Photo Gallery: 2012 North American International Auto Show

We got an in-depth look at some of GM’s current, future and concept vehicles while attending the 2012 North American International Auto Show. We’ve collected some of our favorite photos from the three-day event above, including shots of the 2013 Cadillac ATS, the 2013 Chevy Sonic RS and the 2013 Buick Encore. To read more about the event, check out our 2012 NAIAS recap.

  

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2013 Buick Press Conference and Encore Reveal

We were present at the second day of the North American Auto Show for the Buick Press Conference where the event started with Buick VP Mary Barra speaking about the Buick comeback that started with the Enclave launch five years ago. The Buick Achievers Scholarship program has the Buick brand more involved than ever at college campuses throughout the U.S. The crowd was then introduced to the stylish 2013 Buick Encore, which is a graceful five-passenger compact luxury crossover that features the first use of QuietTuning active noise cancellation technology in any Buick automobile.

Buick is really targeting folks with an active lifestyle that also want a contemporary package with a smooth and quiet ride. The Encore interior rivals much more expensive competitors and a flat load floor for various storage options. With OnStar, all-wheel drive and intellink, the 2013 Buick Encore is going to be safe and forward-looking in regards to driver safety. It’s clear that Buick is attracting younger and progressive buyers with the Regal and Verano, so when you add the Encore into the Buick family, we anticipate sales to continue upwards in the coming years.

  

Turbocharged 2013 Chevy Sonic RS takes center stage

GM unveiled the 2013 Sonic RS with a lower and stiffer suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes and chrome tips. Also included are 17 inch wheels and a new front facia for a tough-looking interior. Additionally, the Sonic RS features a 138-horsepower (103 kW) Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine — the only vehicle in its segment to offer a turbocharged powertrain.

The Sonic RS has a great look and should add more sales to the Chevy brand. We’re very impressed in the way Chevy is targeting a younger audience with cutting edge designs at competitive prices. It will be released to the public in summer-fall 2012.

  

2013 Cadillac ATS Revealed in Detroit

Bullz-Eye.com was invited to the 2013 Cadillac ATS presentation last night at the College for Creative Studies and we have to say that we walked away very impressed. The ATS is Cadillac’s answer to foreign automakers’ compact luxury sedans that have dominated this segment for many years. The ATS will launch this summer and Cadillac obviously has high hopes for the ATS as it will be competing in the largest segment of the luxury market, so the potential here is enormous. Along with a sleek and modern look, the ATS promises the desired performance from buyers in the compact luxury universe and that is partially because Cadillac looked at every material that went into the ATS and came away with a curb weight under 3400 lbs.

Depending on each individual buyer’s preference of the top fuel economy or all out power, you have a choice of three powertrains starting with a 200-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder that should produce over 30 mpg on the highway, a confident 270-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, or for those who want the power, there is a 318-hp 3.5-liter V6. Cadillac also went one step further by offering a manual transmission and optional all-wheel drive to the rear wheel drive platform. Pricing hasn’t been announced and believe me when I tell you we tried to find out, but we do know this segment’s current leaders start in the low 30k range and we expect something close for the 2013 Cadillac ATS.

I have to say that the 2013 Cadillac ATS made a strong first impression with us, and if the performance of this new luxury compact from Cadillac hits the mark, we look for thousands of new buyers coming into dealerships to give the ATS a drive. This segment is about much more than looks, and after hearing from GM North American President Mark Reuss and the other GM executives that presented the all-new ATS, they totally understand their potential customers and designed the ATS to “win” rather than just compete!