Opel: Models Heading to North America Under Buick Brand
03-09-2009, 10:22 PM
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Opel: Models Heading to North America Under Buick Brand
From WCF...
The age of badge engineering has reorganised itself quite neatly and seems to be coming back strong and fast. News just in is that General Motors is considering placing Opel badges on some Buick vehicles and then selling them to customers in America. One of the first cars nominated as a candidate for this is the Opel Insignia, say people close to GM's product plans. It would enter the US as a Buick Regal sedan if this happened.
Susan Docherty, vice president of Buick-Pontiac-GMC, told Automotive News that Opel is one of GM's brands that could provide her brands with some good product leveraging.
"In fairness, we've got to look at everything," Docherty was quoted as saying. "I wouldn't want to make a statement that all future Buicks we do will leverage the Opel platform because that wouldn't be true. The Enclave didn't use Opel nor did the new LaCrosse sedan. It's an avenue for us to explore, for sure."
But Saturn has been reported as one of the brands GM is also looking at either closing down or selling off. Docherty does not admit to knowing what plans are afoot regarding this but says in case this were true "we'd stay with the idea that GM will utilize all of its global architectural platforms".
Buick's plan is to concentrate on sedans and crossover vehicles. Plans are being developed to offer even more sedans with the Buick name.
Susan Docherty, vice president of Buick-Pontiac-GMC, told Automotive News that Opel is one of GM's brands that could provide her brands with some good product leveraging.
"In fairness, we've got to look at everything," Docherty was quoted as saying. "I wouldn't want to make a statement that all future Buicks we do will leverage the Opel platform because that wouldn't be true. The Enclave didn't use Opel nor did the new LaCrosse sedan. It's an avenue for us to explore, for sure."
But Saturn has been reported as one of the brands GM is also looking at either closing down or selling off. Docherty does not admit to knowing what plans are afoot regarding this but says in case this were true "we'd stay with the idea that GM will utilize all of its global architectural platforms".
Buick's plan is to concentrate on sedans and crossover vehicles. Plans are being developed to offer even more sedans with the Buick name.
03-09-2009, 11:41 PM
#3
The Insignia would be a winner... the Astra on the other hand? 
03-10-2009, 10:59 AM
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Essentially the really are dropping Saturn. I've read that Saturn will either be sold, be an independent standalone company, or be shuttered by 2011. Using some of Opel products for Buick makes perfect sense, especially since Saturn is out of the picture and the cars would be unique in the U.S.
03-10-2009, 11:02 AM
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I think that's the point. Buick is really trying to shift the age bracket of the Buick "crowd" down a few years. Products like the Enclave and new Lacrosse is a great start. The Insignia would be a great addition; it's sporty, bears some resemblance to the new Lacrosse, and the Regal badge is a great nameplate that resonates with a large cross section of ages. I wouldn't add the Astra (it's to small), but the Insignia is a good fit. 
03-10-2009, 11:32 AM
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Essentially the really are dropping Saturn. I've read that Saturn will either be sold, be an independent standalone company, or be shuttered by 2011. Using some of Opel products for Buick makes perfect sense, especially since Saturn is out of the picture and the cars would be unique in the U.S.
I was being facetious. The Saturn lineup is already mostly Opel cars.....i.e., Aura, Astra, Sky, and the View are all rebadged Opels.
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03-10-2009, 11:54 AM
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The sizzle in the Steak
I think this is a good move.
GM needed to keep the Opel product for NA.
GM needed to keep the Opel product for NA.
03-10-2009, 08:46 PM
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Are you guys all too young...
Are you guys on here all so young that you don't remember when the Opel products failed here in the states? Trying to market the Euro Opel's in the states would be like saying "hey, let's bring back the corvair or edsel"...
Now, I do travel in europe and some of the Opel cars today are nice. IMHO, they should simply drop the Opel name and call them all Saturns...
Now, I do travel in europe and some of the Opel cars today are nice. IMHO, they should simply drop the Opel name and call them all Saturns...
03-10-2009, 08:51 PM
#10
Are you guys on here all so young that you don't remember when the Opel products failed here in the states? Trying to market the Euro Opel's in the states would be like saying "hey, let's bring back the corvair or edsel"...
Now, I do travel in europe and some of the Opel cars today are nice. IMHO, they should simply drop the Opel name and call them all Saturns...
Now, I do travel in europe and some of the Opel cars today are nice. IMHO, they should simply drop the Opel name and call them all Saturns...
They have been doing this for ~3 years now. Saturn is closing.
03-11-2009, 11:06 AM
#11
I think the Opel version of cars could get Buick into a lower demographic. I drove Opel Vectras while in Germany and they were fast, sporty, handled well, and were just overall fun cars. I'm not talking about the base models but the sporty trim level I think it was the Vectra GTZ or something. Anyway, I think the Opel brand could survive and maybe thrive in the U.S. market in the near future.
03-11-2009, 01:16 PM
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Don't they already do this in China?
03-11-2009, 01:43 PM
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"News just in is that General Motors is considering placing Opel badges on some Buick vehicles and then selling them to customers in America."
Either the title of this thread is wrong or the article is wrong. This is saying that Opel would be calling existing Buicks Opels, which doesn't make much sense. I'm guess the later is the case.
Either the title of this thread is wrong or the article is wrong. This is saying that Opel would be calling existing Buicks Opels, which doesn't make much sense. I'm guess the later is the case.
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