wildcat

The Detroit News reported on January 16, 2008 that the Chevrolet Malibu and the Buick Enclave each won Urban Wheels Awards this week. For details, click here.

Maybe something for Pontiac is coming from Brazil. Chevy can't get everything, can it?

To help GM meet new U.S. fuel-economy standards, Buick, Pontiac, and GMC may each add a new smaller vehicle. According to Jan. 15, 2008 news reports, "Potential additions include a sedan shorter than the Buick LaCrosse, a crossover sport-utility vehicle more compact than the GMC Acadia and a Pontiac small car," said Jim Bunnell, general manager for the division that includes the three brands. The U.S. regulations "have thrown everything on its head," Bunnell said. "We most likely will need smaller market entries to get in line." For Buick, could this be the NG Chinese Excelle, due later this year? Have there been rumors that it will be re-named "Skylark"?

Um... no. If you really believe that, then it's actually the other way around, since the LaCrosse concept came out a few years before the Chevy.

If it doesn't violate copyright, could one of the artistic talents here please edit one of those spyshots of the white LaCrosse next to one of the Riviera concept, both from a similar angle? It would be interesting to compare and imagine with them side-by-side. Thank you.

In a blog, Paul Eisenstein of The Car Connection revealed on January 11, 2008 that what we're seeing as the Buick Riviera Concept Vehicle is, in fact, a good indication of what the NG Buick LaCrosse will look like. Eisenstein says, in part, "In production form, as the next LaCrosse, the prototype will give up the gullwings and gain an additional two conventional doors. The 'Shanghai-by-night' interior will be toned down a fair degree, but the overall resemblance will be obvious and, insiders insist, striking. The cabin will boast a much more Lexus-like look . . . 'It will be one killer LaCrosse,' promises [ Dave ] Lyon [ of GM ]." To read the entire report, click here and scroll down a little.

From the Donlen Corporation website, some updated Buick Enclave production information: Platinum Ice Tri-Coat (94U) paint production is scheduled to begin in January 2008 Buick Luxury Package (PCK) may increase lead time by 2 weeks or more as demand is temporarily greater than supply Center Row Console (DK1) will not be available until 1st Quarter of 2008 Calendar Year - new option

As Pontiac-Custom-S shared, Mr. Guilford wrote that the Cadillac concept is a crossover - so does it in anyway preview the Cadillac BRX?

I can understand what you've described (lessening of importance of GMNA, etc.). I guess I'm one who's resistant to change. I just turned 50 in December. It doesn't make me happy at all if (i.e., that) Pontiac is being ignored. Pontiac was always my second favorite GM make, after Buick.

thegriffon: Thank you for your response. So then are the 3 variants of the G8 (4-door, ute, wagon) lip-service to Pontiac. Do you think they will fail in the marketplace? If their Alpha / small RWD proposal has been discarded, does GM, literally, have no plans for Pontiac other than rebadges?

american_revolution_2005: Very good for $700! (Even the interior doesn't look all that bad.) I saw a picture of a powder blue 1963 Buick Electra 225 convertible for $4500; it sure looked nice to me (of course, you can't judge the mechanicals from a photo, etc.). But, for me, that would be a sweet ride!

Josh may be an example of someone who is his own worst enemy. Actually, I think he wants to be liked and to feel valued and appreciated, as any of us do. Signed, Doctor Wildcat

moltar: Thank you very much for your response. I can understand, given those facts. (So does part of Pontiac-Custom-S' "TICK TOCK" have to do with Lutz's forthcoming / eventual retirement, or is it more of Pontiac fading away or ???)

Sorry if I've missed it, but would someone please explain why Carl-Peter has so much power, perhaps to overule even Bob Lutz? Is it because the mid-size products are planned by GM Europe? Or why, after all the good Lutz has done for GM, why anyone would challenge and question him? (I'm not saying that ANYone is right 100% of the time, etc., I'm just saying that Lutz has done a lot to right GM's problems, more than others in my opinion.)

If vehicles from Brazil come to the NA market, are they small Chevrolet cars and trucks or GMC trucks? Saturn should have all they need from Opel. So what brand(s) will be affected by the story? By NA, are they necessarily talking just the US? Or are they referring to unique vehicles for Mexico, as an example? Thank you.

Don't read too much into that. Though I must admit I noticed at the end when he said "next-generation" Enclave and Acadia but didn't mention Outlook. Nah, means nothing.

A Q&A with Bryan Nesbitt, V-P of Design, GMNA, "Making engineering and design work together," was published by the Boston Globe on December 30, 2007. For me being a Buick fan, he states that right now, he's driving, among others, a "next-generation Enclave." To see the entire article, click here.

What are you thinking will happen, ocnblu?

In a December 21, 2007 Forbes.com article by Jerry Flint, "Backseat Driver: The Road to More Market Share," Bob Lutz implies that the new Buick LaCrosse will be impressive, perhaps overwhelming. And is the LaCrosse, on GM's new Epsilon II architecture, coming sooner than we think? According to the article, "Among the cars coming soon will be a Saturn Astra compact and the Pontiac G8 rear-wheel-drive sedan, both imports; then a new Buick LaCrosse sedan ("It's going to be a mind-boggler," says Lutz), the Chevy Traverse crossover SUV next fall, the Chevy Camaro in early 2009, and a new Chevy Cobalt compact." [ bold added by wildcat ] To view Flint's entire piece with Lutz, click here.

An article in the December 20, 2007 Lansing State Journal says that the Buick Enclave remains in very tight supply, with some would-be owners waiting months for delivery. To read the entire story, click here.

Phil LeBeau of CNBC has made note that the Buick Enclave was NA's fastest-selling vehicle last month. To read his comments, click here.

Another positive review for the Buick Enclave, this time from the Chicago Sun-Times, titled "Buick brings back the love." The reviewer makes the statement that Buick and Cadillac are the only GM divisions offering exciting styling. "The rest of GM models (perhaps with the exception of Corvette) will put you to sleep," it is stated.

Flybrian: This is some of your best work ever! Once again, you've given this website an exclusive and important article. Unique content, well-written, copiously illustrated. I'm sure it took some effort on your part, and you can be proud of the results. (And thanks for suggesting that Buick get a car with this new technology. In my opinion, "Electra" would be the perfect name.)

I would think Buick should be the one in B-P-G to get a wagon. Perhaps this one goes to Pontiac since there don't seem to be any grille or other exterior changes to the Holdens (it matches the G8). But if this is successful, when they make a NG Lucerne (and, hopefully call it Park Avenue in NA, too), they could offer a wagon variant as an Estate Wagon.

How likely is Buick in China to get a TE CUV? (And, therefore, possibly allow NA Buick to get one, too.) Since Cadillac's is called VRX and Saab's is the 9-4 X, then how about for a Buick one call it GSX. Yeah, I know.