Buick | GM Authority

Buick Is Back, Says Motor Trend
by Alex Luft
Posted March 8th, 2010 at 10:56 am

This was a long time coming: for the first time in 28 years, Buick commands the cover of Motor Trend (MT) magazine, followed by a headline declaring that Buick is Back! The cover of the April 2010 issue of MT features photos of the LaCrosse, Regal Turbo, and Regal GS Concept and touts the growing momentum behind the Buick brand.

What’s more, the April edition of the publication contains two Buick features. International Rescue is a drive review of the 2011 Regal while Trading Places is a comparison of the 2010 LaCrosse and Lexus ES350 (needless to say, the LaCrosse emerges the winner). The last Buick to grace the cover of Motor Trend was the Century T-Type in August of 1982.

The GM Authority Take

This is a major milestone for Buick and GM: being recognized for the excellent product coming into Buick showrooms must feel amazing! But we should warn Buick and GM to avoid resting on their laurels, as certain members of the GM Authority crew (your truly included) still think that Buick has a ton more work ahead to truly be a successful brand.

In fact, it can be argued that the only reason Buick took the cover for this month’s edition of MT was because of the huge improvement of the brand’s newest products compared to the outgoing models. In a nutshell, it’s not that hard to improve over the last-generation LaCrosse, Regal, Rendezvous, and Lucerne. If you would like to hear our opinion of where Buick should be headed, have a listen to the very first episode of the GM Authority debate podcast right here.

0 Comments Continue Reading
GM Blows Away Competition In Latest J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study
by Manoli Katakis
Posted February 25th, 2010 at 4:37 pm

With the proverbial hammer having dropped on Hummer just yesterday, it’s somewhat refreshing to discover that GM’s brands, both “core” and discontinued, have the very best to offer in customer service according to the most recent J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Index study.

In the “Mass Market Brands” category, GM dealers beamed with customer satisfaction – taking six out of the top seven spots. Ironically – Hummer took first place with a score of 815. The scores were based on a scale of 1,000. Following Hummer is the now-discontinued Saturn with 808 points. Buick came in third with 805 and Chevy took fourth wit 787. The euthanized Pontiac scored 785 (sixth) while GMC got 783 (seventh). All GM brands rated well above the industry average of 758 while PR afflicted Toyota came in eighteenth with 741 points.

In the Luxury Brand category, Cadillac finished second with a score of 827, following Lexus in the rankings. The average score was 813 for the category. Of note – (now Spyker-owned) Saab fell short of that average with a score of 796, followed by Audi, Porsche, Infiniti, and Volvo.

Experts say that most of the improvements may be attributed to lower foot traffic volumes of dealers, but it’s great to see GM brands doing so well in this nation-wide study. We have the full press release, along with J.D. Power images, right after the jump!

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates] (more…)

1 Comments Continue Reading
GM Authority Opinion Desk: Buick – Geritol No Longer Included…
by Hylton Jorssen
Posted February 23rd, 2010 at 1:27 pm

One of the divisions which needed a good start under the New GM is Buick. Thankfully, it is quietly becoming an exciting brand that is giving dealers the opportunity to sell well-built and stylish products. Gone are the re-badged Chevrolets and really bland looking cars that only grandpa could love. Over the past 15 years, Buick sales and market share in North America have been on a freefall (550,000 Buicks sold in 1991 versus less than 50,000 last year). GM had to do something and do it quickly in order to keep the brand going in North America.

Enter today’s Buick. Its models not only have heaps of style but are also world class, a term used to describe models that can be sold in all markets without major changes. Many of the products Buick is now/will be offering in North America (LaCrosse, Regal, and Excelle) are actually designs that were originally built for other markets. Buick’s new slogan is “The new class of world class,” and it will be interesting to see if the brand truly lives up to those words. I interpret this slogan to mean that not only will the brand offer at least one model in every market, but it will also show the “world class” heavyweights such as Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes how to take the concept one step further. (more…)

0 Comments Continue Reading
Rumormill: GM Considering Buick Coupe
by Alex Luft
Posted February 16th, 2010 at 11:23 pm

Remember when we received tips of a Buick Regal coupe late last year? Well, it looks like our sources were right after all – as The General has officially gone on record about considering a Buick coupe.

According to John Cafaro, director of design for Buick and Chevrolet, Buick is undergoing a transformation similar to what Cadillac has gone through. (Actually, we think Cadillac is still going through its Renaissance period). “Cadillac said: ‘What we are doing is not working. Our customers are dying off. We have to carve a new image.’ That is where Buick is right now… A coupe is definitely where you say, ‘I’m back,’ said Cafaro.

Moreover, a coupe would make a strong statement for Buick “and a statement means it is going to be the flagship. All the design cues and everything would drive themselves down into all Buicks.”

To be honest, Buick has been on a roll lately, delivering hits such as the all-new LaCrosse and Enclave as well as announcing gems such as the all-new Regal. And no Buick article can exist without mentioning the (unconfirmed) Verano (compact sedan that will share its architecture with the Chevy Cruze) and a rumored small crossover. A coupe, which may become the flagship of the Buick line, would most likely be based on the Epsilon 2 platform used by the Regal and LaCrosse.

The only question is – should the coupe be a Regal or a LaCrosse?

The GM Authority Take

While a coupe is definitely a step in the right direction, Buick is not where it should be, since brand positioning is still unclear. The best approach, in my humble opinion, would be to position Buick as a pure luxury brand that puts luxury first. Cadillac, on the other hand, would target the performance-luxury market – the crowd that wants some spice mixed in with its luxury. Furthermore, my proposition calls to join the dealer networks of Buick and Cadillac, making the resulting stores the ultimate luxury car shopping experience. When a customer walks in to a Buick-Cadillac dealer, s/he would be offered the biggest choice in luxury transportation – be it pure luxury (Lexus style) or performance-luxury (BMW, Audi style). But I can’t do my strategy justice for GM’s luxury divisions in a single paragraph, that’s why we released an entire podcast about it that you should listen to right here.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

0 Comments Continue Reading
Pause and Play Radio Added to Two New Models
by Wilson Nunnari
Posted January 26th, 2010 at 1:16 pm

Let’s face it: General Motors was a long-time leader in the field of stagnant (read: old) technology. But over the last few years, The General has developed a slew of new technologies that have gained a lot of ground. Take – for example – the second generation CTS, which brought the luxury car buyer TiVo-style radio. This revolutionary in-car radio technology permitted vehicle occupants to pause and play live radio. Whether the user wanted to remember a phone number during a commercial or a song for later downloading, the system has many benefits that can enhance the experience of owning a luxury vehicle.

This sort of convenient feature is just the style of innovation General Motors needs to continue into the future. But before introducing new features, GM is rolling its existing technology into more models.

The General announced that pause and play live radio will be expanded to two new models including the Chevy Cruze and Buick Regal. This is one additional feature that will not add to the bottom line of either car’s sticker price, as it is included as standard equipment across a wide range of models including the Buick LaCrosse and aforementioned CTS.

Pause and play radio is an important, groundbreaking technology and will no doubt be expanded further into other GM models. This means that yet another luxury car feature is making the move into mainstream – benefiting the experience of new-car buyers. Way to go GM!

We have GM’s full presser after the jump!

(more…)

0 Comments Continue Reading
GM to Close Antwerp Opel Plant by Third Quarter 2010
by Conor Cameron
Posted January 25th, 2010 at 7:00 am

General Motors recently announced that it will close its Opel manufacturing plant in Antwerp, Belgium. The New York Times reports that the plant employs 2,606 workers and produced 89,000 Opel Astras in 2009. The Opel Astra, built on GM’s Delta 2 platform, is marketed elsewhere as Vauxhall Astra (UK), the Buick Excelle (China), the Chevrolet Astra/Vectra (Latin America), and – not so long ago – as the Saturn Astra (US). It is built in various places all over the world, including the plant in Belgium.

In a press release, GM, while expressing sympathy to the workers and their families, indicated that the closure was necessary to revamp its European production, which is the center of its small car strategy. Demand in 2010 is expected to fall 1.5 million units short of those sold in 2009, a total of 4 million units below peak production in 2007. The plant is scheduled to be closed as early as the end of the second quarter. GM is set to eliminate 8,300 jobs in Europe, including 4,000 in Germany. All plants will be affected, but there are no plans to close other plants, suggesting all current facilities will share the burden in this restructuring. GM plans to cut total European capacity by 20 percent, 9 of which will be accomplished with the Antwerp plant closing. Experts estimate the total European automobile production capacity at 28 million units, 40 percent of which sat idle in 2009. The Antwerp closing is comparatively inconsequential. GM further argues that closing this plant is key to reducing redundancy in other plants where the Opel Astra is produced, including those in Poland, England and Germany. The automaker reportedly spared plant closings in Germany because it relied on funds from the German government (which it has now fully paid back) during the financial crisis. Saab’s potential demise is not included in GM’s capacity reduction targets.

(more…)

5 Comments Continue Reading
GM Prices 2011 Buick Regal
by Wilson Nunnari
Posted January 21st, 2010 at 12:55 pm

Today Buick officially released pricing information for the upcoming 2011 Regal. The model range will start out with only the CXL trim. This model will start at $26, 995, including destination. Standard power will come from the 2.4L Ecotec and the 2.0L turbo model will set customers back another $2, 500.

The CX model will be introduced in 2012 with a lower starting price than the CXL and will feature the same 2.4L Ecotec engine but will sacrifice comfort/convenience features found on CXL models. The Regal will start production in Russelsheim, Germany alongside its Opel counterparts but production will be moved to the Oshawa plant in Canada in the first quarter of 2011. This is presumably when production of the GS concept model will begin if when it gets the green light.

The Regal introduces new features to the Buick lineup which include revolutionary (for Buick) Interactive Drive Control. The system allows the driver to choose from 1 of 3 driving styles which “adjust [the] suspension, steering, throttle, transmission, and stability systems,” according to the Buick press release which can be found after the break.

(more…)

0 Comments Continue Reading
Next-Gen Saab 9-5 To Live On As Buick? Not So Fast!
by Alex Luft
Posted January 17th, 2010 at 5:43 pm

Last month, Saab and GM fans were equally outraged upon learning about the possibility that the all-new Saab 9-5 could wear a Buick badge. Since then, GM has still not reached a definite decision regarding Saab while the 9-5 has begun production in Sweden. But all is not lost, since Saab and GM enthusiasts alike would be glad to learn the following two arguments against a Buick-badged Saab 9-5.

1. The Buick Line-Up

If it were to wear to become a Buick, the all-new Saab 9-5 simply would not fit into the Buick line-up. The 9-5 is based on GM’s Epsilon 2 architecture – the same as the Buick LaCrosse and Regal. In fact, the 9-5 is only one inch shorter than the LaCrosse, which is most likely achieved by shorter bumpers rather than diminished interior space.

So what does that mean? Well, with the addition of the 9-5, Buick would have two sedans that are the exact same size inside and out! In that regard, there simply is not enough room for the 9-5 in the Buick line-up. Moreover, the last thing GM wants to do is confuse Buick buyers with two very similar products.

2. Rebadging A Thing Of The Past?

GM seems to be finished with the practice of badge-engineering altogether. This can be seen in The General’s decision against reintroducing the acclaimed Pontiac G8 under the Chevrolet brand, even though the enthusiast community supported the move to rebadge (and still does to this day). However, to say that GM is completely finished with rebadging wouldn’t be totally accurate. Afterall, the Buick Regal is a rebadged Opel Insignia while the Chinese-market Buick Excelle XT is an Opel Astra adorned with Buick light treatment and logos.

In the end, we can’t be completely certain that GM won’t end up selling the all-new Saab 9-5 as a Buick. But having two strong arguments against doing so definitely helps. At the very least, we’re certain that the GM enthusiast community is against such a move by a wide margin. What do you think?

1 Comments Continue Reading
GM Can’t Keep Up With Demand, Puts Shuttered Plans On Standby
by Alex Luft
Posted January 15th, 2010 at 12:00 pm

It goes without question that 2009 was the most difficult year ever for General Motors. However, there were some bright spots interspersed amidst the negative news, such as the success of GM’s newest models.

Back in December, GM announced a new plan where it will closely monitor demand for its vehicles and run its production operations accordingly. Following up on that plan, GM North America President Mark Reuss told reporters at the Detroit Auto Show that demand for the Chevrolet Equinox, Buick LaCrosse, and Cadillac SRX is outstripping supply and that the plants that build these vehicles are currently running at full capacity. Compared to GM’s situation one year ago, that’s a good problem to have. Reuss said that GM is working on a backup plan in case demand for its products overly exceeds current production capacity.

GM’s solution to meet increased demand is to reopen a plant it closed back in 2009. Reuss specifically mentioned GM’s Spring Hill facility in Tennessee as a potential candidate for a reopening. The General recently invested millions to upgrade the facility, where it built the Chevy Traverse up to November 2009 – only to move production of the full-size CUV to Lansing, Michigan. Moreover, Reuss told reporters that the plant is flexible enough to build several models (as it should be: the Traverse’s Lambda platform, Equinox’s Theta, LaCrosse’s Epsilon 2, and Theta Premium of the SRX are all very much related).

As such, GM officially put its Spring Hill and Janesville, Wisconsin plants on standby just in case extra capacity in the U.S. is needed. That scenario is not difficult to imagine given the expected rebound of the U.S. auto industry in the foreseeable future. Since the cost of building a new plant can run well over a billion dollars, the idea to reopen shuttered plants seems a good move to us. Not only that, but it will also help boost the economy by bringing back laid-off workers (thereby decreasing unemployment and strengthening the economy). Most recently, GM announced it will run its Fairfax assembly plant around the clock to meet demand for the Chevy Malibu and Buick LaCrosse. I wonder what those Tea Party protesters have to say about that!

[Source: The Associated Press via Yahoo!]

0 Comments Continue Reading
Free No More: GM Stops Providing Tiger Woods With Vehicles
by Alex Luft
Posted January 14th, 2010 at 12:00 pm

According to a report from USA Today, Tiger Woods no longer drives free vehicles from GM.

A number of companies (Tag Heuer, Accenture) annulled endorsement contracts with Woods after the infamous November 27th accident outside the star golfer’s Florida home that eventually led to admission of marital infidelity. According to Buick spokesperson Dayna Hard, GM’s advertising contract with Woods ended in 2008 but The General agreed to let him keep a Buick Enclave and Cadillac Escalade for one more year (ending Dec 31, 2009).

It will be interesting to see what ride Tiger picked now that he has to shell out his own cash for a vehicle – not that he can’t afford his it. The 2009 Escalade damaged by Woods will be fixed and sold.

[Source: USA Today]

0 Comments Continue Reading

Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 »

The GM Authority Take

The GM Authority Take

1. The Buick Line-Up

2. Rebadging A Thing Of The Past?