Buick Velite & Chevy Bel Air being produced?

[buickguy]

GM has dusted off these concepts and is showing them right now at this year's Canadian Auto Show. What does this mean? They weren't in Detroit and Chicago. Could they be headed for production? Lutz says it's all about "product" so maybe these are part of the rear wheel drive plan. Let's hope.

[wildcat]

We can hope for the best. But, don't take offense, are you sure it isn't a matter of they needed something to send to Canada and the Enclave and Camaro were already committed at other shows?

[Sixty8panther]

The Bel Air concept was a HUGE styling dissapointment for me. HUGE.

A Sebring with the gas cap hidden behind the tail light makes a car a Bel Air not.

Now the Velite on the other hand had a lot of potential. Needs to be more radical in production form. Give it a hardtop body style as well as the ragtop, throw in some '71 & '72 Riviera styling cues and it's a winner.... I'd also call it Riv at that point.

Edited February 22, 2006 by Sixty8panther

[toesuf94]

I am in love with the Velite and wish for it to be part of GM's stable soon. I love the Bel Air Concept... and spent some time with it at the Heritage Center - it needs to be bigger inside and the headlights changed dramatically. The car has a lot of following amongst the people at the Heritage event I was at, and they all loved everything about the car. The question on everyone's mind was - why was it not built? - Oh. and please do not build it on the Colorado platform...but the Camaro Platform would work!

The Buick - wow...that car has me in it's grasp.

[!!!TED!!!]

The scoop is that the Bel Air was originaly a study for a Camaro replacement.

It was changed to to its current form when that plan did not pan out.

The Velite was designed to showcase the Zeta architecture. Zeta wa/is to underpin the Camaro. The Red Camaro was the basis of the running prototype.

Having all three cars next to each other is a joy to behold. You can see the progression in design and GM thinking.

The casual observer in Toronto may not make the connection.

[the_yellow_dart]

Ford had the 2003 Model U concept at the Canadian Auto Show as well. I don't think they're planning on making that anytime soon.

[sciguy_0504]

Beautiful.

[Drew Dowdell]

Am I the only one that sees "Solstice Grande" when I look at the V'elite from behind?

[loki]

i don't remember ever seeing those rear shots of the Velite...interesting.

i'm thinking the smooth rear looks kinda bland...but i don't know...nor would i have an idea what i would change either

[corvette_dude729]

Am I the only one that sees "Solstice Grande" when I look at the V'elite from behind?

I saw it right away. (BTW 100th post!)

[!!!TED!!!]

Actually, the design language of the tailights is very simular to the Saturn Sky.

[Croc]

Sorry, TED, I don't see it at all. The Velite is clearly an old Riviera, while the SKY is a bit different. The shapes aren't even the same when viewed from a more realistic angle.

[Sixty8panther]

The worst part of the Bel Air concept is the placememnt of the grille. GM get's a F - minus for that!!!

Take a look and tell me where a '55/'56/'57-retro Bel Airs' grille should be located.

Not to mention the Camaro concept makes this car lok like a Chinese Sebring knock-off.

Edited February 23, 2006 by Sixty8panther

[!!!TED!!!]

Here is a picture of the concepts at the show I took today...

[buickguy]

Nice pic. I think something is happening with the Velite. Why put it in the same stable as the Camaro? I am very hopeful.

[azulSKY]

The Bel-Air in Ted's photo vs. the ones posted above have different wheels...

[titan]

The Bel-Air in Ted's photo vs. the ones posted above have different wheels... 

Yeah. The other pic shows it's orginal wheels, which look a bit outdated now, IMO. I think they put the five spoke wheels on the recent showing because they're more contemporary.

[Cananopie]

The Bel-air just reminds me of a really late Thunderbird rival.

[Charger4U]

oooo i really hope they make a Chevy bel air that looks like a velite