Buick releases a two-minute long video starring its new luxury small crossover ‘Encore‘, which has been unveiled just a few days ago in Detroit at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. The footage provides us with an extensive overlook of the model, which represents the hottest Buick model for 2012. The Encore is the American counterpart of the Opel Mokka, which will soon be introduced to the world at the next Geneva Motor Show.

The Encore comes with a supercharged 1.4-litre 4-cylinder Ecotec engine producing 140 hp and 200 Nm (148 ft-pd) of peak torque and coupled with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Other remarkable features of the model include 18″ five-spoke painted aluminum wheels, 10 air bags, the voice-activated IntelliLink infotainment system – which uses Bluetooth or a USB to connect the driver’s smartphone to a high-resolution, full-color 7″ LCD display radio - Bose premium sound system, sat-nav, rear camera, park assist, cornering brake control and brake assist and plenty of options for the customization of its cabin. The Buick Encore will begin arriving at U.S. Buick dealerships in the first quarter of 2013.

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Opel will introduce its new compact SUV ‘Mokka‘ at the next Geneva Motor Show (March 8-18), and here is the first bunch of official pictures released by the German carmaker. The model should become available in the showrooms toward the end of the year, and is basically a twin of the Buick Encore, which has been unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show of Detroit just a few days ago.

The Opel/Vauxhall Mokka measures 4.28 meters in length, a feature that qualifies it as a proper sub-compact SUV for the B-segment, surely one of the most competitive areas of the automotive market. Initially the model will be available with the following engine options: a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol unit producing 140 hp and 200 Nm of peak torque, a naturally aspirated 1.6 petrol delivering 115 hp and a 1.7-litre CDTI diesel engine producing 130 hp and 300 Nm of torque. Both the 1.4 Turbo and the 1.7 CDTI can be combined either with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmissions. All versions will be offered in both Front- and All-Wheel-Drive variants, while all manual transmissions will be equipped with the fuel saving Start-Stop system

The new Opel/Vauxhall Mokka comes with 1,372 litres of loading space, 19 storage locations and the innovative Flex-Fix rear bicycle carrier. Standard equipment also includes the Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the Traction Control (TC), the Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Hill Descent Control (HDC) systems, the Advanced Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL+), the High Beam Assist (HBA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and a Traffic Sign Recognition system. It’s got them all, basically. L’Opel Mokka sarà offerta di serie con cerchi da 18 pollici. To find out more about the new Opel/Vauxhall Mokka, see the official Press Release after the jump.

Continue reading: Opel Mokka: official pics and info released

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German magazine AutoBild reports that Opel/Vauxhall is actually planning the production of the Mokka, a new compact SUV based on the architecture of the Corsa that will challenge the likes of Nissan Juke - and a slew of other models that many carmakers will release soon - in this continuously growing niche of the market. The first rumors about the model surfaced last March, but this is the first actual confirmation of the project, and it is also the first time that the name ‘Mokka’ has been officially confirmed as the name of the upcoming vehicle.

AutoBild says that the Mokka will be officially unveiled in March at the Geneva Motor Show, in view of a possible commercial debut in November 2012. In order to contain the costs, the model will be developed on the same platform of Opel Corsa and should be measuring 4,300 mm in length, making it quite similar in size to the Meriva. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations will be made available, while the price tag for the entry level model will be roughly 18,000 € (23,500 $ - 15,000 £), which is 2,000 € more than the less expensive Meriva.

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Opel is planning a new B segment vehicle to be called the Opel Mokka according to internet rumours. The model is set to compete with the Citroen DS3 and the latest reports regard the name. We’re not quite sold on what sounds like a type of coffee for a car (apart from the spelling) but a DS3 competitor from Opel makes a lot of sense.

The Mokka name has already been filed to be trademarked and the car would be based on a shortened Opel Corsa platform, making this new B segment industrially viable for the company. The small Opel should follow the DS3 trail by providing a distinctive design.

The Opel Mokka (and not Allegra as it is currently known internally) should be compact and original, with a daring interior. It should be no longer than 380 cm and could go on sale as early as next year. An electric Opel would be developed in the future, but it would play a very minor role in company sales.

Source | Automobile Magazine

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