Velite (ie RWD) Coming for Buick and other news

jetsetter

jetsetter

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Fourth model due the end of the decade.
May 30, 2007
BY ALISA PRIDDLE, May 2007


The Buick brand will not get its fourth product, likely a large rear-wheel-drive sedan and/or convertible based on the Velite concept, until the end of the decade, Troy Clarke, president of GM North America, tells CARandDRIVER.com.

The brand has two choices for growth: above the Lucerne sedan, or below the LaCrosse sedan, the latter a move Clarke says would be more difficult.

The expectation is a production version of the Buick Velite that was shown as a convertible concept at the 2004 New York auto show. It hails from GM?s Global Rear Wheel Drive Architecture, also known as Zeta, which also underpins the Pontiac G8 and pending Chevy Camaro. The sleek, 400-horsepower four-passenger convertible concept was said to have product guru Bob Lutz?s blessing from the outset.

Clarke says the name Velite has some panache, but it must be weighed against the challenge of gaining name recognition with a new vehicle.

The Velite would be Buick?s only RWD vehicle?Clarke sees no need to switch the front-wheel-drive LaCrosse and Lucerne sedans or the Enclave crossover. They are the only three products in the Buick portfolio. The Rainier mid-size SUV and Terraza minivan were built out at the end of the 2007 model year?neither saw their contract renewed for a next-generation. The Rendezvous, Buick?s first foray into crossover territory, also was recently discontinued.

GM officials downplay the meager offerings, arguing the focus on the BPG (Buick, Pontiac, and GMC in a single dealership) channel means Buick doesn?t have to be everything to everyone. ?Don?t think of Buick as a brand of only three vehicles,? Clarke says. ?Think of BPG with 24 vehicles, three of them Buick.? Officials say 72 percent of total Buick volume is in a BPG showroom today.

But, within BPG, each brand must be distinctive. Pontiac must stand for performance but that does not mean the whole lineup will go RWD, Clarke says. The G8 is, but the Vibe (which is essentially a Toyota Matrix and based on the Corolla) will remain front-wheel drive. Contrary to speculation that the Vibe?s days are numbered, Clarke says the next generation will be shown and produced soon. We expect fall delivery. And it will keep the Vibe name.

For Buick, the Enclave was designed to work in concert with the Lucerne and LaCrosse so that when people look at the trio, they will say ?I get what Buick is again? and identify with the brand, says Mark LaNeve, vice president of North American sales, service and marketing.

The Enclave also is supposed to pull in buyers aged 35 to 55 to bring the median age of Buick buyers down. The brand needs buyers of all ages, from older loyalists who pay cash, to new young buyers, LaNeve says.

Meanwhile, Buick?s strategy going forward is to have vehicles for China and North America, its two biggest markets, share platforms and design efforts, beginning with the next-generation LaCrosse, debuting in 2009. The current LaCrosse sold in China is different than the one sold in the U.S.

http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/13083/velite-coming-for-buick.html
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Guess they finally got it.
 
Buick needs to die. This whole thing with a million different brand names competing in the same market is not helping anyone.

At least Dodge is lowend while Chrysler is higher end (that makes sense in that case). GM however has literally a billion brands, I swear.
 
Well, they seem to be selling so I don't think it will be going anywhere for the time being.
 
jetsetter said:
Well, they seem to be selling
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Really? They must be picking up all of the old Cadillac owners who have been scared off by the new sports car side of Cadillac.
 
Viper007Bond said:
Really? They must be picking up all of the old Cadillac owners who have been scared off by the new sports car side of Cadillac.
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Fairly good sales is why Buick has been reluctant to switch the LaCrosse and Lucerne to rear wheel drive.
 
Wasn't Buick already going to produce a RWD car to replace the Park Avenue, then decided to dress up the Lucerne and make that the PA replacement? It makes me wonder if this really will be something new based on the concept car, or just taking the Chinese Park Avenue and changing the looks a bit. I'd be surprised if it's the former since Buick has been content not to rock the boat.
 
It would be nice to see the velite hit production

I guess this news is better than some previous news lol
 
Buick, Pontiac, GMC...it's like a car company within a car company. I'm glad they wised up and stopped trying to turn Buick into a full-line company, and killed off their vans and trucks that were hideous and nobody liked to begin with anyway. At least this news is finally something out of GM that actually makes sense!
 
Buick, Pontiac, GMC...it's like a car company within a car company.
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An interesting way of looking at it. If you put the three of them together you would almost have all the bases covered. Latest news is that they want to start selling all three in the same dealerships.

Here are some photos of the Velite concept from a few years back:
http://img484.imageshack.**/img484/9112/1buickveliteconceptws7.jpg
http://img484.imageshack.**/img484/3538/2buickveliteconceptpr0.jpg
http://img484.imageshack.**/img484/5180/3buickveliteconceptmv9.jpg
http://img484.imageshack.**/img484/6686/4buickveliteconceptst1.jpg
http://img484.imageshack.**/img484/1640/5buickveliteconceptyk1.jpg

Source - General Motors
Buick Velite

Restrained extravagance. Two seemingly incompatible words that nonetheless convey the spirit of the Buick Velite ? a four-seat convertible that envelops its passengers in a rich, elegant environment while forging new ground in the exclusive territory of expressive, upscale rear-drive mid-size automobiles.

The Velite is the first American demonstration of GM's all-new Zeta global vehicle architecture, featuring a premium rear-wheel-drive chassis. Buick will unveil the Velite concept at the New York Auto Show.

Named for an elite class of quick-moving soldiers in Napoleon's army, the Velite was designed at GM's Advanced Studio in Warren, Mich. and assembled at renowned coachbuilder Stile Bertone's studio in Italy. Its sister car, the Opel Insignia, debuted the Zeta architecture at the Frankfurt International Auto Show last year.

?Velite is a new expression of Buick's longstanding heritage in understated yet sophisticated design,? said Anne Asensio, executive director ? GM Advanced Design. ?While certainly an expression of premium American style, the Velite's impressive stance and overall presence emphasize a sumptuous driving experience that further pushes Buick on to the center of the world stage of luxurious touring cars.?

Indeed, Buick's global presence is widening, particularly in Asia. Recently introduced products in China, for example, have been warmly received with demand exceeding supply. The upscale aura of these vehicles is enhanced with the rear-drive Velite ? its athletic proportions and aggressive stance emphasizing a bold, contemporary design, while readily identifiable heritage cues are worn with an international flair and understated elegance.

Designers pored over Buick's extremely rich design history while also studying trends in global cultures and contemporary design. Modern furniture and even the atmosphere of trend-setting lounges influenced the color, mood and shape of the Velite's exterior and interior. Heritage cues can be found in the Velite's long dash-to-axle proportions, which convey power and a sporting elegance ? a theme reinforced by 20-inch front wheels, 21-inch rear wheels and short overhangs. Its long, sculpted clamshell hood introduces a bold new look for Buick's signature waterfall grille design. It is finished in a jewel-like luster and creates a three-dimension visual effect that blends seamlessly with the body when viewed from different angles.

The hood integrates portholes ? three per side ? in a romantic, yet contemporary nod to Buick's heritage. The hood tilts forward when opened, creating a dramatic look that evokes a bygone era of touring cars. A complementing clamshell deck lid opens in the opposite direction to swallow the Velite's folding soft top. When retracted, the top is completely covered by the rear deck for an integrated, contoured look reminiscent of Buick's dramatic boattail designs of the 1930s.

Decidedly upscale yet subtle appointments underscore the Velite's aura of refined sophistication, including its Dark Tarnished Bronze Metallic exterior color. The rich-looking hue complements the vehicle's relaxed, sophisticated mood, and is a reflection of the color's emergence in modern design around the globe.

The color contrasts with crystalline headlamp lenses, which combine with X-Beam technology to create a distinct, superior lighting system. Using the same halogen light source, X-Beam enables the use of a smaller lens while creating 44 percent greater luminous intensity than traditional reflector headlamps. Cooling vents for the lights are slotted next to the lenses, creating a unique and purposeful styling element. X-beam technology also is used in the taillamps, which blend into rearward sheetmetal designed with a nod to the 1938 Y-Job ? Buick's first concept vehicle and first convertible.

?The Velite has a presence that conveys confident power,? said Sang Yup Lee, exterior designer. ?It's a fresh, contemporary design that not only hints at Buick's design direction, but speaks the language of modern design trends around the globe ? a statement of strength through elegance, not extravagance.?

Romantic environment

Contemporary design also is reflected in the Velite's passenger compartment, which uses sumptuous materials and the warm glow of indirect lighting to harmonize with the vehicle's exterior design voice. It's a tangible expression of a jazz lounge atmosphere, including an inviting rear seat that wraps around the interior like a comfortable lounge loveseat. Rear HVAC controls allow rear-seat passengers to adjust the climate to suit their moods.

Subdued lighting radiates a warm glow throughout the cabin, and is complemented by leather of three shades: Bronze Pearl, Iceberg Blue, and Woven Tan. The look of Gold Leaf Lacquer, in place of wood, is a statement of richness in many Asian cultures; it accents the interior, including the door handles and shift knob. All seating is leather-covered and the materials used throughout the interior were selected for their reassuring tactile feel.

?Everything from the colors to the shape and feel of the upholstery was designed to provide a rich, relaxing and romantic environment,? said Bryan Priebe, interior designer. ?The Velite is a respite from the outside world and invites human interaction.?

The Velite's warm interior lighting glows from the backs of instrument panel controls and gauges. The subdued look includes a panel over the XM Satellite Radio and OnStar controls, allowing a smooth, uninterrupted appearance of the dashboard and center console.

An ?E-lock? security system allows the Velite's driver to unlock or lock the vehicle without fumbling for a key fob. The system, which uses a proximity signal for vehicle function commands, allows starting and driving without the need for a traditional ignition key.

Power to move the Velite comes from Buick's experimental twin-turbocharged, intercooled global V-6 engine. Four hundred horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque are derived from its DOHC design and 3.6-liter displacement. The engine features fuel-saving variable valve timing technology, which is available on some of GM's four-, five-, six- and eight-cylinder engines. Through the use of variable engine valve timing, valve lift and duration is continuously varied to improve fuel economy, horsepower and torque, while reducing emissions.

The V-6 is backed by a Hydra-Matic 6L80-E six-speed, rear-wheel-drive automatic transmission equipped with manual tap-shift gear selection. A pair of large, oval exhaust outlets provides an aural reminder that performance is very much a part of the vehicle's character.

?The strength of the powertrain is the necessary complement to the Velite's powerful design statement,? said Tom Peters, Buick Velite's chief designer. ?It's premium performance to go with a contemporary, muscular presence.?

Although a concept, the Velite affirms GM's vision for Buick as a global manufacturer of premium, elegant vehicles. It shows the exciting possibilities of the all-new Zeta vehicle architecture and an expressive new direction for Buick.

?There's an edge to the vehicle, more than is reflected in its sculpted bodywork,? said Peters. ?It's a forward-looking vehicle that not only stands for Buick in America, but how American style, performance and prestige resonates in a contemporary, global form.?

2004 Buick Velite
Year 2004
Make Buick
Model Velite
Engine Location Front
Drive Type Rear Wheel
Weight 3450 lbs | 1564.9 kg
Introduced At 2004 New York City, NY

Engine
Engine Configuration V
Cylinders 6
Aspiration/Induction Twin-turbocharged
Displacement 3600.00 cc | 219.7 cu in. | 3.6 L.
Horsepower 400.00 BHP (294.4 KW) @ 6200.00 RPM
Torque 400.00 Ft-Lbs (542.4 NM) @ 3200.00 RPM
HP to Weight Ratio 8.6 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio)
HP / Liter 111.1 BHP / Liter
Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight

Transmission Information
Gears 6
Transmission Automatic

Dimensions
Seating Capacity 2
Exterior
Length 185.701 in | 4716.8 mm.
Width 75.601 in | 1920.3 mm.
Height 51.901 in | 1318.3 mm.
Wheelbase 114.801 in | 2915.9 mm.
Front Track 65.001 in | 1651 mm.
Rear Track 66.001 in | 1676.4 mm.
Vehicles with similar dimensions

Tires / Wheels
Tires Front : P265/40 R20

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z7927/Buick_Velite/default.aspx
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They started rolling all three brands into single dealerships ages ago. I can't remember the last time I saw a stand alone Pontiac, Buick, or GMC dealer.
 
Thats actually pretty good looking. What remains to be seen is how the price it. This car will have a definate sweet spot that they need to aim for. Less expensive than a similar car from a European maker, but not so cheap that they scare off the high end market segment.
 
I did like the Velite, at least everything past the A-pillar. The front end looks truckish and blocky, like they threw bits together at a clay model and kept what stuck. But the rear is...dare I say it, sensual? Definitely reminds me of the boat-tailed Riviera, which isn't a bad thing (being retro without being obnoxiously so) and what it SHOULD be called.
 
^ Yeah, I read that line again and realized how incredibly dorky it sounded. Man, I need a life. :blush: :rofl:
 
It looks a lot like the Bentley Continental GT. Seriously, are Buicks even avaliable with front bench seats these days? I hear that they've been buying them since Cadillac stopped front bench seats.
 
Front looks like an SC430, but it's quite nice.
 
I've driven 2 Buicks in my life and they were the most godawful pieces of crap engineering I ever encountered in my life. HATE HATE HATE. Please god let them die.
 
un-dee said:
I've driven 2 Buicks in my life and they were the most godawful pieces of crap engineering I ever encountered in my life. HATE HATE HATE. Please god let them die.
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Thanks for adding to the conversation.;)

:rolleyes:
 
un-dee said:
I've driven 2 Buicks in my life and they were the most godawful pieces of crap engineering I ever encountered in my life. HATE HATE HATE. Please god let them die.
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Those Buicks had Buick badges on them but they were NOT Buick's. A Buick is a 58 El Dorado with the Stainless steel roof, the Pre-74 Riviera's, and anything with a 455 :evil:

The heaps of shit that have rolled out of the factories since then are a disgrace to that car, with a slight blip with the Grand National/GNX (and they still don't have the drop dead good looks of old Buick's, they should have been Pontiac's).

/rant
 
Punisher Bass said:
They started rolling all three brands into single dealerships ages ago. I can't remember the last time I saw a stand alone Pontiac, Buick, or GMC dealer.
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I work at a stand alone Buick dealer, and that is one of the things that is hurting us right now. We pretty much just have a customer base of "older" folk, and very very few younger people.
 
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