Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, China, Buick
Buick lineup to get Chinese-infusion
Judging by the positive reception the Chinese-marketed Buicks have been receiving here in the States, GM would be ill-advised to continue offering the same warmed-over products that it's been selling over the past decade. According to Automotive News, the General sees the writing on the wall and intends to go global with the new look of Buick, originally shown at the Shanghai Motor Show in the shape of the Riviera concept.
The idea is to make Buick an affordable luxury brand here in the States, and it has plans on offering a number of new vehicles to the U.S. market that will take on the high-end competitors from Japan.
To begin with, the Excelle, a small sedan, is set to be released sometime in 2008, based off the Alpha platform currently under development in Germany, while the next iteration of the LaCrosse will come in 2009 and will be based off of GM's Epsilon 2 underpinnings. The Lucerne will get a full makeover in 2011 and will be built around the RWD Zeta platform, and the Rainier, Rendezvous and Terraza will die off after the current production run, and replaced with the new Enclave.
Buick's move to become more things to more people is the only way the marque will survive, and judging by what's in the pipeline, the automaker actually has a chance at success.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John P. 10:03AM (7/30/2007)
That's a great looking concept, and along with that new crossover, I'd say they'd have more than a chance at success.
But don't water it down to the point where it becomes just a pretty face please.
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J.Crew 10:27AM (7/30/2007)
Sounds like a good plan. Please do it.
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TriShield 10:51AM (7/30/2007)
GM would be ill-advised to sell the Excelle here. It's a little Daewoo that makes much more sense in Asia than it does in the US. Buick and GM do not need it here and it would make Buick's image cheap and downmarket. They also need to can the LaCrosse and Lucerne names. They are as much a joke as the milquetoast cars that wear them.
GM needs to sell the Holden-sourced Park Avenue here. They need to bring to produce the Riviera concept and sell it here. They need to resurrect the LeSabre name and create a car as stylish as the new Enclave to wear it.
That would go a very long way to reviving Buick as a legitimate brand. Buick has a rich history of names and style for GM to draw from, it's about time they used it.
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Mattias 11:36AM (7/30/2007)
We have the Daewoo Nubira badged as Chevrolet Nubira here in Germany. Engines are either last gen Opel gasoline engines or VM diesels. The car is about the same size as a Volkswagen Golf (the wagon is a bit smaller than the Jetta Sportwagen). The quality of the interior is OK, but the new Kias and Hyundais offer a bit better quality. However: The price of the Daewoo Nubira is really low, so if you do not care about perfect finish you'll get a good ride for a reasonable price.
Selling the Nubira is the US might make sense, but under which brand? Here Chevrolet is GMs "entry level brand", so the Nubira is not considered as competitor to the Opel/Vauxhall Astra. In the US a Chevrolet badget Nubira sedan would compete with the Chevrolet Cobalt (same wheelbase). Selling it as Saturn would also make no sense because the Opel Astra is already on the way to the US.
tikirob 12:05PM (7/30/2007)
Mattias
Check out Suzuki America...They have the Forenza and the Reno made by Daewoo for Suzuki.
Rob
http://www.autoshortlist.com
Mattias 12:25PM (7/30/2007)
Funny, so you do not need the Buick Nubira anymore.
What happens after GM pulls it's money out of GM (they already started to do so)?
Dave 11:00AM (7/30/2007)
I still think the Enclave is ugly. Apparently I'm in the minority.
And I don't think Buick should be selling a car whose name is nearly identical to an 80s Hyundai.
Trishield: It sounds like they are talking about a new Excelle - the alpha platform is RWD and I don't think it is in production yet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Alpha_platform
I do agree that the Park Avenue looks like a sweet ride. But I also believe that a large FWD such as the Lucerne is an important part of GM's lineup. GM may be better off leaving RWD performance to Cadillac and Pontiac.
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Bob-omb 12:39PM (7/30/2007)
I doubt they'll call it the Excelle if it gets released here.
Imp 12:47PM (7/30/2007)
Get this on the market by mid-year '08 and I'll buy one. Later than that and I'll have purchased something else.
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Imp 1:20PM (7/30/2007)
Let me add that if the design deviates from what I see above in any way (which is a given), I'm out.
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Chris 1:26PM (7/30/2007)
The part about the Alpha platform is not correct at all. It won't be here nearly that soon.
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s.s 1:28PM (7/30/2007)
Well, the Enclave is the first step in the right direction. It's the best Buick, since... well since I've been in this world (27yrs). The Lucerne isn't a bad product, but the La Crosse and the other 3 need to go. Buick should have 4 very solid models, and that's it. Keep it somewhat of a niche brand.
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AMGoff 12:11AM (7/31/2007)
Out of all GM brands I have always loved Buick the most. It's been down a rocky path for a number of years now but it seems there are some really good days ahead for America's oldest surviving brand. Nevertheless, if ol' Lutzy boy were to hire me as Buick brand manager this is what it would look like.
Here we go… AMGoff's foolproof plan to resurrect the storied Buick brand…
Bring the Chinese Park Avenue over and call it… wait for it… the Buick Roadmaster - big, powerful, rear drive sedan.
Keep the Lucerne because despite what some think it is a nice car. Rename is the Buick Park Avenue - big, comfy, front drive sedan.
Kill the American LaCrosse and bring the Chinese LaCrosse, rename it the Buick Regal - larger midsize competitively priced sporty sedan.
Bring this Excelle over and name it the Buick Century, hell maybe even the Skylark or the Electra - affordable, well equipped, entry level sedan.
Build the Velite with cues from the Riv concept and name it, well.. the Buick Riviera, duh! Two door, personal luxury coupe/hardtop convertible.
Finally keep that beautiful Enclave just the way it is. And there you go, Buick has a complete, competitive lineup. Where are you Lutz? I've got my W-4 filled out and waiting.
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jsmilesrmhs 1:00PM (8/02/2007)
Isn't that going against what Autoblog said in the past. That the only RWD car in bucks line up would be the convertible.
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