Buick Thinks Diesel & Wants More Power for Encore

Buick is considering adding diesel engines to its product line in the very-near future, according to a well-placed source that has recently discussed the issue with Edmunds magazine. While the source would not point to an individual model, most experts believe that the fuel-saving diesel engine would probably be used in the compact Buick Verano. GM recently began utilizing a four-cylinder diesel power plant in the Chevrolet Cruze, which is a close cousin to the Buick Verano.

Most of today’s car shoppers are primarily concerned about fuel efficiency, and the issue remains the top purchase criteria for new buyers. Auto manufacturers are turning to the benefits of strong diesel engines to make sure that vehicles have power, performance, and low gas consumption. While American car companies are just beginning to look to consumer issues for diesel engines, many of Buick’s competitors that are based in Europe have already expanded their availability of diesel-powered cars in the United States.

Buick’s source said that GM’s overall plan to align its American products with the models that are offered by the European Opel division would seem to suggest that diesel engines are the only natural progression. Currently, about half of the passenger cars that are sold throughout Western Europe are powered by diesel engines. Three of the five models in Buick’s American car lineup are based on vehicle architecture that has been developed in Europe. The Buick Encore is a sub-compact crossover vehicle that was engineered and developed in Asia.

The Buick Encore has presented a unique situation for the car maker and the small vehicle is one of the most popular in the brand’s lineup. In September, the Buick Encore sold just over 3,200 vehicles, and it outperformed every model from Cadillac except for the Cadillac SRX. One source recently told Edmunds that the primary reason for buyers avoiding the Encore is a lack of power. The current engine only offers 138 horsepower, and it is outfitted with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

According to sources, Buick is interested in finding out how to create a more-powerful engine for the Encore, but the company’s engineers have not had many choices, until now. Both the 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter engine are too large for the Encore’s small engine compartment. Sources have also suggested that Buick engineers are looking to a newly designed 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas or diesel engine, but the more-affordable gasoline engine is more than likely to become the first pick.

While it’s still uncertain just how fast Buick may pick a European-designed power plant for the Encore, it is clear that the vehicle is one of the chief reasons behind a nearly 15 percent increase in sales for the Buick brand.