrolet. The front-end look, quiet, and smooth ride are enough for brand identity. I want and can afford better than Chevrolet quality, but if I drove to work in a Cadillac my employer would think I did not need the money.
Jim, Honda quality; I don’t know about that nearly everyone I have known with a Honda/Acura has had a major tranny or engine overhauls prematurely.
@Jim, all the fun attributes of the MINI are the same things that make it irritating. I love Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, but I can only take it so many times and for so long. So what’s out there in this category? I thought the MINI would be the fuel-sipping compromise for fun after my 335i. I was wrong. 18 mpg city/28 highway doesn’t impress.
Volvo has a new V30 wagon to replace the V50 that was discontinued. Will we get that in the US and will the C30 or V30 ever have a sporty drive? Probably no and no. BMW was supposed to give us the X1 more than a year ago and now it’s nowhere on the horizon.
I too have the “fit” problem. I’m 6’1″ with most of that in the legs. Japanese and Korean cars don’t really fit me well and the seats don’t provide the thigh and lateral support I like/need. GM/Ford/Chrysler, for many years didn’t have anything I’d even consider (that is changing) so I’ve been a German devotee most of my life – owning VW, BMW, Audi and mostly Mercedes.
Buick is in “build” mode. It has to overcome the giant past shadow of “your grandparent’s car” and the brand has never played in this market segment (subcompact CUV) before. It is a risk.
I love small wagons and hatchbacks. I want it to be sporty but I also don’t want to have to shout to be heard at highway speeds and not be punished with a jarring ride. And I’d like a smaller rather than larger car, I’d like great fuel economy and I’d like rear drive. I can dream, right? Right now, the BMW 32i8 Touring (the new one coming next year) and the (coming soon) Audi A4 Allroad are looking pretty good; but I have to say I’m intrigued by the idea of the Buick Encore.
Just to let you guys know the second pic of Encore is up.
Vic, just saw new pic… I just threw up in my mouth; yuck how craptastic is that… My worst fears it litteraly is the Opep, talk about band rebadging at its worst.
It can’t be that bad… maybe the rear is a little odd but…..
Vic;Dude the vehicle is already dated… It looks like something Saturn would have produced 7 years ago, not now. That is how the public will view this vehicle, dated…
we’ll just see after the car comes out
Ok, I am looking at this vehicle and comparing it to say a new Kia Sportage. Just on looks alone the Kia wins, perception is everything , I am just saying this does not represent the Buick brand Well.
I’m just going to save my opinion after the debut….. I think at first people are going to think it’s ugly but maybe it’ll grow later on…
I’m new on this board, so forgive me if this question has been addressed, but why do the car companies make these beautiful concept vehicles only to let us down when the production cars get unveiled? Makes no sense. Seems a waste and counterproductive.
Welcome aboard Jim,
Concept cars are mainly to gauge customer reaction to new design elements or technologies. If a concept is favorably responded to by the public then certain elements of that concept could go into a future production car. Concepts cars are also sort of used to give engineers free reign and encourage new ideas and innovation. Concept cars never go into production in their original form because it is just not feasable for the company financially. Usually the materials used in a concept car are too expensive or the technology displayed is just not available for mass production at the time. Also radical designs like the encore concept, while great for wowing in shows, are just not practical. Those are just some of the reasons concepts dont become production vehicles. Though Im sure most of us wish they would.
Hope this helps,
It’s not that it’s ugly, it’s dated and looks like a toy, not a modern CUV. If Buick is Serious about competing, their product will represent the brand not some other brand with a fancy grill slapped on.
OK, so the door mechanism on the Envision is expensive and impractical, but why would they not implement the overall shape and some of the beautiful curves in the sheet metal? Don’t get me wrong, this is probably still at the top of my list for lack of any other domestic competition in this size/quality/class, but they could have had me waiting for the truck at the dealership. Give me the front folding passenger seat and a digital speedometer toggle like the Mini and the purchase is sooner rather than later.
Jim, welcome. Normaly Iam not so critical but try to bring a different view point. I agree with babeshers comments but I too feel in this case it was a miss communication to the average person who follows concepts to production. The Encore concept bares no relationship to this vehicle being introduced. I think this can back fire on car companies.