The Buick XP2000 or XP-2000 was the name of a concept car produced by Buick of General Motors (GM). It was assembled in 1995 by GM's Australian division Holden, and first showcased at the North American International, Chicago, and Los Angeles auto shows that same year.[1][2] Styled similarly to the then-current Commodore model, the XP2000 featured a number of new technologies that would eventually make their way into future GM vehicles. As of October 2016, the XP2000 concept is currently a part of the collection of the J.A. Cooley Museum in San Diego, California.[3]
| Buick XP2000 | |
|---|---|
 1995 image from GM promotional materials | |
| Overview | |
| Type | Concept car |
| Manufacturer | Buick |
| Also called | XP-2000 |
| Production | 1995 |
| Assembly | GM Australia Design, Australia |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Luxury fullsize (F) |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | Front-engine, RWD |
| Platform | V (RWD) |
| Related | Holden Commodore |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 5.0L naturally aspirated Holden V8 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2940 mm (115.9 in) |
| Length | 4920 mm (193.7 in) |
History and development
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General Motors, parent company of Buick and Holden, took an interest in rebadging a Commodore for the Buick lineup in 1994. As such, GM allocated the funding to Holden to manufacture a portion of the next Commodore platform in left-hand-drive (LHD).[4] The project, known as "GMX 127" or "Project 127", culminated the next year in the XP2000 concept, though the project was scrapped the following year due to financial concerns.[5] Following the cancellation, Buick general manager Ed Mertz reportedly noted that some of the car's new technological features would probably be offered soon on other models.[6]
Despite being scrapped, the adaption of the VT's underpinnings to LHD would not go unused. This architecture would go on to be used in the Chevrolet Lumina and its rebadged variants, as well as in shortened form for the fifth-generation Pontiac GTO.[7]
As of at least October 2016, the concept vehicle is a part of installations at the J.A. Cooley Museum in San Diego.[8]
Technology
editMuch of the work done to produce the XP2000 was focused upon its internal technologies, showcasing future systems intended to improve driver safety, comfort, and convenience.[9] A suite of assistance features were a part of the vehicle, including keyless entry, heads-up display, voice recognition, advanced sectioned climate control, a navigation system, automated seat and mirror adjustment, and a crude version of lane keep assist, among others.[10][11][12][13] Many of these features, while standard or optional on most vehicles today, were considered new and innovative in the mid-90s, having little or no application at that time. Additionally, the vehicle featured eight airbags, more than the typical two of the period.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Buick XP2000". ACI. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "1995 BUICK XP2000 – Press Kit – Original B&W Dealer Portfolio Brochure". eBay. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "A J Cooley Museum". www.vft.org. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Stopford, William. "CC/Automotive Histories: 1995 Buick XP-2000 & 1997–2001 Cadillac Catera – The Story Of A Buick Holden And A Cadillac Opel". Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Tribune, Paul Lienert Special to the. "TIME MACHINES". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Service, Knight-Ridder News. "Ford has a lot riding on redesign of its two best-selling cars". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "The Holden That Almost Became A Buick". The Truth About Cars. May 31, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "J.A. Cooley Museum (San Diego) – 2020 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)". Tripadvisor. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "1995 Buick XP2000 | Buick". Supercars.net. April 6, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ iseecom. "XP2000, 1995". Buick Car Club of Australia Inc. in NSW. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "Buick XP2000 (1995)". Old Concept Cars. September 30, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "2000 BUICK XP2000 XP 2000 MODEL INTRODUCTION PRESS RELEASE KIT W PHOTOS SL". eBay. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "1995 Buick XP2000". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "Buick XP2000 – Motor Trend Magazine". MotorTrend. January 2, 1995. Retrieved May 1, 2020.