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Automotive News & Views The Rebirth of Buick.........
417 messages, Last post on Nov 19, 2009 at 8:10 PM
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Replying to: tjc78 (Mar 22, 2009 3:15 am) |
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Replying to: tjc78 (Mar 22, 2009 3:15 am) |
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So THIS is the new "baby Buick"? Not sure the traditional Buick crowd is going to like this thing too much, is it part of the "rebirth"? http://www.autonews.com/article/20090323/ANA03/903200261/1131 (registration link) March 23, 2009 - 12:01 am ET This small Buick sedan, based on General Motors' re-engineered front-drive Delta architecture, is heading for China -- and might appear on U.S. roads in 2011. It's the size of the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze, which will replace the Chevy Cobalt. One distinctive feature is the large grille, similar to those on other Buicks.
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Replying to: nippononly (Mar 23, 2009 7:39 am) Chevy Cruze, priced between $13-17K (not including an SS model) Buick "Special" (for lack of a better name) between $18-22.5K Cadillac BLS $24-27K Now, this would give all 3 groups a compact car, 3 distinct price ranges, and I suppose different engines (say the Chevy gets a 2.2 ecotec that puts out 190 hp, the 2.0 turbo in the Buick, tuned down to say 220 hp, and maybe a small V-6 in the Caddy).
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Replying to: dbostondriver (Mar 21, 2009 9:19 am) Best i can tell is Gm will stop supplying Saturn with cars after 2011. Saturn is looking for a partner to sell cars. Not sure exactly how it would work. I know someone suggested that a Saturn/Fiat would be an ideal relationship but Fiat has already committed to Chrysler.....maybe. Saturn's sales have been disappointing since the initial S-series back in 1990. I think the recent commercials is to drum up sales to make Saturn more attractive to a potential buyer. |
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Mar 23, 2009 4:54 pm) This is also a good example of the dilemma at Buick: it is a big-car brand in a world that is trending towards smaller cars.
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Replying to: nippononly (Mar 24, 2009 7:37 am) Well, in the new GM order of things (just Buick, Chevy, Caddy,and GMC, with the "niche" Pontiac), I would see 3 cars per brand (6 for Chevy, with the Aveo, Camaro, and Corvette), small, medium, and large. Aside from Pontiac, and the 3 other Chevies, you could have: Buick "Special", Chevy Cruze, and Cadillac BLS for small, Buick LaCrosse, Chevy Malibu, and Cadillac CTS, for Medium Bucik Lucrene, Chevy Impala, and Caddy STS or DTS for large. Now, with platform sharing worldwide, there is no set rule that says all these models must be sister ships, although seeing as how they are meant for NA distribution, they probably will be. 3 cars is hardly dilution. What they must be able to do is build 3 separate, distinct, and likeable cars. Look at the medium examples. The Malibu is likeable, good quality, and sells. So is the CTS. Most of the LaCrosse's comments are positive. I think it will sell. As for the small cars, If GM can price the Cruze just below the J3 entrants and it is likeable and of good quality like the Malibu, it will sell. If they aim a Buick entrant in that class just below the likes of say, the Volvo S-40, or the Lexus IS, and it too is likeable and of good quality, then it too will sell, w/o diluting the brand, especially if the BLS went after the C class or 1 series.
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Mar 24, 2009 7:00 pm) 1 car is enough for dilution if they merely rebadge a Chevy. If they develop a model for Buick that is significantly different from the corresponding Chevy, like using the same-size Cadillac as the basis for the Buick, that would be different. Will existing Buick devotees buy a small car? I kinda think not. Will Buick be able to attract new people to the brand with a good small car? Maybe. |
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Replying to: nippononly (Mar 26, 2009 6:47 am) |
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Replying to: nippononly (Mar 26, 2009 6:47 am) That would be my hope. Even a delta base for a small Buick isn't wrong, provided they build it like a Buick, and not slap a tri-shield on a half assed version of a waterfall grille that fits where the Chevy grille does. Again, I look to the compact Volvo for a target audience. |
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