Buick Lausanne / Statesman News **Named? (page 3)**
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Buick Lausanne / Statesman News **Named? (page 3)**
Buick will get a V8 rear-wheel drive sedan in 2008 - - Source: Edmunds.com
DETROIT, Mich. — Industry sources tell Inside Line that Buick intends to import a large rear-wheel-drive sedan from General Motors' Holden subsidiary in Australia, to serve as its flagship passenger car in 2008. It's a trick GM already tried with the slow selling Pontiac GTO, which is based on the Australian Holden Monaro.
The sedan reportedly will fill a slot in the division's lineup that will be left by the impending demise of the front-wheel-drive Park Avenue.
Holden has already begun testing prototypes of the Buick sedan, which will also share its basic architecture and underpinnings with the next-generation Holden Commodore and Statesman sedans in Australia.
The Buick sedan has been designed to accept GM's 5.7-liter V8, which likely will be mated to a five- or six-speed automatic transmission.
The sedan reportedly will fill a slot in the division's lineup that will be left by the impending demise of the front-wheel-drive Park Avenue.
Holden has already begun testing prototypes of the Buick sedan, which will also share its basic architecture and underpinnings with the next-generation Holden Commodore and Statesman sedans in Australia.
The Buick sedan has been designed to accept GM's 5.7-liter V8, which likely will be mated to a five- or six-speed automatic transmission.
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It's about time. This car needs to be a real competitor to the LS at a valued discount, if Buick hopes to have any true lux creditiblity future. I wonder what the HP application be from the 5.7 V8 will be for this car. Also, no reason why this car shouldn't get the 6SP. After the mediocre Lacrosse, and just adequate but good Lucerne, Buick needs to hit this one out of the park, styling and content wise. I'm not worried about the quality or reliablilty as much as I how it'll look, and the gadgets it'll have. The shape of the greenhouse is nice. As is the wheel gap, as Gav said. Also, look at the how the rear window hooks, a la' BMW.
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....looks Altima-ish. Can we expect the DoD V8 in this one??
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If the LS1 fits in there that means the LS2 also does. BUt I dont think that Buick should use pushrod engines if they are to go against the Lexus offerings. They have to share the DOHC engines from Cadillac. So the new generation Northstar engines which by 2008 will be much more powerful should be used. I am guessing a 5.0 liter V8 DOHC engine making 370HP to go against the LS460.
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Originally Posted by gavriil
If the LS1 fits in there that means the LS2 also does. BUt I dont think that Buick should use pushrod engines if they are to go against the Lexus offerings. They have to share the DOHC engines from Cadillac. So the new generation Northstar engines which by 2008 will be much more powerful should be used. I am guessing a 5.0 liter V8 DOHC engine making 370HP to go against the LS460.
Sorry Gav, that makes way to much sense, and is way to rational for GM to ever implement. The perfect example is the Lucerne; it get's the 3800 pushrod @ a pitiful 195HP to go against the Avalon's 280HP all new 3.5L V6. It should have gotten the 3.6L HFV6 making 250 HP just to be credible... but nnooo, e'll see the HFV6 debut in the new Aura, though Saturn is still placed under Buick. Go fuckin' figure. I see nothing wrong with Buick getting slightly detuned Caddy engines.
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Originally Posted by titan
Sorry Gav, that makes way to much sense, and is way to rational for GM to ever implement. The perfect example is the Lucerne; it get's the 3800 pushrod @ a pitiful 195HP to go against the Avalon's 280HP all new 3.5L V6. It should have gotten the 3.6L HFV6 making 250 HP just to be credible... but nnooo, e'll see the HFV6 debut in the new Aura, though Saturn is still placed under Buick. Go fuckin' figure. I see nothing wrong with Buick getting slightly detuned Caddy engines.
Yeah they gave it the wrong engine for the V6 but I think that's the only V6 in this class that fits the FWD platform. The 3.6 from Caddy fits RWD platforms only.
In all fairness they went with the 4.6 Northstar with the V8 option.
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Originally Posted by gavriil
Yeah they gave it the wrong engine for the V6 but I think that's the only V6 in this class that fits the FWD platform. The 3.6 from Caddy fits RWD platforms only.
In all fairness they went with the 4.6 Northstar with the V8 option.
In all fairness they went with the 4.6 Northstar with the V8 option.
#10
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First Oldsmobile, Buick may be next.
Seriously, how can they complete with entry luxury cars like ES, G, C, TL, 3-series, A4 etc? The folks who have money for luxury mid-size/full-size sedans won't look at Buick at all.
Seriously, how can they complete with entry luxury cars like ES, G, C, TL, 3-series, A4 etc? The folks who have money for luxury mid-size/full-size sedans won't look at Buick at all.
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^^ That can very well change. Look at the big picture. It takes the right product first. Mix that with the right marketing, and price it right, and you've got a winner. Really, think about it. You're 23 yrs. old. Buick didn't exist 30 years ago. If GM put for 100% effort, Buick could easily be a premier lux maker, easily seen in the same light as Lexus; and all of that in just a generation or two. If they stay true to the mission of being a Lexus competitor, in 25-30 years, our affluent kids could be dreamin about Buick the same way we do Lexus, Benz, Infiniti, etc. And Buick's got a major trump card; it's major history. And I do understand history alone can't save the company (look at Oldsmobile, America's oldest brand).
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Originally Posted by titan
^^ That can very well change. Look at the big picture. It takes the right product first. Mix that with the right marketing, and price it right, and you've got a winner. Really, think about it. You're 23 yrs. old. Buick didn't exist 30 years ago. If GM put for 100% effort, Buick could easily be a premier lux maker, easily seen in the same light as Lexus; and all of that in just a generation or two. If they stay true to the mission of being a Lexus competitor, in 25-30 years, our affluent kids could be dreamin about Buick the same way we do Lexus, Benz, Infiniti, etc. And Buick's got a major trump card; it's major history. And I do understand history alone can't save the company (look at Oldsmobile, America's oldest brand).
I think Caddie is heading to the right direction but not Buick. Just my
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Originally Posted by titan
Buick didn't exist 30 years ago.
Originally Posted by titan
If GM put for 100% effort, Buick could easily be a premier lux maker, easily seen in the same light as Lexus
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Originally Posted by MSZ
I agree with some of your points, but you got too many "ifs" there.
I think Caddie is heading to the right direction but not Buick. Just my
I think Caddie is heading to the right direction but not Buick. Just my
I'll admit, there's a hell of alot of ifs in there. Don't get me wrong; I'm blinded by loyalty, or anything. Buick's no where near where I think they need to be as far a competing with Lexus is concerned. The lineup's screwed up; The quality and reliability's there, but the design and styling isn't yet. Product is key... and they should abandon RWD all togherther from there sedans, IMHO, starting with this flagship, and trickling downward.
#15
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Originally Posted by titan
Buick didn't exist 30 years ago.
Originally Posted by titan
...Buick has always been positioned a notch down from Cadillac. .. If they stay true to the mission of being a Lexus competitor, in 25-30 years...
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Originally Posted by SpeedyV6
Buick has always been a notch down from Cadillac and most would say Cadillac is a notch below Lexus.
Sorry. I was drinking heavily when I wrote that... I meant, Lexus wasn't around 30 years ago. Buick was GM #1 brand until they bought Caddy.
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Originally Posted by titan
Sorry. I was drinking heavily when I wrote that... I meant, Lexus wasn't around 30 years ago. Buick was GM #1 brand until they bought Caddy.
But your point about the direction Buick needs to go is well taken. I personally think Buick should be reshaped into an Acura type theme and the LaCrosse CXS & Rainier are both good first steps. Caddy should (and I think they are) focus the higher volume Lexus/MB products.
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Originally Posted by F23A4
But your point about the direction Buick needs to go is well taken. I personally think Buick should be reshaped into an Acura type theme and the LaCrosse CXS & Rainier are both good first steps. .
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Spy Shots: 2008 Buick Lausanne - - Rear-drive returns to Buick. - - by Hans Lehmann/Hidden Image - - Source: The Car Connection
Having given Cadillac a shot in the arm with lots of new models, now General Motors is turning its attention to Buick, with a multi-year effort to replace Buick's entire lineup of cars. First was the 2005 Buick LaCrosse, which replaced the Buick Century. Next will be the 2006 Buick Lucerne, a stylish replacement for the Buick LeSabre.
Buick has not yet shown the third new sedan, but these latest spy photos, taken inAustralia, give the first glimpse of the all-new rear-wheel-drive full-size sedan which will be Buick's new top-of-the-line model, and will replace the Buick Park Avenue for the 2008 model year. One possibility for a name, used by Buick on concepts before, is Lausanne.
This new sedan will be a premium model, once again raising the level of luxury and performance beyond that of the model it replaces. A V-8 engine is expected, of about 5.7 liters of displacement. The fact that it was caught under test in Australia is no fluke. The new Buick is being developed jointly by GM and GM's Australian car division, Holden. In fact, Holden will not only share in the design of this as-yet-unnamed Buick, but Holden will build it in Australia as well, and GM will import it to the U.S.
The prototypes reveal a very rounded roofline with steeply slanted windshield and rear window. At the front are big headlight clusters with small-diameter high-intensity headlights along with turn signals and parking lights that result in a two by two matrix of lights behind a large clear cover - covered with tape for disguise on the prototypes. The rear taillight cluster is also large, and has multiple round lights. A few luxury touches include parking sensors in both the front and rear bumpers, and lights in the lower portion of the side mirrors.
The grille of the black prototype is disguised with lots of black tape, but looking closely at the white car shows details of the grille design. A bold ring of chrome surrounds the grille opening, plus four horizontal bars crossing the grille are also trimmed with chrome at the front edge of each bar. At the grille's center is a large chrome Buick emblem. There's plenty of bright chrome to put "bling" into the grille of this top-of-the-line cruiser. The rear end carries on a Buick design tradition, with a horizontal chrome bar across the trunk lid, just above the license plate, with raised letters spelling out Buick. The chrome bar is covered with black tape on the prototypes, but a close-up photo not shown here clearly shows the Buick name under the tape.
Buick has not yet shown the third new sedan, but these latest spy photos, taken inAustralia, give the first glimpse of the all-new rear-wheel-drive full-size sedan which will be Buick's new top-of-the-line model, and will replace the Buick Park Avenue for the 2008 model year. One possibility for a name, used by Buick on concepts before, is Lausanne.
This new sedan will be a premium model, once again raising the level of luxury and performance beyond that of the model it replaces. A V-8 engine is expected, of about 5.7 liters of displacement. The fact that it was caught under test in Australia is no fluke. The new Buick is being developed jointly by GM and GM's Australian car division, Holden. In fact, Holden will not only share in the design of this as-yet-unnamed Buick, but Holden will build it in Australia as well, and GM will import it to the U.S.
The prototypes reveal a very rounded roofline with steeply slanted windshield and rear window. At the front are big headlight clusters with small-diameter high-intensity headlights along with turn signals and parking lights that result in a two by two matrix of lights behind a large clear cover - covered with tape for disguise on the prototypes. The rear taillight cluster is also large, and has multiple round lights. A few luxury touches include parking sensors in both the front and rear bumpers, and lights in the lower portion of the side mirrors.
The grille of the black prototype is disguised with lots of black tape, but looking closely at the white car shows details of the grille design. A bold ring of chrome surrounds the grille opening, plus four horizontal bars crossing the grille are also trimmed with chrome at the front edge of each bar. At the grille's center is a large chrome Buick emblem. There's plenty of bright chrome to put "bling" into the grille of this top-of-the-line cruiser. The rear end carries on a Buick design tradition, with a horizontal chrome bar across the trunk lid, just above the license plate, with raised letters spelling out Buick. The chrome bar is covered with black tape on the prototypes, but a close-up photo not shown here clearly shows the Buick name under the tape.
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Originally Posted by Maximized
Come on guys, you are slowing down. Nobody noticed the HUD?
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Originally Posted by F23A4
....yeah! GM is mindful of the occassions when enemy MiGs strafe our interstates.
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Originally Posted by Maximized
My friend has one on his C5 and I love it. You never have to look away from the road to check you gauges. The C5's system has a shift "light" as well.
BTW: I'd love the C5 with or without the HUD.
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Originally Posted by F23A4
....yeah! GM is mindful of the occassions when enemy MiGs strafe our interstates.
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Originally Posted by gocubsgo55
i dont know man, those mig-29s are too fast for GM technology. Radar or not, a Buick ain't gonna take down a MIG-29 unless it's grounded. Cadillac, though, offers the heat-seeking missle package, something worth the money.
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Damn, that's a big ass car. Seems perfect for the trumpeted RWD V8 powered Buick flagship. I like the shape, greenhouse, etc. I just hope Buick doesn't screw up the minor details and interior. This car needs real lux touches to make it a viable Lexus alternative. And though I know they're not available, Caddy should get 7SP transmissions while Buick gets 6SPs, coupled with their respective engines, IMO.
#33
One possibility for a name, used by Buick on concepts before, is Lausanne.
Loss Anne? Laws Anne?
#37
Has a nice substantial look to it, think this is their last chance to release a car with a kickass ass interior, priced at 40k to go against the 300hemi. Would probably be a good idea to even push it past deville quality since that car will most likely no longer be in the segment in a couple years. The only thing I don't get is that its shorter than the Lucerne.
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Originally Posted by gavriil
Yeap. It seems to me this car should be positioned more against the 300C than the GS/LS.