2013 Enclave Lighting A Sign Of Future Buick Design
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When the Buick Enclave made its original debut in 2007, it introduced a new design direction for Buick. Likewise, the freshened 2013 Buick Enclave brings us a preview of a future design element for other models in the Buick lineup — a unique taillight technology.
For the 2013 Enclave, Buick developed an advanced industry-first exterior lighting technology that results in a unique LED taillight design featuring a soft, uniform red glow in a complex and unique shape. According to executive director of Buick Design Mark Adams, the new signature taillight design serves two overall purposes for Buick: the first is to offer a premium look, while the second is to offer a look that’s unique and unmistakable on the road.
Buick achieved the distinct glow by using the Uniform Lighting Lens technology from 3M, which — according to Buick — “uses a precision engineered micro-patterned, thermoformable polycarbonate material that provides even illumination around complex shapes with fewer LEDs”. The design results in a reduction in complexity as well as energy use.
The unique LED taillight design joins standard signature L-shaped LED daytime running lamps and high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps as standard equipment on the 2013 Enclave. The headlamps produce a light that’s cleaner and brighter than halogen. Meanwhile, articulating headlamps that use small motors to rotate the light up to 15 degrees, depending on the curvature of the road, are optional.
The GM Authority Take
Carrying a starting price of just shy of $40,000 and combined with the very attractive interior ambient lighting elements, the Enclave is a beautiful luxury machine with first-class lighting technology that we expect to continue to do well in the marketplace.
I’ve always wondered why more automakers don’t do this. I hate the way those LED’s look sometimes, especially in the rear fascias. I can only trust one of my favorite and most-dear automotive brands to fulfill one of my wishes…nice job, Buick!
Looks great! But, I’ll bet the tail-lamp will be very expensive to replace if one gets broken.
I’m wondering why GM isn’t using more smart materials (they move move when a current, electric field, or heat energy passes through them) instead of a heavy motor in the optional headlamps?
BMW has been doing this recently. But theirs is led. This looks like normal light bulb and visually not as good, but cheaper.
They seem to tie in with the shape of the front fog lights, as well. I can’t say they’re beautiful, as I haven’t seen them in person yet, but they appear to be an improvement over the current ones; which were cool back when the Enclave first hit the road, but didn’t age so well.
Rocky, these are LEDs. Did you read the article?
Built in ass brows, nice…
The problem with GM today is that their design studio does not reflect the car, but in a positive way. This new Enclave looks like a V-8 powered off-road machine designed to compete with the Porsche Cayenne, but of course it is not. Likewise, the new Malibu looks like it should have at least 400 hp.
I like your comments, especially the one about how “the new Malibu looks like it should have at least 400 hp”. WHY? Because I can ask you: how many times do you even have to PROVE your Malibu had 400 HP? My Buick Regal has a plain 180 HP 3.8 L V6, but every guy with a sporty import knows how Regals held the top spot as the fastest V6 vehicles on the road, so they respect me and I never have to prove if my V6 has a turbo or not.
So if the new Malibu looks like it has 400 HP, but only had a eAssist four-banger, why should anyone care? I t will earn respect from the sporty import drivers! And it will save gas!