Buick Enclave

Infobox Automobile
name=Buick Enclave


manufacturer=General Motors
production=2007–present
assembly=Lansing Delta Township Assembly - Delta Township, Michigan, USA
class=Full-size luxury crossover SUV
body style = 4-door SUV
predecessor=Buick Rainier
Buick Rendezvous
Buick Terraza
related=GMC Acadia
Saturn Outlook
Chevrolet Traverse
body_styles=4-door SUV
layout=Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
engine=3.6 L "LY7" V6 (275 hp)
transmission=6-speed "6T75" automatic
length= Auto in|201.8|0
width= Auto in|79|0
height= Auto in|72.2|0
wheelbase= Auto in|118.9|0
weight= Auto lb|4780|0-Auto lb|4985|0
platform=GM Lambda platform
designer= Michael Burton

The Buick Enclave is a full-size luxury crossover SUV launched in May 2007 as a 2008 model by the Buick division of General Motors. The Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, and Saturn Outlook all share the new GM Lambda platform. The Enclave was previewed at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, officially as a concept car, making it the first Lambda vehicle to be displayed. The Enclave is partially based on the Buick Centieme shown at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show.

The Enclave replaced both of Buick's SUVs, the minivan-based Rendezvous, the truck-based Rainier, as well as the Terraza minivan. It has seating for seven passengers, with an optional second row bench seat instead of the standard two captain chairs which increases the seating to eight. The Enclave comes standard with front-wheel drive with an option of all-wheel drive.

Like its Lambda siblings, the Enclave is powered by a Convert|275|hp|kW|0|abbr=on 3.6 L High Feature V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. For the 2009 model year it will receive a 3.6L V6 SIDI (direct injected) VVT with convert|286|hp|abbr=on and convert|255|ft.lbf|N.m|abbr=on. of torque (estimates) standard (also standard on other 2009 Lambdas). The Lambda vehicles are built at GM's new Delta Township Assembly plant near Lansing, Michigan, and production of the Enclave commenced on April 11, 2007, with the first vehicles reaching certain dealers by the end of the month. The Enclave debuted with a starting price of $32,790. [http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070411/NEWS03/704110369/1004/news] .

Initial sales of the Enclave have been very strong, with demand far exceeding production capacity, forcing GM to add a third shift to the Delta Township plant [http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/24/ap3946621.html] . After the ratification of the new UAW labor contract, GM announced that this third shift would be phased out in order to limit the supply of the Acadia and Enclave.

Unfortunately, Consumer Reports gave the Enclave a below-average durability rating in their 2008-2009 survey.

Sales

["General Motors" January 3, 2008 "GM Reports 323,453 December Deliveries; 3.87 Million Vehicles Sold in 2007"]

References

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Notes

External links

* [http://www.buick.com Buick's Website]