Buick Design Will Grow Bolder,GM’s Top Design Exec Says
December 28, 2007
By Dale Buss
Expect future Buick vehicles to rip a big page from the success of the aggressively styled Enclave crossover and move quickly away from design-legacy retreads such as the company's Lucerne and LaCrosse midsize sedans.
Ed Welburn, GM’s vice president of global design, told AutoObserver that Buick is shifting decisively toward “bold” and “dramatic” design statements such as Enclave while still trying to retain some “elegant” and “romantic” elements from its design theme over the previous generation. He said to expect more iterations of the sort of overstated approach used with Enclave, which is distinguished by cues such as big curves in the sheet metal, lots of chrome exterior trim and huge, elongated headlights.
By contrast, Buick’s two other current vehicles, the Lucerne and LaCrosse midsize cars, are largely derivative in design of earlier Buick sedans, though they do present some design departures –- such as the large grille on the LaCrosse. Buick is introducing a next-generation LaCrosse next year.
Welburn and Buick will further tip their hands somewhat about Buick’s emerging design direction at the North American International Auto Show next month in Detroit, with the debut of a new Riviera concept car there and the return of the popular Velite convertible concept car.
Buick previously has pointed to the Velite concept, including its distinctive grille, as a big part of the design inspiration for the brand moving forward, including Enclave.
Posted by Michelle Krebs at 6:46 AM under Commentary , GM , Personalities | Comments (3) | digg this | Seed Newsvine
Perfect. The Enclave's styling fits Buick and its market very well, and is quite attractive, in my opinion. I know styling is subjective, but personally I really like it.
That's interesting that they're bringing the Velite back. I thought they had killed that off for good. Buick's future could very well be interesting. I'll stay tuned.
Posted by: Tyler | December 28, 2007 at 7:04 PM
This is excellent news. It's not that I don't like the look of the current LaCrosse or Lucerne, but the new, bold grille that the LaCrosse started wearing this year is very eye-catching, and the even more expressive Enclave is simply gorgeous. It's a great relief to hear that GM is willing to try some fresh approaches to Buick, instead of simply throwing in the towel on it as it did with Oldsmobile at the start of the millenium. Hopefully this will bring Buick out of its slump. Goodness knows, this is one time-honoured brand that surely deserves to survive, and thrive.
Posted by: Christopher | December 30, 2007 at 12:44 PM
Very good to hear. The Enclave is quite the looker - and the Lucerne and Allure (LaCrosse in Canada) are very nice sedan's. Looking forward to seeing the new Allure. Now bring back names like Regal (The business man's muscle car) and Park Avenue (Full size and rear drive!)
Forget trucks and minivans. But the CUV is fine by me.
Posted by: Mark | December 30, 2007 at 3:11 PM