With six seats in three rows, the Enclave is based on a new unibody platform, which classifies it as a car-based, or crossover, vehicle. Buick says this model will not replace the Rendezvous crossover; rather, it will compete in a more expensive class alongside the Acura MDX and Lexus RX 330.
The Enclave has some Buick characteristics, such as the waterfall grille, and perhaps the best-executed example to date of the brand's resurrected portholes. They appear along the rearmost edge of the hood's power bulge on each side, and they're appropriately shaped. Beyond these elements, the Enclave looks like many, many other brands' versions of the same type of vehicle. (Buick is no more or less guilty than any of them.) The door handles, trim and roof rails are chrome, complemented by polished stainless steel exhaust tips. The 21-inch chrome wheels are unlikely to find their way into production, though manufacturers have gotten more bold in this area. History
The Lambda crossovers were conceived to provide the passenger and cargo space Americans want (either 148 cubic feet of people room or 117 cubes for cargo with all the seats down) in a lighter, more fuel-efficient package. Toward that end, they'll all launch with a 3.6-liter DOHC V-6, expected to make 270 horsepower in the Buick. Teamed with a new six-speed automatic and front- or on-demand all-wheel drive, the Saturn is already rated at 24-25 mpg on the highway--two to four mpg better than a Tahoe with the cylinder-deactivating V-8 engine. Hence no V-8 will be available at launch, though a small-block would likely fit.
Buick's Lambdan is by far the most curvaceous and carlike, and it wears the dressiest jewelry, starting with the headlamps. The main high-intensity-discharge projector lenses are ringed in blue, and the barrels for the inner high-beam projectors seem to have faceted sapphires stuck to them.
The Buick is front- or all-wheel-drive, and power comes from a 270-hp 3.6-liter DOHC V-6, although there will be V-8 option. The GM triplets are larger than most crossovers so they can accommodate a real third-row seat. The Enclave actually looks smaller than it is--at 202.3 inches long, with a 119-inch wheelbase, it is similar in size to the monstrous Mercedes R-class. We suspect that the V-6 will be hard pressed to motivate it in any kind of hurry. The car shown at the 2006 Detroit show had a typically overdone "concept" interior, with enough TV screens to satisfy the most ADD family. Plus, we reckon the lovely brushed aluminum trim and leather covered dashboard won't make it into production. But the basic interior layout is the real deal, down to the three rows of captain's chairs (a seven-passenger model also will be available). The exterior design--including the huge panorama sunroof--is also nearly identical to that of the production car. The show car's 21-inch wheels look great, although they might be toned down when the car goes on sale in late 2006.