GM Buick Enclave to be imported to China by year-end

Sources say the Buick Enclave will be imported to China by the Buick division of General Motors before the end of this year.

Based on 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 later went on display at the Beijing Auto Show and started production in North America this April. Production of Rendezvous and Rainier SUV has been suspended following the launch of Enclave, which is the only SUV model under Buick brand for the present.

The Buick Enclave will be available in CX and CXL trim levels, with eight exterior and three interior colors, front-wheel or all-wheel drive, a new 275-horsepower V-6 powertrain featuring variable valve timing (VVT) and mated to Buick's first six-speed automatic transmission. The 3.6L V-6 VVT is a sophisticated dual-overhead camshaft engine based on GM's global V-6 architecture. It also features seating for at least six, and up to eight with a third row with a foot well, generous interior space, and either front- or all-wheel drive.

"Enclave is the new face of Buick and everything we want in future Buicks," said Steve Shannon, GM's General Manager for Buick. "It's an absolutely stunning, high-quality crossover SUV that delivers all the product attributes that define the new Buick – a confident ride, relevant technologies, more luxury features, elegant design and a quiet, comfortable and well-crafted interior. These are the hallmark traits of future Buicks."