Buick Design To Grow Bolder; No More "Design Legacy Retreads" Like Lucerne & LaCrosse

[Perian]

Link: http://www.autoobserver.com/2007/12/...design-wi.html

Buick Design Will Grow Bolder,GM’s Top Design Exec Says

By Dale Buss

Expect future Buick vehicles to rip a big page from the success of its aggressively styled Enclave crossover and move quickly away from design-legacy retreads such as its Lucerne and LaCrosse mid-size 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 mid-size 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.

[Hitman1970]

Can't wait to see if the product actually lives up to the hype. If Buick is truly a step up from Chevrolet then LaCrosse better be a LOT better than the already outstanding Malibu.

[Sal Collaziano]

This sounds like pretty good news for Buick.. And with the big grilles and lots of chrome - it sounds like Classic Cadillac - which I think would be a fine upgrade for Buick.. And could even have me in a Buick one day..

[HoosierRon]

Here is a wild idea: instead of pointing to the Velite, how 'bout you make it.

[DU Biggs]

Sounds like the next LaX could be a real looker....hopefully we get it sooner than later

[Phoenix]

The platforms the LaCrosse and Lucerne rode on were just too old. Getting rid of these for Epsilon II and maybe Zeta will revolutionize the brand.

So they are bringing the Velite concept to Detroit this year. Am I reading this correctly? I'm not sure what that will accomplish unless they plan on building it. (build it!)

[MonaroSS]

I hope it means cars that have this kind of look...

[Mikkoo]

Great to hear that bland and ugly designs like the current LaCrosse will be a
thing of the past soon. Humm, a Riviera concept at Detroit, perhaps inspired
by the Chinese concept, would be nice indeed.

[DU Biggs]

Originally Posted by MonaroSS

I hope it means cars that have this kind of look...

Even when shifting the front wheels back and giving it more front overhang to make it front wheel drive (all done in my mind of course) This would be a killer design!

[FenwickHockey65]

Buick's future looks promising. All they need to do is get away from the "old person's car" reputation and make some more aggressively styled vehicles like the Enclave.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Mikkoo

Great to hear that bland and ugly designs like the current LaCrosse will be a
thing of the past soon. Humm, a Riviera concept at Detroit, perhaps inspired
by the Chinese concept, would be nice indeed.

I thought it was going to be that same one we saw in China. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[eaton53]

The platforms the LaCrosse and Lucerne rode on were just too old. Getting rid of these for Epsilon II and maybe Zeta will revolutionize the brand.

No doubt... the Lucerne CXS is basically my wife's former 1994 SLS with MRC.

I kind of like that sedan in the picture.... hate the headlights, tho.

[K Dawg ONE]

reading > me
I thought it said 'Design Legacy Retards'
Much funnier!

[TaHoE]

When I think future Buick design, I think a lot of Alfa Romeo. Their design languages are similar, and since Alfa is bound to come to the United States sooner or later, and at a price that exceeds Buick, why not adapt some of that classic Italian design language into the classic Buick look that the Enclave and Velite does so well. Buick = American Alfa.

[Sal Collaziano]

Holy crap! That's awesome! THAT'S a Buick that ANYONE could be Proud to own!

Originally Posted by MonaroSS

I hope it means cars that have this kind of look...