...

[Drew Dowdell]

That first chinese buick looks like an Epsilon.... is it?

[Guest YellowJacket894]

That first chinese buick looks like an Epsilon.... is it?

165569[/snapback]

Uh...you mean this?

That's a rebadged Suzuki Forenza/Daewoo Lacetti.

[Bimmer325]

I'd imagine the design directions of Buick NA and Buick China will begin to mesh in the near future, especially if GM has plans to globalize the brand. It's a shame that Buick China has a compact car with more Velite-influence than anything here.

[evok]

Nuff said:

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...?showtopic=2260

Now that we have gone full circle!

Edited July 12, 2006 by evok

[Drew Dowdell]

Uh...you mean this?

That's a rebadged Suzuki Forenza/Daewoo Lacetti.

165577[/snapback]

ahh, thanks.

[ZL-1]

Nuff said:

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...?showtopic=2260

Now that we have gone full circle!

165672[/snapback]

Velite grille with the 2 tiny round headlamps?

[Paolino]

You know what I'd like to see? Buick shorten the nose a tiny bit of the LaCrosse, lift the hood up, and put in a larger "Velite-inspired" grille on it... bigger than the one of the LaCrosse Super image we saw a while back. Not quite as big as the Lucerne's, but something in the middle.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

There was a white Mazda 6 parked beside a white Lacrosse at my place of employment today and it's ASTOUNDING how similar they are in design...

I'm not saying this to be an ass or to pan the Mazda 6 (As I think it is as attractive as the Lacrosse-- and yes, the Lacrosse IS an attractive car, even if it's not cutting edge.)

I say this to prove the point that ALL cars have become too 'cookie cutter' (READ: Asian influenced) in execution...

It's time for Detroit to bring on a DESIGN REVOLUTION and that has already started with Chrysler and Ford. Cars are in creasingly becoming more like a FASHION. They HAVE to have a distinct direction and attitude. That's why the 300, charger, Mustang & Fusion do so well.

[Paolino]

They HAVE to have a distinct direction and attitude. That's why the 300, charger, Mustang & Fusion do so well.

165786[/snapback]

I thought the 300's sales were dropping significantly since it came out?

Anyhoo, I do believe there needs to be distinct design... the Enclave is just gorgeous... Buick will head in that direction and I think they'll be winners, providing they can keep competitive packages, pricing, and powertrains.

[jbartley]

I thought the 300's sales were dropping significantly since it came out?

Anyhoo, I do believe there needs to be distinct design... the Enclave is just gorgeous... Buick will head in that direction and I think they'll be winners, providing they can keep competitive packages, pricing, and powertrains.

165788[/snapback]

haha. And the charger sales are far from stellar.

The problem with the 300 is the design can be a little IN YO FACE IN YO FACE. And the interior is crap!

[Mike The Canadian]

I like the Enclave, but I think that it'll be successfull, and GM will use that design for every buick, and over-use past it's time and we'll be talking about buick needing to be revitalized again..

hope i'm wrong (about the over-use part )

[Regalguy01]

I'd imagine the design directions of Buick NA and Buick China will begin to mesh in the near future, especially if GM has plans to globalize the brand.  It's a shame that Buick China has a compact car with more Velite-influence than anything here.

165601[/snapback]

Amen to that. What the heck is GM thinking? How the hell do they explain such a bling-ed out buick in conservative china, yet we get this toned-down, rebaged, late 90's regal as our 'premium' midsized entry in capitalistic, image-concious America? Are they(GM) serious about regaining american marketshare for the brand or not?!?!?!?!

[Bimmer325]

I'd blame the W-body architecture for the Lacrosse's mid-90s styling.

It's almost impossible for a brand to innovate when forced to work with such an outdated platform. The W-bodies are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to design.

[Robert Hall]

I'd blame the W-body architecture for the Lacrosse's mid-90s styling. 

It's almost impossible for a brand to innovate when forced to work with such an outdated platform.  The W-bodies are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to design.

167187[/snapback]

IMHO, the one aspect that has been a design flaw in the W's forever (and a problem with so many '80s-'90s FWDers) is the huge front overhang and oh-so-short front wheel-to-front door distance..it makes them look oddly proportioned in profile and in a front 3/4 view..

[carstar]

I thought the 300's sales were dropping significantly since it came out?

Anyhoo, I do believe there needs to be distinct design... the Enclave is just gorgeous... Buick will head in that direction and I think they'll be winners, providing they can keep competitive packages, pricing, and powertrains.

165788[/snapback]

buick just needs to think ahead with their designs, that's all.

screw the concepts because they look great and it ends up being average when it comes to production.

[Paolino]

buick just needs to think ahead with their designs, that's all.

screw the concepts because they look great and it ends up being average when it comes to production.

168943[/snapback]

Well, it looks like the Enclave might disprove that theory. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and my hopes up.

[Chicagoland]

"I thought the 300's sales were dropping significantly since it came out?"

Only since gas went back above 3$ the past 3 months, and not 'signifiicatly", still close to 10K units per month.

The Charger & Magnum, though, are not doing as well as predicted.

RWD Zetas will help, but not dominate GM's future.