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Junkyard Gem: 1992 Buick Century Woodie station wagon

The Detroit station wagon with fake-wood exterior paneling had a good long postwar run, but minivans and — increasingly — sport utility vehicles were giving such wagons quite a beating in the showrooms by 1992. Buick was down to just two woodies by 1992; here's a discarded example of the front-wheel-drive Century, spotted in a Northern California self-service yard. Buick sold big rear-wheel-drive Roadmaster wagons with Simu-Wood™ siding through the 1996 model year, but the smaller Century was fairly plush. American car shoppers didn't insist on real-looking "wood" on their wagons, although Chrysler went much more three-dimensional with their plastic wood that did GM during this era. This one has the 3.3-liter Buick V6 engine, rated at 160 horsepower. This is not to be confused with the unrelated GM 60° V6, which was available in earlier and later Centuries. If only these seats could talk, they'd tell many tales of sibling battles and spilled fast food. Related Video:

GM applies for 'Enspire' trademark for the second time

When we wrote about the Buick Enspire concept debut in China earlier this year, we said "we wouldn't be surprised to see either an all-new crossover, or a redesigned current model, sporting the designs seen on this concept." Now it appears General Motors might be planning to go with Option A. GM Authority discovered a trademark application for the name "Enspire," to be applied to "Automobiles, excluding motor homes." This is the second time GM filed for the name, the first being in 2015. As always, applications don't mean certainties. However, we know Buick has a range of new models in development, it's losing the LaCrosse sedan and its crossovers sell quite well. If there's to be a new vehicle called Enspire, it shouldn't be hard to guess what kind it would be. GMA's previous investigations picked up clues that there'll be two new Buick crossovers, one about the size of the China-sourced Envision and sitting on the E2 platform that supports the Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Malibu, and Buick Regal. Based on data in an IHS Automotive document, the site said the putative Enspire's platform code is E2UB, the U for utility vehicle, the B for Buick. The other crossover would sit above an Envision, below the Enclave, on the short-wheelbase C1 platform employed by the Cadillac XT5. We can probably take the Enspire concept's design cues as a preview of the future, if not its electric drivetrain. Designers carved the wide, formidable stance with curved and elongated versions of traditional Buick brand cues, such as the grille crossbar stretching into the headlights. A futuristic, art-filled and screen-heavy interior contrasts with genuine wood, and is probably best not to look at because Buick couldn't bring anything like it to production. The electric drivetrain included a 550-horsepower electric motor and enough battery to power a 370-mile range. Those figures seem a little outlandish given the potential price tag and the Buick badge. Besides, GM has other plans for a dedicated EV powertrain in development that should bow around 2021, and a Buick EV based on the Chevrolet Bolt's BEV II architecture. As such, a conventional powertrain seems more likely for an Enspire crossover, at least initially. The same IHS Automotive document said the E2UB vehicle would go into production in Shanghai in late 2019.

MotorWeek remembers the nearly forgotten Buick Reatta

The Reatta was Buick's failed experiment to take on European competitors with its own two-seat luxury coupe and convertible. The model only lasted a few years, and US customers didn't see another droptop from the brand until the Cascada. The latest MotorWeek Retro Review takes a look back at the short-lived roadster and remembers it quite fondly. Host John Davis calls the 1990 Reatta droptop "one of the best looking convertibles ever." His sentiment seems a little hyperbolic, but the roadster is definitely an attractive machine by the standards of the time. The smooth front end and pop-up headlights are reminiscent of Japanese sports cars of era, and the profile with the top down is elegant. There are weaknesses, though. The manual roof mechanism appears cumbersome to operate, and the crude digital instruments, which simulate physical dials, make the cabin look too dated. Other than a complaint about over-boosted power steering, MotorWeek enjoys how the Reatta drives, too. Buick's roadster is largely forgotten today, but such glowing praise suggests it deserves to be better remembered. Check out this Retro Review to look back on this interesting experiment from the early '90s. Related Video: