BREAKING: GM cancels Buick crossover before birth, will add PHEV drivetrain to another vehicle
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Aug 19th 2009 at 12:40PM 
Surprising news comes by way of General Motors today as the automaker has already canceled its recently announced Buick crossover, which in reality was little more than an ex-Saturn Vue emblazoned with Buick's trademark chrome waterfall grille. And therein lies the rub. As confirmed to Autoblog by Michelle Bunker, Manager of Buick Communications, initial feedback from the media, employees and dealerships regarding the upcoming vehicle was almost universally negative, as the product just didn't seem to fit with the direction the automaker said it was taking the Buick brand. As a result, GM has apparently canceled the program.
Thankfully, though, the Vue's plug-in hybrid powertrain, which we sampled in 2-mode hybrid prototype, will reportedly be transferred to another vehicle and will hit the market with no delay from the previously announced 2011 sale date. While some might say (and with good reason) that GM should have known the Vue didn't belong in Buick showrooms in the first place, the automaker cites this quick action as evidence that things really are changing at New GM, and it's hard to argue with that assessment – there's little doubt it would have taken countless meetings leading to numerous delays to make such a decision just a few months back.
In any case, GM promises to discuss the replacement for the PHEV in the very near future. Watch this space for more.
[Source: General Motors]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Jacob 12:45PM (8/19/2009)
Well that didn't take long. (Kinda ofa downer.)
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Not THAT Matt 2:35PM (8/19/2009)
This is good news - GM is avoiding badge-reengineering the Vue/Equinox/SRX (perfectly nice vehicles), and thus getting away from moves the "old" GM did way too often.
With the Equinox and SRX, we don't need a Buick version anyway... now if only we could do something about the Traverse/Acadia/Outlook/Enclave pair - the Outlook is (kind've) going away, but come on with the Acadia already!
Tool 6:05PM (8/19/2009)
Smart move. So far, New GM seems to be going back to the Old GM Playbook with all these variants of the same basic vehicle.
Sure they look different but they are all the same bones. That's the problem when you still have too many divisions to feed.
Shiftright 12:46PM (8/19/2009)
Nothing wrong with one less Buick....
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KeatMP 1:11PM (8/19/2009)
Especially one that's a rebadged Saturn.
Woody 2:40PM (8/19/2009)
I drove Buick for over 40 years and found them to be very reliable and reasonably economical. I felt that I had fewer repairs than people I knew with other cars!
A little face-lift wouldn't harm them.
naggs 2:52PM (8/19/2009)
chevy could use a small suv with hybrid powertrain option
Farmboy 6:10PM (8/19/2009)
Still, after all the GM hype, Buick is currently having temp hq in Ouchtown. This really cuts into the excitement GM was putting into the Buick crossover.
Not THAT Matt 6:31PM (8/19/2009)
The current-gen Saturn Vue is actually a decent car, although the new Equinox is obviously a nicer take on it. (and the Buick and Cadillac versions a nicer take on those)
I love the new LaCrosse, actually saw one up by Green Bay on Monday. Can't wait to see what they do with the Lucerne - I think it's a nice car, but admittedly in it's segment it's not the best purchasing decision at the moment. Thankfully, a low mileage used Lucerne can be had around here for $12-13. :)
RicoChet 12:47PM (8/19/2009)
"employees and dealerships regarding the upcoming vehicle was almost universally negative"
I don't think it was employees and dealerships that thought this, but most likely 99.9% of the public as well. Who's dumbass idea was it to put a re-badged Vue as the next buick SUV anyway? At least they are paying attention to what people want and don't want, at least a little bit!
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:01PM (8/19/2009)
99.9% of the public never even found out about this decision.
tanooki2003 1:09PM (8/19/2009)
I am thinking that GM is still a bit stubborn and hesitant to change their ways. hopefully they will finally see the error of their ways and try to turn themselves around like what Ford is doing.
Judy Zik 1:47PM (8/19/2009)
What this decision says is that they didn't do any market testing or research before making the original announcement. Thankfully they are finally making the right decision but if they actually had their heads out of their rear ends they would have got it right the first time. The Vue's PHEV powertrain will now get shoehorned into the Equinox where it belongs. Since they ride on the same platform this shouldn't be a big deal.
The last thing GM needs is a reason to introduce another rebadge. This is a company that claims they are reducing brands and nameplates but their recent announcements say different.
jpm100 2:30PM (8/19/2009)
Its not a matter of market testing or research.
Its simply a matter of scrambling to keep a key powertrain entry alive as the fallout of the scramble to axe brands as part of demonstrating a plan for viability to the car board. Especially when that powertrain plays well with said board.
momabird417 7:02PM (8/19/2009)
Why would we believe any thing that GM say or does it didn't keep its promises to its retirees. they took thing away from them including eye care and dental care. Theeir retirees on the west coast lost more than that if they went to work for NUMMI which was a GM joint venture. Now Toyota is talking about closing what will happen to employees who worked for both companys.
Danimal 12:49PM (8/19/2009)
Couldn't agree more GM.
This hybrid application makes much more sense in a Chevy than Buick, hell even Cadillac makes more sense. I say put it in the Traverse or SRX. Lexus has their RX400h's and Caddy can take more customers by offering a more economical version of the SRX.
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the4thheat 11:00PM (8/19/2009)
I actually think Buick made more sense than Cadillac since luxury crossovers are usually entry level bread and butter luxury models. So something like the enclave is great as a Buick.
But a smaller crossover like this really should stay in the Chevy family. It seriously has no business being rebadged as either a Buick or a Cadillac (see terrible SRX reviews and terrible sales of the previous SRX). It's too bad the Cadillac dealers didn't have enough sense to say no to an Equinox rebadge.
Mike7 12:50PM (8/19/2009)
Make up mind, GM. Middle schoolers could probably run GM better. At least this is a good decision, but sometime next week GM will announce it's back on.
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Greg Aryous 2:12PM (8/19/2009)
Agreed! GM is just throwing sh*t at the wall hoping to replace Saturn and Pontiac marketshare without any sight of a thoroughly thoughout strategic plan. Unlike Ford and Alan Mullay's short/medium/long term plan for global growth and sustained profitability... now thats an idea!
Expect more of the on/off half-hearted decisions coming out of Gov't Motors...
Mike7 3:17PM (8/19/2009)
That was a terrible comment. My grammar was awful for one. After the whole G8-Caprice-No Caprice-Australia gets the G8 debacle, I'm a bit frustrated with GM.