Buick To Get Sport-Ute Next Year

[Centurion]

This seems like a good idea, as long as the vehicle is highly-differentiated from the Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, and, of course, the Oldsmobile Bravada.

[BUICK RACER]

Just a personal note, I was privvy in July or August that the Bravada going away would lead to a Buick on the same platform, that's ok, having driven the new Bravada for 3 months as my company car, and had the chance to drive an Envoy over Christmas,it's very nice vehicle compare to the previous versions, the new extended 3 seat version being built in OKC should also be interesting, though have seen one for real yet! I just wonder what they will call this new Buick SUV, that should be really interesting, as the only way I have learned to spell Rendezvous is because they used it, kinda like viola! Oh, boy, I just came up with a new SUV name! All, I can relate to being a GM employee for almost 23 years now, is this is the most exciting time I have seen since I have worked for "them" there may be some excitement built back into the auto industry, Finally, way overdue, we, American's, like our cars, unfortunately the imports have dominated for way too many years, as much as, the media has said we have not built what the public wants, I think the media should be blamed for alot of the import speculation of building premium vehicles, it's alot of hype, I see rusted out Toyota's, Honda's and others every day on the trek from Flint to Pontiac for the last 10.5 years, see them on the side of the road too, lots of chrysler products too, But rarely do I see a Buick, hmm, unless it's a flat or a collision with a deer... This is or could be a major research project. But I can't drive and write at the same time, and once I get to work, it's work, not daydream about the sometimes nasty drive, 2 hours this week with the ice and 2 hours last week with the snow, to go 37 miles?? I can't drive 95! at 85 they are flying by in their Escorts and Toyotas, today one with the whole exhaust system draggin, must have one heck of a stereo! R

[AK Buickman]

************************<P> C E N T U R I O N<BR> by Buick<BR>************************<P>Imagine if the new Buick SUV used this name!<BR>A Centurion was a Roman military leader that usually commanded 100 soldiers. The Buick Centurion SUV could be the leader of the 100 or so other SUV's on the market, and give all others a fierce fight. The other symbolism for this name comes from the "cent" in Centurion connecting with Buick being in business for 100 years.<BR>Then, to blow the doors off of the competition, stuff a big, powerful engine under the hood of the Centurion--let the tires sizzle from a stoplight!! (or use a GMC Syclone/Typhoon set-up to quietly blow away Corvettes). <BR>C'mon Buick, get something that will get customers into your showrooms again!<P>AK Buickman, BCA #1955<BR>1955 Roadmaster #76R<BR>1966 Wildcat #6637<BR>1972 Electra 225 #4839

[BUICK RACER]

Buick To Get Sport-Ute Next Year<P>Vehicle will be built on Chevy platform, join Rendezvous in lineup<P>The Detroit News<P>February 7, 2002 <P>By Joe Miller <P>DETROIT -- In another bid to breathe new life into aging Buick, General Motors Corp. will launch a new Buick sport-utility vehicle next year based on GM’s Chevrolet TrailBlazer platform, GM confirmed Wednesday.<P>The yet-to-be-named SUV will likely debut as a 2004 model and give the near-luxury car brand its second new truck in two years, joining the Buick Rendezvous crossover vehicle.<P>Buick spokesman Peter Ternes said the seven-passenger Rendezvous, based on the same minivan platform as the Pontiac Aztek, has been a strong seller for Buick. But the brand needs a traditional sport-ute, he said.<P>"An SUV would give us the ability to move more in the direction of a truck and the capabilities that trucks have, like more towing," Ternes said.<P>Ternes wouldn’t say whether the SUV will be based on the five-passenger TrailBlazer or the upcoming seven-passenger extended TrailBlazer.<P>The Buick sport-ute will be built at one of GM’s two mid-size SUV plants in Moraine, Ohio, and Oklahoma City.<P>Although the Buick SUV will be ramping up just as GM is phasing out the Oldsmobile Bravada -- also based on the TrailBlazer platform -- Ternes dispelled rumors that the Buick model will be a rebadged version of the Bravada.<P>The introduction of the Rendezvous last year helped Buick stave off a loss in market share, offsetting its over dependence on the shrinking car market and a rapidly aging customer base.<P>With 35,640 units sold through January, the Rendezvous has quickly passed its controversial sister, the Aztek, and is on pace to outsell rivals such as the Acura MDX and BMW X5.<P>GM revealed its plans for the Buick SUV to its Buick dealers at the recent National Automobile Dealers Association convention in New Orleans.<P>At the meeting, GM confirmed that plans to bring the Buick Bengal concept convertible to market were dead.<P>"With Lutz here there has been a lot of pull-aheads and push-backs after reviews of everyone’s portfolios," Ternes said. "The same goes for Buick’s portfolio."

[AK Buickman]

I looked up the word "Centurion" in the Webster's Dictionary. A Centurion is a military leader that "commands a century."<BR>A century is 100 of something, such as 100 years, or 100 soldiers.<BR>Buick's new SUV COULD be a leader!!<BR>AK Buickman..................

[Guest]

they need to build a huge behmoth of the size of the full Suburban and call it the Limited and to distinguish it from the Chevy, put 4 slots or portholes on each side.

[AK Buickman]

Portholes mounted in a retro design would be a nice, distinguishing feature on this SUV! Just don't hide them like Buick did on the 1990's Roadmaster models.<P>AK Buickman.............

[BuickNut]

One thing I hope Buick (G.M. overall too..) sees is that due to the past couple of years with bouts of extremely high gas prices - they need to focus on new platforms for new niches - the Rendezvous/Aztek being a good example and good direction with better milage too. I think honestly that we have peaked out with SUV's - while they will still be sellers for a while - that wave has crested. Case in point is the Japanese getting on that and the truck bandwagon....they are notorious for being followers in design - that too is an indcator its time to lead in another direction. I wish they would look at smaller SUV's or AWD's like the Vibe...or sport wagons similar to the XC-90 (???) from Volvo (..or is it Saab ? ). I also wish they would concentrate MUCH more heavily on boosting engine power and highly increasing gas milage - we need that to keep the IC engined cars around and not be overcome by the hybrids or hydro-cell cars. I am in and out of the truck market - out mostly due to high prices and terrible gas milage (bad milage doesn't do my wallet or conscience any good). I read about these luxo-cruisers coming out with more and more high browed features and no increases in gas milage or power. Exception is the I6 in the Chevy Trailblazer...very good direction with that. I guess if you want it to drive like a car, ride like a car, and still have 4x4 capabilities - maybe an AWD fullsized car might be a better design....and might get better gas milage. <BR>Right now I have another old wagon I bought and am using it instead of my current 4X4 in non-snow/ice weather...its got a smaller 300 cu in engine, and I'm trying to squeeze the bajeeziz out of it for milage and having some success.....but I really think they ought to be looking at some other platforms that are new.....

[Reatta Man]

I can see the bean-counters now as they consider a name..."Centurion sounds too much like a Century; since we are killing the Century name in '04 or '05, lets not use it." In other words, I don't think the so-called leaders at Buick care about heritage. This may be caused by the fact that I don't think they KNOW Buick's great heritage. <P>Based upon that, it will likely have a brand-new name, after the concept of "new is better." <P>Too bad they called the Olds SUV the Bravada; I always liked that name, and "Buick Bravada" sure seems to flow off of the tounge better than "Buick Rendezvous."<P>Let's just hope it doesn't have an anemic engine like the Rendezvous, and they don't import it from another country like Mexico.

[Ron Green]

The name Centurion is alreadly used. I have a 1997 Chevy Centurion pick-up truck. It was sent by GM to Centurion to be custom made into a 4 door pick-up before GM started making them. <A HREF="http://www.centurionvehicles.com" TARGET=_blank>www.centurionvehicles.com</A>

[Guest]

The name Roadmaster is available again, isn't it? That might be an even better truck name.