Autoblog

Buick teases baby Enclave, promises 2011 plug-in hybrid version

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:05:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Buick, GM, Electric

Bob Lutz has gone on record worrying about Buick's advertising campaign, arguing that the messaging doesn't say the right things to the right people. If only Buick had been advertising this instead: a five-passenger "Baby Enclave" CUV that is coming next year, followed by a plug-in hybrid version in 2011.

General Motors expects the plug-in hybrid "to be the first commercially available plug-in hybrid SUV produced by a major automaker," and it looks like they don't plan on any shortcuts with it. The gas-electric Buick will use LG Chem li-ion batteries juicing up a reworked version of GM's 2-Mode hybrid drivetrain, and can be recharged in four to five hours.

But until that gets here you'll have to make do with the full-boat gasoline-powered Enclave. Those who don't need that much space but are keen on owning a Buick would be well advised to wait for the forthcoming Saturn Vue-based model, which will arrive with a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine that is expected to get 30 mpg on the highway, and there will also be a 3.0-liter V6 version as well. You can read all about the new model in the press release after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Buick teases baby Enclave, promises 2011 plug-in hybrid version

Buick teases baby Enclave, promises 2011 plug-in hybrid version originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opposite World: GM dealers reportedly fretting over too tight crossover and truck inventories

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Buick, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

Buick Enclave - Click above for high-res image gallery

In these dark days of bankruptcy proceedings, ever-dwindling sales figures and decades of receding market share, General Motors' base of dealerships certainly has plenty of things to keep it up at night. You may be surprised to hear, though, that a dwindling supply of available inventory is one of the major problems some dealerships are currently reporting. We're not shocked to hear there's only a six-day supply of Chevrolet Camaro models on hand, but dealers are also seeking remedies for shortages of Buick Enclaves, GMC Yukon SUVs and extended-cab Sierra pickups, as well as limited supplies of Chevrolet Silverado trucks. For a company that has historically had an unhealthy attachment to high inventories across their brands, this is an unusual development indeed.

GM is aware of the shortages and Mark LaNeve, vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing, tells Automotive News that the shortage is a normal part of the adjustment process from the old days of carrying a 120-day supply of vehicles to today's goal of a leaner 75-day supply. The General's messenger further suggests that dealers trade inventory with each other to bolster inventory until the automaker is ready to rekindle its assembly lines beginning on Monday, July 13 after the company's extended summer shutdown.

Gallery: 2008 Buick Enclave

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Opposite World: GM dealers reportedly fretting over too tight crossover and truck inventories originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lambdas get IIHS Top Pick rating

Dan Roth — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Crossover, Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Saturn

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety took some GMC Acadias and smashed them up to see how the big crossovers hold up against immovable objects, and unlike recent tests conducted for the Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent, the news is positive. An AWD Acadia SLE acted as a stand-in for all of the Lambda models - Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Saturn Outlook, and all Acadia trims included. It didn't matter whether the IIHS attacked the front, side, or rear - the CUV earned a "good" rating in all directions. With the standard fitment of Stabilitrak, the IIHS also bestowed a Top Safety Pick crown on GM's big haulers. The Lambas now have both a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designator about which to brag.

[Source: Inside Line]

Lambdas get IIHS Top Pick rating originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick Enclave gets passport for sale in China

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:32:00 EST

Filed under: China, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Buick

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 Buick Enclave.

In addition to getting the coolest Buicks which are not available in America, individuals in China are about to get the best vehicle that Buick has to offer in the States. In a deal which was initially inked ten months ago, the attractive Enclave CUV, built at GM's Lansing Delta Township assembly plant, is headed for China. The U.S. assembled 'utes will make their way by means of Shanghai GM. The exportation of the Enclave to China is only surprising in that it took so long for the General to get the model there in the first place. After all, Buick sells more vehicles in China than anywhere else in the world, with the nation consuming over half of all Buicks worldwide. We can only hope that Shanghai GM returns the favor and sends some of its best designs our way... and soon.

Gallery: 2008 Buick Enclave

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Buick Enclave gets passport for sale in China

Buick Enclave gets passport for sale in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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$100K for a Tiger Woods-used Enclave? Seriously?

Alex Nunez — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Crossover, Buick, Celebrities

Click image for a gallery of the Enclave used by Tiger Woods

In January, EA Sports held an online contest for Tiger Woods 08 players on the XBOX 360. First prize was a 2008 Buick Enclave CXL courtesy car used by Tiger during December's 2007 Target World Challenge golf tournament. Tiger won the tournament, finishing seven strokes ahead of '07 Masters champ Zach Johnson. Well, the contest is over and the winner has apparently taken delivery of the Buick, which came complete with a certificate of authenticity signed by Tiger himself. This might well be the only Buick Enclave in circulation that's Upper Deck authenticated.

Naturally, the car's new owner is looking to see if the Tiger connection is something that can be capitalized on, and the ride has been listed on eBay. Fully loaded, finished in Cocoa Metallic over Cocoa Cashmere, and showing just 220 miles on the clock, it's a really nice vehicle. As for the $100,000 Buy It Now price, well, that's ridiculous even with its certified, touched-by-Tiger history. According to the auction listing, eleven people have made offers, but there's no telling if they're anywhere near the asking price. We can't imagine they would be. Our advice: exercise some patience. Garage the Enclave, put the certificate of authenticity in a safe, and offer the whole package at Barrett-Jackson in January. As if by magic, a mundane, dealer-supplied courtesy vehicle becomes a "celebrity car". In B-J's massively hyped, more-money-than-sense environment, a hundred grand seems entirely feasible. Do we hear two hundred? Thanks for the tip, Steve.

Gallery: Buick Enclave touched by Tiger

[Source: eBay]

$100K for a Tiger Woods-used Enclave? Seriously? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Playboy names hottest cars of '08, crowns Audi R8

Chris Shunk — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Crossover, Supercars, Audi, BMW, Buick, GM, Maserati

Since 1953, thousands of beautiful models have posed for Hef's Playboy magazine, and yet the R-rated publication prides itself on giving "readers" more than just a bunch of naked women in various poses. To celebrate its diversity of content, the bunny has penned its hottest new rides of 2008. If it wasn't already obvious that Mr. Hefner had a passion for nice curves, his publication's selections for the best transportation on four wheels hints at broader appeal than the female persuasion. Playboy chose the Audi R8 as its car of the year, citing a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds as its main attraction. The even better looking Maserati GranTurismo took the best sports couple category, and the hot new Cadillac CTS took sports sedan honors. Playboy's entire list of winners, accompanied by it's official press release, is available after the jump. Check it out and tell us if you think The Girls Next Door wrote the description for the CTS.

[Source: Playboy]

Continue reading Playboy names hottest cars of '08, crowns Audi R8

Playboy names hottest cars of '08, crowns Audi R8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadian Car of the Year winners announced

Chris Shunk — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Crossover, Supercars, BMW, GM, Honda, Mini

Every year the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) pick the top new vehicles by category to give their Canadian comrades a reference point for potential purchases. The AJAC tested 177 vehicles in an event at Niagra they call "Test Fest" to come up with their final list, which you can find after the jump.

Even though Canadians have different automotive tastes than us Yanks, they seem to like many of the same cars we do. The AJAC picked the Audi R8 as its "Most Coveted Vehicle", the Honda Accord was honored as best family car, and the Audi S5 took honors for best sports car over $50,000, all of which are fine picks with us. We do, however, question the Nissan Rogue as Best New SUV/CUV under $35,000. It's also interesting to note that no Toyotas made the final list of 12, and GM was the only U.S. domestic to hit the list, impressively taking four categories.

[Source: Auto North]

Continue reading Canadian Car of the Year winners announced

Canadian Car of the Year winners announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keeping the Enclave on boil - GM keeps a lid on production

Dan Roth — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:42:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Buick, GM

click above image to see more of the increasingly exclusive Buick Enclave

General Motors has a hit on its hands with the big, beautiful Enclave CUV. People all over the country are trying to get their hands on Buick's luxurious iteration of the Lambda Ute. Rather than follow the time-dishonored practice of running as many copies of a hot model out the door as possible, GM's keeping production on the Enclave under strict control. In fact, even though some dealers have sold out of their Enclave inventory, GM will be reducing shifts at the Lansing plant that builds the Enclave. Bob Lutz explained the restrictions thusly: "We want to keep [the Enclave] hot... Nothing destroys the value of a new product faster than over producing." That's it in a nutshell, right there. The practice of tying production to demand is what Toyota and Honda tend to do. Take the Fit, for example. Part of the allure of that vehicle is that buyers often have to wait to get one. The same kind of "best kept secret" mystique surrounds the Enclave - you don't see them everywhere, and they're rather opulent once you finally get a chance to check one out. Exclusivity can also spur customers into paying full price, where before a glut of product would mean heavy discounts. Of course, GM can't afford moves such as restricted production and labor layoffs at every plant and on every model, but we hope this new tack pays off in boosting the General's image as well as its bottom line.

[Source: WSJ]

Gallery: 2008 Buick Enclave

Keeping the Enclave on boil - GM keeps a lid on production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2007: Jerome Williams' Buick Enclave Urban CEO Edition

John Neff — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Crossover, Buick

click above image to view more pics of the Buick Enclave Urban CEO Edition

One of three custom Buick Enclaves that will be debuted at this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the Enclave Urban CEO Edition comes with a little minor celebrity flair, as well. You see, it was designed by former NBA basketball player Jerome Williams and his company Automotive Street Style. The press release after the jump also implies that this won't be the last cooperative effort between these two companies. The Urban CEO Edition, meanwhile, has been designed for the company head that doesn't want to drive a sedate sedan. It's dipped in White Opal paint from head to toe, and the rear bumper has been smoothed out for a cleaner look. The deep dish 24-inch wheels, however, would likely turn off all CEOs save for those that run a record label or something equally as "hip". We doubt Rick Wagoner would be caught dead in this Enclave.

More info and GM's official press release can be found after the jump.

[Source: GM]

Gallery: Buick Enclave Urban CEO Edition

Continue reading SEMA 2007: Jerome Williams' Buick Enclave Urban CEO Edition

SEMA 2007: Jerome Williams' Buick Enclave Urban CEO Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Buick Enclave Urban CEO Edition

John Neff — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Crossover, Buick, GM

click above image to enlarge

Like most full-line automakers, General Motors has begun taking seriously the SEMA Show in Las Vegas that occurs annually at the end of October. Once a giant exposition center's worth of third-party products, it's now also a stage on which automakers can debut new products and crazy concepts. One of GM's SEMA cars this year is the Buick Enclave Urban CEO Edition. It'll be unveiled the day before the SEMA Show opens by former NBA player Jerome Williams. We don't have any details on it other than what you can see in the above pic, but it looks sharp. Ditch the wheels that don't fit the super smooth upgrades and we're in.

Below is a list of other vehicles we know GM will be debuting at SEMA:

50 Cent's custom Pontiac G8
GMC Sierra Denali Concept
Two more custom Buick Enclaves by Custom Motor Sports and Mitek Corp.
Much more we don't know about yet...

[Source: GM]

SEMA Preview: Buick Enclave Urban CEO Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM signs $800mil deal to send U.S.-built Buick Enclave to China

John Neff — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: China, Crossover, Buick, GM, UAW/Unions

click above image to view high-res gallery of the Buick Enclave

Amidst all the fury surrounding the UAW strike today, General Motors released a statement announcing an $800 million deal with its Chinese joint-venture company to supply the Chinese market with U.S.-built vehicles and components. It's the second such agreement GM has signed, the first being an agreement worth $700 million to supply Cadillacs and components to China signed back in May. The new agreement focuses mainly on the Buick Enclave CUV, which is built at GM's Lansing Delta Township assembly plant. One can't help but question the timing of this announcement as GM and UAW negotiators are back at the table this afternoon to discuss job security for the union's 73,000 members. There's little doubt now that UAW employees at the Lansing plant will be busy in the months ahead not only trying to meet demand for the Enclave in the U.S., but also producing the vehicle for export to China. We'll see as the day goes on if this agreement has any effect on negotiations, but there are a total of 59 plants operated by GM that use UAW workers. Securing work for just one of them probably isn't going to be enough.

[Source: GM]

Gallery: 2008 Buick Enclave

Continue reading GM signs $800mil deal to send U.S.-built Buick Enclave to China

GM signs $800mil deal to send U.S.-built Buick Enclave to China originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoWeek drives the 2008 Buick Enclave first

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:33:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Buick

click above image for more high-res pics of the 2008 Buick Enclave

Thinking outside the box a bit, AutoWeek figured that if a customer can drive down to his or her local Buick dealer and purchase a new 2008 Buick Enclave, there's no good reason to wait until GM's embargo on ride evaluations lifts at the end of May before having a go at one themselves. So they visited a local dealer, test drove one and reported the findings for those of us interested in learning about this highly anticipated new Buick ASAP. There was a bit of backlash the last time AutoWeek did this when they reviewed the 2007 Chevy Silverado well ahead of its embargo lifting, but we'll have to wait and see if anyone, including GM, cares much this time. Embargo breaking seems to be the norm these days and the rules are ever-changing. So what did they think of the Enclave?

Follow the jump for the rest of the summary, and make sure you click through the read link for the full write-up.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Gallery: 2008 Buick Enclave

Continue reading AutoWeek drives the 2008 Buick Enclave first

AutoWeek drives the 2008 Buick Enclave first originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick Enclave comes to market bearing $1,000 rebate

Chris Tutor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 07:36:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Buick

At first we thought it had to be a mistake. General Motors is already paying customers to take the 2008 Buick Enclave off their hands? It's not even on dealer lots yet, but Automotive News reports Buick is offering $1,000 "Conquest Bonus Cash" and 4.9% financing available on the $32k+ CUV.

Though the "Conquest Cash" is intended to draw non-GM-driving customers away from the competition, no matter the name, rebates on brand new vehicles are obvious admissions of overpricing that only enforce car shoppers' addiction to cash-back offers. If the Enclave performs as well and is as reliable as it is gorgeous, it shouldn't need any incentives.

On the other hand, a drop-dead body and cash back could be irresistable to all but the most diehard import buyer.

[Source: Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]

Buick Enclave comes to market bearing $1,000 rebate originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 07:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadians, get out your wallets: Buick sets pricing for Enclave

Chris Tutor — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Buick

While we in the U.S. have known since January what Buick's Enclave was going to cost us, you Canadians have been left in the dark. The General has spoken, and the least expensive Enclave CX in Canada will cost $40,895 CDN. The CXL starts at $48,295 and all-wheel drive adds $3,000 to either. Canadian dollars, of course, though after currency conversion it seems Canadians will pay more then we in the U.S.

In other Enclave news, a Lansing, Michigan TV station reports that the first of Buick's new crossovers are rolling off the line today, with the first 6,000 already spoken for.

Included after the jump is General Motor of Canada's press release.

[Source: WLNS, General Motors Canada]

Continue reading Canadians, get out your wallets: Buick sets pricing for Enclave

Canadians, get out your wallets: Buick sets pricing for Enclave originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick dealers clamoring for Enclave before they go on sale

John Neff — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Buick

If dealer anticipation is anything to go by, the new Buick Enclave has already exceeded the expectations of General Motors. Buick dealers have put in orders for 6,000 units of the third large CUV to be built on the automaker's Lambda platform, the other two being the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia. This is one of those good news/bad news situations, as GM only has the capacity to build around half of the orders taken for the Enclave by the time the SUV goes on sale by June 1st.

So far, the Acadia appears to be handily outselling the Outlook by over 2 to 1, racking up 5,965 sales this year through February compared to 2,844 sales of the Outlook. The Enclave will be positioned above its two CUV siblings with a starting price of $32,790. Dealers are also ordering Enclaves optioned to the hilt with premium items, so expect average transaction prices to be much higher. The looming question is whether consumers can stomach a premium-priced CUV from Buick after being weened on the heavily incentivised Rendezvous. We think they can, if based solely on the fact that the Enclave is a real looker and the other two Lambda CUVs have been received well by the press so far.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Buick dealers clamoring for Enclave before they go on sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick Enclave pricing released

Chris Tutor — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 08:06:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Buick

$32,790

That's the minimum, early-summer buy-in for what is arguably Buick's most exciting, most innovative product in decades. That just-under 33 grand purchases a front wheel drive CX model with standard 275hp V6, Buick's first 6-speed tranny, xenon lights, heated mirrors, power liftgate, stability control, six airbags, disc brakes all around, multi-zone climate control, XM satellite radio and a few other expected goodies. For $2,000 more, you get to power all four wheels on the CX. Step up to the CXL front-wheel drive for $34,990 and four-wheel for $36,990. Not sure yet what the extra money for the CXL gets you, though.

Options include front passenger opening sunroof with rear skylight, bigger wheels (natch), more speakers, fold flat rear seat, back-up camera and articulating headlights.

While it's definitely a huge improvement over past Buick offerings, the Enclave has some serious competition in this price range. It will have to fight Acura's RDX, Honda's Pilot, Ford's Edge, the Infinit FX35, the Lexus R350, Lincoln MKX, and the Volvo XC90 for sales. Add some of those fancier options to the Acadia and the price tag could climb on up into Cayenne territory. It's a tough segment and we hope the General is sending the Enclave to a gun fight armed with more than a very nice looking switchblade.

Be sure to check out our huge selection of Enclave photos.

Continue reading Buick Enclave pricing released

Buick Enclave pricing released originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GMC Acadia will get Denali treatment plus V8

Scott Davis — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Buick, GM, GMC

After a day behind the wheel of the new GMC Acadia crossover SUV, the folks at Popular Mechanics report some new information that snuck out in a conversation with a particularly chatty GM staffer.

He revealed that the Acadia will get the Denali treatment and, along with the usual trim level upgrades, a V8. The more interesting news is that the V8 under the hood of the Acadia Denali, and most assuredly the Buick Enclave as well, will be from an entirely new engine family being developed for transverse applications.

He stopped short of giving up specs, but the 3.6-liter V6 as tuned for use in the new crossovers makes 275 horsepower, so figure 300+ for sure. Hey General, how about 400?

Thanks to Ben at Popular Mechanics for the heads-up!

[Source: Ben Stewart / Popular Mechanics]

GMC Acadia will get Denali treatment plus V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What's in a name? GM wrestles with crossover designation

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, SUV, Wagon, Crossover, GM

GM is apparently just as confused as the rest of us when it comes to naming that crossover/CUV/sport wagon/tall-wagon-thingy sitting in the driveway. In general, a crossover is a unibody vehicle that looks like an SUV, but handles and gets fuel mileage more like a car. SUVs are body-on-frame vehicles, generally built on a truck platform. The differences are sometimes minute, but that is only part of the problem. The bigger problem here is what to call this segment as a whole.

In the early days of SUVs, some people called all of them Jeeps. They were trucks for passenger vehicle duty, exemplified by the Jeep Cherokee. As more manufacturers started offering them, a slew of nicknames popped up to represent the segment, but SUV ended up being the one that stuck. Despite the fact that "sport" more often refers to what you can do with the stuff you are hauling, rather than how the thing drives.

So now we are faced with a similar dilemma in the emerging crossover category. GM ad execs are trying to figure out the best way to pitch their new entries in the field. GM has three new crossovers (the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave) coming out at the end of the year that they are not sure how to label. "We changed the SRX advertising for Cadillac earlier this summer to call it a crossover," Mike Jackson, GM North America's vice president of marketing and advertising, said in an interview with Automotive News.

Read on for more after the jump...

[Source: Autoweek]

Continue reading What's in a name? GM wrestles with crossover designation

What's in a name? GM wrestles with crossover designation originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Oct 2006 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seven models for 2007 that could change everything

Erin Mays — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 06:51:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Minivan/Van, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Crossover

It's crunch time in the auto industry, there's no doubt about that. The Detroit Free Press' Mark Phelan paints the picture in the simplest -- yet starkest -- terms possible when he lays out the seven models that can make or break the profits of the major automakers.

Chevrolet Silverado: Chevy's best-selling pick-up accounts for a HUGE amount of sales and market share for General Motors, and despite its class-leading fuel economy, gas prices and other factors are shifting buyers away from full-size pick-ups.

Toyota Tundra: This full-size pickup supplies jobs to thousands of people in Indiana and Texas, true, but its real significance is as a market share cannibal to the Dodge Ram, Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado. The difference is that Toyota doesn't need the Tundra to make it, but the Big 3 need their trucks to do well in order to stabilize.

Ford Edge: It's one of just a few new Ford vehicles hitting the market this year, while other automakers like Toyota and Chrysler seem to have one vehicle after another hitting the streets and infiltrating consumers' consciousnesses. More importantly, the Edge's job is to pick up those customers leaving their Explorers and other larger trucks behind.

Honda Accord: With the new Camry out, it's easy to see that Honda must step it up with the Accord to keep its status as the better-designed, better-performing alternative to the Toyota Camry. The Koreans may not be hot on Honda's heels yet in terms of sales, but with the bold(er) design of the Camry and the less expensive Hyundai and Kia models to choose from, Honda has a tall order to fill with next year's Accord.

Nissan Altima: Nissan might have experienced a comeback thanks to risky design and impressive performance. The Altima? Not so much, at least as of late. Nissan's got a lot on its plate if it wants to put itself back on the import sedan map.

Chrysler Town and Country/Dodge Caravan: It survived the SUV craze, but can it survive crossovers? And more importantly, can it survive the import minivan craze? The Chrysler Town & Country is a pillar of strength for Chrysler, but it will be hard-pressed to stay there.

Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook: They're GM's answer to the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX330, and critics say they have the styling and fuel economy to be true contenders. Considering the importance of the segment, GM seems to be putting its best foot forward.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Seven models for 2007 that could change everything originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Sep 2006 06:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2008 Buick Enclave

John Neff — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 07:02:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, SUV, Buick

We've seen the 2007 Saturn Outlook. We've seen the 2007 GMC Acadia. We've been waiting on the final member of this triad, and while General Motors hasn't officially unveiled the 2008 Buick Enclave, we do have these excellent spy shots from Cheers and Gears. Not only do these shots show an exterior that differs little from the Buick Enclave concept that debuted at the 2006 Detroit auto show, but we also get a peek at the interior, which looks markedly more luxurious than its down market siblings. C&G is reporting that while the Enclave will share virtually all of its mechanicals with Outlook and Acadia, including a 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic, GM is keeping a V8 in reserves for the 2009 model year that will put even more distance between the Enclave and its Lambda platform mates.

[Source: Cheers and Gears]

Spy Shots: 2008 Buick Enclave originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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