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BUICK RENDEZVOUS – NEW CROSSOVER VEHICLE COMBINES CAPABILITY,
SECURITY, COMFORT
Rendezvous, Buick’s exciting new entry in the booming truck market,
brings together an innovative combination of many of the best features of
sport utility vehicles and premium sedans, with seven-person seating
capacity.
"We’re proud to introduce Rendezvous as the Buick crossover vehicle
– one that goes beyond the usual vehicle categories," said Buick
General Manager Roger W. Adams. "It’s really the best of all worlds
– in terms of capability, security and comfort.
"With our reconfigurable interior, we believe this is the most
capable vehicle in the utility market. It’s a great product for
today’s active families – and a great example of General Motors’
strategy to reach beyond traditional constraints and become the
industry’s product innovation leader."
Third Row of Seats or Huge Cargo Space
Unlike traditional SUVs of about the same size, Rendezvous offers
seven-passenger seating with its optional – and comfortable – third
row of seats. Need fewer seats? Rendezvous can be easily reconfigured to
create a huge cargo space of 108.9 cubic feet. Rendezvous can be ordered
with Versatrak, GM’s innovative all-wheel-drive system that provides
sure-footedness on all roads. And it can be equipped to tow up to 3,500
pounds.
Introduced as 2002 Model
Rendezvous will be introduced as a 2002 model, with production beginning
in the spring of 2001. Why create a truck-based Buick? There are several
reasons. One, of course, is that today’s U.S. vehicle market is about
half trucks. Another is that a specific opportunity was seen for Buick to
reach out to new customers.
Marketing Opportunity
"Our research shows that boomers, who tend to buy SUVs and other
trucks, acknowledge there’s plenty of quality behind the Buick marque,"
Adams said. "So the opportunity is there to transfer what a variety
of customers like about a Buick to a premium vehicle built according to a
completely new formula – highly functional, enjoyable to drive and very
luxurious.
Team members responsible for creating and marketing Rendezvous are
particularly enthusiastic about the new vehicle.
Rendezvous Brand Manager Jack Bowen said that "by combining the best
features and design elements of today’s SUVs and premium sedans, we’ve
been able to create a vehicle with real comfort, all-road and all-weather
driving security and flexible cargo versatility. Buick Rendezvous is ready
to handle the pace and diversified tasks of today’s hectic life."
And Mark L. Reuss, its vehicle line executive, noted that Rendezvous is
the first crossover vehicle with a combination of three-row seating, a low
flat load floor, all-wheel drive and independent rear suspension.
"Our primary objective was to design a more innovative vehicle than
those available today," Reuss said. "The marketplace is
congested with three of these and a dozen of those. To stand out and be
recognized as something special, you need to be dramatically distinctive.
This is one goal I am sure we have achieved."
Design Theme: ‘Refined Ruggedness’
Of Rendezvous’ design, Liz Wetzel, its design chief, said her team used
Buick’s "heritage of distinctive styling, power, comfort and
security as a foundation, but took Rendezvous even further to add
simplicity, practicality and durability – characteristics that are
gaining in importance."
Rendezvous has a look of "refined ruggedness," Wetzel said. The
new Buick’s overall appearance is suggestive of an SUV, yet it sets its
own course with such elements as a striking grille that is a stronger,
more substantial version of the Buick vertical-bar design. The oval-shaped
grille is "unmistakably Buick," she said, but the grille bars
are stronger than the fine-pitched type in Buick automobiles. Instead of
chrome, she noted, the grille is finished in an attractive paint treatment
that’s more appropriate to its mission.
"Our mission was to create a design that visually supports the
vehicle’s versatility, reinforces Buick’s brand equity and heritage,
and portrays a youthful image," Wetzel said.
Interior Elegance
The design team also provided a feeling of interior elegance with a
two-tone theme for all three trim levels – leather, flat-woven cloth
with leather bolsters, and all cloth with pile fabric. Instrument-cluster
detailing provides a look of precious stones set in polished metal –
like jewelry. Needles and numbers are set in a silver face to resemble an
expensive watch or designer bracelet. A new metallic accent trim lends a
sophisticated and technical air to the interior.
Said Bowen: "The idea is to provide one vehicle that avoids the
compromises inherent in traditional vehicles. With Rendezvous, consumers
can have both style and functionality, performance and comfort, handling
and roominess. Plus we’re providing an impressive array of safety
features, outstanding fuel economy and great overall value."
Key Features
Among Rendezvous’ many features:
Low door sills, compared with traditional SUVs, providing low step-in
height for easy entry and exit.
A newly designed independent rear suspension to provide superior
road-holding – and ride characteristics more like a Park Avenue Ultra
than an SUV.
Various seating combinations – handling up to seven passengers – that
are the key to Rendezvous’ superior versatility. The two front seats are
buckets. Two second-row choices are offered – a three-across split bench
or two captain’s chairs. Second-row footrests are optional. The optional
third row has comfortable seating for two adult passengers and can be
folded flush, with the release of a lever, to provide even more space in
Rendezvous’ large cargo area.
A new-design center console large and versatile
enough to handle a full-size laptop computer – and with a special area
for a purse. The console may be easily accessed by either front passenger.
The console also offers secure storage and space for the ubiquitous cell
phone.
A full range of instruments, a number of them visible
on a new-generation head-up display as well as on the instrument panel.
There are three audio entertainment systems, including one with optional
rear-seat controls and headphones for rear-seat occupants.
Versatrak All-Wheel Drive
Rendezvous will be one of the first vehicles to offer Versatrak, General
Motors’ innovative "on-demand" all-wheel-drive system.
Versatrak uses front drive under normal road conditions and adds torque to
the rear wheels on slippery roads. Versatrak is standard on Rendezvous’
uplevel CXL model and optional on the CX.
With Versatrak, there are no buttons to press or
levers to throw, according to Reuss. "No special driver action is
needed beyond stepping on the accelerator. Versatrak is always poised to
make the best use of the traction available."
The CX model without Versatrak, which is a
front-drive vehicle, may be ordered with an all-speed traction control
that employs both powertrain and brake system intervention to avoid wheel
spin on slippery surfaces.
Powerful, Economical V-6
Rendezvous’ powerful 3.4-liter V-6 engine, attached to an electronically
controlled four-speed automatic transmission, generates 185 horsepower at
5200 rpm and 210 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. It provides exceptionally
good fuel economy with EPA estimates of 19 miles per gallon city and 26
mpg highway for the front-drive version and 18/24 with all-wheel drive.
Safety Features
The new Buick has numerous safety features, such as new dual stage
inflation on frontal air bags, side air bags on both the driver and
passenger sides, safety-cage construction and four-wheel disc anti-lock
brakes.
Personal Choice
Like Buick automobiles, Rendezvous has many features that can be
personalized, such as exterior lamp exit delay, interior lighting
functions, automatic door lock and unlock operations, delayed locking,
remote door unlock with remote keyless entry and feedback with remote
keyless entry. On the uplevel CXL, a driver information center on the
instrument panel provides an outside temperature reading, compass and
readings for trip average fuel economy, range and fuel used. There also is
an optional tire inflation monitoring system that lights a warning lamp if
low tire pressure is detected.
Rear Obstacle Detection
An optional rear parking aid system uses four ultrasonic sensors to warn
the driver of obstacles in the blind spot immediately behind the rear
bumper. While backing at low speeds, the sensors alert the driver by a
chime and warning lights if the car nears an obstacle that is ten inches
tall or taller.
OnStar
GM’s OnStar communications and information system is available as a
factory installed option. OnStar uses Global Positioning System satellite
technology to link drivers to a center where advisers are available to
provide many kinds of assistance, such as emergency services and travel
support.
Benchmark Pricing
Rendezvous’ pricing sets the benchmark for value in premium crossover
vehicles. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for an
all-wheel drive Rendezvous equipped with Versatrak, General Motors’
innovative "on-demand" system, is $28,027. (Price includes $575
destination charge.) That places Rendezvous over $6,500 below the
all-wheel drive version of the Acura MDX ($34,850) and over $8,000 below
the four-wheel drive Lexus RX300 ($36,150).
Also a great value, the front-wheel drive CX model without Versatrak has a
base price of $25,499. It can be ordered with an all-speed traction
control system that employs both powertrain and brake system intervention
to avoid wheel spin on slippery surfaces. Versatrak also can be ordered as
an option on the front-wheel-drive Rendezvous CX.
"Our MSRP for Rendezvous really sets us apart from the
competition," said Jack Bowen, Rendezvous brand manager. It opens up
the premium crossover vehicle market to a whole new group of customers who
up until now couldn’t afford this kind of vehicle.
"In true Buick tradition, Rendezvous represents the combination of
great value and a premium vehicle," said Bowen. It is the first
crossover vehicle that makes available the combination of a third-row
seat, which can accommodate two full-size adults comfortably, a low
flat-load floor, all-wheel drive and independent rear suspension.
A New Direction for Buick
Adams pointed out that Rendezvous is an important new direction for Buick.
"Rendezvous will be a significant product – a vehicle that’s
segment-leading and on-target to the market," Adams said.
"As Buick moves into the new millennium, and heads toward its second
century as a provider of premium contemporary family vehicles, we’ll be
introducing a number of fresh concepts," said Adams. "We’re
very pleased that the first one is Rendezvous."
Source: General Motors
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opinion! Email us at viewermail@blueskyproductions.tv
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