Buick cancels crossover based on Saturn Vue

[jake75]

Question is, can Buick and their dealers survive with only vehicles having premium characteristics? The article states "Buick, much like GMC, is slated to get vehicle designs that are similar to those that will be sold under other GM brands. Buick will get a small, premium-oriented car that is close in design to a model Chevrolet will sell." Would not all such vehicles get this same thumbs down at a product review panel of consumers etc.? Perhaps separate Chevy, Buick and Cadillac dealerships are not the answer - just have a GM Dealer that handles all brands. Buick versions of Chevy's seems to me to be a continuation of the lipstick on a pig approach. I wonder if anyone at GM remembers the Cadillac Cimarron?Wall St Jrl 8-20-09By JOHN D. STOLLGeneral Motors Co. has abruptly pulled the plug on a small crossover vehicle and hybridderivative that the company had planned to move from its discontinued Saturn brand to Buickin 2011.The car maker said it made the decision Friday after the vehicle was panned at a productpreview it held Aug. 7 for analysts, media and consumers.Tom Stephens, GM's product chief, wrote in a GM blog post that the small crossover"received consistent feedback from large parts of all the audiences that it didn't fit thepremium characteristics that customers have come to expect from Buick."The decision to kill the model reflects the speed and decisiveness with which GM is trying tomove following its stay in bankruptcy court, as well as a promise by top executives to bemore responsive to consumers.But the move also shows the challenge GM faces as it consolidates brands. Buick is one offour brands remaining following the company's move to shed Hummer, Pontiac, Saturn andSaab.It also points up the risk in selling similar models under different makes. Buick, much likeGMC, is slated to get vehicle designs that are similar to those that will be sold under otherGM brands. Buick will get a small, premium-oriented car that is close in design to a modelChevrolet will sell.Mr. Stephens, one of the key executives on GM Chief Executive Frederick "Fritz"Henderson's new management committee, announced the company's intent to build the smallBuick crossover -- based on the Saturn Vue currently on sale -- at the product preview.However, it received a spate of negative feedback."The committee decided to take swift action to prevent a potential underperformer fromreaching the marketplace," Mr. Stephens wrote. He added that the company is leaving threeother future Buick vehicles that it showed attendees -- including another small crossover -- inits plans for launch around 2012.GM will move the plug-in-hybrid technology that was to be showcased in the discontinuedBuick to another vehicle line, spokesman Terry Rhadigan said.The company has struggled to gain momentum in the market for hybrids, vehicles that use abattery to assist a conventional engine to improve fuel economy. Instead, GM is putting muchof its effort into the Chevrolet Volt, a compact sedan that largely relies on electric power anduses a gasoline engine only to regenerate its battery. The Volt is due in 2010.Write to John D. Stoll at john.stoll@wsj.com

[KNINE]

Buick should be cancelled. Bring back Pontiac.

[Kincaid]

I guess it would make much more sense to make the Vue into a Chevy - but now that you have the new (and beautiful) Equinox, why would you?Opel should just start selling there stuff here under there own name, perhaps.

[ColonelPanic]

Blame twitter. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/..._iGwM

[zionzr2]

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE »Buick should be cancelled. Bring back Pontiac. AMEN!!

[silvrhawk7]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »Question is, can Buick and their dealers survive with only vehicles having premium characteristics? The article states "Buick, much like GMC, is slated to get vehicle designs that are similar to those that will be sold under other GM brands. Buick will get a small, premium-oriented car that is close in design to a model Chevrolet will sell." Would not all such vehicles get this same thumbs down at a product review panel of consumers etc.? Perhaps separate Chevy, Buick and Cadillac dealerships are not the answer - just have a GM Dealer that handles all brands. Buick versions of Chevy's seems to me to be a continuation of the lipstick on a pig approach. I wonder if anyone at GM remembers the Cadillac Cimarron?allthough i never worked for GM directly....I do I do....the Glorified J-2000

[silvrhawk7]

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE »Buick should be cancelled. Bring back Pontiac. More like sell off Buick to the Chinese since they like it so much and then bring back pontiac, and NUMMI...

[L5K]

They should have dropped GMC.Why does each brand have to make an offering in every market anyway? Who thought GMC needed to make the exact same trucks alongside Chevy? Why did GMC, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Pontiac ALL have to make similar SUVs?

[ColonelPanic]

That was under directive of the GM department of redundancy department. It made perfect sense to sell the same SUV under the Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Oldsmobile, Saab and Isuzu brands, no ? All had different trim and slightly different sheet metal but unfortunately nothing really anything substantial to differentiate one from another. Even this new meaner, leaner GM is still offering up a slew of redundant products.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by ColonelPanic »That was under directive of the GM department of redundancy department. It made perfect sense to sell the same SUV under the Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Oldsmobile, Saab and Isuzu brands, no ? All had different trim and slightly different sheet metal but unfortunately nothing really anything substantial to differentiate one from another. Even this new meaner, leaner GM is still offering up a slew of redundant products.In a way isn't it like the Matrix - Vibe situation? There seem to be strong opinions as to which sheet metal style is "better looking". You probably see even more difference of opinion among prospective buyers of Acadia, Traverse and Enclave as I suspect the interiors differ somewhat as well.

[Kincaid]

I can certainly understand two choices. But the Enclave/Acadia/Outlook/Traverse just seems dumb. I wonder if GM ever offered five or more of the same body with a different face?

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by Kincaid »I wonder if GM ever offered five or more of the same body with a different face?80's J-body cars take the cake.. Buick Skyhawk, Cadillac Cimmaron, Chevrolet Cavalier, Oldsmobile Firenza, Pontaic J2000/Sunbird. Cars on this platform were offered under even more makes overseas.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by Kincaid »I can certainly understand two choices. But the Enclave/Acadia/Outlook/Traverse just seems dumb. I wonder if GM ever offered five or more of the same body with a different face?In 1977, the initial year of the downsized full sized station wagon, I looked at the Buick Estate Wagon, and the same body Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, Pontiac Safari and Chevy Caprice models. That's 4. There wasn't really much of a price difference between any of them. Of course the sheet metal was slightly different. I chose the Buick because a couple of the options I liked were not available on the others. Also my employer had a deal with a Buick dealer at $135 over invoice. I ordered it to my specifications - 350 V8 - cost me just under $6,000 plus tax. I sold it in 1987 for $2,500 at about 40,000 miles. It had some electrical problems (kept blowing ignition modules) that the dealer was never able to solve - finally took it to an independent shop and they corrected it with new spark plug wires. The originals were defective from day 1. Starter motors never lasted more than a year either, but in those days a rebuilt on cost about $50 plus install. (Never could find a new one - only rebuilt.) I boycotted GM until 2003 for that unpleasant experience.

[Whelan]

I'm saving up for this instead. More B/A version with chrome and sharp corners, love me the Terrain!

[jake75]

If they can get 32 mpg hwy with this 2.4L powered larger model, why couldn't they build a Vibe 1.8L that gets 40?

[michaelgt]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »If they can get 32 mpg hwy with this 2.4L powered larger model, why couldn't they build a Vibe 1.8L that gets 40? Because it was a Toyota drive-train! If they wanted 40 mpg, the Vibe would have to have smaller wheels/tires, and many more engine/transmission/gear modifications. I believe that these GM Small SUVs have an eco switch, that change the settings for the ECM to push better mileage and less performance.

[Whelan]

The Terrain has a 6 speed automatic tranny. The older Vibes had a 4 speed slushbox. Not sure about the new ones though.I'll take the SLT-2 packag in Merlot Red with rear entertainment and the 264hp V6 18/25mpg.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by michaelgt »Because it was a Toyota drive-train! If they wanted 40 mpg, the Vibe would have to have smaller wheels/tires, and many more engine/transmission/gear modifications. I believe that these GM Small SUVs have an eco switch, that change the settings for the ECM to push better mileage and less performance.Well perhaps GM will get away from a "same old" "same old" mentality and produce a Vibe-sized semi-tall hatchback using GM technology and achieve 40 mpg with a 1.8 or 2.0L.

[silvrhawk7]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »The Terrain has a 6 speed automatic tranny. The older Vibes had a 4 speed slushbox. Not sure about the new ones though.I'll take the SLT-2 packag in Merlot Red with rear entertainment and the 264hp V6 18/25mpg.Put your own rear entertainment system in, it will be cheaper and more reliable, i say this from GMC Acadia Experience, the screens keep going out and the DVD system constantly freezes, and good luck getting help from the dealer...