Tiger Woods to help intro Buick Enclave
GM's Chairman/CEO Rick Wagoner will join PGA superstar Tiger Woods to unveil the new-for-'08 Buick Enclave at this year's second L.A. Auto Show. Apparently moving the show to a new time slot in December to avoid the January competition with Detroit is already paying off for the L.A. organizers. Bringing Tiger out for this event shows how eager Buick is to get maximum exposure for this all-important new model. We're sure Tiger's going to be happy they didn't wait for the North American International Auto Show to debut it. L.A. in December or Detroit in January? Tough choice.
The Enclave should look a lot like the concept shown in Detroit last January, but will mark the debut of GM's new Lambda platform. The Lambdas will eventually replace the U-Body minivans with their front- or all-wheel-drive platform and 2+2+2 seating. Initially a 270-hp V-6 mated to a 6-speed automatic will be offered, but a V-8 should arrive somewhere down the road as well. That V-8 will undoubtedly be identified by the four (or is that fore?) ventiport styling touch Buick is becoming known for.
The Enclave should also feature a more upscale interior befitting Buick's position in the GM lineup. The first Lambda full-size CUV to be unveiled was the Saturn Outlook at the 2006 New York Auto Show, and it will beat the Enclave into showrooms when it goes on sale next Spring, followed by the Enclave and GMC's Acadia. The Enclave will replace the awkward looking and slow-moving Rendezvous.
[Source: GM]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jason 7:03PM (9/18/2006)
Tiger must be jumping for joy he doesn't have to ride in that crap Rendezvous anymore. The Enclave actually looks really nice.
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Ligor Manushi 6:45PM (9/19/2006)
i really like the Enclave too
it's the best Buick ever build period
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Jim P. 7:08PM (9/18/2006)
You know, it goes to show you that when you really want to make a top notch car you can! This thing rocks!! I think Buick will sell the hell out of these. Nice job there GM!
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Shoaib 7:09PM (9/18/2006)
"The Enclave will replace the awkward looking and slow-moving Rendezvous."
Kinda makes you wonder why Rendezvous sales have hovered at around 60,000 unites a year...
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cowboy bob 7:12PM (9/18/2006)
It is still a front wheeler, and is no doubt all wheel with front bias. When is GM going to listen to the people who want the drive wheels not to be the ones you steer with? This one won't be on my list when I'm looking.
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Cap'n Jack 7:16PM (9/18/2006)
Another SUV... where are the CARS??? Does it seem like GM is just stalling as long as they can in the hopes that gas will remain under $2 per gallon and people will return to low mileage vehicles?
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kap0w 7:18PM (9/18/2006)
Darn... I really despise Buicks and am not a huge fan of CUVs either... but the picture above looks pretty darn good! Nice job, GM... here's to hoping people buy it. Oh... that V8? C'mon... what is this thing, a racecar? Way to drop fuel economy for no particular reason.
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RaslDasl 7:26PM (9/18/2006)
Finally, a Buick you can almost imagine Tiger would drive. Almost.
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Tom Design 7:29PM (9/18/2006)
Gorgeous automobile/SUV/Crossover/minivan. What kind of auto world is this when you can't identify what you're buying?
This is a great design, inside and out, nice job. Read somewhere, (autoblog?), Buick hired designers under 30 to put this to market. I wonder how they did that with EEO? "Sorry you're too old to think good design" I'd be out of a job with that age cutoff.
Whatever they did, DO MORE. There's nothing this beautiful, except the FX, in the automobile/SUV/Crossover/minivan market. I do like the Trailblazer SS, and the newest Range Rover, both clean and masculine designs. But the rest of the competition? Don't get me started on cliche, boring, poor proportions, lost, cloned, and just ugly-the-box-it-came-in designs. Can't wait to see this in person.
I'm done with the Audi Avant wagon, and in a new Fit Sport. It's not a pretty ride at all, but perfect for city life, a box-on-wheels. Lots of great packaging and a clown car look.
cowboy bob => what are you ranting about? The entire Honda, Toyota, GM, Ford, Volvo, Saab, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki (and more) line-ups are predominantly FWD in their passenger/van/mini/whatevers. Even Chrysler makes mostly FWD. Why are you spoiling this Buick post? Come on, this is a sweet auto that we deserve after years of boringly styled cars like my Fit. LOL
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JarryHames 8:01PM (9/18/2006)
This is a nice looking CUV for Buick. Let's hope that keep it updated and freshly styled. GM will introduce a car and forget about it. While the competition have moved on to updating and refining their models. I just hope that the Lambda vehicles are not disposible in a few years. Think Rendezvous and how they never went out of their way to improve that pitiful confused mess. Great job! Maybe I could talk my mother into purchasing one.
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Presto 7:47PM (9/18/2006)
That's a nice ride, for a Buick. Nice job GM.
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Tim UF 7:48PM (9/18/2006)
the rendezvouz sold so well because it was utterly beautiful (when you put it back to back with its twin, the ass-tek).
this cross over wagon van whatever floatsyour boat thing is a good looking vehicle, without the comparison to an ugly sibling.
(GM has a 270 hp v6 to be used in FWD/AWD apps? why isnt it in the malibu/maxx SS etc?)
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Michael Karesh 7:51PM (9/18/2006)
Do we even know how the AWD system is set up in the Lambda's? Even if it is front-biased, that's fine for this sort of vehicle.
Lots of good buzz around these. They just need to get two things right:
1. Interior materials and craftsmanship; Aura isn't quite where I'd hoped
2. Reliability
I hope to have a read on reliability this time next year. Just need a couple dozen early owners to sign up next spring.
http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php
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TL 7:56PM (9/18/2006)
Beautiful car but wow it looks like a beefed up Mazda CX-7
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offroadwarrior03 8:30PM (9/18/2006)
i agree with TL, it does look like a cx-7 on steroids. ireally jope they will put a v8, rear drive option on it eventually
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toyota will be dead pretty soon 3:25PM (9/19/2006)
Toyota doesn't have an answer to these sexy products coming out of gm.
I have been strongly recommending toyota to improve the sex-appeal of its cars but toyota is not listening. it seems like toyota is going to be in serious trouble in the next few years.
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Mark 8:58PM (9/18/2006)
Do you guys ever check sales figures before making up stuff, or do you just assume awkard looking cars or cars being replaced are "slow moving". A simple check at sales at Automotive News' data center would show you are wrong, and that Buick does a good job selling around 60,000 Rendevousz a year, a very respectable number and one that met original plans.
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Gilbar 8:59PM (9/18/2006)
I can only assume that the execs let the designers do their thing. This is the first Buick I've ever had a liking for. I felt for Tiger pushing the previous Buick models. I couldn't imagine an elite athlete like that driving a Rendezvous around the town.
If they get this kind of design quality into the rest of their lineup, adults under 40 may be talking about Buick again. I also hope they don't end up rebadging this down the line.
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Frank4Cars 9:26PM (9/18/2006)
Why does slow-moving automatically make one think of sales? ;)
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Mike 9:02PM (9/18/2006)
If Buick was only as good an automaker as Tiger is a golfer. Looks like another double bogey to me.
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