Buick will be rolling out a luxury small crossover in early 2013 that promises to deliver their signature style, interior acoustic refinement and collection of luxury amenities in a maneuverable, versatile and  efficient package.

 

 

In keeping with the global design language that has come to symbolize the brand, the Encore’s sculpted and elegant styling traits – including sweeping character lines – make it instantly identifiable as a contemporary Buick. Signature cues include a waterfall grille, chrome accents and surrounds, portholes on the hood and painted lower panels, similar to the Enclave.

“There’s confidence in its athletic stance and elemental beauty in its rich details,” said David Lyon, executive director of design. 

 

 

Blue-accented projector-beam headlamps and detailed taillamps enhance the premium appearance; and 18-inch, five-spoke painted aluminum wheels are standard. The Encore is engineered with a “one-tire” philosophy where everything is optimized around a single 18-inch tire specification, designed for more precise suspension tuning, driving refinement, quietness and a feeling of control.

Inside, the Encore’s organic styling carries over to a flowing instrument panel that wraps naturally into the door panels. A prominent central instrument panel houses the large, full-color, seven-inch LCD display for the IntelliLink voice-activated radio system. It also features displays for the SiriusXM satellite radio, as well as available navigation and rear camera systems.

 

 

A contemporary mix of dark and light tones distinguishes the cabin, which is accented with ice blue ambient lighting, select use of bright trim and wood-grain trim. Premium seats featuring high-density foam for greater comfort on long drives are trimmed with either a contemporary cloth/leatherette motif or available leather. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are available. The rear seat features a fold-down armrest with cup holders.

 

 

With room for five and up to 48.4 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seat folded, the Encore offers substantial cargo capacity along with the confident, higher driving position, all-wheel-drive capability and contemporary styling of a crossover. 

 

 

And because it’s a Buick, QuietTuning is standard on the Encore, which also features Buick’s first use of active noise cancellation technology. QuietTuning is the process of defining Buick quality, sound and vibration characteristics and designing and refining the vehicle following a three-point strategy of reducing sounds at their source, blocking sounds from entering the cabin and absorbing any remaining sounds.

For the Encore, specific content was applied to achieve 40 sound benchmarks for refinement, including Buick’s first application of active noise cancellation. With it, ceiling-mounted microphones detect engine noise, the frequencies of which are processed by a computer that directs counteracting sound waves through the audio system’s speakers and subwoofer.

 

 

Additional QuietTuning features include:

- Acoustically treated headliner with a tuned gap between it and the high-strength-steel roof panel

- Sound-absorbing materials used in the cabin, under the hood and in the wheel house liners

- HydraMatic 6T40 six-speed transmission with neutral gear disengagement

- Quiet-tuned 18-inch Continental tires

- Aero-optimized outside mirrors

- Ultra-quiet engine alternator

- Acoustic-laminated windshield and thicker 5mm side window glass

- Foam baffle insulation at the opening of body structure cavities.

 

 

The tuned engine includes two hydraulic mounts, which are tailored to the engine’s inherent torque axis to disrupt the transmission of vibration and noise. This configuration also helps control the transfer of momentum, resulting in improved dynamic balance.

 

 

A MacPherson strut front suspension is used with coil springs, a large stabilizer bar and side-load-compensated front strut modules. The rear suspension incorporates a compound crank (torsion beam) design, with a double-wall, tubular V-shape beam profile with gas-charged twin-tube shocks. It combines all the advantages of a conventional torsion beam axle, including minimal space requirements, with low weight and consistent camber control. Urethane spring isolators are used to dampen noise.

Encore is designed with technologies to help avoid crashes and protect occupants in case one occurs. Technologies that help avoid them include available AWD, forward collision alert and lane departure warning, front and rear park assist, and a rear vision camera.

 

 

When it comes to occupant protection, the Encore’s body structure forms a protective cage around the passenger compartment. Sixty-three percent of the underbody structure is comprised of high-strength steels, while 57 percent of the upper body uses high-strength steels, including ultra-high-strength steel. That protection is complemented with 10 standard air bags, which include front knee and rear thorax airbags.

 

 

Encore’s suite of safety features is rounded out with OnStar technology, a service that theCD believes every vehicle should have.

 

 

The Buick Encore is powered by an efficient, power-dense Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. It generates an estimated 140 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque. The wide rpm range for the maximum torque – a specific trait of turbocharged engines – helps it deliver a better driving experience and performance.

 

 

The 1.4L’s turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold, for reduced weight and greater packaging flexibility. A reinforced crankshaft and forged connecting rods deliver additional strength to support the engine’s pressurized power and torque over a wide rpm band.

 

 

Several of the engine’s features contribute to the Encore’s overall fuel efficiency, including:

- A high-efficiency alternator

- Regulated voltage control

- Electronically controlled returnless fuel system

- Deceleration fuel cut-off

 

 

They complement other vehicle-wide systems and components that also help improve efficiency, including low-rolling-resistance tires, electric power steering, neutral idle feature and optimized aerodynamics.

 

 

A six-speed automatic transmission backs the Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine. It has a unique design with planetary gearsets positioned on the same axis as the engine crankshaft centerline, making the entire powertrain unit shorter fore-to-aft. This design enables a shorter overall vehicle length, increased interior space, enhanced safety crush zones and lower weight.