Buick's "Road to Glory" **No RWD for Buick? (page 2)**
02-09-2004 | 09:45 AM
#1
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Buick's "Road to Glory" **No RWD for Buick? (page 2)**
GM plans $3 billion overhaul of Buick, looks to move brand upscale - - - By RICK KRANZ | Automotive News
Source: Autoweek
Buick is expected to introduce a four-seat convertible concept at the New York auto show, offering another glimpse at General Motors' plans to revive the stodgy brand by moving it upscale.
Struggling with aging products and gray-haired customers, Buick is next in line at GM for new products and new styling.
Approved or nearing approval are a:
LeSabre replacement, due in the 2006 model year.
Mid-sized sport wagon, expected around the 2007 model year.
Rear-drive flagship sedan that would be shorter but nearly as wide as the LeSabre replacement. It would arrive around the 2007 model year.
The convertible also is under consideration. The concept is expected to feature a retractable hardtop roof.
GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz said he wants to make Buick a true premium player. He said new Buicks will be quiet and will have top-notch fit and finish. A rich-looking interior will be Buick's signature.
Struggling with aging products and gray-haired customers, Buick is next in line at GM for new products and new styling.
Approved or nearing approval are a:
LeSabre replacement, due in the 2006 model year.
Mid-sized sport wagon, expected around the 2007 model year.
Rear-drive flagship sedan that would be shorter but nearly as wide as the LeSabre replacement. It would arrive around the 2007 model year.
The convertible also is under consideration. The concept is expected to feature a retractable hardtop roof.
GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz said he wants to make Buick a true premium player. He said new Buicks will be quiet and will have top-notch fit and finish. A rich-looking interior will be Buick's signature.
02-09-2004 | 03:40 PM
#3
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: The City of Syrup Screwston, Texas
All the work in the world can't fix Buick. The name has no credibility to anyone under 40. The new Vette could be sold as a Buick and I doubt people would even take notice.
02-12-2004 | 05:34 PM
#4
Three Wheelin'
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From: Minnesota
Re: Lutz to fix Buick next
Originally posted by gavriil
GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz said he wants to make Buick a true premium player. He said new Buicks will be quiet and will have top-notch fit and finish. A rich-looking interior will be Buick's signature.
GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz said he wants to make Buick a true premium player. He said new Buicks will be quiet and will have top-notch fit and finish. A rich-looking interior will be Buick's signature.
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02-13-2004 | 08:31 PM
#9
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Originally posted by Black CL-S 4-Life
All the work in the world can't fix Buick. The name has no credibility to anyone under 40. The new Vette could be sold as a Buick and I doubt people would even take notice.
All the work in the world can't fix Buick. The name has no credibility to anyone under 40. The new Vette could be sold as a Buick and I doubt people would even take notice.
02-13-2004 | 09:13 PM
#16
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Originally posted by 1killercls
All I see are Bluehairs driving Buicks here in Florida.
All I see are Bluehairs driving Buicks here in Florida.
02-14-2004 | 12:42 PM
#18
Safety Car
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From: philly
Oh you mean those people with their blinkers stuck in the on position. I find it a little hard to believe Buick is going anywhere after seeing the LaCrosse, unless of course Lutz starts rebadging Cadillacs as Buicks which is always a strong possibility with this company.
02-15-2004 | 10:07 PM
#20
What, me drive fast?
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From: North Andover, MA
Originally posted by gavriil
That's the old Buick. Granted, the current Buick is prblematic. The one thing that Buicks have is quality right now. No one can deny that. They are VERY reliable.
That's the old Buick. Granted, the current Buick is prblematic. The one thing that Buicks have is quality right now. No one can deny that. They are VERY reliable.
I really hope that Buick has their act together as far as quality. One thing that Buick had going for it is the sales people a Buick were AWSOME. The Honda and Toyota dealerships that we went to had terrible sales people. I was VERY pleased with my Acura experience but the Buick dealership was just as nice. I almost thought of emailing Toyota to complain about the turd that "helped" us.
12-20-2004 | 10:33 AM
#21
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Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured -- JASON STEIN | Automotive News - - Source: Autoweek
DETROIT -- General Motors' next rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles will expand Buick's product line significantly and give consumers more options - sporty cars and comfy sedans.
Michael Simcoe, GM's new executive director of body frame integral design, says the automaker's new Zeta architecture will extend Buick's product portfolio.
"We will play at both ends," Simcoe says. "We can have prestigious luxury and prestigious sport."
Within two years, Zeta will debut on a Buick sedan. A coupe and possibly a convertible will follow.
Simcoe says Zeta, which will be engineered by GM's Australian subsidiary Holden Ltd., will be a key component in GM's overall strategy for global products.
Simcoe should know. Before being appointed to his position on Aug. 1, Simcoe was executive director for design in GM's Asia-Pacific region. He was responsible for the design strategy at GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. and Holden.
Zeta is an evolution in the way GM thinks about product development, he says.
"Zeta is the classic case of GM seeing an architecture around the globe," Simcoe says. "The way it used to work was if it wasn't North American, it wasn't appropriate.
"But there is a lot of potential there with Zeta. There is freedom to do more."
As such, Zeta will offer that freedom to GM's product planners."We are getting encouragement coming from all sides to do as much as we can with it in terms of flexibility," Simcoe says. "That means more variants and more ability to move up and down when it comes to price."
Zeta will debut with Pontiac in the next-generation GTO - but the design won't be retro, he says.
"I wouldn't want retro," Simcoe says. "What the market wants is something that will stand out."
GM uses the term architecture to signify a common set of components, performance characteristics, a common manufacturing process, a range of dimensions and connecting points for key component systems.
Michael Simcoe, GM's new executive director of body frame integral design, says the automaker's new Zeta architecture will extend Buick's product portfolio.
"We will play at both ends," Simcoe says. "We can have prestigious luxury and prestigious sport."
Within two years, Zeta will debut on a Buick sedan. A coupe and possibly a convertible will follow.
Simcoe says Zeta, which will be engineered by GM's Australian subsidiary Holden Ltd., will be a key component in GM's overall strategy for global products.
Simcoe should know. Before being appointed to his position on Aug. 1, Simcoe was executive director for design in GM's Asia-Pacific region. He was responsible for the design strategy at GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. and Holden.
Zeta is an evolution in the way GM thinks about product development, he says.
"Zeta is the classic case of GM seeing an architecture around the globe," Simcoe says. "The way it used to work was if it wasn't North American, it wasn't appropriate.
"But there is a lot of potential there with Zeta. There is freedom to do more."
As such, Zeta will offer that freedom to GM's product planners."We are getting encouragement coming from all sides to do as much as we can with it in terms of flexibility," Simcoe says. "That means more variants and more ability to move up and down when it comes to price."
Zeta will debut with Pontiac in the next-generation GTO - but the design won't be retro, he says.
"I wouldn't want retro," Simcoe says. "What the market wants is something that will stand out."
GM uses the term architecture to signify a common set of components, performance characteristics, a common manufacturing process, a range of dimensions and connecting points for key component systems.
12-20-2004 | 12:51 PM
#23
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From: Maryland
Originally Posted by gavriil
Buick is overpriced? I dont agree.
Especially when the cheapest E320 will be worth more than twice what the PA is after 4 years
12-21-2004 | 10:12 AM
#26
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From: New Orleans
GM's on the right path. This next gen Zeta will be able to support a varitey of models, all RWD. Still, it's a transition that will take time. They need to get these new cars in while phasing out all of the current shitin they're line, like the Terrazza minivan and both SUVs. A crossover based on the Zeta will be a much better fit, and would be unique to Buick, which is what the brand needs.
12-24-2004 | 01:00 PM
#28
'Big Daddy Diggler'
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From: Yonkers NY
caddy is moving up market like it has been over the past few years. Buick will be taking its place. Pontiac will be moving a little more upscale and replace buick. Pontiac will be the buick of the muscle car era, they will offer sport/entry level luxury mix, while retaining a balls to the wall sporty car. Chevy will fill the void as they have a bevy of cars to fill most voids left by pontiac. This is what i heard from the grape vine.
12-25-2004 | 10:34 AM
#29
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Originally Posted by bigman
caddy is moving up market like it has been over the past few years. Buick will be taking its place. Pontiac will be moving a little more upscale and replace buick. Pontiac will be the buick of the muscle car era, they will offer sport/entry level luxury mix, while retaining a balls to the wall sporty car. Chevy will fill the void as they have a bevy of cars to fill most voids left by pontiac. This is what i heard from the grape vine.
02-21-2007 | 10:22 PM
#30
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No RWD for Buick? - - By RICK KRANZ | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS - - Source: Autoweek
CHICAGO - While Chevrolet and Pontiac will offer rear-drive cars, the Buick dealer council basically said, "Thanks - but no, thanks."
But GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has left the door open if the group wants to reconsider.
Lutz said U.S. dealers were offered a Buick based on the long-wheelbase Holden Statesman that will be sold in China next year.
"It was firmly in the U.S. product program" until the car was shown to Buick dealers, Lutz said.
The issue? Both the front-drive Lucerne sedan and the rwd Buick sedan are about the same size, and both offer V-6 and V-8 engines. The dealers thought the rwd car would cannibalize Lucerne sales, Lutz said.
"They were worried that it wasn't going to be 'plus' business, and we had to worry about the substitution rate," he said. "So for excellent business reasons, we elected not to do it."
But Lutz quickly added that "the future is open on that." With a Buick already being built for China, he said, "Once that vehicle exists, it would be a little hard to see why you wouldn't use it for the whole market."
But GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has left the door open if the group wants to reconsider.
Lutz said U.S. dealers were offered a Buick based on the long-wheelbase Holden Statesman that will be sold in China next year.
"It was firmly in the U.S. product program" until the car was shown to Buick dealers, Lutz said.
The issue? Both the front-drive Lucerne sedan and the rwd Buick sedan are about the same size, and both offer V-6 and V-8 engines. The dealers thought the rwd car would cannibalize Lucerne sales, Lutz said.
"They were worried that it wasn't going to be 'plus' business, and we had to worry about the substitution rate," he said. "So for excellent business reasons, we elected not to do it."
But Lutz quickly added that "the future is open on that." With a Buick already being built for China, he said, "Once that vehicle exists, it would be a little hard to see why you wouldn't use it for the whole market."
02-21-2007 | 11:00 PM
#31
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From: Maryland
Originally Posted by gavriil
Who in their right mind chooses a Lucerne over the Statesman? WHO?
02-22-2007 | 07:51 AM
#32
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From: Toronto, Canada
Originally Posted by charliemike
Time to phase out Buick. Apparently the dealers are less intelligent than I gave them credit for (which wasn't much).
Who in their right mind chooses a Lucerne over the Statesman? WHO?
Who in their right mind chooses a Lucerne over the Statesman? WHO?
Dealers know their customers better than GM does IMO. I think its great GM is listening to its customers.
Having said that I have no idea if the Lucerne even sells well. If it doesn't this makes no sense.
02-22-2007 | 09:06 AM
#33
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From: New Orleans
I'm speechless. This is a huge blow, and it comes from the Buick dealers... damnit. The next gen Lucerne should be the aforementioned Statesman, IMO. It's too early to phase out the existing one; to new (that's the Buick dealer's thinking)... huge disappointment.
well, buick's going to be set back for a while. Let's seewhat happens in a couple years
02-22-2007 | 11:01 AM
#35
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From: Maryland
Originally Posted by dom
Dealers know their customers better than GM does IMO.
02-22-2007 | 12:25 PM
#37
how handsome I am
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From: Miami, FL
re-release the GN as a pontiac... or keep buick around just to sell the GN... otherwise, this branch of GM has become a non-competitor in the market if it sticks to FWD with the state its in right now