GM set to unveil 9 new or redesigned Buick, GMC models by 2013

General Motors executives said today they will reveal nine all-new or redesigned Buick and GMC models by the end of 2013.

The automaker separately said that it would soon introduce a new version of the GMC Canyon mid-size truck.

The all-new or redesigned models included the already introduced 2013 Buick Encore crossover, which will be priced at $24,950 with combined average fuel economy of 28 miles per gallon, GM said today. The other models: Buick Enclave, Buick Regal, Buick Lacrosse, GMC Acadia, GMC Sierra, GMC Sierra HD, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL..

“Our dealers have a lot momentum in the marketplace right now,” Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of marketing for Buick and GMC, said in a conference call. “During the next 12 months we’ll continue to give them new reasons for customers to visit their showrooms.”

GM’s decision to produce a new version of the GMC Canyon reflects a commitment to the mid-size truck segment, which some analysts believe is losing ground to the full-size segment.

But GM said it believes the Canyon will fill a niche in the market.

“We know there’s a group of customers that want the functionality of a truck but may not need a full-size pick,” DiSalle said.

DiSalle declined to provide timing or other details on the Canyon, but he said it would be produced at GM’s assembly plant in Wentzville, Mo.

After 2013, the GMC Terrain and recently introduced Buick Verano will be the oldest models in the brands’ lineups, reflecting an increased pace of new product introductions, the automaker said.

GMC attracts the youngest average buyer of GM’s four brands, and its larger vehicles deliver big profits for the automaker in the U.S. For both brands, 40% of sales are so-called “conquest” purchases, industry jargon for vehicle buyers who previously owned a different brand.

GM is also investing in showroom renovations to attract customers. The two brands often share a roof.

*Courtesy of Detroit Free Press