A new Small Buick?

[ChevroletRevived]

A new Small Buick?
An GMI Commentary by ChevroletRevived
June 13, 2006
www.gminsidenews.com


Suzuki's discontinuation of the Verona now leaves GM free to sell the GMDAT developed Daewoo Tosca in the US. Planned as the replacement for the Suzuki Verona, GMI Staffer Ming pointed out that it would make an excellent entry level Buick that would attract younger buyers to the brand. The Buick Skylark would be affordable and very luxurious for it's price. It's handsome design, could, with little modification, fit right in with Buick's new styling language, first exhibited on the Enclave crossover. The Skylark would be a much better value proposition then competitors like the Accord I4, Camry I4, and others. More standard horsepower, a high end luxury interior, and more available features and options add up into one appealing package. The Skylark would be the premium compact the Cobalt never was, offering HID headlamps, leather interior, wood accents, and a navigation system. It's standard engine would be a supercharged Ecotec 4, making 200 horsepower. Weather or not there would be an optional engine, I'm not sure, but if there was, I would expect the Porsche developed 2.5l 6 to be that engine, now making around 225-235 hp. To GM, I say do it. but only if it fits in with Buick's new styling language. There seems to be a lot of different styles going on at Buick, and we need a clear, focused styling direction. If done right, the Buick Skylark would be an excellent addition to the Buick lineup, eliminating overlap and lifting the burden off of Pontiac to have a smaller, FWD sedan.

Artists Rendering:


V2:

[jwrebholz]

I was wondering what was going to happen to the Verona now that Suzuki is dropping it.

The Verona, though, wasn't exactly a small car. I guess compared to a Buick it's small but still...

[SUPERBADD75]

all that great stuff you propose they add to the "Skylark" would certainly raise its price dramatically. i think by the time you add kit like the Xenons, leather, wood, etc., you'd be stepping on the toes of the LaCrosse, or even surpassing its price. i don't see this car being plausible, at least not in the form you suggest.

[FoMoCo Fan]

No. Three FWD sedans at Buick is one too many. Make the next LaCrosse a little smaller, and that's all you need. No downmarket Buicks.

[ChevroletRevived]

I expect the LaCrosse to take the ES head on in it's next iteration, while this car would be more of a ''mini'' ES.

[paul8488]

The problem I see is that the starting price of the cureent Epica (which isn't fully loaded yet) is a hair above the Lacrosse, which is a bigger car. Not sure price-wise it would fit in, though I DO like the idea in theory.

[Ming]

Some images and my opinion from the other thread:

I've long been a supporter of the idea of a Magnus (now Tosca) as an entry level Buick in the U.S. I really think it could boost the brand to have a value packed car like the Tosca at the low end, with all sorts of equipment, leather seating, etc. standard as would be expected, with a truly low - almost Saturn like low - MSRP, and shocker - an 80,000 mile warranty! (still shaving 20K off of Suzuiki's current Verona warranty) This would get people who buy cars like the Hyundai Azera into Buicks that wouldn't normally be impressed with a 3800 powered W-body with 1996 Riviera styling and rebate/incentive games with the MSRP, and comparatively short warranty coverage.

Also, lets face it, from what I've seen, the GMDAT cars are refreshed more frequently than GM traditional brands. If the Tosca were introduced in 2008 as a Buick, by 2010 it would probably get a significant refresh. The LaCrosse has already outworn its welcome styling-wise and will be around for several more years.

I say do it, GM. When have I been wrong?

lightbrotha2004's Chop:

[ChevroletRevived]

I think the next LaCrosse is going to move up the ladder. But, that's just my point of view.

[Geotpf]

The UAW would have a fit. They barely tolerated the Chevy Aveo, no way they would let GM sell a Daewoo-sourced Buick, especially as thousands of thier members are being laid off. They would go, "Why don't you build it in Oklahoma City, where you dummies just closed a modern plant?" This is why the Verona and Reno and Forenza were sold as Suzukis in the first place (in Canada and elsewhere they are sold as Chevys).

Not going to happen.

[cfch3399]

No thanks. BPG dealers are already getting the G5 and have the G6. The last thing needed is a small Buick. A bigger Buick, yes.

[ghughes]

Nice idea - jag couldnt make it work with their x-class, but maybe they charged too dearly for it -

[adplusone]

Isn't this what GM to where it is today...trying to make all brands all things to all buyers....this is Chevy and Pontiac territory here folks...

[Bravada]

I wouldn't change the Tosca any bit for th reasons given above by Superbadd (aside from a Buickish grille, that is). The angeleyes are very nice, a welcome refreshment in the world of strange vertical lights. I also somehow feel they fit the "Skylark" name quite well. The insectoid eyes work on the Enclave as they fit the entire design theme, but unfortunately the Tosca was designed in a totally different one. But, as you noted, there is no consistent style going on at Buick at the moment, and this is why the Tosca might do as a stopgap solution.

My thinking is that the Tosca is too good a vehicle to go wasted, and Buick is the only brand that has an open slot. As sad as it may be, Buick is now competing with the likes of Toyota more than ever, and a new fresh model with a decent interior and a refined, unique and possibly publicity-generating engine might help there and steal some sales from four-cylinder midsizers that the 'bu, G6 or Aura won't be able to. It might also help lure some younger customers to the brand.

As concerns the lineup, I would say Buick could have three cars:
- entry-level midsize (possibly the Skylark here)
- premium large (the LaCrosse and whatever replaces it, competitor to Lexus ES, Acura TL and possibly even Audi A6 and Volvo S60/S80)
- American full-size luxury (the Lucerne as a stopgap, but LWB Zeta eventually)

This lineup could work both in America and in export markets. It's too late now, but the Tosca could actually work as an introductory vehicle for the Buick brand in export markets. Buick's positioning could be similar as in China - comfortable, all-round good cars with a little premium for those who want something more from the car, and it's not necessairly 20 more HP.

BTW - the Verona is priced within $18-21K, and the Tosca could no way be cheaper, so I guess there's no way it could compete with Mazda3 or Civic. But it is just where the I4 Camry is. And the I4 midsizers are usually somewhere around 2.5 litres and 150-160 hp. No need to change a single bit, the Tosca is already there. With 2 more cylinders.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Geotpf

The UAW would have a fit. They barely tolerated the Chevy Aveo, no way they would let GM sell a Daewoo-sourced Buick, especially as thousands of thier members are being laid off. They would go, "Why don't you build it in Oklahoma City, where you dummies just closed a modern plant?" This is why the Verona and Reno and Forenza were sold as Suzukis in the first place (in Canada and elsewhere they are sold as Chevys).

Not going to happen.

Too bad for the UAW, I'm much more open to the idea:

If GM North America can focus on making less cars, then it can make really stellar ones with frequent redesigns - Cars, Trucks and SUVs that Opel, Holden and GM Daewoo would beg to sell in their own dealer networks, like the new Cadillacs that are available in Korean and European markets. Then the UAW would be manufacturing cars (assuming they can make some more affordable, popular ones, too) to be sold worldwide and it wouldn't have to worry about some imported Daewoos, RWD Holdens and techy Opels entering our market here to replace a tired line of refreshed W-bodies, similar but different Delta cars, and FWD land yacht G-bodies.

Like it or not, low-cost Chinese cars are coming. Will they only be low cost for a relatively short period of time before shooting for a more expensive, up-market image like Hyundai? Perhaps. I can only assume however that they will make every attempt to dress themselves up like cheap but attractive-looking radios and other Chinese made electronics sold at Wal Mart. The Koreans are no longer content to have even their lowest cost offerings look cheap either. Jewel-like taillights, silver accent paint on attractive dashes, frequently updated exteriors and interiors are in stark comparison to GM small cars like the Cavalier that went from 1996 to 2005 with hardly any noticeable changes to the interior besides an improved steering wheel and only one major exterior refresh. Time will tell if GM has the resources to keep the new Cobalt as fresh as the years go by. But why duplicate the effort if Opel is making a great-looking Astra that it sells world wide? Britain, Australia, and even GM Mexico get the Astra. Why design something so different for the US when a perfectly good car could be tweaked for US tastes instead? What makes the Astra suitable for all countries except ours?

If GM North America were to claim bankruptcy, it would still have efficient worldwide partners from which to rebuild from the ashes with. (My hope is that GM can do this voluntarily, and not be forced into that position) Pontiac could get a heavier dose of Holden (in addition to the Monaro) in the form of the Commodore variants, Buick could get a Holden Statesman and even a Buick Excelle (China). You can fill in the rest. All of this would be in addition to some great SUVs and Trucks that GM would have more money to invest in, and a very few luxury cars from Cadillac. The Corvette would stay all-American, of course, and GM North America could still have time to do unique cars put together with items from the "parts bin" like the HHR and Solstice - cars in turn that look so great that people from other countries start demanding be sold to them. Again, more work for the UAW.

Some will say the process of getting Opel, Daewoo and Holden cars approved by the U.S. market would be too costly and difficult. How is it then that a small company like Daewoo managed to sell cars across the globe, including here? I submit that having a ground-up car like the ION designed for the U.S. market is more costly in the end.

Some will point to the gradual introduction of models such as the Monaro and future possible "Opels" for Saturn and say "It takes time, wait and GM will eventually do this,". Why did it take so little time for GM to decide to allow 4 more models of Chevy Daewoos into Canada? Why did it take so little time for Toyota to decide the Toyota bbX would make a fine Scion xB in the US? Looking at GM's financial woes, I don't think they have time to wait and play games. If other automakers can base their entire lineup on imported cars, then GM can afford to have more than a couple, and should be able to import them without being harassed by the UAW. Does KIA have to shell out money for each Rio sold to some Union that didn't even work on the car? From what I've heard (I could be mistaken), GM still has to do just that for every Aveo - pay the UAW not to build them.

Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc. all hit GM with the best that they've got. I say it is time that GM takes the battle on its home turf more seriously and calls in the International Reserves.

Bring back the Caprice and ElCamino, courtesy of Holden. Bring us the hot looking small Opels with navigation systems. Give us more low-cost Daewoos to compete with the Koreans and soon the Chinese. If it means losing some unique-to-USA designs like the Malibu for a reskinned Opel instead then so be it. If it makes the UAW mad, then too bad. Import more to make up for what they refuse to build as they strike. Or at the very least get those next contracts ready and make the UAW sign them, like it or not. Don't insulate the U.S. market like its something special that can't be touched, while continuing to lose market share. Fight back with everything in your arsenal, GM, and I'll be there continuing to buy your product.

Should a Truly Global GM Replace North American GM Brand Cars?

[ChevroletRevived]

Skylark Interior: