Teaser image for the upcoming Buick hybrid crossover

Buick has released a teaser image for its upcoming plug-in hybrid crossover vehicle, and shortly after, news surfaced that the company has another crossover in the works.

The hybrid crossover is pegged for a 2011 release date, and with that timeframe, it should become the first widely-available commercial plug-in hybrid x-over.

The second crossover looks to be different from the hybrid one, with indications that it won’t just be a gas version. Sources say that the second vehicle could be based on the Chevrolet Aveo

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

GM will be letting go of the Saturn brand pretty soon. That means the completed two-mode hybrid system slated for the used-to-be-upcoming Saturn Vue needs to be shifted to a different model.

The recipient? The Chevrolet Equinox crossover.

GM confirmed that the Vue’s system will be tweaked to fit the Equinox’s 3.0-liter V6 engine (the Vue uses a 3.6-liter V6). The company says that the vehicle should be ready by 2011.

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

To hike up sales, Chevrolet will be banking on the efficiency of the new 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The mid-size crossover SUV is expected to reach EPA ratings of 22 mpg on city traffic and 32 mpg on highway traffic.

The CUV is powered by a 182-horsepower 2.4-liter Ecotec engine with direct-injection technology, the tools that help the vehicle achieve its heightened mileage.

There’s an option for a more powerful but less efficient engine, namely the 255-horsepower 3.0-liter direct-injected V-6 engine.

GM further expects its upcoming GMC Terrain to achieve similar efficiency figures.

Source: Car and Driver