Bob Lutz Discusses Park Avenue; GMInsidenews Makes National TV!

[Ming]

Bob Lutz Discusses Park Avenue; GMInsidenews Makes TV!

Wow. Watch as Mr. Bob Lutz gives a great, lengthy response to my question on the Park Avenue and hints at a "Return to true Luxury" for Buick. Download show 1119 HERE!, watch about 14:45 minutes in.

Quote: "We are studying the low volume import (of the Park Avenue).... to reestablish the Buick Flagship. In terms of ride & handling and interior appointments, it would return Buick truly to the Luxury class, where Buick actually belongs."

"There was a meeting (where the Lucerne was chosen over the Park Avenue by some Buick Dealers comparing clay models of both) --- Now I'm hearing from many Buick Dealers saying 'I wasn't at that meeting!' " (laughter)

Also note that the Chinese SLS is mentioned by Matt Delorenzo of Road and Track. And Bob Lutz mentions his future with GM. Bob also did not gush about the Super Buicks. He was very straightforward and didn't spin at all. GM Daewoo & Global Engineering, and GM's turnaround were also discussed. It was an interview well worth the wait, I think!

According to John McElroy's opening this week, Autoline Detroit's Server crashed last week under the load of all of the people going to see the "Extra" video clip that did not end up including Bob Lutz' comments on the Park Avenue. But the guys at Blue Sky Productions more than made up for that by broadcasting the show live, mentioning GMInsideNews (and my screen-name) to anyone with the Speed TV cable channel nationwide!

Check the archives for last week's show (and this week's show into the future) for more Bob Lutz bare-knuckle action!

And write a thank you to John McElroy if you will, kudos to him for recognizing and representing we the GM enthusiasts on the web! - Ming

[egyptianmafia]

hopefully it will come back....but anything could happen...

[mgescuro]

Wait wait wait wait!

What exactly is the problem with the SLS??? It wasn't brought to the US with the Chinese interior because of the side impact issue???

THEN KEEP THE STS THE SAME SIZE AND DROP IN THE INTERIOR!!!

[nadepalma]

Excellent Ming, just excellent. I think it's fantastic that McElroy mentioned you AND the site on the show!

Well done my friend.

BTW, McElroy is DEAD ON with this analysis at the beginning of the segment regarding Congress and fuel economy standards --- Lutz has been saying this FOREVER and folks would be wise to listen in. If I have to hear one more person from CA scream CAFE standards or any bureaucract in DC cry about emissions, I'll have a fit. Instead they shoudl look to Europe for what they do and see how things need to be sorted out. (about the only time I will advocate we mimick anything our European cousins do :-D --- J/K guys..mostly LOL)

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by Ming

"We are studying the low volume import (of the Park Avenue).... to reestablish the Buick Flagship. In terms of ride & handling and interior appointments, it would return Buick truly to the Luxury class, where Buick actually belongs."

Done correctly (importation of select, more upscale models differentiated appropriately from the upcoming G8), this could work and add a much-needed boost to the Buick name. Done as a weak rebadge (again, in comparison to the G8) and priced too high, it will reinforce the notion that GM cannot properly leverage its fantastic global resources.

And I'm sure no one here really is suprised that GMI made national news. Props to the folks who make the site work!

[ChevroletRevived]

What did I tell you guys? Buick is back and GM/Lutz are serious about it. Great going Ming!

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Check out what GMI said about the future of Buick and it's return to the luxury position it belongs:
GMInside Exclusive: The Exciting Future of Buick

[GMCSonoma]

Ming is the best!!!

[plane]

Congratulations Ming.

Thanks for the video link.
Buzz Hargrove is my new hero.

[63cat]

Nice job! The Park Avenue should be called Electra here and definitely have portholes.

[camaro_freak]

great post... great video

Bob knows the Super Buicks are crap and the Park Avenue kicks butt

Whomever was in this dealer BUICK Focus group he mentioned and has been talked about here, should be stripped of their dealerships permanently and publicly humiliated on Buick's website.

Theses are the idiots that cost us a good looking and great quality car in the United States. Thanks for nothing!

If GM is serious about focus groups, how about gathering up some car people like, say GMI members Dealers are NOT a good choice for determining what a vehicles a brand should contain. They are hardly an objective starting point.

[monza164]

Where do they build Chinese Park Aves?

Cheap labor on premium vehicles interesting...

[MN12Fan]

Huzzah! Today, a mention on TV, tomorrow a GMInsideNews TV show.

[E. Haskell]

Good stuff, Ming!

Now we see some of GM's reasoning instead of armchairing it.

[PsychoBueller]

So Buick dealers essentially voted for a G-body FWD LOOOOONG front overhang beast instead of the stunning Park Ave? I hope thay all go out of business.

[I-Love-Pontiac]

Oh man! I want to know who the idiot was that wanted a FWD Buick over a RWD.

And it's very disappointing to hear that the SLS for sure wont be coming to the US. Cadillac really needs a premium sedan. However the possibility of the Park Ave coming over as a "low volume import" is certainly great news.