2007 SEMA Show: Buick Enclave Concepts

Hot cars, hot women, hot…Buicks? Seems strange, but 2007 marks the second consecutive year that the once-stodgy GM brand has made a significant showing at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. You might remember that a slew of hot-rodded and otherwise thoroughly customized Lucerne sedans graced the halls of the most popular automotive aftermarket party in 2006, while this year’s model was the all-new Enclave crossover vehicle. In case you didn’t catch the less-than-subtle hint, executives at Buick are intent on providing a more hip and contemporary image of their brand, and to do it they’ve unveiled three design concepts.

by Thom Blackett Photo Credit: Staff

Page 2

Cadillac’s Escalade has done well with the big and black theme, and maybe that same treatment could lure buyers to the Buick Enclave. Given the name, you might expect this Enclave to be jet black, but that’s only the case at certain angles – special paint gives it blue and purples hues depending on your perspective. Black Platinum’s creator, the Mitek Corporation, also added 20-inch TIS wheels, a deep blue leather interior, aluminum trim, lowered front and rear suspension setups, and get this – a 4,900-watt MTX sound system. If Buicks are still for old people, at least we can rest assured that they’ll hear their radios.

Page 3

Created in partnership with former NBA player Jerome Williams, the Enclave Urban CEO model is meant to “appeal to today’s urban influencers,” one that’s “a slam dunk for urban CEOs, athletes, and even soccer moms.” Features of the white opal Buick include 24-inch Giovanna Canelli rims, dark chocolate suede interior accents, LED lighting, a custom center console, a satellite dish embedded into the roof that allows for a wireless internet connection, and a video system with four 10-inch monitors. In other words, all the necessities for the long drive to the kids’ soccer practice.

Page 4

While we’re not so sure that kids with dirty cleats need to ride in the same style as a seasoned CEO, the idea of marrying uptown sophistication with the reinvigorated Buick brand makes sense. Conceived and built by Rick Bottom Designs, the Enclave UpTown concept boasts a tasteful two-tone paint scheme of white chocolate pearl over cocoa metallic, more generous use of chrome than the standard model, and substantial 22-inch MOMO wheels rolling on Pirelli rubber. As with the Black Platinum model, UpTown’s suspension has been lowered. Inside are leather and wood trim as well as a 2,000-watt Eclipse sound, video, and navigation system.