Part two: Buick Enclave Road Test

by Kay Layne

A few years ago, if you told anyone that General Motors would have a SUV or CUV that would compete against Lexus, you would have been laughed at or place in a mental institution. Fast forward to 2008 and Buick is winning award after award for its Enclave.

The Enclave is a full size luxury crossover that seats seven to eight people. Built on the same platform as the Saturn Outlook and the GMC Acadia, it is a massive yet stylish people mover.

On the road, the CUV surprised me with its stability and handling. I was expecting “floaty”, “land-yacht” like ride but the suspension was bang on. It stuck well in the corners considering its size, and the electronic stability system was more than adequate. Uneven, pothole riddled roads were barely noticeable.

This Buick is powered by 3.6-litre DOHC V6 VVT engine that produces 275 horses and 251 pounds of torque. While that is nothing to sneeze at, this vehicle weighs almost 2 tons (2 172 kilograms) so for a lead foot like myself it was just a tad sluggish. However, compared to most vehicles its size the acceleration was quite sufficient. Transmission wise, the dual-overhead camshaft engine with 6-speed overdrive is extremely smooth.

With a fuel economy rating of 13.0 L/100 km (city) and 8.3 L/100 km (highway) for FWD models and 13.5 L/100 km (city) and 8.9 L/100 km (highway) for AWD models, this is one of the best ratings for any SUV you would find on the roads today.

The first thing my passengers noticed while being chauffeured was the complete lack of exterior or engine sound. In true luxury fashion, this large CUV is well built and insulated so that the sound system competes with nothing. (Unless you have passengers who like to sing along off key, like I did.)

Two posts ago, I featured an interview with Michael Burton, the man in charge of designing the interior of this vehicle. He claimed that when designing this vehicle a lot of time, money and effort was spent on creating a luxury feel. Now when talking about vehicle interiors, the words “luxury” and “North American” rarely reside in the same sentence. Well, when describing the Enclave’s interior and styling overall, the phrase “You have come a long way baby!” sums it up. I must admit that I am too young to remember Buick’s heydays but this is definitely a step in the right direction. Lots of chrome and wood tastefully clad the dashboard and gaps fit well.

Overall this stylish vehicle was an absolute pleasure to drive. It comes in two models the CX which starts at $40 895 and the CXL which starts at $48 295 (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price).

The lighter side of gas.

Cartoons from all over…

Interview with Buick’s Michael Burton

By Kay Layne

Part One: Learning about the “Man” who is trying to bring back the brand.

I had the good fortune of chatting with Michael Burton, a Director at General Motors and the man in charge of designing the interior of the Buick Enclave. He is the first black to design for each of the American big three (Ford, Chrysler and General Motors).

Burton grew up just down highway 401 in Lansing, Michigan. The Designer-turned-Director says he lived so close to the GM plant that as a kid, he used to go watch the new vehicles being moved to a nearby parking lot. “Since I was a young child” says Burton, “I had the ambition, the drive and the passion to become an automotive designer.”

At the age of twelve or thirteen, Burton penned a letter including some of his sketches to a human resources representative at General Motors. They got back to him with advice on how to become a designer, which he claims he followed closely. Son of a single mother, who did not know much about becoming a car designer but she made sure he had a mentor who did. He has had several mentors through the years, dating back to his early teens.

Burton has the following advice for anyone thinking about entering the demanding field of automotive design, “There will always be challenges. Now life can either be a stumbling block or a stepping-stone, it depends on your perspective. Appropriate a tenacious spirit and never let anyone stop you.”

His inspiration for the Enclave came from looking back to Buick’s heydays of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. He remembers as a child, his uncles driving in from Chicago in the old Deuce and a Quarters (Electra 225) and Wildcats of the 60’s. “They had a certain, swagger and elegance that stuck in a deep crevice of my mind” Burton recalls. He admits that as of late the Buick brand had become somewhat lethargic and geriatric.

The designer says he worked with a young team, so before they even picked up a pen, they took a look back at vintage Buicks and then moved forward. A concept he calls “heritage forward.” The team also studied the interiors of Rolls Royce, Bentley and private jets. “I was very disenchanted that Europeans and Asians were beating us at our own game” says Burton. “A lot of the Asian designers came to America, be it at General Motors or Ford and learnt. Then went back and beat us at our own game.” He claims that he wants anyone driving the Enclave to have the fit and the feel as if they were driving an European car but with a historical American flair.

Retractable Studded Tires

by Kay Layne

I realize that the last thing most people in the northern parts of North America want to think about is snow. Not too long ago, record amounts of snow fell from the sky causing treacherous road conditions. Most states and provinces frown upon studded or chained tires due to the damage they do roads once the snow or ice is cleared.

Well good news, spring has sprung and soon so might your tires.

A company called Q Tires created a tire called Q Celsius with retractable studs. So with a flip of a switch a driver could change from all season tires to studs. And vice-versa once the snow clears.

How it works is that air pressure from a main chamber expands to secondary chamber, which lifts the studs above the surface of the treads. To retract, the air pressure is released and the studs sink below the treads. While the company does admit some pressure is lost during retraction, they claim the system can be activated 20 to 30 times before you need to add air.

They can be installed, balanced and plugged like regular tires. These James Bond like wheels use a wireless signal to activate and deactivate the studs.

A flip of a switch sure beats having to change from summer or snow tires, and then back again each year.

The company hopes to have them on roads later this year. The cost has not yet been revealed.

Helping you find your Zenn, Canada’s electric car.

by Kay Layne

To conclude my series on “greenish’’ vehicles, I shall actually profile a real “green” vehicle.

Canada is a great land with great exports. There is the big stuff like forestry and oil. Then there is bigger stuff like comedians, Mike Meyers, Jim Carrey and Russell Peters, to name a few.

Well move over Celine, there is something else that is placing the Great White North on the map. Canada is becoming known for its Canadian cars. I am not talking about the ones built in Windsor or Oshawa. I am talking about the ones made in the land of “poutine”. I am talking about a Canuck carmaker, Zenn Motor Company

Zenn stands for zero emissions, no noise and are the makers of luxury NEV-neighborhood electric vehicles.Zenn Motors is headquartered in Ontario, the cars are manufactured in Quebec. These zippy electric Canadian cars are made in Canada just cannot be driven in Canada.

Yes, you read that right. You see even though they have met all the requirements set forth by Transport Canada and have received the National Safety Mark, they still have to be approved by each province. Only British Columbia has low speed regulations in place. However, if you wish to purchase and/or drive one of these cars then all you have to do as a Canadian is head south. Zenn cars are legal in 45 of the 50 States.

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The Zenn will take you 60 kilometres per charge and plugs into a standard 120 volt outlet. That works out to just two cents per kilometer.

 The car is cute and cheap however it is a low speed vehicle and tops out at around 60kph. It was made to zip around urban cores, not the open road. It produces no emissions and next to no noise. I have driven hybrids, and I must admit that the no noise feature is quite cool.

Unlike other NEVs that look like glorified golfcarts, the Zenn is boxy two seater compact car. It comes equipped with electric windows, a stereo in the dash, a huge sunroof, aluminum wheels and room for groceries in the back.

So there you have it a “green” car to end my “greenish” series. Have a wonderful “green” St. Patrick’s Day.

Environmentally friendly big honking SUVs- The Hydrogen Hummer and Hybrid Escalade

Go big, go “greenish”

by Kay Layne

This one is for all of you who sent emails about my “Greenish” Lambo article.

I think the whole “Greenish” concept would make a really cool movement. Yes, for all of you who aren’t ready to completely go “green”… come join us on the “Greenish” side of the fence.

To my darling Trevor who left a message asking what’s next, an environmentally friendly Hummer or a hybrid Escalade? What a brilliant idea.

Let us start with the Hummer.

Back in 2004, General Motors created a hydrogen powered Hummer H2. It is currently driven around town by the “Terminator turned Governor” Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The H2H works off of a hydrogen powered supercharged version of its regular 6.0-liter V-8 engine, but this hydrogen vehicle’s only emission is water vapors.

Now to be honest Arnie can’t go too far. He can only cruise around Cali with its Hydrogen Highway Network.

As for the hybrid Escalade - it is coming to a dealership near you. (I shall call you, Trevor when I test drive it.)

The luxury “Grenish” SUV is powered by a 2-Mode hybrid system and promises 45% improvement in fuel economy when darting around the city. On the highways expect to see a savings of 20%.

This monster hybrid comes in both two or four wheel drive. Towing wise the two wheel drive can haul 6000lbs and 5700lbs in four wheel drive. (This is important to all you soccer moms and rappers who need a truck this size.)

I was unable to find out the pricing at this time but stay tuned and I will update you. (I know you are chomping at the bit for this one, Trev.)

This makes me want go “greenish”. The New Lambo LP560-4

 

By Kay Layne

For all of you tree-huggers out there, here is a vehicle for you. Lamborghini has introduced a more environmental friendly version of the very popular Gallardo. The LP560-4 weighs in 44lbs lighter than the previous version and this new Gallardo has cut emissions by 18%. 

It may be greener but it is not a slouch, this baby can get from zero to 60 mph (96 kilometers per hour, where I am from) in a mere 3.7 seconds. In less time than it took you to read that last sentence it hit sixty (or almost a hundred). That is three-tenths of a second faster than its predecessor. It has a mere 552 horses under the hood a paltry 40 more than its older brother. Powered by a direct-injection 5.2 liter V10 with permanent four-wheel drive and has a top speed of 202 mph.  

The front has been redone with larger air intakes to provide cooling. I bet you are wondering when you can purchase one as a gift to me… You are in luck they go on sale in Europe in June for a mere $220 000.00. 

Now back to the whole green factor most “Lambos” are only driven 5 000 kilometers per year on average, couple this with “better” emissions and you will find that they are barely eating a hole in the ozone. Move over Kermit it looks like it is getting easier to be greenish.

Hot Rodder Boyd Coddington dead at 63

By Kay Layne

Boyd Coddington, legendary designer and builder of hod-rods died this morning. The cause of death is undisclosed. Coddington was 63.  

Coddington was also a television celebrity with his own reality based show “American Hot Rod”. The West Coast legend was actually raised in Idaho. He started building cars in his early teens.

Many in the music world would have been introduced to his work via ZZ top for whom he did several projects. He is credited by some as the creator of the “Billet Revolution” because of his metal machining techniques.  His creativity and workmanship will be surely missed.

Going Greenish

By Kay Layne 

Today actually started out white and snowy for me and many other parts of North America. However, things are beginning to look a little green. 

First of all in Shanghai, General Motors Corp introduced its first China-made hybrid. 

The Buick Lacrosse Eco-Hybrid is part of GM’s joint venture with Shangai Automotive industry Corp. 

In a statement released by the automaker, the hybrid has a fuel economy of 8.3 liters per 100 kilometers while its non-hybrid brother takes 9.8 liters per 100 kilometers. Is it me but I am just not that impressed. 

I guess GM hopes life gets easier being green. “Addressing the environmental protection and energy security issues is essential for ensuring the automotive industry’s long-term sustainable development,” said Shanghai GM President Ding Lei.  

No word yet as to price or when it will be available here. 

General Motors will have eight different hybrid models for sale in the States by the end of this year. In a statement released earlier this month, Chief Executive Rick Wagoner vows to up the number to 16 models with the next four years. 

Meanwhile over in DC, Ford showed off its 2009 redesigned Escape hybrid and 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid.

The Washington Auto show unveiled the two hybrids and the automaker says you can expect improvements in performance and power. Both will be available with a new 2.5 liter engine that will increase power by over a tenth to 170 horses. I shall wait and see.

 They will be on sale later is summer.

Would you like a little airplane with that?

These guys at Top Gear are the best….