Buick ponders adding coupe, wagon, convertible, and Zeta based Large car

[prof15]

During a web chat yesterday between GM and its customers, we discovered that the automaker is considering expanding the Buick lineup in a big way.

Buick may add a coupe, convertible and wagon to the lineup, said Roger McCormack, Buick's product marketing director. That coupe pictured above is the Buick Riviera concept of 2008.

McCormack went on to say that a retractable hardtop convertible is also being considered, and possibly a cloth or vinyl soft-top is, too.


This comes after news that Buick would add a small compact sedan (to slate below the new Buick Regal) and a compact SUV (to compete with the Acura RDX):

We also know that the recently launched Regal will get a high-performance GS model, and that was reaffirmed in today's chat. The Regal is based off the Opel Insignia, which is sold in sedan and wagon body styles in Europe, so a Buick wagon isn't that far of a stretch.

More compact and high-performance offerings should go a long way toward increasing Buick's appeal with a younger buying demographic. In recent years, the brand has reduced its average buying age from 72 to 61, but that's still a lot older than the industry average of 54 for a new-car buyer.

--Colin Bird/Cars.com's Kicking Tires

 

[prof15]

I dont really know how successful the Buick brand have been, but I think it should go! I dont see the reason for this brand since GM already have Cadillac as Luxury Brand. I think they dont learn from their mistakes. Their own brands competing with each others..

 

[MakeMeGoFast]

I thought Buick was axed?

 

[Kymerik]

I thought Buick was axed?

nope, the four remaining GM brands are

Chevy
GMC (NEEDS TO DISAPPEAR NOW)
Buick
Cadillac

 

[jred321]

who is buick's target audience? would they be looking to buy a coupe, wagon or convertible? what does the buick brand represent? isn't the lack of identity among brands what got the american manufacturers in trouble in the first place?

i always picture a buick as an old person's car who doesn't want to spend their money on a cadillac. my grandparents own buicks. would they buy a coupe, wagon, or convert? nope

 

[mikeyb]

Well Opel has a Insignia sportwagen in Europe with a Insignia/Calibra coupe on the drawing board. I can see Buick marketing these here in the states.

 

[jred321]

regardless of whether the product is good or not, will people actually buy it? for example, the G8. great car, missed its market. are the people shopping for a coupe, wagon, or convertible going to even consider the Buick brand while shopping, regardless of how good the actual product is? the reputation of Opel in Europe is much different than the reputation of Buick in the US

the way i see it, the people who would buy each of those types of cars (obviously with exceptions, but this is what comes to my mind)
coupe - young person, no family, more likely female
wagon - 30s/40s couple, 2 kids max, stuff to haul around
convertible - 30s/40s, primarily women, looks at car as a fashion or status symbol

none of those fit people who would even consider a buick except for maybe the wagon if it was a good product

 

[1sty]

who is buick's target audience? /QUOTE]


The Chinese
Its the largest growing market in the world and they LOVE Buick.

In this country however it is a brand in dire need of a personality.

I say get the G8 back with a Buick badge as the new GNX, that should be a good start.

 

[jred321]

The Chinese
Its the largest growing market in the world and they LOVE Buick.

according to my coworker who is from china the chinese love everything from the west regardless of what it is. i say sell the crap out of it over there but here buicks are the other old people's GM cars

 

[1sty]

This should explain it, but n short, its more then just a trend. No other company is growing like Buick is in the Chinese market. But if they killed it here it would be much more costly overall becuase of the lawsuits from breaking dealer agreements especially now that they are out o bankruptcy. Also I think it woudl lose credibility in the Chinese market if killed off over here.

http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2010/02/10/business/srv0000007446632.txt


There is a place for Buick, but they just need one strong model to get them rolling.
The luxury bands have been creeping steadily into the $40+ for any model which I think leaves Buick a nice spot in the high 20's to low 40's market where the only other player is Hyundai with the genesis sedan RWD and Maxima FWD.That should be their target. The Taurus is trying but its performance ins't going to keep it competitive. The lower japenes luxury cars are still creeping into the high 30s catagory for smaller/lesser cars.

Bring the lost G8 back and get it luxuried up a bit, drop the power and gas guzzling a little, price it in the mid 30's and it will dominate.

 

[jred321]

The luxury bands have been creeping steadily into the $40+ for any model which I think leaves Buick a nice spot in the high 20's to low 40's market where the only other player is Hyundai with the genesis sedan RWD and Maxima FWD.That should be their target. The Taurus is trying but its performance ins't going to keep it competitive. The lower japenes luxury cars are still creeping into the high 30s catagory for smaller/lesser cars.

what is the difference between buick and chevy? they both should be offering products in that price range (cruze, malibu, impala). what does the Buick brand stand for that the Chevy does not?

they shouldn't kill buick but they should figure out what it means to be a Buick, who they want to sell buicks to, what the market is and then build/market cars for those people. building the cars before figuring that stuff out is putting the cart before the horse

 

[MakeMeGoFast]

Bring the lost G8 back and get it luxuried up a bit, drop the power and gas guzzling a little, price it in the mid 30's and it will dominate.

You mean the Cadillac CTS?

 

[1sty]

what is the difference between buick and chevy? they both should be offering products in that price range (cruze, malibu, impala). what does the Buick brand stand for that the Chevy does not?

Chevy in my opinion is an under $30K brand. The malibu and impala have no buisenss over that price. the cars are not good enough. They are simply no competition to the other cars up their. Which is becoming few anyways as the only things there are cars that start at low 20's and get to just over $30K with all options.

Buick can fill that gap between Cadillac and Chevy.
The brand historically was about young, moderate success. So you didn't have the money or age to drive a Cadillac you could still have some luxury and drive a buick.

The current lacrosse, and coming regal are right there styling and concept wise really. They just need to shave 150 pond or get a 30 hp bump. Perhaps a tightening of the suspension too. Of coarse the regal has no excuse to only come with a 4-cylinder engine.

they shouldn't kill Buick but they should figure out what it means to be a Buick, who they want to sell buicks to, what the market is and then build/market cars for those people. building the cars before figuring that stuff out is putting the cart before the horse

In my opinion, I want Buick to build me a car.
I am the guy that is about 30, has a two income household but will never be able to responsibly afford a well optioned BMW or Mercedes. My generation is burdened by lots of student loans, over priced houses (or should I say over mortgaged) and is already at the age of having kids.
Most people will never be able to buy a $45000 luxury car without going into massive debt and the idea of the luxury makers just building smaller and smaller cars to compensate isn't what we want.

 

[1sty]

You mean the Cadillac CTS?

Close, but starting at over $35K and hitting over $40K really fast is not what I am talking about.
I think Buick need to start around $32K and have damn near every option on them by $39K.
Basically, a rear wheel drive maxima!
or call it an American Genesis.

 

[coolmazda5]

i always picture a buick as an old person's car who doesn't want to spend their money on a cadillac. my grandparents own buicks. would they buy a coupe, wagon, or convert? nope

Remember what people thought of Hyundai 3-5 yrs ago? Apart from their rental fleet presence, Did you ever picture a Hyundai RWD coupe in their line-up? Or did you picture a profitable Ford as a company?

I believe Buick stands a chance if that is the case, not now now, but in a few years time it might be a completely different game (dunno)

 

[genericuser]

I say get the G8 back with a Buick badge as the new GNX, that should be a good start.

I'm not so sure about that. The GNX needs to be a coupe.

They had a decent chance at reviving that nameplate with the Monaro/GTO platform, but sedan != GNX.

 

[Hughes412]

nope, the four remaining GM brands are

Chevy
GMC (NEEDS TO DISAPPEAR NOW)
Buick
Cadillac

I agree, why have it? If GMC is the work horse (Well that's what it started out as) why not save money and combine the two? Save a hell of a lot of cash and cut costs.

 

[mikeyb]

Rumormill: GM mulling Zeta-based Buick flagship?



We can quit wondering where General Motors is heading with Buick. Maybe. If rumors dusting up from GM Inside News are to be believed, company leadership has the Tri-Shield's sights trained solidly on Lexus. We all know that the 2010 Buick LaCrosse was positioned as the answer to the Lexus ES 350, but supposedly, GM is aiming even higher and cooking up a Zeta-based sedan to go head-to-head with the Lexus LS. If you believe the hype, design work has already been given the go-ahead, but production ihas yet to receive an official OK from up top. Details are predictably scarce, but GM Inside News claims that the styling is sharp as can be.

Interestingly enough, the Zeta platform that would provide the basis for the rumored big Buick isn't exactly the same as the one underpinning the mega-Holdens prowling Australia (or the Caprice soon to be cruising your local donut shop, or the Buick Park Avenue that's already sold in China). Instead, GMI says that the luxe Buick will be built upon something called the Premium Zeta Platform, and that the oft-rumored Cadillac flagship will use the same bones. Sounds great, but until we hear something official from The General, we won't start holding our collective breath.

[GM Inside News]