GM cancels Buick crossover before birth, will add PHEV drivetrain to another vehicle

Ambalanche · Aug 19, 2009

This is great news! If it would've gone through lookin like that pic, IE a badge-job, it would've meant 1, Fritz DOES like rebadges, and 2, same ole GM! Put the powertrain in the LaCrosse!

cad1cts · Aug 19, 2009

I don't even know why they bothered announcing it. Earlier in the year they said the 2 mode was being delayed to adapt it to the 3.0 as opposed to the 3.6. They should've stuck to the original plan of introducing the 2 mode in the SRX/Equinox/Terrain. Now they just look dumber than if they did nothing.

spidge · Aug 19, 2009

civilzues said:
horrible idea! It needs a 5 person crossover. Not everyone needs an 7/8 person crossover

This is what the SRX should have been. Buick should handle the FWD-based crossovers, leaving Cadillac with the Escalade variants to go up against the X5's, GL-Classes, and Range Rovers.

CUtiger08 · Aug 19, 2009

The fact that GM cancelled an outright rebadge is definately good.

The fact that Buick may not be getting a smaller crossover... not so good.

A properly Buick-ized variant of the Antara/Vue platform, ideally aligning with an update to the Opel variant, would be an excellent product. However, depending on what comes of the rumored Buick Gamma-CUV and/or some sort of Buick Zafira/GL8-based MPV, this may still work out fine... I'm going with the "wait and see" option.

As for what this says about GM's management... I'm really not sure. I think listening to the critics is a good thing... but there's got to be a better way to gauge reactions than fully announcing a model and then turning right around and cancelling it almost immediately. Do this too often and GM will never get anything accomplished... but ignoring the public/critics/customers is obviously a bad idea too.

GMFAN85 · Aug 19, 2009

mgescuro said:
To GM:

You're a buncha twits!
Please put the 2Mode hybrid powertrain into the SRX.
It's a no-brainer.

Thanks

They canceled it before actually building, didn't they? Or are you now upset now that they canceled it because you really liked it?

mgescuro · Aug 19, 2009

GMFAN85 said:
They canceled it before actually building, didn't they? Or are you now upset now that they canceled it because you really liked it?

I'm upset that GM decided that a Buick VUE was a smart idea.
I'm excited that GM junked the idea of a Buick VUE.
I'm upset that GM still hasn't decided to put that powertrain in the SRX because it's an obvious choice.

If SRX really is Cadillac's answer to the RX (

) then please offer a hybrid powertrain that is so advanced, that it will make the RX pale in comparison.

Cadillac needs a Hybrid beyond the Escalade.

zmanjr · Aug 19, 2009

the article says it was little more then a vue with a buick grill. However since this newer vue has not been on the market it might not truely be a saturn vue per say but i would like to see buick with products from China like the Regal and Park Ave. Also perhaps a bolder look and given now that its only chevy buick gmc caddy i would say that cars for chevy should have turbo v6s for chevy and supercharged v6 for buick with v8 non turbo and then caddy gets the v8 only with turbos. Basically this might do that class thing they tried in the 50's you start with chevy and work up to caddy being the ultimate driving machine by gm

megeebee · Aug 19, 2009

.

I wonder if Penske got upset at that GM was going to be selling one "his" cars and threatened to back out if they went through with it?

.

BORG · Aug 19, 2009

Why would they rebadge the VUE when they could start with the much better Equinox?

GM2011 · Aug 19, 2009

Good thing because the buick crossover would have been ugly. Put the PHEV drivetrain in either the equinox or the terrain where more people would buy them.

PistonsFan · Aug 19, 2009

mgescuro said:
I'm upset that GM decided that a Buick VUE was a smart idea.

In their defense, it was aftermath of the 363 and death of Saturn. The Vue Plug-in was deep in development but Saturn bit the dust. Somebody got the idea to slap a buick badge on it and try to get "some" return on the investment. One of the downsides of being overly generous with revealing product plans is that you risk showing something before it is really green-lighted by the higher ranks.

Like I said, when the images of the PHEV Vue first surfaced... "someone made a mistake".

I'm excited that GM junked the idea of a Buick VUE.

Me too. I was in complete disbelief because I knew that GM had done some design work on a mini-Enclave and couldn't understand why they would possibly consider completely re-badging a Vue.

I'm upset that GM still hasn't decided to put that powertrain in the SRX because it's an obvious choice.

If SRX really is Cadillac's answer to the RX ( ) then please offer a hybrid powertrain that is so advanced, that it will make the RX pale in comparison.

Cadillac needs a Hybrid beyond the Escalade.

I agree... but I think the Equinox makes more sense right now. Almost the same platform (stiffened Theta), and it has a lot of potential right now as a "green" crossover (32 mpg).

I prefer a PHEV SRX, but I have a feeling we will see it in an Equinox first.

chevyman1973 · Aug 19, 2009

i see this as being a good thing, they need to give the public what they want and need

RedVee8 · Aug 20, 2009

mgescuro said:
To GM:

You're a buncha twits!
Please put the 2Mode hybrid powertrain into the SRX.
It's a no-brainer.

Thanks

Agree, flipflop like a fish on a pier. Someone should get them to quieten down 'a little' on coming attractions.
When you say SRX I take it you mean the Caddy SRX not a Buick SRX? They'll probably announced a rebadge of the Saab 9 4 as the new Rendevous next.

nsap said:
WOW, was just told the Crossover was directly canceled due to reaction from customers (namely online!)!!! New GM is listening folks. GM will be holding Buick to a "higher standard" from now on.

Well good as far as it goes, but someone has to make the right decision internally. You can't rule by the court of popular opinion forever.

To me, this is the best bit of this whole episode "GM will be holding Buick to a "higher standard" from now on." Make Buick be worthy of the esteem they are held by the Chinese market. Then maybe they can compete in the quality arena.

zmanjr · Aug 20, 2009

maybe they did it so that the development costs of the vue would not be totally wasted since after next year all saturn products wont be gm. thus gm would have wasted the money spent on the vue so why not move it to another division. Besides I think that any crossover and suvs and minivan types should go to chevy and gmc. Too bad chrysler did not merge with GM they could of used the Chrysler Minivans for chevy and Buick. You know that since they share the same owners of Chrysler and GM (usa government) then perhaps they could pull a Sears Holding and merge them together. This would be similar to how Mr Lambert owed Sears and Kmart and merged them together. I would keep only Jeep and get rid of dodge and chrysler perhaps this might happen now that gm is smaller in size and might be the real reason as to why gm has shrunk. only time will tell.

throwback · Aug 20, 2009

mgescuro said:
I'm upset that GM decided that a Buick VUE was a smart idea.
I'm excited that GM junked the idea of a Buick VUE.
I'm upset that GM still hasn't decided to put that powertrain in the SRX because it's an obvious choice.

If SRX really is Cadillac's answer to the RX ( ) then please offer a hybrid powertrain that is so advanced, that it will make the RX pale in comparison.

Cadillac needs a Hybrid beyond the Escalade.

The "new" GM may make fast decisions but thy still make dumb ones. My question is who thought a Buick Vue was a good idea, and are they still employed?

Voice-O-Reason · Aug 20, 2009

OMG, I can't believe that I agree 100% with every post that mgescuro made on this thread.

Lichtronamo · Aug 20, 2009

caddycruiser said:
But see, according to everyone who actually looked at the real complete vehicle when shown off last week, it was exactly that--a Vue with a Buick grille, emblems, and wheels. Otherwise, no different. Literally. And that was, apparently, the real plan for it as well, aside from some extra Buick sound deadening, just a grille and emblems--also said, because, otherwise, Buick and Opel will be sharing product now, it fit in that category, mostly.

So it was exactly what everyone said it was. A Vue with the fake fender grilles removed, a waterfall grille insert, badges, and ta-da.

There was also suppose to be a Gamma based CUV for Buick - a true mini Enclave that was well received.

"Far more important as GM labors to recover and become profitable again (as soon as the still-sagging economy permits) is everything else we saw and heard that day. They taped over our camera-phone lenses, then showed us: studios full of new and future fuel-efficient Buick (yes, Buick) and GMC cars and CUVs, including 2011 mid-size Regal and 2012 compact (Chevy Cruze-size) Buick sedans and a distinctive compact crossover for each;"

http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/17/at-witz-end-a-sneak-peak-at-the-new-gm-s-critically-importa/

steve333 · Aug 20, 2009

Go here:

http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2009/08/reports_from_the_front.html#comments

Make sure GM knows how we feel about the Cobalt name changing to Cruze.
GM claims it is listening to their customers-lets find out if its really true.

Quixote88 · Aug 20, 2009

megeebee said:
On the whole, this is true. The OLD model sold in numbers approaching 90K in '06 and '07. When the current model came out, sales fell to about 50K in 2008.

I do not like the current Vue as a design and don't think Buick will be much hurt by it not being re-grilled and added to the catalog. As has been stated, the Terrain will be in the same showroom.

BUT, this did not hurt the Acadia or Enclave. These two vehicles have been successes for GM and they are shown side-by-side. So the idea of a Buick 5 passenger crossover isn't necessarily a bad one. I believe it's the overall design of the current Vue that has hampered it. It's chunky, fat-looking, and over wrought with gobs of moldings and fiddly-bits all over it.

.

Your numbers for the 2008 Vue are way off... While it was not on pace to have its best year, it was selling BETTER than the 2007 model thru September 2008(68k sales)... This is significant because it was September when the Market crashed and auto sales halted for everyone:

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f78/gm-september-2008-sales-69784/

The '08 Vue launched in June '07... Saturn was giving away the remaining '07 models with huge discounts and we still had trouble getting them out the door.(I worked for a high traffic Saturn store 2006-2008; The Vue was our best selling vehicle since it was introduced.) The demand for the '08 model was very high. While it is true that not every first gen VUE owner liked the redesign, we were getting high traffic from import owners who loved the '08 Vue, and it sold very, very well.

The Vue was also the best selling Theta. Through September '08, the Equinox/Torrent combined sales were just a little more than the Vue. It's a very strong name in the small crossover market. All of Saturn took a massive, almost knock out, hit when Rick Wagoner went before Congress and told them that Saturn was probably going to be discontinued... For all intents and purposes, that killed any hopes of Saturn selling any vehicles this year. Sadly, they are now D.O.A.

Though when rumors were running wild that Saturn would be closed and not sold, I did state a number of times that I would move the Vue to Buick... Not as it was, but improved with "Buick" features. But after Penske stepped up to buy Saturn, I immediately stated that though Buick should have a smaller crossover, it should not be a rebadged Vue, as it will still be sold at Saturn stores. The small crossover market is growing, and Buick's Enclave is already a hit... It's a no brainer that Buick should offer a smaller version... And I still think they will... Regardless if the Terrain is sold in the same showroom. Both the Enclave and the Acadia sell well. Why? Because they cater to a different customer. Buick will come to market with a 5 passenger crossover... It's just too big a segment to ignore... Especially when GM features the best mainstream small crossover platforms: Theta, Theta/Epsilon.

Bravada · Aug 20, 2009

Anybody still has ANY illusions left the new GM is anything but the very same old GM, just weaker?

GM cancels Buick crossover before birth, will add PHEV drivetrain to another vehicle

Ambalanche

cad1cts

spidge

CUtiger08

GMFAN85

mgescuro

zmanjr

megeebee

BORG

GM2011

PistonsFan

chevyman1973

RedVee8

zmanjr

throwback

Voice-O-Reason

Lichtronamo

steve333

Quixote88

Bravada

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