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A Buick LaCrosse hybrid sedan probably will join a new small car and new crossover as Buick expands its lineup in the next three model years.

The brand, which sells four nameplates now, eventually wants a six- or seven-vehicle lineup, says John Schwegman, Buick-GMC’s top marketer.

Buick seeks to revive its reputation for performance and stylish luxury to appeal to middle-aged professionals who often buy Asian luxury brands.

Here are highlights of the brand’s plan for the 2011-13 model years.

Verano: This compact sedan is the next-generation Opel Astra in Europe and the Buick Excelle GT in China. General Motors Co. will market the car here as the 2012 Buick Verano and probably will build it in Orion Township, Mich., or Lordstown, Ohio.

GM developed the car on its front-wheel-drive Delta platform, which is shared with the Chevrolet Cruze. Look for a turbocharged high-performance engine as an option.

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By J. P. VETTRAINO
What is it?

The V-Series variant of Cadillac’s new CTS coupe. As such, it gets Cadillac’s 6.2-liter cam-in-block LSA V8, similar to the blown LS9 in the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 but pumped full of air by a slightly smaller Eaton twin-scroll supercharger. In the CTS-V, this small block generates 556 hp at 6,100 rpm and 551 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm. The V is also fitted with Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control electromagnetic shock absorbers, 19-inch Z-rated summer tires and huge Brembo brakes, sporting six-piston fixed calipers front (four-piston rear) and lightweight, aluminum-hub rotors.

Like the standard CTS coupe, the V-Series coupe has slightly different exterior dimensions than the sedan, with unique sheetmetal from the base of its A-pllars rearward. The coupe’s roofline and seat bottoms are about two inches lower, and it’s a bit more aerodynamically efficient than the sedan. Its two-place rear seat is roomy enough for small- to medium-size adults but difficult to climb into.

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Volt is an electric car that uses gas to create its own electricity. Plug it in, let it charge overnight, and it’s ready to run on a pure electric charge for up to 40 miles(3) — gas and emissions free. After that, Volt keeps going, even if you can’t plug it in. Volt uses a range-extending gas generator that produces enough energy to power it for hundreds of miles on a single tank of gas.

Features:
7″ LCD touch screen and 7″ digital reconfigurable LCD instrument cluster.
Remote vehicle starter system preconditions the cabin.
Bose® Energy Efficient sound system with six speakers and a subwoofer.
30 GB Hard Disk Drive for digital music storage.
High feature Navigation includes voice recognition.
XM Radio(11) with XM NavTraffic®(16)/Weather with three trial months.
OnStar®(12) with Directions and Connections Plan®(13) standard for five years.
Industry-first “mobile apps” capabilities via a smartphone device or web.
8 standard air bags(14):
Dual-stage front air bags for driver and front passenger, knee air bags, side-impact air bags and roof-rail air bags.
Three-point seatbelts in front seating positions.
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Top tethers for Children) system - rear seats.
8-year/100,000 mile(15) battery warranty.
Available leather-appointed seats.

Technology:
Volt is an electric vehicle with a range extender. Well, what does that mean? It means Volt runs on electricity from its battery, and then it runs on electricity it creates from gas.  Let’s assume you have a fully charged battery. Now, depending on the weather, the electrical features that are turned on and how you drive, you can drive up to 40 miles on the electricity stored in the battery — totally gas and emissions free. After that, its gas-powered, range-extending generator automatically kicks in to provide electrical power. So Volt can go for several hundred additional miles, until you can plug it in or fill it up again.

Mobile:
With the new OnStar mobile app, Volt owners can use a smartphone to access their vehicle’s current electric range and fuel efficiency. Plus, managing the Volt charging functions is easy with this application. You can look up the battery’s charge level, check on what time your Volt will be fully charged and ready to go, or even change charging priorities remotely with just a couple of taps. You can perform other commands remotely too — like unlocking doors or activating the remote start. The OnStar mobile app will be available when the Volt launches later this year.

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