REPORT: Upcoming Buick CUV may get 2-Mode hybrid powertrain [w/VIDEO]
Click above to watch the video after the jump
For all those weeping and gnashing their teeth over the loss of the 2-Mode Hybrid Saturn Vue, a ray of hope may be on the horizon from a seemingly unlikely source. According to a posting on GM-Volt.com, there's a possibility that an upcoming sub-Enclave crossover from Buick could be granted access to the sophisticated hybrid technology that GM had initially intended for the latest Saturn Vue.
The world may have gotten a sneak peek at the new Buick 'ute on a recent CBS News piece that featured an interview with GM design head Ed Welburn. As the rumors go, the new CUV will share the same platform as the soon-to-be-departing Saturn Vue, so it theoretically shouldn't be too difficult to port the technology over to Buick for a 2011 model year release. Of course, there still remains the possibility that the 2-Mode could also make an appearance in the latest Chevrolet Equinox or Cadillac SRX. Either way, you can check out the CBS News footage after the jump or read more about the possibility of a Buick 2-Mode at the link below.
[Sources: GM-Volt.com, CBS News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JB35 4:08PM (6/15/2009)
Is it me or are the new Buick beak (grill) and the new Acura beak (grill) a little similar? Though I believe that GM did a better styling job for their Buick beak.
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dwightB 5:26PM (6/15/2009)
Kinda, sorta, but not really...
But considering the fact that Buick first showed that grille on the Velite concept from 2004 (which means it was already well under way in mid to late 2003), I don't really think it was a "copy" of anything from any Honda studio. Especially considering the fact that Acura didn't show that ugly "beak" until the ASC (advanced sedan concept) concept in late 2006.
JB35 5:59PM (6/15/2009)
I never said that it was a copy, just noticed that they has a similar "chevron" style. I also wanted to give props to GM for doing a better design with the Buick nose than Honda did with their Acura "chevron" nose.
fixitfixitstop 1:20AM (6/16/2009)
(grille)
MikeyB 4:13PM (6/15/2009)
I love designs of GM's new cars. It's a shame it took this long.
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Motor_Yakuza 7:51PM (6/15/2009)
You have to wait for good things, and some people/companies only give their best when are about to lose all.
Serge 4:15PM (6/15/2009)
Looking good... the latest designs from Buick are very elegant, especially the LaCrosse. If the interior is like the LaCrosse, then Buick has a winner on their hands.
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Ratt-Rodder 4:22PM (6/15/2009)
JB35, you really need to do two things before you make such a statement.
1 Go back and look at the Buicks of the past
2. Learn what style really is.......
Buicks current "griils" are Governments Motors attempt at retro styling. Acuras on the otherhand is simply someone who didn't take their meds .
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mapoftazifosho 4:33PM (6/15/2009)
Didn't take their meds...BWAHAHAHA!
Tomac 4:34PM (6/15/2009)
Regardless how they came about, the grilles are somewhat similar, and neither are anything close to attractive.
And Buick grilles of the past, at least if you go back half a century, were pretty cool. Acura, on the other hand, hasn't been good-looking since they adopted alpha-numeric names.
Ligor 4:38PM (6/15/2009)
lol
the recent Buick design language is very good. most of us remember Buick from teh 80s adn 90s adn all we know is they are old peoples cars (grandmas & grnandpas) so now that they have this fresh good looking design we're a bit confused on how to take it
i definitely think it's the right direction and an Enclave for the wife would be perfoct adn we're in our very late 20's
a few years agoi wouldn't even bother to bring the work Buick in my vocabulary
oinky 4:34PM (6/15/2009)
As far as I am concerned, at this point, two mode hybrid is vaporware.
All the articles, test drives etc don't mean anything if GM is not going actually sell a vehicle with one.
By the way it comes out, the technology is obsolete compared with other hybrid/electric technologies. Way to go GM!
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alex 4:47PM (6/15/2009)
they already sell vehicles with 2-mode hybrid systems, smart ass. In fact, they sell 5 different models with the 2-mode system.
inline6 4:48PM (6/15/2009)
oinky,
Meet the Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Yukon, and Escalade 2-Mode Hybrids. On sale since the 2008 model year.
gslippy 6:36PM (6/15/2009)
It's just another hybrid nobody wants. Just look at the sales figures for their existing hybrids - only 1% of total sales for GM in March 2009 were hybrids. That's something like 1000 cars, all losing money.
Badge-engineering the Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Yukon, and Escalade doesn't mean they actually sell any.
oinky 11:56AM (6/16/2009)
Forgot about the trucks 2-mode hybrid. My bad.
I was calling Saturn dealers about the Vue 2-mode because I was very interested in getting it and they gave me the runaround, even tried to steer me away from hybrids. I think the problem is with GM dealers - they don't know how to sell hybrids and try to steer customers to what they know how to sell and have in stock.
That's why the sales results are not good. Then GM management would drop the hybrids -- which is not indicative of what the client wants.
I ended up not buying a GM vehicle, I found the dealership experience very lacking. This is not blasting American dealerships in general, I found VW & Mazda dealerships are bad as well, at least the ones I went to.
DC_1 4:34PM (6/15/2009)
Here we go again!! Why does Buick need a small CUV when Chevy and Cadillac has one already? Is there really a need to all three?
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inline6 4:46PM (6/15/2009)
Don't forget the GMC Terrain, which will be on the same platform.
I admit that I'm a GM apologist. But I do agree that, while a TE-based Buick fills a hole in Buick's line, that hole doesn't exist within the corporate lineup...or even the Buick-GMC dealer lineup.
What Buick needs to do if they want a smaller brother to the Enclave, is to offer an AWD Insignia Tourer with a little bit of lift. Not another TE vehicle.
Ratt-Rodder 4:41PM (6/15/2009)
oinky, you are so right, they should have never ended the EV-1 program.
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Jimbo 9:17PM (6/15/2009)
No! Bad GM, Bad! *whacks with newspaper* We do not sell the same vehicle in each brand!
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