Breaking? GM Has Enough Problems, Will Not Save Ford...Did We Mention The Buick Enclave?
A non-Jalopnik member of the press asked Rabid Rick if instead of merging with Carlos "Hot Daughter" Ghosn's lineup, why doesn't GM simply merge with — and save — FoMoCo? Mr. Wagoner literally answered, "We have enough problems. We will not be saving Ford." The General does sound like it's intent on saving Buick. Brand Manager Steve Shannon reassured the assembled autojourno throngs that Buick will soon "be making real Buicks again." He went on to explain that instead of trying to put a car in every garage, they are going to only make four models. Also, instead of concentrating on rental cars fleet sales, Buick will focus on retail customers. Glad to hear they've at least claiming a focus.
Oh, and there was something about a car — no wait, it's a crossover. While almost totally overshadowed by the world's best golfer, the new Enclave was introduced to us hard drinking press folks when none other than Tiger himself (with Rick riding shotgun) drove through a paper banner high school football style. And... it looks like a fish with chrome teeth. I will say that the interior was nicer than I had been led to believe. And by nicer I mean it looked and felt like an Infiniti. You know; blond plastic wood and softy plastics. Beyond that, it is hard to get a sense of an S0/S1 when all of its doors are wide open and stuffed with men in bad suits holding huge cameras.
While Mr. Woods was whisked out of the building by Special Forces and Mr. Wagoner was busy with the television folks, I did manage to wrangle some face time with Buick brand guru Shannon. As I'm kind of a snotty, incompetent jerk, I hadn't planned on asking him any tough questions. I mean, Tiger had already been quizzed about their handicaps. But when a TV crew cut us off mid handshake, Mr. Shannon insisted that I continue. So be it. "What's a real Buick?" "Are you planning a halo vehicle?" "You already share platforms with Saturn and Chevy, are you going to get a rear-wheel drive platform from Cadillac or Holden?" Turns out that the word "spin" is not just a cute nickname for Jalopnik's editor in chief. In my mind, much like the Enclave, Buick's future is a big — "maybe?"
Related:
LA Auto Show Preview: Tiger Woods...Err...The Buick Enclave Is Finally Here! Huzzah! Huzzah! [Internal]