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| photo copyright General Motors/Joe Polimeni |
Buick does not have a reputation for excitement. Value, yes, and luxury to an extent – affordable would probably be the best phrase to capture the public’s perceived essence of Buick. As they approached their recent 100th anniversary, Buick began revitalization, with products like the Rendezvous and now the Rainier, with which they have tapped into the massive and lucrative SUV market. But automotive enthusiasts by and large still don’t agree to the notion that this vehicle line is “all good,” as Buick likes to think.
A better step forward is the new LaCrosse, Buick’s version of the Cadillac CTS. With the optional Northstar V8-derived 3.6 liter V6 with variable valve timing, a revised Buick-style interior and improved driving dynamics, the LaCrosse gives Buick some much-needed spark.
But there’s nothing like some serious muscle to boost a company’s excitement ratings - something like the Buick Grand National would do the trick. The Grand National is one of the coolest cars ever. It’s the ultimate sleeper. First of all, it’s a Buick – sorry, but that brings few images of performance to anybody’s mind. Second, it looked rather like a run of the mill car, with no obvious signs of the beastly power contained under the hood. And third – well, today almost nobody knows what it is, it just looks like some old American car, an image enhanced by the fact that easily half those on the road are in obvious need of a paint job, if not more work. But some 385 horsepower on a short wheelbase promised one wild ride. Somebody’s little turbocharged import is gonna get lost in a cloud of tire smoke…
Buick could use another Grand National, or something better and more fitting of the Buick image. How about the possibility of 400 horsepower in a very grand 2+2 open-topped tourer? How about an elegantly sculpted exterior and a luxurious interior that features both great continuity but also well defined individual components? Sound like a wish certain to be fulfilled?
That wish has a name: Velite. The Velite is an attractive car that was introduced at last year’s New York auto show, but that was subsequently lost in the shuffle. The Velite is still around, and the wish is still afloat.
The Velite is the U.S. introduction of GM’s new Zeta rear wheel drive platform (following the introduction of the Opel Insignia in Europe). It is also, we hope, an introduction of the new face of Buick.
A big, graphic representation of Buick’s 100-plus year old heritage is planted on the nose of the Velite – Buick’s classic waterfall grill. It has a sharp crease running horizontally through the center, and gives the Velite great presence from the start. Intricate headlamps are one of multiple details that speak to a significant effort invested in the design of this car. Long, flowing lines and wide rear haunches continue the grand presence initiated by the large grill. The shoulder lines come to a close in a beautiful boat tail – also a trait stored somewhere in the annals of Buick design – atop the trunk lid. Pretty polished exhaust tips are fitted flush into the rear fascia, and give a taught and minimalistic appearance to an otherwise robustly proportioned automobile.
The spacious interior has design elements seen in many different concepts at recent auto shows: Nickel chrome gages give a reserved, classy, and old-school jeweled appearance to the dashboard. Leather wicker covers the base of the shifter and the side panels on both doors, and provides a refreshingly unique approach to design – or at least as refreshingly novel as some luxury car companies were before WWII. The Velite interior conjures images of fabulous grand touring with the family, and sunny day picnicking. The leather covering the remaining door surfaces and the seats looks taught, like a leather jacket drawn taught over the frame of a large bouncer at an upscale night club.
Meanwhile, the thought of 400 horsepower under the hood conjures images of blowing BMW 645’s and Mercedes SL’s off the line and leaving them to forever shrink in your rear view mirror. The Velite is well dressed, but ready to light up when called for.
Now that 400 hp is a familiar number to GM, as the LS6 V8 which powered the last Z06 and the Cadillac CTS-V hit that magic mark. And more recently, the LS2 block in the new Corvette also hit that number. So, wouldn’t it be easy to lower one of those beautiful pushrod motors under the Velite’s long hood? And wouldn’t that be logical for its cost effectiveness? Yes. But, there’s more to consider, like maintaining a strong sense of brand identity. The Velite could be the playful big brother to the LaCrosse by sharing the same block, and then using the time honored tradition of forced induction to move up to the next level in power production. A twin turbo version of the LaCrosse’s 3.6 liter V6 would likely hit the 400 hp mark without straining the setup to a low level of reliability.
Will 400 hp be the magic number, still, if this dream becomes reality? Well, we were not given assurance of that, and it is suggested that 300 hp might be more reasonable. The Velite would be a watered down version at that power mark, yes, but an exciting product nonetheless. Where it will land in the international rankings of grand touring will surely reflect some worries of GM execs on how this might encroach on Cadillac XLR (and impending XLR-V) territory. We hold on tightly to the hope that one day we or you may enjoy with great pride the chance to show more of America has gotten back to its powerful and economical roots by waving goodbye– along with your three passengers – at the more economically impacted driver and three passengers of the neighboring BMW 645.
We believe in this sensuously smokin’ Buick. Make your wish, it might come true.
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| Bob Lutz shows off the prettiest darn Buick in a long time. photo copyright General Motors/Joe Polimeni |
