Press Release
Overview (I)Interior like a private jet
Enclave’s interior is designed as an extension of the exterior form with complementing curves and warm, inviting colors, as well as premium, soft-touch, low-gloss materials. The instrument panel and other interior elements have precise attention to fit, finish and flushness throughout.
Buick’s exclusive QuietTuning engineering process reduces, blocks and absorbs unwanted noise from entering Enclave’s cabin. Some noise-reducing components include an acoustic laminated windshield, laminated safety door glass, triple door seals, flat-blade windshield wipers, strategically placed sound deadening material in more than two dozen locations throughout the vehicle and outside rearview mirrors and tires designed to minimize noise. The result is a library-quiet interior that allows passengers seated in the third row to hear a conversation between first-row occupants.
When it comes to function and roominess, Enclave looks smaller on the outside but lives bigger inside. The vehicle can be configured for seven or eight passengers, with three rows of seats, and still have space for gear behind the third row. Enclave offers 18.9 cu. ft. (535.2 L) of cargo space behind the third-row seat when in the upright position – a trunk capacity of some large sedans and room that some crossovers cannot match. With 116.2 cubic feet (3291 L) of cargo room behind the first row when all rear seats are folded, Enclave has more maximum cargo volume than the 2007 Lexus RX350 (84.7 cu. ft.), 2007 Volvo XC90 (85.1 cu. ft.), 2007 Audi Q7 (71.8 cu. ft.) and 2007 Acura MDX (83.5 cu. ft.). More than two dozen well-placed storage areas, including the instrument panel, center console and covered rear cargo convenience center, allow items to be stored out of sight.
The first row includes two bucket seats, and the standard third row features a 60/40-split bench seat that can accommodate three adult passengers. The second-row seats come standard with two captain’s chairs (two passengers) with an optional second-row center console that features two large storage compartments, two cupholders and is capable of folding flat into the load floor. A second-row 60/40-split bench (three passengers) seat is also available. Seat back bolsters in the third row retract to fold flat and deploy to provide additional comfort. Second- and third-row fold-flat seats extend the load floor and maximize cargo space while providing flexibility between cargo and passenger needs. All seats have a tailored appearance, with premium cloth standard on CX models and perforated leather seats standard on CXL models. The first-row seats on CXL are heated and perforated for increased comfort and enhanced quietness.
Entering and exiting Enclave’s third row is made easy by maximizing the door opening and reducing the space between the rear door and leading edge of the door opening. Enclave’s car-like step-in heights for the front and rear doors also contribute to easy entry and exit. GM’s Smart Slide feature allows entry in the third row with the pull of one handle. With Smart Slide, the second-row seat cushion flips up while the seatback slides forward, effectively compressing the space occupied by the seat. Second-row seats also have fore/aft adjustment. When adjusted rearward, the second-row seat provides more legroom for taller passengers; when adjusted forward, it provides more storage space or additional legroom for third-row passengers.
Enclave drives like a high-end luxury car
Enclave rides on a long wheelbase, with wide 67.3-inch (1,709 mm) front/rear tracks – a combination that lowers the center of gravity and enables confident ride and handling, similar to a high-end luxury car.Enclave’s precise driving feel features standard variable-effort power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering supported by independent front and rear suspensions. The front suspension features a MacPherson strut design, with a direct-acting stabilizer bar and aluminum steering knuckles. Isolated mounting points help reduce noise and vibration. The rear suspension uses a compact, state-of-the-art linked “H� design, which has an isolated mounting system that reduces noise and vibration transmitted to the passenger compartment. This design enables the handling prowess that comes with an independent suspension, but with minimal floor pan intrusion – a feature that helps the Enclave offer generous passenger and cargo space.
The available, intelligent all-wheel-drive system provides increased traction on slippery roads and other driving situations – such as freeway ramps – where increased traction would enhance handling. The system works by delivering a controlled amount of torque to the rear wheels. There is no driver intervention; the system automatically decides how much torque to apply and delivers it to the wheels with the best traction.
Enclave is motivated by one of GM’s most powerful V-6 engines ever. Surpassed only by the 1987 GNX SFI Turbo, which gave 276 horsepower, Enclave’s aluminum-intensive 3.6L V-6 VVT delivers 275 horsepower (205 kW) and 251 lb.-ft. (340 Nm) of torque. It is designed to deliver its performance with world-class smoothness, quietness and durability.
The engine’s four-cam phasing operation of the variable valve timing system ensures linear delivery of torque across the rpm band, while features such as electronic throttle control deliver crisp, immediate response and feedback. The engine uses electro-hydraulic vane-type phasers, allowing infinitely variable combinations to optimize performance and efficiency.
A new Hydra-Matic 6T75 electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission backs the 3.6L V-6 VVT. It is an advanced transmission with clutch-to-clutch shift operation for front- and all-wheel-drive Enclaves. Clutch-to-clutch operation allows for reduced complexity and compact packaging. A wide, 6.04:1 overall ratio helps the transmission deliver both performance and fuel economy, enabling up to 7 percent improved performance and up to 4 percent improved fuel economy when compared with current front-wheel-drive four-speed automatics. The transmission has been designed so that the Enclave can be flat-towed in FWD and AWD configurations. Enclave can tow up to 4,500 pounds (2,041 kg) when properly equipped.
Comprehensive safety system
The 2008 Buick Enclave has a comprehensive safety system designed to protect passengers before, during and after a crash. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes, StabiliTrak electronic stability control system – with rollover mitigation technology – and GM’s tire pressure monitoring system are standard. Traction control is standard on all models.Enclave is equipped with six standard air bags: two dual-stage frontal air bags, two seat-mounted side-impact air bags in the first row and two roof rail air bags that cover all three seating rows. Complementing the air bags is GM’s rollover sensing system, which activates the roof rail air bags if sensors determine an impending rollover. Because rollovers are typically longer events than non-rollover crashes, the roof rail air bags stay inflated longer to provide increased occupant protection and containment. Additionally, first-row positions feature safety belt pretensioners, which activate at the moment of a crash to take up any slack in the safety belt and hold the passengers in place.
All Buicks including Enclave come standard with OnStar Generation 7 (with a one-year Directions and Connections plan), which features the Advanced Automatic Crash Notification system. If a crash activates an air bag, the OnStar system automatically notifies an OnStar advisor, who immediately calls the vehicle and/or summons emergency help.
Like all Buicks, the 2008 Enclave is also equipped with OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation, the first factory-installed, fully integrated GPS navigation system from OnStar. Turn-by-Turn allows consumers to talk to a live advisor, who in turn sends complete step-by-step directions to customers' vehicles through their OnStar system. The audio directions are automatically played through the vehicle’s stereo as needed, triggered by the OnStar system’s GPS capabilities. This enables drivers to be led to their destination while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Enclave is built at GM’s new Lansing Delta Township assembly plant in Lansing, Mich. The state-of-the-art, flexible manufacturing complex is designed with people-focused production processes that ensure high build quality and represent the best of GM’s manufacturing systems from around the globe. The 2008 Buick Enclave is backed by the industry’s best warranty with a four-year, 50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty as well as five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain coverage.
Enclave will be sold in the U.S. and Canada. Pricing has not been announced.
