The Buick Centieme is a concept car shown at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Its styling became the basis of the later Enclave, and its name — from the French for «hundredth» — marked Buick’s centenary.
Buick Centieme at a glance
| Type | concept crossover |
|---|---|
| Shown | 2003 North American International Auto Show, Detroit |
| Name | from the French centième, «hundredth» |
| Occasion | Buick’s 100th anniversary |
| Size | close to the Rendezvous, but lower, wider and slightly longer |
| Engine | experimental 3.6 L twin-turbocharged V6 |
| Power | 400 hp (298 kW) |
| Transmission | Hydra-Matic 4T65-E four-speed |
| Wheels | 22-inch aluminium |
| Paint | Canyon Mist metallic tricoat |
| Interior | six leather captain’s chairs, woven-leather floor |
| Sold | 2009 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, US$29,700 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Centieme.
History of the Buick Centieme
The Centieme was built for the 2003 Detroit show as a celebration of the Buick Motor Division’s hundredth anniversary. The name comes from the French word for «hundredth», used in the same spirit as Cadillac’s Cien.
In size and shape the concept was close to the production Rendezvous crossover, but it sat lower, was wider and was slightly longer. The body was designed by Bertone, with very short front and rear overhangs, 22-inch aluminium wheels and paint in a Canyon Mist metallic tricoat.
Power came from an experimental 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged V6 rated at 400 hp (298 kW), driving through a Hydra-Matic 4T65-E four-speed transmission. It was never intended for production in that form.
The interior was the real point of the exercise, intended to show where Buick cabin design might go. All six captain’s chairs were trimmed in leathers of different grains and colours, the floor was covered in woven leather, the instrument cluster used aluminium accents with olive ash wood, and ambient lighting ran through the cabin.
Some of the Centieme’s exterior design and interior ideas reappeared on the production Buick Enclave for 2008. The concept itself was sold by GM at the 2009 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale for US$29,700.
Design and features
- Bertone body: short overhangs and a low, wide stance for a crossover.
- Twin-turbo V6: an experimental 3.6-litre unit rated at 400 hp.
- Leather everywhere: six captain’s chairs and even a woven-leather floor.
- Enclave preview: the styling that shaped Buick’s 2008 production crossover.
Buick Centieme versions
- Centieme (2003): the show car, sold at auction in 2009.
The Centieme previewed the production Enclave and shared its footprint with the Rendezvous. Another Buick centenary concept is the Blackhawk, and more Buicks are in the Buick collection.
Sources
- Buick Centieme, English Wikipedia: show debut, engine, interior, legacy, auction
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