New Buick

[wayne robson]

That new Buick Avista at Detroit auto show has to be the best looking car for years.

[berettafan]

On a related note it looks like the Lincoln continental is ready. Personally not at all impressed with the production version.


The avista is crazy aggressive for an old mans brand! Of course they've been targeting the youngsters for a while. Gm designers have been on a roll with the very notable exception of the new Tahoe suburban exterior (cough cough hearse).

[WPOZZZ]

It's a cool looking car. Tesla front, Aston rear haunches, Panamera ass.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Remember that it's a concept, let's see how a production version looks. Assuming it happens. The better question is exactly wtf is a Buick supposed to be? Some of their models are marketed towards sport, some towards luxury. I'm trying to figure out how they aren't just another Cadillac, but with mediocre product.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Remember that it's a concept, let's see how a production version looks. Assuming it happens. The better question is exactly wtf is a Buick supposed to be? Some of their models are marketed towards sport, some towards luxury. I'm trying to figure out how they aren't just another Cadillac, but with mediocre product.

I think GM should have eliminated Buick and GMC when they shutdown Saturn and Pontiac. While the redundancy is better it's still too much.

[KNS]

Good looking car that they desperately need - they won't build it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

I think GM should have eliminated Buick and GMC when they shutdown Saturn and Pontiac. While the redundancy is better it's still too much.

Agreed. They seem to have positioned Cadillac as a BMW/Audi competitor, and Caddy is making some pretty competitive cars in that segment. They are desperately trying to make Buick hip, but the products aren't cohesive. Why do you want a Buick? What is the brand identity? I think they should stick with Caddy as the European sport competitor and re-position Buick as their comfy premium all-American cruiser. It's already what Buicks are known for and is a niche that really isn't filled, particularly in their lineup.

GMC, on the other hand, is just a high margin Chevy. Totally pointless but people seem to buy them, why not ride that horse?

[VincentVega]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

s just a high margin Chevy. Totally pointless but people seem to buy them, why not ride that horse?

Isnt that what got them in trouble to begin with? like you said, its better now with fewer copies but I think you nailed their 'thinking'. They already have the ATS/Camaro platform so why not try something new with it. I agree Buick seems all over the place but I'm not sure we need comfy cruisers either. I know have no interest, are there enough people looking for a nicer chevy?

It sounds like it could work but that means there are enough people interested in GM to have high/med/low with caddy/buick/chevy. Lots of competition out there, I only look to GM for trucks and have no interest in their cars.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

I think GM should have eliminated Buick and GMC when they shutdown Saturn and Pontiac. While the redundancy is better it's still too much.

Because the market for Buick in China is huge!!

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

GMC, on the other hand, is just a high margin Chevy. Totally pointless but people seem to buy them, why not ride that horse?

They should have made GMC commercial vehicles only, or if GMC is going to be the truck line then get rid of Chevy trucks (cars only) and let GMC build the trucks. I think this is the last bastion of 1980's badge engineering left at GM...totally pointless. I have a Silverado High Country...basically a Chevy rebadged GMC Denali. Nice truck nonetheless but you'd be hard pressed to tell anything but minimal differences between the two. Front fenders, grille, headlights and gauges are about the only differences.

Originally Posted by jcommin

Because the market for Buick in China is huge!!

They'd buy Cadillacs to probably just the same. Or just rebadge Cadillacs as Buicks in China.

Honestly the Buicks they build for China are probably nothing like what we get in the USA underneath anyhow.

[5String43]

If I remember correctly, the deal with Buick is that the brand is huge in China, where it has been distributed for awhile. That's why GM kept that brand while putting others to sleep. They've gone so far, according to what I've read, as to hire Chinese designers to try to tap into the Sino design ethic.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I think Buick is positioned as a premium luxury brand in China. I hate badge engineering, the cars all seem like fakes. Funny how giving Cadillac their own unique platforms and designs has resulted in success.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

nice car- but they will screw it up somehow. I remember looking at the interior shots where the backs of the front seats were flush against the fronts of the rear seats and thinking... "gee they can't have that happen- they will make 4 door like a dodge charger."- killing the aston like beauty in the process.

Fun to dream though!

[KNS]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I think Buick is positioned as a premium luxury brand in China. I hate badge engineering, the cars all seem like fakes. Funny how giving Cadillac their own unique platforms and designs has resulted in success.

Yet Cadillac still sells fewer cars than Audi!

[enzo1]

[enzo1]

[Nostril Cheese]

Why do they even bother doing concept cars anymore?

[McLovin]

Concept:


Production model:

[Nostril Cheese]

yep.. ^^

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

I think GM should have eliminated Buick and GMC when they shutdown Saturn and Pontiac. While the redundancy is better it's still too much.

Buick is HUGE in China.