Should Buick Styling Be More Like Maserati?

[ByTheLake]

I posted this previously as a reply in the Buick forum, but I'd like to hear what the whole team thinks.

In the July issue of Automobile Magazine, one reader wrote that "Buick's work has been done for them", and that the Maserati Quattroporte, with only minor tweaks, could be the next Park Avenue.


Maserati Quattroporte

Okay, aside from the $95,000 price of the Maserati, is there any reason that kind of shape and styling couldn't be done in a Buick?

When I saw the picture of the Quattroporte, it actually reminded me more of the original Lacrosse concept vehicle, with the long, flowing roofline. It even has 'Venti-ports' on the front fenders, like a Park Avenue Ultra. Lose the trident in the grille, and it's easily a Buick.


Lacrosse Concept

I think that the Quattroporte styling would attract younger buyers without offending the old current buyers. I realize that this isn't where Buick is going, but I thought that the GMI crowd would find the Quattroporte interesting.

What do you think?

[coolcaddy]

Is that image of the Quattroporte some sort of Photoshop enhancement, or is that the actual vehicle?? That screams "Buick Concept Car".

[Rex Raider]

I had seen the similarities quite some time ago.

Some older chops of mine:

[Dark knight]

Originally posted by ByTheLake@Jul 25 2004, 01:00 PM
I posted this previously as a reply in the Buick forum, but I'd like to hear what the whole team thinks.

In the July issue of Automobile Magazine, one reader wrote that "Buick's work has been done for them", and that the Maserati Quattroporte, with only minor tweaks, could be the next Park Avenue.


Maserati Quattroporte

Okay, aside from the $95,000 price of the Maserati, is there any reason that kind of shape and styling couldn't be done in a Buick?

When I saw the picture of the Quattroporte, it actually reminded me more of the original Lacrosse concept vehicle, with the long, flowing roofline. It even has 'Venti-ports' on the front fenders, like a Park Avenue Ultra. Lose the trident in the grille, and it's easily a Buick.


Lacrosse Concept

I think that the Quattroporte styling would attract younger buyers without offending the old current buyers. I realize that this isn't where Buick is going, but I thought that the GMI crowd would find the Quattroporte interesting.

What do you think?

thoes concepts could help Buick alot,but it could hurt them because I dont think that the Buick buyers would like that type of style,because most of the buyers are in there 40's-60's (I think)

[amark329]

I think Buick should make cars for everyone not just older buyers.

[ByTheLake]

Originally posted by coolcaddy@Jul 25 2004, 12:51 PM
Is that image of the Quattroporte some sort of Photoshop enhancement, or is that the actual vehicle?? That screams "Buick Concept Car".

Not an edited photo at all ... the top pic is the real Maserati Quattroporte.

[T-Keith]

So Buick's should look more like a Buick knockoff. Right. I think the Current Park Avenue looks 1000 times better than that Maserati.

-T

[ByTheLake]

Originally posted by T-Keith@Jul 26 2004, 08:08 AM
So Buick's should look more like a Buick knockoff. Right. I think the Current Park Avenue looks 1000 times better than that Maserati.

-T

I hardly think that the Maserati could be called a Buick Knock-off. Probably just opinion here, but I feel that the Maserati has gobs more passion in its styling than any current Buick.

Regardless of which direction Buick takes, it needs to establish its "purpose in life" pretty darned quick or else we'll see that division become a historical footnote as did Olds.

[jro4566]

One area Buick should follow Maserati in styling is in interior design. Has anyone seen the Quattroporte interior? GORGEOUS.

[T-Keith]

Originally posted by ByTheLake+Jul 26 2004, 12:10 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (ByTheLake @ Jul 26 2004, 12:10 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-T-Keith@Jul 26 2004, 08:08 AM
So Buick's should look more like a Buick knockoff.&nbsp; Right.&nbsp; I think the Current Park Avenue looks 1000 times better than that Maserati.

-T

I hardly think that the Maserati could be called a Buick Knock-off. Probably just opinion here, but I feel that the Maserati has gobs more passion in its styling than any current Buick.

Regardless of which direction Buick takes, it needs to establish its "purpose in life" pretty darned quick or else we'll see that division become a historical footnote as did Olds. [/b][/quote]
I'd have to disagree big time with you there. The Masarati has very subtle body lines, a boring overall shape and a half hearted grill. It looks like a watered down Park Avenue to me.

[GN6]

I think Buicks should look like Buicks. They have enough historical styling features to fall back on, and yet everyone's afraid it'll be "too retro". The grill that comes down between the headlights and sweeps out under them. The six grills of their sportier models like the Wildcat ('60's) and Century ('70's). The extended front fender sculpting (sweepspear, I think it's called) from the '60's and '70's. The ventiports are a start, and I like that. They've stuck with the full-width taillights on their passenger cars (except for the LaCrosse, which makes me think the designers said, "Eh, let's be vanilla. Let's lose some of our identity and look like evereyone else for a change.") Buick can pull it off, they don't need to copy anyone.

[FoMoCo Fan]

Originally posted by ByTheLake+Jul 26 2004, 05:10 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (ByTheLake @ Jul 26 2004, 05:10 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-T-Keith@Jul 26 2004, 08:08 AM
So Buick's should look more like a Buick knockoff.&nbsp; Right.&nbsp; I think the Current Park Avenue looks 1000 times better than that Maserati.

-T

I hardly think that the Maserati could be called a Buick Knock-off. Probably just opinion here, but I feel that the Maserati has gobs more passion in its styling than any current Buick.

Regardless of which direction Buick takes, it needs to establish its "purpose in life" pretty darned quick or else we'll see that division become a historical footnote as did Olds. [/b][/quote]
???????? You must be joking? The current Park Avenue?

[gmwsag]

The Quattroporte has been compared time after time to Buicks because of its 'dull' styling. Actually, I could easily compare it to the controversial styling (in my opinion) of the 'quite ugly' LeSabre and Park Avenue. As Caddy has done, Buick needs an architecture (ala Art & Science) that stands out. The Zeta architecture looks to be the 'basis' of the new Buick, but it will be shared with automakers. An easy solution would be to have one architecture for every automaker (Caddy-Art &Science, Buick-Zeta,Chevrolet-something, etc.)

[ChevyLaxMan]

OMG, Rex's first chop is right on the money! way to go man. They already seems to follow in the direction of buick's new designs so I see no problem as using this vehicle as a model for the next zeta roadmaster. Very upscale. It's funny that the maserati used buick's portholes too.

[ChevyLaxMan]

Looking at it again, heres your 300 fighter!