wildcat

Just saw the November issue of Motor Trend at the bookstore, and, in a column of bits and pieces titled "MT Confidential," it was stated (in pretty much these words) that once and for all, according to their spies, the Buick rear-drive program is dead and there is nothing on the horizon. What does this mean for the future of Buick then? Does future product planning hinge on the sales of the Lucerne? Is the Buick Lambda crossover the last to debut so that, given the worst circumstances, it could be canceled?

Oldsmoboi: I got why you said what you did. Did you understand why I said what I did? (You gave no specific reaction to my statements, just explained your reasoning.) Perhaps anyone who likes Pontiac (like, uh, blackviper8891) and / or Buick should consider themselves comrades, for, if the two makes are truly considered one division, we need them both and as the fortunes for one rise or fall, it affects the other! Cheer for and support both of them!

Oldsmoboi: You can't compare Buick right now to Oldsmobile, because, at that time, Olds was expected to be a "full-line" make. Buick has now been merged into the B-P-G channel and can't possibly have the same sales goals as it did previously. As I've said before, Buick's sales should be down 75%; it's a compliment :) to Buick salespeople that they're holding on much better. GM -- once again -- has put Buick in a tough spot: someone else here stated that the LeSabre is sold out (isn't that what should be stressed?) and Lucerne is not yet available, so what can be expected of Buick sales numbers for the rest of the year? Let GM give Buick a hot vehicle(s) like it deserves instead of the warmed-over or mediocre rebadged products it's been given up to now. C'mon, GM, where'd the $3 billion investment in Buick go? <_< Does it start with an "s"? (Saturn, Saab?) I hope that the '08 Buick Lambda Rendezvous is up to the challenge!

buickguy: Thanks for bringing this up again. Mike The Canadian: Has your "reliable source" said anything more? Could you please ask him / her?

Here is the story from the Detroit Free Press

buickguy: Thanks for alerting us to Buick's revamped website. It's so much better, freshened and without the dead-weight Century and LeSabre. If you click on the option to see all models, the LaCrosse and Lucerne look especially nice to me (although LaCrosse looks hunkered down, as if the wheels were pushed out to the sides as much as possible). The Rainier looks good in white, too. I now see what they meant about a "new" grill (to me, it just looks like the Rendezvous grill).

BuickEight: There's some shots of a gray Buick Lucerne, but did you see the photos of a white Lucerne on Buick's revamped website? As you predicted, it looks very nice!

razoredge: Thank you for your logic in giving Buick some product first. evok:Thank you for steering us closer to reality, with what is most likely. As for me, I wish that Buick would revert to some of its most cherished nameplates: sted Lucerne: name the vehicle either Roadmaster or Electra or Invicta sted Velite: Riviera sted Rendezvous: Estate Wagon sted LaCrosse: hmm... Skylark? Century? even LeSabre? and find something to use Wildcat on, too - whether a trim line or high-performance version of one of the above Other than Riviera, which is a classic Buick model, no more French or Swedish names. If Buick is among the makes with the most tradition and heritage, go for broke with big, American, Buick styling, using lots of chrome and curves. This is not nostalgia talking... I want a completely modern (better-than-ever)competitive Buick, with strong Buick traits and visual cues.

I seem to remember that Lutz was the one who came up with "Lucerne," that he has some fondness for Switzerland, etc. In retrospect, I think they could've kept the name "LeSabre."

Buick is or was supposed to be getting $3 billion, but nothing we've seen so far or that has been announced --other than the Lambda crossover -- could amount to comparatively much of that $3 billion, if it's still earmarked for Buick. They must not be getting it, if recently Lutz (when asked about halo cars) said they had neither the capital nor the platform to build a Buick Velite.

Despite the statements on edmunds.com, the name Buick Centieme hasn't been confirmed. It may still be called Buick Rendezvous.

This is merely a guess, but since Chicago is an important market for Buick, perhaps at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show? The media preview will be Feb. 8-9, a first look for charity on Feb. 9, and the public show running Feb. 10-19.

My friend thinks it's a Chevrolet. Josh: If you have product knowledge through 2012, p-l-e-a-s-e share something good about future Buicks!

GM's priorities stink, big-time. They need to help Buick before they help Saab. Why is it that so many articles come out about GM's plans for everybody but Buick? <_< Is it feed every brand before Buick? Buick is not to blame for GM's problems, but GM is to blame for Buick's problems!

Based on the grille, a Saturn something-or-other.

VenSeattle: Of course, it's far in advance enough that anything can change, or happen. But someone with, evidently, inside information told us recently that GMC was getting the sub-Theta, while Buick (with a specific, assigned program code) was getting the Theta (equal to the Eqionox) for '09.

buickguy: Thanks for this information. I hope that GM stresses things like this in their advertising, along with Buick's quality awards.

So that virtually eliminates a Buick based on the Holden Commodore (like the Chinese Buick Royaume), right? or does it just further delay it, until a U.S. plant that could build Zetas is ready?

I just added my vote. <_< I'm not gay, but my boyfriend is. No, seriously, I have no boyfriend and don't really want one. Therefore... personal, explicit photos available upon request. :o

Since Saturn is already getting the Sky, does that mean the Opel Astra Twintop concept is ripe for picking as a Buick? (Or does only Saturn get Opels?)

evok: Are you sure you quoted the right guy? :) I made no reference to you, made no speculation, put no words in your mouth, didn't mention GM's Global Vehicle Development Process, and certainly would never intentionally offend you (or anyone else). I believe the brief remarks I wrote are accurate, so I must stand by them and think you quoted the wrong person.

The article doesn't mention Buick at all, not even in listing what previously had been planned for Zeta. :angry:

I put it under Buick because the article led with that story, and because I'd like to see Buick get some legitimate news and attention, not somebody asking -- yet again -- why can't they make Velite, bring back the GNX, LeSabre or LaCrosse, etc.

I think when the article mentioned the Camaro, it was detailing the previous, canceled plans. " . . . Vehicles in the program were expected to debut as early as 2006 . . . " It's funny how different stories put somewhat different spins on why the Zetas were delayed ("more money for GMT-900s," "can't figure out how to profitably make RWD cars," and now "Zeta stretched the architecture beyond its limits"). I hadn't previously heard the latter reasoning.

U.S. News & World report has an interesting article, by Richard J. Newman, about continuing difficulties at GM, including a recent disagreement over the new Buick Lambda crossover. Here is a direct link.