[Andonis]

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/-baby-buick-ar56742.html

Buick may introduce a small car to the United States market in the Corolla size class, an extension of the the Buick Excelle marketed in China (pictured here). That, at least, is the report at AutoWeek.

Baby Buick?
Posted on 04.29.2008 19:25 by Ralph Kalal

Though small in size, the vehicle would be upmarket in price, employing rear wheel drive and the Alpha platform currently being designed in Germany. It would, however, be produced in North America.

The move is said to be a response to the corporate average fuel economy standards adopted this past year by Congress.

Whether this move is wise is debatable, and probably is being debated as this is written within General Motors. Buick sales have dropped dramatically as the line-up lost lower-priced cars, such as the Skylark. However, the traditional attributes of the Buick brand, a certain middle-class luxury, have not been successfully transplanted in the past to smaller Buicks. On the other hand, the loss of lower priced models has savaged Buick sales. But, selling a lower priced Buick risks not only diminishing the stature of the brand, but competing with Chevrolet’s offerings.

 

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

Hmm, interesting. I think this would work if we had the Velite along with the Enclave. The tag team of those to products would have done wonders to alter the perception of Buick.

I dunno. This could do well. If it's small, nicely appointed, and gets great gas mileage, I don't see how it couldn't do well.

I mean lets look at the small car competition. The Corolla ain't exactly ground breaking. The Civic is nicely appointed. The Mazda 3 and Tc are 'prolly the most appealing small cars.

I dunno if this has nice exterior styling, has a nicely appointed interior, and a price in the mid-high teens, it could do well.

Bottom line. I think consumers of better gas mileage don't necessarily care about the brand. It's whatever appeals to them, and fits in their price range are the biggest factors.

 

[megeebee]

If this would indeed be built on what's being called the "Alpha" platform, that is to say a small RWD configuration, it could work. If Cadillac is given a performance oriented coupe( as we have heard recently), then Buick could have a more luxury-skewed 4 door sedan of similar price point and I wouldn't see any conflict.

 

[mgescuro]

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!

It has become apparently clear that GM is unable to resist the temptation to xerox their vehicles.
They hide behind PR spin and double-talk.

There is no need to placate Buick dealers. They have Pontiac and GMC to draw in traffic.

So... Buick, Chevy, Pontiac, and Cadillac Alphas!! Whoopty Figgin Doo

At this point, there will be nothing unique about any car at GM. Just a better design to hid the fact that they're identical cars.

 

[jkennedy293]

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!

It has become apparently clear that GM is unable to resist the temptation to xerox their vehicles.
They hide behind PR spin and double-talk.

There is no need to placate Buick dealers. They have Pontiac and GMC to draw in traffic.

So... Buick, Chevy, Pontiac, and Cadillac Alphas!! Whoopty Figgin Doo

At this point, there will be nothing unique about any car at GM. Just a better design to hid the fact that they're identical cars.

Wow, you're angry. Who says there will be Chevy and Pontiac Alphas? The last I heard the G6 Alpha was still being decided, and I haven't heard anything about a Chevy Alpha.

Since the Alpha platform is still under construction, you should save your anger for some of GM's more concrete plans. Life is too short to let rumors and speculation get your blood boiling that much.

 

[gardnet1]

This is like Ebola, GM is hemoraging red from every pore and hole. The only silver lining is the meager operating profit of $188 million, the fact that most of these special charges will eventually go away (strikes, delphi, GMAC,etc) and the the arrival of second tier wage earners. Of course that will come with its' own special charges for the buyouts.

With several years of downer auto sales, I look for late 2009 & 2010 to be a good period of sales as several vehicles sold during the early 2000-1 will start wearing out and need replacement.

 

[member12]

So Pontiac Buick GMC dealers get 2 Alpha sedans (G6 and a Buick?).

That's stupid. Buick should build a nice coupe or something to pick up where the Acura CL left off and where the Infiniti G35 is whipping ass.


EXPAND BUICK BY IMPROVING THE EXISTING MODELS INSTEAD OF INTRODUCING MEDIOCORE NEW ONES.

 

[Rocket 88]

Absolute madness.

How does GM think consumers know what each division represents when they don't know?

You guys are right:
Stop the clones and get the product mix right instead of just adding models.

 

[cbennie2]

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!

It has become apparently clear that GM is unable to resist the temptation to xerox their vehicles.
They hide behind PR spin and double-talk.

There is no need to placate Buick dealers. They have Pontiac and GMC to draw in traffic.

So... Buick, Chevy, Pontiac, and Cadillac Alphas!! Whoopty Figgin Doo

At this point, there will be nothing unique about any car at GM. Just a better design to hid the fact that they're identical cars.

yeah...either Pontiac or Buick should get the Alpha car and since Pontiac is about RWD sports cars let me see.....

I think Buick should have a smaller car, but not RWD. Something sexy to help people realize the Buick isn't just for old people anymore! I didn't realize Chevy was supposed to get the Alpha platform too, seems a bit of overkill for their lineup...

 

[camaro_freak]

yeah...either Pontiac or Buick should get the Alpha car and since Pontiac is about RWD sports cars let me see.....

I think Buick should have a smaller car, but not RWD. Something sexy to help people realize the Buick isn't just for old people anymore! I didn't realize Chevy was supposed to get the Alpha platform too, seems a bit of overkill for their lineup...

sounds good to me...

Pontiac gets the Alpha rear drive vehicle
Buick could get a front wheel drive version styled like the Velite - would go great with Enclave... better than the long in the tooth Lurcerne and horribly designed LaCrosse (and stupidly named)

 

[camaro_freak]

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!

It has become apparently clear that GM is unable to resist the temptation to xerox their vehicles.
They hide behind PR spin and double-talk.

There is no need to placate Buick dealers. They have Pontiac and GMC to draw in traffic.

So... Buick, Chevy, Pontiac, and Cadillac Alphas!! Whoopty Figgin Doo

At this point, there will be nothing unique about any car at GM. Just a better design to hid the fact that they're identical cars.

Wow, you're angry. Who says there will be Chevy and Pontiac Alphas? The last I heard the G6 Alpha was still being decided, and I haven't heard anything about a Chevy Alpha.

Since the Alpha platform is still under construction, you should save your anger for some of GM's more concrete plans. Life is too short to let rumors and speculation get your blood boiling that much.

he's absolutely right... what happened to removing brand overlap? I laughed when Chevy got the Lambda.... do you honestly think Pontiac will get it exclusive? I have a very good guess they will get whatever Pontiac gets...

 

[paul8488]

Buick is already going smaller with the next Lacrosse... at least I think that Epsilon II is smaller than the W-body Lacrosse, even if it's bound to be better packaged. Going even smaller is a bit of a jump, I think. They should see how well recieved the Lacrosse 2.0 is before they try something like an Excelle-sized vehicle.

 

[RCDonner]

like always, only rumors. I have the feeling that GM became too slow in bringing new cars to market. And I am not only talking about replacements for existing cars, but rather new models. They need a car like the Jaguar XF, small sport sedans with coupe and convertible versions, a real S-Class / 7-Series fighter, an affordable Cadillac convertible. The Buick lineup is a joke compared to 20 years ago. So is Pontiac. They need new cars and not just talking about it.

 

[BigAls87Z28]

Why bother with an Alpha when you an make a larger Delta car? Its already in the works oversees, I dont see why, if need be, Buick couldnt shift production to sell them over here or build them over here.

Chevy wont get an Alpha. If Camaro makes it past Gen 5, then it will get an Alpha, but no Chevy Alpha sedans.

 

[prototype66]

no thank you . not to my taste.

 

[paul8488]

Just got thinking about GM overlap in North America:

There are the GMT 360s... there are still three of them. Lambdas... we've got four. Delta, three (even if they're slightly different versions of delta right now). I don't count the HHR as it's a unique vehicle... thought maybe they'll add a Buick? Epsilon today spawns what, five vehicles? There's Malibu, Aura, G6, 9-3, and 9-5... with Lacrosse on its way. There are currently three Thetas, with at least two premium versions planned, if not three (Caddy and Saab for sure, and maybe Buick?).

Why expect GM to do any less with Alpha, if they build it?

 

[tgagneguam]

Buick sales have dropped dramatically as the line-up lost lower-priced cars, such as the Skylark. However, the traditional attributes of the Buick brand, a certain middle-class luxury, have not been successfully transplanted in the past to smaller Buicks. On the other hand, the loss of lower priced models has savaged Buick sales. But, selling a lower priced Buick risks not only diminishing the stature of the brand, but competing with Chevrolet’s offerings.

I absolutely believe that Buick is capable of restoring its image of middle-class luxury that's quite distinct from luxury as defined by Cadillac or near luxury as defined by Saab, even if all three divisions market cars at precisely the same price point: you will see different demographics of buyers of a "real Lucerne" versus a 9-3 buyer versus a CTS buyer. That GM hasn't been able to figure that out reflects that the pool from which marketers are drawn is quite shallow, that's all.

That General Motors appears still to be vacillating over plans for Buick’s future in the United States is not a good sign. It suggests that GM still hasn’t figured out what it wants Buick to be.

This is not surprising but no less frightening.

But, there may no longer really be room in the line-up for “the doctor’s car."

Yes, there is. Just because overpaid MBA's with their marketing degrees cannot figure out how to make it work doesn't mean it cannot work. The fact that Lexus, against which Buick is allegedly gunning, sells 50% more cars that frequently are more expensive than your average Buick through fewer dealers provides a window into the poor management house that is GM.

Buick isn't irrelevant. Its management is, and they're ruining a storied brand. It's so painful to watch.

 

[RCDonner]

Where is the Problem with having 4 Lambdas or 5 Epsilons or so ? So every brand should have its complete Lineup. With only 3 cars I would say Buick has the smalles Lineup in the Business. When I shop for a Lambda it´s great to have a selection of 4 different styles, inside and out. As long as they don´t look the same it´s okay. Look at VW. They do the same. VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat share platforms also. And they have success. GM even should extend platform sharing to offer a broader range of vehicles.

 

[ral1960]

Buick is already going smaller with the next Lacrosse... at least I think that Epsilon II is smaller than the W-body Lacrosse, even if it's bound to be better packaged.

The Invicta concept is similar in wheelbase, width, and height to Lucerne, it's just ten inches shorter. The production car is bound to have more interior room than a W body. There's plenty of room for a smaller, plush, smooth riding car below it, for middle-aged people like me who are tired of the European bone-rattlin' ride. Now if GM can engineer a lightweight, soft-riding car that isn't too sloppy, or sags when loaded. Back to higher profile tires and 14" wheels?

 

[Rick_VT]

So Pontiac Buick GMC dealers get 2 Alpha sedans (G6 and a Buick?).

That's stupid. Buick should build a nice coupe or something to pick up where the Acura CL left off and where the Infiniti G35 is whipping ass.


EXPAND BUICK BY IMPROVING THE EXISTING MODELS INSTEAD OF INTRODUCING MEDIOCORE NEW ONES.

And just how do you know it will be a mediocre car?? Do you have some insider knowledge about this car that hasnt even been approved yet??

GM seems to be doing a good job of new models lately, CTS, Malibu, Enclave so why wouldnt this car be any good and GM do need more smaller sized cars now because of CAFE, if GM can finally stick to what they say each brands philosophy is goin to be then i dont see why this car wouldnt succeed.

If its supposed to be entry level luxury design it not to over the top and maybe somewhat restrained but with a classy interior and to justify the price make the engines all DI, maybe DI versions of the 2.8 V6 and the 2.4 4 cylinder with a bit more power than in the Chev versions to justify the higher price tag