CONFIRMED: Buick getting fourth model, Velite likely
In an interview with Car and Driver, Troy Clarke, president of GM's North American efforts, confirmed that Buick would be getting another model by the end of the decade. The forth vehicle to join the Buick stable will be rear-wheel drive and take cues from the Velite concept that debuted at the 2004 New York Auto Show.
Whether or not such a vehicle will be a convertible or a large sedan remains to be seen, but it will share the Zeta platform underpinning the upcoming Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro. The Velite name may not carry over.
In the same article, Clarke espoused Pontiac's goal of being a performance-oriented brand, while at the same time suggesting that all of Pontiac's products will not sport RWD. Clarke confirmed that a redesign of the FWD Vibe is in the works, and may be released as early as this year.
[Source: Car and Driver]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Avinash machado 9:43AM (5/31/2007)
Glad to see that Buick and Pontiac will not be phased out.
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The Other Bob 9:59AM (5/31/2007)
Hope they psuh to nearly all rwd for Pontiac. It will make the company finally stand out.
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JT 10:02AM (5/31/2007)
If this can make the graceful move from concept to production that the Saturn Sky did, GM will have another hit on its hands.
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the law 10:09AM (5/31/2007)
Finally! Buick is getting some love with new models.
If it's G8 based and sedan, would them be Holden Park Ave?
Sounds great GM!Now just bring me my Corsa.
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felipe 10:12AM (5/31/2007)
cool, great, super.
(eventhough i doubt Troy knows what he's saying)
just name it something else please
(and not skylark, or Le anything)
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Big Mike Wood 10:28AM (5/31/2007)
Don't change a thing. If it ends up looking like the photo and is reasonably priced then Buick will have a winner.
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Allan 10:27AM (5/31/2007)
Three things that should not be mentioned in the same paragraph:
- performance-oriented
- no RWD
- Pontiac Vibe
My math isn't always that great, but if you add those things up you get something along the lines of "retarded."
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Lee Gibson 10:43AM (5/31/2007)
Price that against the G35 coupe, and they've got a winner. That's a pretty car.
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Rene Curry 11:06AM (5/31/2007)
In the present form illustrated above and with premium pricing I don't think it will sell well.
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Big J 11:18AM (5/31/2007)
Don't change a thing? Not even the blatant rip-off of those 2004-2006 Nissan Maxima headlights?
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geo.stewart 2:46PM (5/31/2007)
Big J, other than the fact that they do not look anything like the maxima lamps, the Velite came out in 2004 as a concept so i doubt it is a ripoff.
Dausman 11:36AM (5/31/2007)
Good looking automobile...believe Buick is building some good cars....build this one too but build it right the first time and continue to improve it as time and technology allows...you rarely get a second chance to make it right the "next time" because there is no next time.
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Carletti 11:54AM (5/31/2007)
Honestly, it's boring. And aside from it not having a top, there is just about nothing to talk about with this automobile. In fact, it doesn't even look like a concept to me, but instead more like a production vehicle that I've already seen somewhere...which isn't a good thing in my view. And those overtly shiny wheels are just gimmicks and they actually look cheap.
Yes, I agree, Buick needs a car ready to excite the brand. This car, though, is not it. But the Buick Riviera (what an unoriginal name choice for a modern car) can help garner more attention to Buick. The Buick Riviera concept looks stealthy, modern, and even cool (if not a bit fat). THAT, in my view, is the car Buick should be committing all of its R&D on.
But the above convertible is not going to sell, even if it's priced at a base price of $20,000. Because it just doesn't look that hot, because there are other choices available today, and because the Buick name still isn't considered something to be seen around if you want to look young.
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tom 12:13PM (5/31/2007)
I saw the Velite two years ago at the Minneapolis Auto Show. In person this car is stunning
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Mike 12:22PM (5/31/2007)
Velite? Sounds like something you put on your floors to protect the shine.
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Rob 11:32AM (6/04/2007)
What is the point of a performance Buick? All buick drivers go 10-15 under the speed limit at all times anyway. Buick is dead, and has been dead for a very long time. Their demographic is dying off, and nobody wants these boring ass cars anymore. Die buick, die! Nobody wants you! Oldsmobile was a much cooler company than you, and GM is so dumb they killed Olds instead of you!
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AMGoff 12:36AM (7/30/2007)
I know this is an old post but you are an ignorant ass whose comments reflect such.
"What is the point of a performance Buick?"
You obviously know nothing about the brand. Try doing a little research and you might actually learn a thing or two. Past performance Buicks, such as the GSX and the Grand National are some of the most well regarded, sought after muscle cars in the collectible market.
Going beyond all that, our '04 Regal GS would run circles around whatever bland, non-descript Toyondan you probably drive.
It's people like you that make me stop reading this site for weeks at a time. What's the point of coming to an enthusiast site with ignorant, overt bias?
Tool 2:13PM (5/31/2007)
It might make sense for Buick to have a halo car.
Even though GM's biggest problem is too many models, too many divisions, and too many dealers, its biggest strength is also this incredible coverage.
With GM's new divisional structure of 1) Chevy; 2) Buick-Pontiac-GMC; 3) Saturn; and 4) Cadillac the key is to make each channel distinct and highly competitive. Even though, in some cases, they may compete against each other. But then again, you could argue that Toyota has the same problem with its marques.
The bottom line is that you either really go for it, as GM seems to be doing, or you shrink. Sometimes I am quite critical of their business practices, I wouldn't count GM out. GM has its best products that it has ever produced out there.
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Wayne Mansfield 3:20PM (5/31/2007)
mOre bland statements from the revolving door of Pontiac-Buick-GMC marketing types. Just another variation of the Holden built Zeta platform with Buick badges-big deal!!!
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Jeremy 4:33PM (5/31/2007)
I like the idea. Buick used to be a really cool brand. They had the old Riviera, and the Grand National and numerous other performance brands through the 60s and, even if it's a 4-door, I think Buick needs something to show people what Buick really stands for, which is more than just mid-lux vehicles that get you from point a to point b.
And because I can't stand people that just get on a blog to complain about something they don't really care for:
Carletti- Read the article, it doesn't say this is what they're going to produce, and considering this car hasn't even been heard of since 2004 I can't imagine it meeting the produciton line. It would be more likely to be something closer to the Chinese Riviera because it was more recent and seems more "modern"
Rob- Way to go, you've made a completely pointless comment that no one cared to read. And, I believe, that the average age of a Toyota owner is 52, which is a couple years older than a Buick, yet I didn't see you complaining on the new Supra replacement. At least the Buicks have some sort of style unlike the pathetic excuses for an "exciting" vehicles brought out by Toyota that continue to just look more and more boring and, in my opinion, are replacing the Tauras which has always been the vehicle that you just ended up with.
Wayne- If you hate Buick so much then maybe you should consider not reading blogs about Buicks. Just a thought.
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