On November 28th, the night before the LA Auto Show’s press day, Buick unveiled their new crossover vehicle, the 2008 Enclave. Of course I wanted to check out the second car in their turnaround lineup (the first, the Lucerne, we reviewed in July).
But, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t also want to catch a glimpse of Buick spokesperson and golf superstar Tiger Woods. I got a great eyeful of both (and took a few snapshots) at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, as the Enclave, with Tiger at the wheel, burst through the silk screen and onto the stage. It’s the first time that Tiger’s launched a vehicle for Buick and I could see why. With seating for eight (i.e., two adults and six children), the Enclave is poised to take a bite out of the minivan market. As GM head honcho Rick Wagoner and Buick General Manager Steve Shannon were quick to point out, the spacious Enclave combines plenty of cargo and passenger space with features you’d expect in a luxury car. Should Lexus and Acura be looking over their shoulders? Maybe. We’ll review the Enclave’s Bose surround sound, entertainment and navigation package soon.