Buick may indeed be experiencing the beginnings of a product renaissance with the introduction of the new Enclave crossover, but the full overhaul of its lineup still has a long way to go. Forgive me, Mr. Wagoner, Lutz, and Woods, but the Lucerne and LaCrosse aren’t enough for your beloved brand to be mentioned in the same breath as Lexus.

Buick may indeed be experiencing the beginnings of a product renaissance with the introduction of the new Enclave crossover, but the full overhaul of its lineup still has a long way to go. Forgive me, Mr. Wagoner, Lutz, and Woods, but the Lucerne and LaCrosse aren’t enough for your beloved brand to be mentioned in the same breath as Lexus.

Buick has some illustrious models in its past that could serve as inspiration for future cars. Here are some on my wish list for GM’s near-luxury brand:

GNX: For those of us old enough to remember, this was one of the baddest cars in the ’80s. Capable of 0-60 times in under five seconds, the GNX took the humble Regal coupe to unfathomable new heights of bad-assness. With the new corporate Zeta platform on the horizon, why not bring back the GNX, this time with a twin-turbo version of the new 3.6L “high-feature” DOHC V-6? Throw on direct injection, and you’re talking about a powerplant easily capable of 400+ horsepower. Turbo sixes were Indy winners for Buick back in the day. No reason the division couldn’t make its name in performance once again with hairdryer-fortified sixes. Price: $38-40k

Wildcat: Okay, so maybe this name doesn’t fit with Buick’s new Francophile naming strategy, but it’s just the kind of sassy attitude the division needs right now. The Wildcat was traditionally the big muscle-coupe in Buick’s lineup. I think a perfect modern interpretation of this would be a big, rear-drive, V-8-powered four-seat folding hardtop coupe. The packaging afforded by a larger car would make the folding roof more practical (though nobody buys these types of cars for practicality). Price: $44-46k

Electra: Once again, the rear-drive Zeta chassis could form the foundation for a whole new family of Buick models. Why not bring back this storied nameplate? V-8 power might be more appropriate for this more stately sedan, but no reason Buick couldn’t step up with the LS2 or equivalent powerplant. Maybe even stick in the new upcoming “Ultra” V-8, though many believe this will be a Caddy exclusive for a few years. Also, considering the name, this model could conceivably be Buick’s perfect segue into the hybrid game. If GM and its partners can refine their battery and plug-in technology, imagine a 60+ mpg luxury sedan. Can you say hit? Price: $36-38k, Hybrid: $42-45k.

Portivo: Imagine Buick’s version of the Caddy CTS in size and layout. Why the name “Portivo”? Basically, it’s a truncation of the Spanish word for sporty, “deportivo,” a spirit this division is in sore need of. Mid-size sedan, rear-drive, with V-6 power, and an optional (gasp!) manual transmission. Price: $32-34k.

Ensemble: Okay, this name might have to go through some focus-group testing, but I was trying to keep some continuity with the “Enclave” name. Imagine Buick’s version of the Mercedes R-Class. Yep, a rear-drive crossover. V-6 and optional V-8 power, Buick’s newly-found signature dramatic styling (imagine a lower-slung, sportier Enclave) with a stylish, premium interior. As much as I’d like to see the company put rear sliding doors on this one, it seems nobody in Detroit is willing to touch them with a 10-foot pole. Still, I think power rear sliders with fully-retractable windows would be both elegant and practical. Price: $40-44k

I still believe there may be a place in Buick’s lineup for a cushy front-driver, but there’s no reason the brand should limit its lineup to torque-steered geriatric isolation chambers. Put Tiger behind the wheel of one of the above models, and watch them fly off the showroom floor.

–Edward A. Sanchez