Buick 2008

It's tall, at 71.1 inches, thanks in part to meaty tires on 21-inch wheels, and it's also long, even for a crossover, at 202.3 inches on a 119-inch wheelbase. The result is that it's much more elegant than the tall funky-box Rendezvous it replaces next year. It also has a much richer interior, befitting the division's traditional upmarket position in the GM hierarchy. Features of the concept include headlamps that turn with the front wheels, brushed aluminum trim, and "camphor burl wood" 2+2+2 seat interior, wood-trimmed fold-down trays in the second row, leather storage satchels, Tiffany-style analog clock, and Mercedes-style footwell and door-handle fill lighting. But the concept is very close to its destiny as a 2008 production model, save for a few details. Engine is a 270-horsepower high-feature 3.6-liter DOHC V-6, coupled to a six-speed automatic. Someday, it'll be available with four "ventiports" per front fender, as there's a V-8 option in its future. There also are Lambda platform mates in its future, the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia, with heavily differentiated sheetmetal.