Velite-like Buick to Begin Production by 2010

Stunning. Beautiful. Sexy. These probably aren't the words that you'd thinkof using to describe a Buick... that is until you've laid eyes on one of the brand's concept cars, like the Bengal or the Velite. The latter, a Bertone-built 2004 debutant made a big splash in New York, where it landed alongside the production debut of the '05 Cadillac STS. But that was the last we've heard of the Velite since then, its glamor was replaced by the functional full-size Enclave crossover, and even more recently, the Chinese-designed Riviera gullwing coupe concept.

According to Car and Driver who spoke to Troy Clarke, GM's President of North America, Buick is set to get a fourth car by the end of the decade, and it will be rear-wheel drive. Two routes were established for the brand, which includes building an entry-level RWD sedan below the LaCrosse, or, a flagship vehicle above the Lucerne. The latter would be easier to do and easier to market, given Buick's push for higher-end status. That vehicle will most likely be the Velite in body, if not in name. Buick will not pursuemore than one rear-wheel drive vehicle either, and has no intention or desire to switch any of its current front-wheel drive cars to a rear-drive platform.

Sources are reporting that the upcoming Velite could be offered as both a sedan and/or a convertible, like the concept car. It will be interesting to see if General Motors chooses to build a new four-door sedan version on the Zeta platform, rather than bring over the Zeta-based, Chinese-market Park Avenue, which reportedly Pontiac Buick GMC dealers turned down.

Already, the Velite has been a source of inspiration for a number of new, and facelifted Buick products. The large, colorless Buick badges, the fender-mounted VentiPorts, the ovoid shape of the taillights and the elongated grille are all starting to appear on the Buick range of products. Considered to be the original American twin to the Opel Insignia, the concept car that debuted the rear-wheel drive Zeta platform, the production version of the car would also ride on the Zeta platform. Since then, we've seen a raft of concept vehicles to use these underpinnings, such as the Camaro and the Pontiac's G8, plus the next generation Chevrolet Impala.

A car like the Velite would certainly help bolster Buick's image as a luxury car marque, as well as attract younger customers and performance enthusiasts to the brand. In 1987, McLaren and ASC helped to create the awesome GNX. Such a vehicle could be reincarnated in the form of the Velite, especially if it packed the concept's twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 engine. Likewise, it's high time that Buick built another convertible as the last time we saw one was the Reatta roadster, which ceased production after only four years and a total of 21,751 units in 1991. No doubt GM hopes for greater success with the new model.