A new small Buick? Pictures and video show what Buick may be thinking...or maybe not.

October 24, 2:58 PMAuto Review ExaminerJohn Matras

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In all the uncertainty at General Motors, one certainty is there will new Buicks in the future.

One is the recently announced Buick Regal, described as a "mid-size sports sedan." Buick chose the name based on name recognition, the division relating in a press release, "The Regal name has played a very important role in Buick’s history for many years and continues to be one of the top Buick nameplates recalled by consumers even though it’s been out of the market for the past six years."

Buick has not announced, however, what platform it will be on, although the teaser photo of right front headlight of the new Buick Regal bears a strong resemblance to the Buick Regal developed for the Chinese market. While GM has emphasized that Buicks built in China, which is very enthusiastic about that GM brand, will not be imported to the United States, that doesn't preclude building that model in the U.S.

 Buick, as we noted earlier, will increase its slate of vehicles from the current three model s to more, to "double its footprint." The two current sedan models, Buick LaCrosse and Buick Lucerne, and a large crossover, the Buick Enclave, are to be joined by three or so more vehicles.

A mid-size crossover due in late 2010 was to be joined by a plug-in hybrid version in 2011. That vehicle was a rebadged version of the Saturn Vue, another variation on the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain platform. As a part of the reimagining of Buick, however, a rewarmed Saturn crossover didn't fit. The larger footprint lost a toe. That setback pushes a smaller crossover, if one is to come, further into the future.

However, Buick has been investigating the concept of compact luxury. As we noted earlier, Craig Bierly, director of marketing for Buick, suggested that the compact premium segment "could be an opportunity" for Buick's expansion.

Buick seems to be thinking smaller as well, based on a video and slide show by GM. The video describes some of the design philosophy behind a small Buick, as well as several innovative features:

Buick also posted a dozen design illustrations on flicker. While the illustrations harbor the usual design speculation and exaggeration--particularly and typically the wheels--they do show some of the thinking going on at Buick. Included in the slide show are small city cars and, intriguingly, a "2+2 coupe" that raises speculation about what else may among future Buicks. Or maybe that's wishful thinking.

Illustrations: Top, teaser photo of 2011 Buick Regal; bottom, 2009 Buick Regal for Chinese market.

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