wildcat

Newbiewar, we'll take this as (very) good news! I like that statement, "General Motors is showing signs of life."

Don't forget, FWIW, there also was the January 31st article by Jamie Lareau, "GM's LaNeve says automaker will sell product, not price," in which Lareau asked Mark LaNeve a couple of pointed questions: Does Pontiac need a Firebird? "Any kind of a rear-drive, performance-oriented vehicle is something we should look at for Pontiac. Whether it's a coupe or sedan, that remains to be seen." Wouldn't it compete with the Chevy Camaro if GM builds that? "I'm not speculating on any of that, but a rear-drive performance-oriented product would be a good fit for Pontiac."

In your opinion, should Pontiac do a GTO plus a Firebird and a G8?

You'll notice that Mr. DeLorenzo ends with the words "You read it here first."

Peter DeLorenzo discusses the demise of the GTO in the "On the Table" section of his February 22nd issue. And he says, "After the new Camaro makes its street debut as a 2008 model, watch for an all-new Pontiac Firebird to debut 12 months later as a 2009 model." Click here to view his website autoextremist.com.

Sometimes I imagine yelling out, "How do you like your Buick?" to the driver or giving them some sort of acknowledgement, if they and I are near a stop light. So far, I haven't really had the opportunity. But should the circumstances give me that chance, watch the compliments start to fly!

I've seen a number around Chicago, and I always turn my head when I do. They look nice, in my opinion. Not flashy, but nice and modern.

Well put, razoredge. Worth reading again. P.S. to GM: Stop making your divisions fight against each other! Give them all distinction and definition, just Saturn keep out of Buick's territory.

Buick is bridging the generation gap, good news, according to Steve Purdy of the Auto Channel. Here's an especially nice portion of his review: "Buick general manager, Steve Shannon, reports a 'great start' since introduction last October with Lucerne accounting for 27% of large-car sales in the fourth quarter of last year and segment leading sales in December as well. 'We’re very pleased at how Lucerne is performing out of the gate,' he said. Lucerne has also won accolades from USA Today, The Detroit News and Kiplinger’s."

Hey, just get rid of that goofy yellow line around the whitewalls and you'd be turning heads in Florida!

Well, that settles it. Buick should get more investment. Check its quality ratings, above every other GM brand (and way above certain ones).

A few more details have come out about Buick's LaCrosse Super, in an article by Jamie Lareau in this week's issue of Automotive News. "Buick will get a 'super' version of the LaCrosse. That's an 'up-level edition" . . . It will include new front-end treatments, such as a waterfall grille, and a V-8 engine . . . pricing has not been set." "Buick starts production on the Enclave crossover this fall and likely will start production on the super LaCrosse at that time . . . " " . . . Buick expects to sell 8,000 Lucerne sedans a month this year." Here is a link to the full story, which also includes coverage of Pontiac's entry-level G5 coupe. Click on this.

My vote is 5, 3, 2. Thank you to everyone who entered, and a quick comment for each of you: #1 - To me, Catalina is a cherished model name, so I'm glad you used it. And I like the nostalgic Pontiac grille you included. #2 - The back certainly has the Pontiac family resemblance. #3 - I really like the exterior of your car. A very clean design, perhaps even pretty (reminds me of a '66-'67 Olds Toronado rear). I even like the rich, black shade of your pencil. #4 - A very sleek shape, overall. #5 - Clearly a Pontiac with a contemporary feel. #6 - Can Buick have that curvy, left front fender? Pontiac can have the hood, since the downward angle of the hood is very sporty. #7 - Especially nice detail on the rims.

man of

FUTURE_OF_GM: I'm still waiting to see "Super" and "Reserve" used, as predicted. Balthazar: I'd be all for something completely unknown, too, but it can't be something else because, as my friend ehaase would remind me, they just don't have the cash at GM for that right now.

moltar: You might be correct, but I'm betting LaCrosse Super. Does anyone think the Buick Blackhawk or Holden EFIJY might eventually result in any kind of Buick performance car?

Chicago Tribune Auto Reporter Jim Mateja offers a few "They Said It" quotes in a feature called "Glove Box," in the Feb. 19, 2006 paper. Here's what Bob Lutz, Head of Product Development at GM, said about Buick: 'I think every division should have a performance car-even Buick, though at Buick it wouldn't be a pony car.' Who thinks he's got the Buick LaCrosse Super in mind?

Several GM executives are being given different positions, including Brent Dewar and Mike Jackson. Here is a link to the entire story from The Auto Channel. I don't know one of these people from the other. Is this a good thing? As part of the changes, a man named Pete Gerosa will get a "special assignment" focusing on the North American turnaround. Gerosa is to "focus on implementing sales and service programs and distribution strategies that are integral to GM’s North American turnaround plan," but how effective can he really be if he plans to retire later this year?

Yes, let Lexus have their cute ute, and let it be a big success. Then Buick will be forced to make one of their own... and I'll buy it! < Mr. Burns' voice > Ex-cellent!

Thank you to everyone, including buickguy, empowah, Flybrian, Cananopie, razoredge and CSpec, who had something nice to say, either about the Buick Enclave or my photos. Based on CSpec's request, I have enlarged a few of the photos, and added a new one below. (I used uploadit.org; what is the MB size of the biggest image file C&G allows?)

May I share some more pictures of the Enclave, the Lucerne, and the Buick display at the Chicago Auto Show?

I actually think I see some "family" resemblance between the Buick Enclave and the 1953 Buick Skylark. Both have thick front ends, each with a rounded hood and big chrome grille and large headlights and graceful fenders and portholes. Especially in the 7th photo from the top. Doesn't Bob Lutz own a '53 Skylark? I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't suggest to designers that a modern interpretation of the prescence of that car be applied to Enclave's exterior.

GM is upgrading 5 plants in Michigan, including ones which will build redesigned, full-size pickup trucks and the next-generation Cadillac CTS sedan. Here is Christine Tierney's report in the Detroit News.

Here are select photos I took at the Chicago Auto Show, all at Buick's exhibit. I hope that fellow Buick fans will enjoy them: I can tell you that the Enclave is beautiful! I was worried that it would be too big for me, but, in person, it didn't seem too big. Chunky or hefty, yes, but I don't mean that in a bad way, just a descriptive adjective. It looks very substantial. Though I arrived not long after the Show opened for the day, there were a lot of people looking at the various Buicks. The biggest variety of ages were looking at the Enclave. Mostly older people (gray hair) were looking at Lucerne (shown in about 4 different colors and trims), but there were a lot of people checking it out. There was also a Lucerne cut in half and displayed in glass cases, in various sections, highlighting specific features. Other people, slightly younger, were looking at LaCrosse (with maybe 3 different exterior colors). I didn't notice anyone at the two Rendezvous, and thought the lone Terraza was ignored in a corner (then right at that moment, two guys hopped in it!). I really got a good feeling from the Buick exhibit, which also included a couple different engines on display, a color chart, a large blow-up of the recent USA Today article comparing Lucerne with the Toyota Avalon, and even two rows of J.D. Power awards.

Ed Wallace, the host of the radio talk show "Wheels," is offering his opinion on GM's present situation, "Can GM Learn From Its Past?." Read the article by clicking on Business Week Online. In his writing, Mr. Wallace draws a parallel to GM in the 1920s. P.S. - Check out my latest signature text.