2006 Detroit: Buick Enclave Concept

Matt Stone gives his opinion of Buicks latest concept SUV

Transcript

00:00 Buick is one of those great old American marks that has been struggling for product for several

00:17 years.

00:18 Well, General Motors has said, "No way is it going to dump Buick and just watch this

00:23 space, more to come."

00:25 Well, one example of that here at the 2006 North American International Auto Show is

00:31 the Buick Enclave.

00:32 Now, this vehicle, a concept for now, accomplishes several things.

00:37 Number one, it shows Buick's design language as it will be going forward.

00:42 And it's one that we think is pretty good.

00:44 It's just an attractive vehicle, doesn't need a lot of explanation, has lots of traditional

00:48 Buick cues.

00:49 It's nicely proportioned.

00:50 It's pretty.

00:51 Nothing wrong with that.

00:53 And secondly, this concept portends an architecture that General Motors will use on at least two

00:59 and perhaps three crossover utility vehicles in the next couple of years.

01:04 It's a three-row, that means three rows of seats.

01:08 We know that there will be a Saturn version of it coming up within a few years, and we're

01:12 not sure yet what that third brand may be.

01:15 Now, the Enclave, as we see it here, has a lot of show car toys, all of which probably

01:21 won't make production, like multiple TV screens and genuine wood trim, and of course, the

01:25 quality of the leather and the assembly and everything else.

01:29 But it's a good-looking piece.

01:31 It's attractive.

01:32 It's practical.

01:33 And I think speaks well for what this brand needs to be all about.

01:38 When the Enclave comes to market in a couple of years' time, it'll replace both the Rendezvous

01:42 and the Renier in Buick's lineup.

01:45 From the Auto Show in Detroit, I'm Matt Stone.

01:47 (upbeat music)

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