Autoblog

The GM FastLane Blog revealed that its first video interview with Bob Lutz that addressed GM concept cars was actually supposed to be the second one released. This new video just released today was to be the first, but technical issues pushed it back. Here we have Lutz in front of the lens addressing the most commonly asked question about Buick, specifically its relation to the raging Chinese division and its position in General Motors as a whole.

When answering why Buick's Chinese division is getting better looking luxury cars than the U.S., Lutz simply fires back, "I don't think they are." The consumate diplomat, he says the door is always open for the rear-wheel-drive Zeta-based Park Avenue that will be sold in the Chinese market to make its way to the States, but we'd have to disagree that the U.S. market LaCrosse and Lucerne hold a candle to what's coming down the pipeline for the Chinese.

When asked about Buick's role in GM, Lutz takes up most of his time explaining Cadillac's role as a world leader and then places Buick just below it. It's interesting that he says, "The days of taking some Buicks and pricing them with Chevrolets... will never be repeated." The $32,790 price tag of the new Enclave CUV compared to its other Lambda-based offerings from GMC and Saturn is proof positive that Buick will be positioned near the top of GM's portfolio.

So there you have it, a little Lutz on Lutz action for your Thursday evening.

[Source: GM FastLane]

Click image for 41 press kit photos of the Buick Park Avenue and here for live shots

We've pretty much told you all there is to tell about Buick's new Chinese-market Park Avenue. To review the particulars, it's derived from Holden's long-wheelbase WM platform, making essentially a rebadged Holden Statesman. The car will be assembled and sold in China, with engines built and shipped from Holden's Australian engine plant.

The car's interior gets the deluxe executive treatment, with special attention paid to the back seat passengers. Seat massagers, wood-trimmed snack trays and other amenities are all part of the package. You can read our original posts on the Park Avenue here and here, and we have the new release from GM pasted after the jump. Autoblog Chinese's live shots from Shanghai, as well as the original press kit photography, can be accessed via the galleries below.

[Sources: GM, Autoblog Chinese]

Click image for hi-res gallery

GM announced today that the Buick Park Avenue is making a return to the marketplace as a RWD, Zeta-based vehicle. Unfortunately for us, that marketplace is China.

The Park Avenue, like the GM Daewoo L4X introduced last week in Seoul, is a rebadged Holden WM Caprice/Statesman, and as such, it shares the big Aussie sedan's 3,009 mm wheelbase. As we've seen in other upscale GM China products, the new Park Avenue is equipped for maximum luxury, with seat massagers installed for all four passengers, a navigation system, in-car entertainment pumped to LCD displays, and available Bluetooth integration. The only image available at post time is the one you see above, which shows the familiar Holden profile. We expect to see the car's full-tilt introduction take place next week at the Shanghai Motor Show.

Power for the top-of-the-line Park Avenue comes from GM's 250-horsepower 3.6L V6. Complete information can be found in the press release after the jump.

UPDATE: High-res photo gallery now added.

[Source: GM China]

Four days ago we brought you in-depth coverage of Audi's publicity parade on Park Avenue, featuring the new R8 supercar, the R10 Le Mans racer and the 1938 Auto Union Type-D "Silver Arrow". The attention-grabbing event marked the North American debut of the R8 as well as the opening of Audi's new high-tech 6,400-square-foot "Forum" showroom on Park Avenue in mid-town Manhattan.

For your viewing pleasure we have for you today an impressive and dramatically-filmed video of the R8 making its way down Park Avenue, driven by none other than New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The video not only captures the finer details of Audi's new range-topping halo model, but the overall mood and atmosphere created by the high-octane spectacle.

Not only is this video definitely worth watching, but you'll probably go back to the start and watch it again (and think you're watching HBO).

Related posts:

• Audi plans to raise prices, brand perception
• Photos from Audi's parade on Park Avenue
• Audi planning parade on Park Avenue

(Bonus: catch Audi's press release after the jump for more staggering details on the NYC Audi Forum.)

[Source: The German Car Blog]

General Motors would like to us view the Lucerne as one of its Value Pricing success stories. The big FWD sedan is selling well with few incentives, which means its average transaction price is staying relatively high. Buick has sold 22,124 Lucerne's in the first quarter, but is expecting to build 145,000 by the end of the year.

What's more impressive, however, is the low 9.3-percent of fleet sales for the Lucerne in the first quarter. The Buick Park Avenue and LeSabre that the Lucerne replaces averaged 26-percent fleet sales. GM is hoping that it can boost the Lucerne's residual value by keeping those fleet sales in the basement.

Don't ask a Buick dealer how well the Lucerne is performing, however, as you'll likely get varying answers. Some are selling out and some are hardly selling any. That just goes to show how geographically isolated Buick's audience is.  

Related posts:
2006 Buick Lucerne in the Autoblog Garage Day 1-2
2006 Buick Lucerne in the Autoblog Garage Day 3-4
2006 Buick Lucerne in the Autoblog Garage Day 5

[Source: AutoWeek]