GM at Chicago
Along with the Oshawa-built Buick Allure (aka the LaCrosse in the U.S.), GM will reveal six new or upgraded vehicles at the Chicago auto show in early February.
For Canada, the big news will be the reveal of the Chevrolet Uplander and Pontiac Montana SV6 crossover sport vans, since these are the models which will house a pair of Canada-only units meant to answer this country's considerable demand for regular-length mid-sized vans.
Also new for 2005 are the GMC Envoy Denali, the Envoy XL Denali, the Sierra Crew Cab Denali, and the face-lifted Pontiac Vibe.
''These important introductions build on GM's promise to introduce 28 new vehicles in 2004," says Gary L. Cowger, president of GM North America. ''GM will address a wide range of segments and numerous markets with these new vehicles.''
The 2005 Buick Allure from Oshawa is ''designed to reshape Buick's midsize passenger car lineup,'' according to Cowger. ''The Allure features a totally new look and improved performance'' and means the end of the Century and Regal, though the former will live on a while longer in a special package.
Chevrolet Uplander replaces the Venture and features what Cowger describes as ''compelling SUV-like styling and family-friendly capabilities,'' which are meant to take the ''mid-van segment in a new direction.''
The Montana SV6 from Pontiac will have ''responsive performance and segment-leading entertainment choices,'' according to Cowger, though he declined to give more details until the Chicago auto show.
Canada will get regular-wheelbase versions of Uplander and SV6, though no photo or precise equipment list exists yet. It will absolutely look different, since the pillars at the rear end of the vehicle will not be visible on the short-wheelbase models.
Denali has been the upscale imprimatur for GMC for a few years now, and it was pretty much inevitable that GM's truck division would bring it to more vehicles.
It may also confuse the consumer, since Denali used to be a stand-alone model and the name is now being applied to two vehicles which have nothing in common except their name.
The Envoy is the sibling of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, the Buick Rainier and soon the Saab 9-7, while the Envoy XL is the sibling of the Chevrolet Suburban and now the Cadillac Escalade ESV.