Himafagy

Where the Cadillac V-Series moniker focuses on high performance, the Platinum Series tag being introduced in LA this week places the emphasis on luxury. Now, we believe that this emphasis should be the brand standard anyway, and not just a trim package, but if this represents a step towards bringing Cadillac to the next level, where we hope it's headed, then so be it.


Available for the XLR, STS and DTS, the Platinum Series trim level sets the cars apart by bestowing them with specific paint colors, badging, and interior appointments. The XLR, for example, sports an exclusive and attractive Liquid Amethyst paint color and healthy doses of chrome added to its grille, bespoke wheels and other trim bits. Climb into the Cashmere leather seats and you'll notice the "Platinum" badging on the doorsill, more wood trim, and hand-stitched leather covering the upper dash and door panels. Unfortunately, based on GM's press release, it appears to stop short of the full-blown "Cut and Sew" interior available on the SRX, but we'll wait until our guys in LA get up close and personal to make that call.


Keep reading after the jump for the rundown on the STS and DTS Platinum Series, plus more photos and the official release from GM.


[Source: GM]


Following the convertible's lead, the STS and DTS sedans also get similar treatments. That means specific paint and wheels, added chrome, "platinum" badging on the bodywork and in the doorsills, and hand-crafted interior elements that aren't available on the standard vehicles. In the case of the DTS Platinum Series, we're not so crazy about that cream-colored scheme, though. It's a bit too Boca Raton-retiree for us, as you'll see below.


The STS Platinum Series gets the grid-pattern grille that's popping up on other Caddys, which is an immediate improvement. It should also be noted that while the STS does get to play dress-up in its Platinum Series threads, it's still got the '07 interior -- an element that is improved here yet doesn't hold a candle to the cabin design of the newChinese-market SLS. That, we're hoping, will appear at another show this year in an updated 2008 STS.


All that said, we're enthused that GM continues to look for ways to improve on Cadillac's interiors, which are light-years better than what they were a few years ago. Flagship brands deserve top-notch cabins asstandard equipment, though, and while Cadillac is showing aptitude in this regard, we just hope that there's even better stuff (i.e. full "Cut & Sew" for all models) on the way for '08. And rest assured, there's reason to be enthusiastic. Note that the SRX gets singled out in the press release text. That's the benchmark Cadillac appears to be using. Good.


GALLERY:

Click Images to enlarge


STS Platinum





XLR Platinum







DTS Platinum

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We told you last week that reports of Cadillac building a long-wheelbase version of the DTS were true, and now we have confirmation in the form of official shots of the long legged sedan released by General Motors today. While no information accompanied the images, you can clearly see about 6 to 8 inches of extra wheelbase that makes itself evident behind the rear doors. That extra length also gets added to the C-Pillar, which will both protect important back seat passengers from prying eyes and be a challenging blindspot for chauffeurs to see around. It's also clear from these pictures that, as we reported, a high-performance V-Series of the DTS-L will not be offered. One is clearly meant to be driven in this car, not to drive it himself (or herself). The rear-seat legroom is ample, as we would expect, with enough space behind the front seats to park an Aveo.


Will the Cadillac DTS-L give the aged Lincoln Town Car a run for its money? It might, if Cadillac can keep the cost down and find enough livery outlets looking to switch. Keep in mind, however, that we haven't heard much about the Chrysler 300 Long Wheelbase making any waves in the human delivery market. The Town Car is a tough cookie to beat due to its total entrenchment in this market, relatively low cost and a library of maintenance that's well known and tolerated. We'll likely see the Cadillac DTS-L at the L.A. Auto Show next week in person where we'll certainly climb in back and kick our feet up.


Check out the interior shot after the jump.


[Source: GM]

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No, these are not super-secret spy shots of the 2010 CadillacCimarron. GM (hopefully) learned its lesson then, and is not creating a baby Caddy by grafting a Catera grille onto a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta.

Pictured here might be the Chinese-made Marindo 506 from Shanghai Maple. Due to major language barriers, it's hard to tell if this is a past model or one soon to be introduced. What is evident is the definite influence by Cadillac's art and science design philosophy, probably not used with Ed Wellburn's permission.

But from photos found on the Maple website, their current design language is a tribute to yet anotherluxury marque.


(More photos after the jump)



[Source: Carscoop]


PHOTO GALLERY:










These are current Maple models, though which one isn't clear. Can you guess what German company with the four-ring logo inspired this car's designer?

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GM is taking the care and feeding of its growing business in China very seriously. Case in point: The 2007 Cadillac SLS, which will make its public debut at Auto China (the Beijing Motor Show) next week. The SLS is essentially an STS lengthened an additional 100mm (~4 inches) to give backseat passengers additional room to stretch out. In the press release accompanying the above photo, GM states that in China, luxury cars are usually chauffeur-driven, and as such, the cabin has been designed to meet the "specific needs" of the market. We take that to mean that the aft section of the compartment is equipped with more creature comforts than you'd find on a regular STS. Unfortunately, we don't have any photos of the interior to share.


The car will be built in Shanghai, with three engines -- the 2.8L V6, the 3.6L V6, and the Northstar V8 -- available to choose from. News of the long-wheelbase Caddy comes on the heels of BMW's announcement that the 5-Series is getting asimilar treatment in China, as automakers scramble to take advantage of every opportunity the growing Chinese market presents to them.


(Press release after the jump)


[Source:GM]



PRESS RELEASE:
Cadillac showcases new SLS at Auto China 2006

* Shanghai GM continues to fuel record sales
with new models for China
* Cadillac introduces all-new SLS model for Chinese market
* Cadillac Escalade is due to go on sale later this month


Detroit -The General Motors China Group recently reported another sales record for the first nine months of 2006 (645,680 vehicles). These record sales are driven by Buick (+ 27.8 percent), Chevrolet (+51.0 percent), Cadillac (+27.1 percent) and Wuling (+38.7 percent), China's number one brand of mini-vehicles. At "Auto China 2006", this year's international motor show in Beijing, Shanghai GM is showcasing new models such as the Cadillac SLS and Escalade. In addition, an important new offering from the Wuling brand is to be premiered. Furthermore, GM concept cars such as the Saab Aero-X, Buick Enclave and Chevrolet WTCC Ultra will make their public debuts in China.


GM's luxury brand, Cadillac has enjoyed remarkable success since its introduction to the China luxury market in 2004. The Cadillac China portfolio, consisting of the CTS sedan, the XLR roadster and the SRX crossover, will now be complimented with the all-new SLS and the Escalade SUV. Based on the STS sport sedan, the SLS has been lengthened by 100mm to add rear seat legroom. The interior is designed to meet specific local needs in this primarily chauffeur-driven luxury segment. Three engine options will be available which include the 2.8L V6, a 3.6L V6 and the top-level Northstar 4.6L V8 with 239kW/320hp. The new SLS will be built at the Shanghai GM plant for the Chinese market.


"The Cadillac SLS is a very important addition to our line-up in China as it meets very specific market needs," said Jim Taylor, general manager of Cadillac. "Cadillac reacts to country specific requirements and is proud to offer the SLS to Chinese luxury customers who demand extra space in the rear and other features." Earlier this year, Cadillac introduced the new BLS sedan in Europe and other international markets to satisfy the need for a smaller Cadillac model and a turbodiesel engine option.

"The Cadillac SLS is a strategic addition for the Cadillac brand in China, which will enable Cadillac to strengthen its presence in the luxury sedan market," said Mr. Ding Lei, president of Shanghai GM.


"The new Cadillac SLS and Escalade as well as the new offering from Wuling will strengthen our position as the market leader in China. GM's multi-brand approach in China enables us to successfully compete in all important segments of the fastest growing market in the world. I am looking forward to finishing 2006 as another year of record growth for GM in China," said Kevin Wale, president and managing director of the GM China Group.

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This year's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) will serve as the venue for Cadillac to debut the redesigned 2008 Cadillac CTS. The entry-level and uber-popular sedan will receive a thorough exterior tweaking, as seen during the 60 Minutes spot back in April. The revisedlook of the CTS will foretell the future of Cadillac designs, just as the current generation had; however, little information has been made available about what will be beneath the new CTS' sheetmetal. Rumors of a 3.6-liter V6 producing somewhere in the 280-300 HP realm have been heard and the forthcoming V-series model is expected to make around 400+ HP, when it debuts, likely sometime in 2009.



The press release (posted after the jump) states that the CTS will come to market in late 2007 as a 2008 model.



PRESS RELEASE:
Cadillac To Premiere All-New 2008 CTS In
January



DETROIT, Mich. - It is the subject of online discussions, rumors and spy photographers. It is the successor to an award-winning and popular luxury car. And it's coming in January. Cadillac confirms that the all-new 2008 CTS will make its world premiere in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.



"Cadillac has engineered an historic renaissance, with a completely new product portfolio, driven in large part by the original CTS," said general manager Jim Taylor. "Success can drive conservatism, but not for Cadillac. The next chapter, beginning in January, promises to be even more dramatic."



The debut of the redesigned 2008 CTS in the marketplace is scheduled for late-summer of 2007 in the U.S., with worldwide exports to follow in the fall. As this new chapter prepares to open, the current CTS model continues to be an automotive success story.



"CTS has built a strong record of success on many levels," Taylor said. "It has exceeded our goals for sales volume, set new design trends, won championships in racing, and earned awards for quality and customer satisfaction."



Cadillac sold more than 61,000 copies of the CTS in the U.S. in 2005, compared to roughly 38,000 in 2002, an increase of 60% over that period. This sustained sales growth over nearly five years is counter to conventional industry logic that says a new car's hottest sales occur shortly after launch. There are roughly 275,000 CTS owners worldwide, and industry researchers say they are among the most satisfied in the automotive market. AutoPacific rated CTS as the top Entry Luxury Car in its annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards in 2006.

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Unforgettable cars associated with the Leno name include the Tank Car and the twin turbo Toronado. After Monday night, we can add the EcoJet to that list. Designed and produced in collaboration with Leno, his Big Dog team of mechanics and GM's Design Studio in North Hollywood, the EcoJet is powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine producing 650 horsepower and 400 ft-lbs. of torque on bio-diesel. It rides on a modified Corvette Z06 hydroformed aluminum frame with additional aluminum and magnesium chassis components. The skin: 100% pure carbon fiber over Kevlar. The EcoJet's shape is a mix of Cadillac's current design language and cues taken from F1 racers and aeronautical craft.



The EcoJet was introduced at a shindig thrown by GM last night in Las Vegas at the SEMA show, and Autoblog's Mike Magda was in attendance. Unfortunately his hotel lacks the wi-fi, so we'll bring you some additional shots of this shocker later today.


You can still check out GM's press release after the jump, though.


[Source: GM]

PRESS RELEASE:

Turbine-Powered Ecojet Concept Began With Meeting, Sketches On A Napkin Jay Leno, GM Advanced Design Studio Collaborated on 650-Horsepower Supercar That Runs on Bio-Diesel


LAS VEGAS - What would keep a group of automotive designers up all night? "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, for starters, but not by his monologue or parade of Hollywood guests. This time it's because the late-night talk show host invited the General Motors Advanced Design Studio to help design a mid-engine, turbine-powered supercar called EcoJet. Leno and Ed Welburn, GM vice president of Global Design, introduced the car today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show.


EcoJet's genesis goes back to a discussion between Leno, an avid car enthusiast and collector, and Bernard Juchli, the chief mechanic and caretaker of Leno's collection. Leno then turned to Welburn for design direction.


"A couple of paper napkins later, Ed had begun to capture the essence of the car," said Leno. "I've admired the work of GM's Design Studio in North Hollywood, Calif., and asked Ed if the studio's director, Frank Saucedo, and his guys could continue the design study," Welburn agreed, and a two-week sketching frenzy commenced as GM's designers began working after-hours with Leno's team on the project.


"EcoJet's esthetics were driven by aeronautical and jet-age influences," said Welburn. "It's a purpose-driven design that conveys power, capability and even danger, with a hint of Cadillac's sophisticated design vocabulary."


Borrowing design cues from jet aircraft and Formula One racecars, the supercar began to take shape under the watchful eyes of Leno and Welburn. A concurrent engineering program defined the vehicle's proportions and mechanics.


Leno relied on Juchli and the entire Big Dog team at his garage to turn the EcoJet vision into a reality.


"We thought we pushed the creative envelope with the '66 twin turbo Toronado project with GM, but this turbine-powered monster is a whole new level of complexity," said Juchli, who constructed the car at Leno's facility.


The 650-horsepower (400 lb.-ft. of torque) Leno original is powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine that runs on bio-diesel fuel. The engine sits in a modified Corvette Z06 hydroformed aluminum frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components. The vehicle's shell is an advanced construction of carbon fiber over Kevlar.


EcoJet project partners

• GM Advanced Design Studio, North Hollywood, Calif. - conceptual
  and build design, engineering, digital design and fabrication support
  


• Alcoa - chassis and wheel engineering


• Metalcrafters - body engineering and construction


• Honeywell - engine supplier


• Intermountain Turbine - engine builders


• Dana - chassis supplier


• BASF - paint and finishing supplies


• GE Plastics - Lexan windows


• Viper Technologies - wheel construction

ECOJET SPECIFICATIONS

Vehicle description: mid-engine, turbine-powered, two-seat supercar

Wheelbase (in / mm): 110 / 2795

Engine: Honeywell LT-101

Horsepower @ % turbine speed): 650 @ 70

Torque (lb-ft @ % turbine speed): 400 @ 70

Fuel type: bio-diesel

Wheels: 20 x 10-in front_22 x 12-in rear

Tires: 255/35R20 front_305/30R22 rear

Track (in / mm): 66.9 / 1698 front_66.6 / 1692 rear

Overall length (in / mm): 184 / 4674

Overall width ( in / mm): 79.4 / 2024

Overall height (in / mm): 46.5 / 1180

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As General Motors refines the future of their brands, they're trimming out redundancy and we have a hard time coming up with a more redundant vehicle than the multitude of GMT 360 based 'utes across all the GM brands.



The Buick Rainier is one version of this ubiquitous platform that no longer has any reason for living; thus, production will end during the second quarter of 2007. Buick's plan is to trim the lineup back to three or four models, while focusing on developing and turning them out extremely well. The focus of Buick's future is taking the brand further into luxury, rather than offering everything the other divisions do, but with plusher seats. The buying public has found religion with car-based CUVs, as well, so dropping the Rainier to focus on execution of the Enclave is a shrewd move. Competition from other luxury brands, such as the Lexus RX vehicles, which have been based off car platforms since their inception are preferred by consumers and no amount of niceties inside will make up for the lumbering feel of a body-on-frame truck. Rather than have two vehicles vying for consumers hearts -- and confusing them in the process -- we laud the decision to lay the Rainier to rest.



[Source: Detroit Free Press]

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It ain't no Skyhawk. Actually, we're not even sure this is the model that Buick may be contemplating bringing Stateside. Perusing their Chinese offerings, however, this seems like the most likely bet for a smaller Buick to slot below the LaCrosse. The only other Chinese Buick that makes a sliver of sense is the Royaum, based on the Omega platform (Catera, GTO), but that's a larger car aimed at dignitaries who prefer riding to driving. There are no facts to offer yet, other than Buick is analyzing whether offering an entry-level car under the LaCrosse is a good move.


There's debate among GM execs about whether a kiddie-pool Buick is the way to go. Some feel that it'd be a bad move, and the brand should focus on moving upscale, but we don't think that "upscale" and "entry-level" are mutually exclusive. There is a market for premium small cars; witness the MINI. If the car were fussed over enough to have the General's current, much improved, level of fit and finish, some dashing style, and offer capable and competitive powertrains and performance, they could have a winner on their hands. If it's indeed the Excelle, we'd be inclined to leave it. It's based on the Daewoo Nubira, and while it looks nice enough and it's not a bad car, there's still a yawning gap to leap into a LaCrosse. We haven't seen the likes of four-cylinder Buicks since the 1990s, and very few of them were of any interest (T-Type Skyhawks, Somersets and Skylarks get a pass). If there was proper development put into a smaller Buick, we'd welcome the return of a car to fill the Skylark's old shoes. We're not seeing that car in the current Chinese lineup, where the focus is more on uber cushy appointments inside, large size, and conservative styling. Hmm.. That doesn't sound half bad if it winds up on a chassis with some starch in the suspenders.


[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

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What better way to start off this week's salute to beaters than to bring you a rusted and busted 1989 Buick Skyhawk?



With just a few ticks over 119k on the clock, Flickr member Circax inherited this particular J-body from his grandfather and although it looks worse for the wear, it still manages to provide him a means of navigating his daily slog. Equipped with a 2-liter four that in its heyday was producing around 100 HP, this old biddy still has some spunk, although its maladies are both obvious and numerous.



We took the liberty of posting Circax's own trials and tribulations after the jump, but a few highlights include his use of krazy glue to mend the wires for the cruise control and his application of thumbtacks to keep the roof's headliner in place.



We love it, so we posted a few more pics after the jump, along with directions on how to submit your own ride to our Flickr account. Bring the beaters people. We want more.







From the man himself:



1989 Buick Skyhawk. 2.0L I4 engine with 3-speed automatic transmission. There are just over 119,000 miles on the clock. This was the last year that Buick produced the Skyhawks.



Replaced (since I've had it): Muffler & sections of exhaust pipe (rusted to pieces), spark plugs/wires, alternator, vacuum hoses, rearview mirror, water pump, a ton of brake parts.



Fixed: Climate control control panel (with three pieces of cassette tape case plastic & krazy glue), cruise control controller (krazy-glued the wires back on (too difficult to solder), plugged vacuum reservoir back in).



Broken: A/C doesn't blow cold, radio doesn't make any sound on the right channel, tape player, interior ceiling cloth is falling in, "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" light comes on intermittently (probably a failing exhaust system sensor). Leaks oil & a little bit of transmission fluid & power steering fluid. EGR valve seems stuck. The car never tracks straight.



Probably to be broken soon: brake lines & fuel lines are badly rusted.

*** Truer words were never spoken... A brake line failed (in a parking lot, thankfully). I had the car towed to a brake shop and in a bout of stupidity allowed the guys to replace far more than was necessary (my wallet is feeling light). And there are still rusty lines down below.



Got this for free from my grandfather, my first car. Since then, the doors have rusted terribly, and in an attempt to remove some of this rust, I ended up just creating conditions for more rust to form. Now there are some patches of rusty primer on the right side, and holes through the rusted sheetmetal. The clearcoat has completely disintegrated on the rear left of the vehicle (from the passenger door, back), now making it look as if two different colors of white were used.



Almost siezed the engine once, running without coolant for a few miles (uphill). Managed 110MPH once. Averages 30MPG: www.tcnj.edu/~wallace5/gasmileage.php



All that being said, I really enjoy the design of this car, and have always had a soft spot for 1980's automotive styles (go ahead and laugh).







The interior of my 1989 Buick Skyhawk. Cloth upholstry, which is ragged. The ceiling is "caving in", held aloft only by thumbtacks. No power windows or locks. And the stereo doesn't play tapes any longer nor does it produce sound on the right side. Speedometer is noisy. The climate control selector still doesn't shunt air to the right vents (defroster doesn't activate the defroster vents - thank goodness for the little money tray lid, which flips up and causes air blowing from the center vents to be directed towards the windshield).

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We
reported early last year that the Buick LaCrosse would likely be getting a Super Sport or Sport model boasting a 300-horsepower V8. The program is still ongoing and we found this most recent spy shot published on the Detroit News Insider (our intel, however, reveals this shot was taken in November of 2006). As reported, the LaCrosse Sport will have a front end tweaked to recall the 2004 Velite Concept with a new grille shape and different headlights. Though not shown on this mule, there will also be side skirts and a deck lid spoiler.




The LaCrosse Super will basically be Buick's version of theChevy Impala SS, and thus is a product that will likely cost the brand pennies on the dollar to develop. It will use the same 5.3-liter V8 producing three C-notes of horsey power, and will also wear 18-inch alloys. Our insider sources, however, don't believe the LaCrosse Sport will get Delphi's MagneRide suspension as the Detroit News reports. The system, that's also used on the Corvette, Cadillacs and Ferraris, would be a major expanse for a badge engineered product like this.



[Source: Detroit News]

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OK, so Bob Lutz might be doing a lot to save GM (or not, depending on who you ask), but one GM division that is really trying to regain its former glory is Buick. Chevy is the mainstream division. Pontiac is performance. Saturn is the import beater (but with all the Opels in their showrooms, they are migrating towards the old Olds territory of Euro alternative). Cadillac is the American Mercedes and BMW fighter. And Buick is... uhhh... affordable luxury? No, that would be near luxury, like Acura. But isn't that where Cadillac is with the CTS? Buick is... well, Buick WAS like Mercury, a step between common and luxury. Gradually it has taken over the retiree ride demographic that has a loyal but dying customer base.


So what to do? Products like the new Enclave are cool, but the Lucerne is a bit of a letdown compared to something like the Chrysler 300. And the LaCrosse, Terraza, Rainier, and Rendezvous aren't exactly, well, good. So Buick could use a boost. Something to redefine and reinvigorate the brand. Something that might get people excited about owning a Buick. Something like the 2008 Buick GNX. Never heard of it? Well, that's because it's a figment of Popular Hot Rodding's imagination.


[Source: PHR viaGM Inside News]


Their GNX concept is what they propose as "the first step toward bringing Buick back to its former glory." Based on the new rear-drive Zeta platform that will underpin the new Camaro and several large sedans, this new model features independent suspension all around and could lead Buick back towards its former performance luxury image. Although there is a whole range of trim levels proposed, the best is the badass GNX shown above. It looks like it could pass for the new Maserati Coupe. Powering it is the 400-hp LS2 V8 coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. Perhaps a stick would be a better fit, but this is their well-thought-out plan, not ours. They even go so far as to suggest it could be built on the same Holden assembly line as the GTO, with a higher trim level to justify its $1,500 surcharge. It's a fun idea and worth some further investigation.


Click the read link for more details about this PHR proposal and a larger pic.

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After a day behind the wheel of the new GMC Acadia crossover SUV, the folks at Popular Mechanics report some new information that snuck out in a conversation with a particularly chatty GM staffer.

He revealed that the Acadia will get the Denali treatment and, along with the usual trim level upgrades, a V8. The more interesting news is that the V8 under the hood of the Acadia Denali, and most assuredly the Buick Enclave as well, will be from an entirely new engine family being developed for transverse applications.

He stopped short of giving up specs, but the 3.6-liter V6 as tuned for use in the new crossovers makes 275 horsepower, so figure 300+ for sure. Hey General, how about 400?

Thanks to Ben at Popular Mechanics for the heads-up!


[Source: Ben Stewart / Popular Mechanics]

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Flickr member cmanmt got us all excited when he submitted pix of his 1995 Buick Riviera. These are pretty, luxurious and quick. 1995 was the first year of this bodystyle, and it set the media atwitter when it debuted. GM went out on a limb with the the 1995 Riviera's styling. The previous-generation Riv had started life as a stubby little thing, and while it eventually got more graceful hindquarters, it was still pretty conservatively styled. It was a car that featured the "over 50" set in its advertising, so you know who the target demo for that one was. For the 9th (and sadly final) generation of the Riviera, caution was thrown to the wind. These were big cars, long, with lines that polarized people in to love it or hate it camps. The shape is definitely swoopy, and the style was seemingly inspired by Bill Mitchell's fine work for the General. The looks have certainly aged well, so these Rivs still turn heads out on the road today. The lucky ones that got thesupercharged 3800 could turn out some quick sprints, too.


More after the jump.


cmanmt has done extensive upkeep to this mint-looking example of a cruising machine for a badmuthashutchamouth. The great thing about the Riviera is that it's got all that swaggering American styling on top of GM's excellentG platform. The G platform was extremely sturdy and was originally developed for theOldsmobile Aurora. The Riviera was a less expensive Aurora that was more on the "personal luxury" tip. When GM does lux, they do it old school - big plush seats, power everything, loads of sound deadening, you know, your Father's Oldsmobile. With the huffer sitting atop the already-torquey 3800, there's 220-plus horsepower at the command of your right foot. If you're really creative, the G platform lives on as the Buick Lucerne with V8 power. Hmmm. Honestly though, with a Riv, it's not about brute force, it's about STYLE. Sure, it won't embarass itself when it needs to hustle, but just park it and look at it. Dig that crease that runs front to rear at the top of the fenders, through the doors and blends into the rear quarters. Style in the 90's was sometimes a misnomer, but the last generation of Riv's doesn't fall into that category.

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GM, in what can only be termed as a smart move, has killed plans to redesign its minivan lineup for the 2009 model year. Like Ford, which axed the slow-selling Windstar, GM will euthanize it's rather awful minivan lineup, meaning that we won't have the Chevy Uplander, and Buick Terraza around to use as punchlines anymore. Instead, GM will focus on its new full-size crossovers that feature 3-row seating -- the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave.



Minivan sales for the General have dropped 50% since 2000, and the automaker has decided that its resources are better focused on other products. We agree. There's been no good reason to buy a GM minivan for a long time now, as competing products such as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and the Chrysler Group minivans have simply outclassed the completely lackluster GM offerings.



This is not good news for workers at GM's Spring Hill, TN plant, which was in line to build the now-scrapped new minivan. The plant has already lost Saturn's Ion (cancelled, GM will import the Astra to replace) and Vue (new version will be built in Mexico). According to the Detroit News, GM will likely assign an as-yet undetermined product to that facility in the future. In the article, Bob Lutz states that the automaker has reached no official decision to pull out of the minivan market entirely.



If that's code for taking a few years off to regroup, so be it. The last thing GM needs is a substandard new vehicle in a highly competitive segment dragging them down in the middle of their product renaissance. Get the new minivan right,then introduce it.



Thanks to Piter for the tip!



[Source: Detroit News]

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When you think aftermarket, chances are "midsize sedan" doesn't immediately spring to mind unless it has a German badge. But Chrysler has the 300 and Buick sees the Lucerne as a good alternative. SEMA has seen hundreds of different 300 variations, so not to be left out this year, Buick brought something for everyone. Everyone who likes the Lucerne, that is. Lots of Lucernes to go through, and damned if we were going to cover more than one. The Buick Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner by Rick Bottom Custom Motor Sports of Mendota, Illinois (please don't pronounce the "s") is by far the nicest.



This Lucerne CXX Luxury Liner sports a fairly understated but definitely custom two-tone paint job with White Gold Flash tri-coat on the sides and Glacier Gold Flash over the top down to the beltline. The effect really works to slim that profile a bit. The ground effects kit draws the whole shape down another notch. The 20-inch Weld EVO forged spoke wheels, coupled with a 2.25" lowering really closes the fender gap too.



A little more chrome than we prefer, but as an alternative to the 300C, this package looks pretty good, too bad it doesn't offer a HEMI. The Northstar is no slouch though, and here it gets a 20-percent power increase from revised ECU programming, and a 4-tip Corsa exhaust. The inside was pretty tasteful and had a megawatt (3,000!) stereo system by Eclipse that could have doubled as the PA system at the convention center. Nice concept for this newest Buick. More pics after the jump.

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Buick's
marketers are caught between a rock and a hard place, or more accurately between the aging baby boomers of its core market and the younger Gen-Y buyers it needs to grow the brand. With the average Buick owner nearing retirement age, brand managers are trying to play both sides of the fence, making the OnStar Directions and Connections service (a favorite of older buyers that don't like complex nav systems) standard for all 2007 models, while readyinga fleet of tricked-out Lucerne sedans for the upcoming youth-oriented Specialty Equipment Marketers Association trade show in Las Vegas.



The trick for Buick is to keep its core market happy while attracting new, younger buyers - avoiding the fate of the Oldsmobile brand, whose "Not your father's Oldsmobile" campaign alienated the AARP segment while bland models failed to attract new customers. Falling market share eventually led to the demise of the famous brand.



So how's Buick doing? Well, the average age of a Buick owner is 63 (compared to 58 for Cadillac), and sales are down 17 percent so far this year while General Motors as a whole is down only 11 percent. We'll see if the SEMA initiative lights a fire under the tuner crowd, but the upcoming Enclave certainly looks well-positioned to grab a significant share of the luxury crossover segment.

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Like a dad descending the basement steps and asking in on a round of Halo 2 with his son and his buddies, Buick will be showing up at SEMA this year with no less than 11 customized Lucernes. It will be the first time in the event's 43-year history that General Motors' elder-brand will appear on the show floor. Just to give this some perspective, the median age of a Buick buyer is 65, which happens to be a decade shy of the life expectancy for males in this country.


If you're expecting to see 11 Lucernes that look like part of an Xzibit rental fleet with woofers, LCDs and automatic Red Bull dispensers, you'll likely be disappointed. The Lucerne's will reportedly be customized in the "VIP style" that's popular in Japan right now in which vehicles forego the bling for modifications that enhance their luxury and status. We say good luck to Buick in its efforts to be hip and immerse itself in youth culture, because we know how serious those kids take their Halo 2.


[Source: BrandWeek]

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