Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
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Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
JASON STEIN | Automotive News
Posted Date: 12/20/04
DETROIT -- General Motors' next rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles will expand Buick's product line significantly and give consumers more options - sporty cars and comfy sedans.
Michael Simcoe, GM's new executive director of body frame integral design, says the automaker's new Zeta architecture will extend Buick's product portfolio.
"We will play at both ends," Simcoe says. "We can have prestigious luxury and prestigious sport."
Within two years, Zeta will debut on a Buick sedan. A coupe and possibly a convertible will follow.
Simcoe says Zeta, which will be engineered by GM's Australian subsidiary Holden Ltd., will be a key component in GM's overall strategy for global products.
Simcoe should know. Before being appointed to his position on Aug. 1, Simcoe was executive director for design in GM's Asia-Pacific region. He was responsible for the design strategy at GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. and Holden.
Zeta is an evolution in the way GM thinks about product development, he says.
"Zeta is the classic case of GM seeing an architecture around the globe," Simcoe says. "The way it used to work was if it wasn't North American, it wasn't appropriate.
"But there is a lot of potential there with Zeta. There is freedom to do more."
As such, Zeta will offer that freedom to GM's product planners."We are getting encouragement coming from all sides to do as much as we can with it in terms of flexibility," Simcoe says. "That means more variants and more ability to move up and down when it comes to price."
Zeta will debut with Pontiac in the next-generation GTO - but the design won't be retro, he says.
"I wouldn't want retro," Simcoe says. "What the market wants is something that will stand out."
GM uses the term architecture to signify a common set of components, performance characteristics, a common manufacturing process, a range of dimensions and connecting points for key component systems.
JASON STEIN | Automotive News
Posted Date: 12/20/04
DETROIT -- General Motors' next rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles will expand Buick's product line significantly and give consumers more options - sporty cars and comfy sedans.
Michael Simcoe, GM's new executive director of body frame integral design, says the automaker's new Zeta architecture will extend Buick's product portfolio.
"We will play at both ends," Simcoe says. "We can have prestigious luxury and prestigious sport."
Within two years, Zeta will debut on a Buick sedan. A coupe and possibly a convertible will follow.
Simcoe says Zeta, which will be engineered by GM's Australian subsidiary Holden Ltd., will be a key component in GM's overall strategy for global products.
Simcoe should know. Before being appointed to his position on Aug. 1, Simcoe was executive director for design in GM's Asia-Pacific region. He was responsible for the design strategy at GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. and Holden.
Zeta is an evolution in the way GM thinks about product development, he says.
"Zeta is the classic case of GM seeing an architecture around the globe," Simcoe says. "The way it used to work was if it wasn't North American, it wasn't appropriate.
"But there is a lot of potential there with Zeta. There is freedom to do more."
As such, Zeta will offer that freedom to GM's product planners."We are getting encouragement coming from all sides to do as much as we can with it in terms of flexibility," Simcoe says. "That means more variants and more ability to move up and down when it comes to price."
Zeta will debut with Pontiac in the next-generation GTO - but the design won't be retro, he says.
"I wouldn't want retro," Simcoe says. "What the market wants is something that will stand out."
GM uses the term architecture to signify a common set of components, performance characteristics, a common manufacturing process, a range of dimensions and connecting points for key component systems.
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
Originally Posted by Gold_Rush
Now, they just need to dump the old conservative weak look for more aggressive and sportier lines. They gotta do more than just appeal to old people.
Recent history should prove that it's impossible to move upscale products under the Buick label. The Cadillac badge still has the prestige to move just about anything, as proven by the stupidly expensive and clumsy Escalade. GM should dump plans to make Buick a Lexus competitor
and concentrate upscale efforts on Cadillac.
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
Finally Buick will get it right. 
Now if they decide to make a Grand National (on say a GTO chassis??) or GS (on a Riviera chassis??), or both??
Now if they decide to make a Grand National (on say a GTO chassis??) or GS (on a Riviera chassis??), or both??
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
As long as it says "Buick" it wont sell to the "Less old" 
people they are targeting.
GM management continues to overlook the trend that more and more people are "leasing" luxury brands in order to keep the monthly payment what a mid-line semi-luxury car like a Buick or a Mercury usually would "sell" at.
Because of this the people who are on a budget "buy" Chevy's while the more "image" or "upscale" buyer "leases" and Caddy and trades it in a gets a new one every 3 years or less.
people they are targeting.GM management continues to overlook the trend that more and more people are "leasing" luxury brands in order to keep the monthly payment what a mid-line semi-luxury car like a Buick or a Mercury usually would "sell" at.
Because of this the people who are on a budget "buy" Chevy's while the more "image" or "upscale" buyer "leases" and Caddy and trades it in a gets a new one every 3 years or less.
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
I believe a Oldsmobile was Car and Driver car of the year. Sad the oldest car company in the world I believe is down the crapper. screw cadillac even though they have some sweet stuff coming out. spend it on f-body.
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
They need a car like the Grand National to get the attention of youths and the automotive press.
Twin Turbo DOHC 3.6L V6 in a RWD for $29,900 and people will think Buick is cool again
Twin Turbo DOHC 3.6L V6 in a RWD for $29,900 and people will think Buick is cool again
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
The Intrique beat out all the imports in compros back in the late 90s, when it was fresh on the scene with the 3.5L "Shortstar". But like all GM products the lack of updates and upgrades a few years later it was trailing behind the imports. Still the last of the Oldsmobiles were excellent cars.
I think Buick needs to dump the circular grilles on every model and come up with something fresh.
I think Buick needs to dump the circular grilles on every model and come up with something fresh.
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
They need a GN like car to capture youth? Buick is not a Scion. And GN's were never cheap.
Buick should keep with the smooth lines, but make them more luxurious. Look at the Regal and LaCrosse. Pretty much same car with same chassis...just that the LaCrosse looks much nicer, has much tighter gaps, much more plesent interior, and looks like a much more expensive vehicle, at least IMO. Buick shouldnt go for youth, but shouldnt stay with the 70+ group either. Buicks shouldnt be a "bargin", but a real luxury car that people will enjoy. Back to the doctors car it used to be. Give it some flare and some appeal to make it look like a real luxury car. Like the Velite, it doesnt have to be really flashy to show off luxury.
Buick should keep with the smooth lines, but make them more luxurious. Look at the Regal and LaCrosse. Pretty much same car with same chassis...just that the LaCrosse looks much nicer, has much tighter gaps, much more plesent interior, and looks like a much more expensive vehicle, at least IMO. Buick shouldnt go for youth, but shouldnt stay with the 70+ group either. Buicks shouldnt be a "bargin", but a real luxury car that people will enjoy. Back to the doctors car it used to be. Give it some flare and some appeal to make it look like a real luxury car. Like the Velite, it doesnt have to be really flashy to show off luxury.
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
Originally Posted by mcsslover1987
Finally Buick will get it right. Now if they decide to make a Grand National (on say a GTO chassis??) or GS (on a Riviera chassis??), or both??
Now if they decide to make a Grand National (on say a GTO chassis??) or GS (on a Riviera chassis??), or both??
Chances of that are about on par with someplace special freezing over.
Originally Posted by Gold_Rush
Now, they just need to dump the old conservative weak look for more aggressive and sportier lines. They gotta do more than just appeal to old people.
We are talking about huge portion of the new car buying public who were raised during some portion of the muscle car era, with a life time of earnings and savings ready to trade in their SUVs on what could pretty much be described as quicker, rear drive, and pretty expensive Buicks.
Don't expect Buicks to be marketed to youth or even people my age, regardless as to which wheels are driven or how much horsepower they end up with.
Last edited by guionM; Dec 20, 2004 at 09:30 PM.
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
Originally Posted by guionM
Actually, with the pretty large portion of the population (called the "Baby Boomers") begining to reach retirement age in the next 5 years or so, I'd say Buick's about to cash in....BIG-TIME!!
We are talking about huge portion of the new car buying public who were raised during some portion of the muscle car era, with a life time of earnings and savings ready to trade in their SUVs on what could pretty much be described as quicker, rear drive, and pretty expensive Buicks.
Don't expect Buicks to be marketed to youth or even people my age, regardless as to which wheels are driven or how much horsepower they end up with.
We are talking about huge portion of the new car buying public who were raised during some portion of the muscle car era, with a life time of earnings and savings ready to trade in their SUVs on what could pretty much be described as quicker, rear drive, and pretty expensive Buicks.
Don't expect Buicks to be marketed to youth or even people my age, regardless as to which wheels are driven or how much horsepower they end up with.
@ 22, they definitly have zero appeal to me and i don't see myself (Ever) in any Buick short of the old school GS's and GN's, but they could do a bit more to appeal to a wider consumer base...not just the senior citizens. The whole brand just lacks excitement and soul...nothing like what they used to be. They could benefit from a transformation much like Cadillac has. Cadillac went from an old-people's car to one that has serious appeal with the young and old alike. I don't see how that won't benefit Buick.
Last edited by Gold_Rush; Dec 20, 2004 at 11:29 PM.
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
Cadillac once was a "I've Arrived" car for people who made it, regardless of age. Elvis had quite a few of them. It was later the unofficial car of the "Rat Pack". But it also was the car of rich doctors & executives.
My Grandfather had a Buick after he retired (after trading a Cadillac). My friend's grand dad had a Buick. Another friends parents who were older than mine drove a Buick.
That's what they are going back to. Buick's going to drop their median age, but it's still going to be in the 50s or at least upper 40s. Cadillac is going to be for anyone from Country Clubbers to just plain Clubbers.
My Grandfather had a Buick after he retired (after trading a Cadillac). My friend's grand dad had a Buick. Another friends parents who were older than mine drove a Buick.
That's what they are going back to. Buick's going to drop their median age, but it's still going to be in the 50s or at least upper 40s. Cadillac is going to be for anyone from Country Clubbers to just plain Clubbers.
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
Originally Posted by Big Als Z
They need a GN like car to capture youth? Buick is not a Scion. And GN's were never cheap.
Buick should keep with the smooth lines, but make them more luxurious. Look at the Regal and LaCrosse. Pretty much same car with same chassis...just that the LaCrosse looks much nicer, has much tighter gaps, much more plesent interior, and looks like a much more expensive vehicle, at least IMO. Buick shouldnt go for youth, but shouldnt stay with the 70+ group either. Buicks shouldnt be a "bargin", but a real luxury car that people will enjoy. Back to the doctors car it used to be. Give it some flare and some appeal to make it look like a real luxury car. Like the Velite, it doesnt have to be really flashy to show off luxury.
Buick should keep with the smooth lines, but make them more luxurious. Look at the Regal and LaCrosse. Pretty much same car with same chassis...just that the LaCrosse looks much nicer, has much tighter gaps, much more plesent interior, and looks like a much more expensive vehicle, at least IMO. Buick shouldnt go for youth, but shouldnt stay with the 70+ group either. Buicks shouldnt be a "bargin", but a real luxury car that people will enjoy. Back to the doctors car it used to be. Give it some flare and some appeal to make it look like a real luxury car. Like the Velite, it doesnt have to be really flashy to show off luxury.
Last edited by Z28x; Dec 21, 2004 at 08:01 AM.
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
Originally Posted by Z28x
They need a car like the Grand National to get the attention of youths and the automotive press.
Twin Turbo DOHC 3.6L V6 in a RWD for $29,900 and people will think Buick is cool again
Twin Turbo DOHC 3.6L V6 in a RWD for $29,900 and people will think Buick is cool again
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
Zeta will debut with Pontiac in the next-generation GTO - but the design won't be retro, he says.
"I wouldn't want retro," Simcoe says. "What the market wants is something that will stand out."
I was wondering. Is the next generation GTO gonna be an evolution of the current design(which most say doesnt stand out) or evolve from some other design?
"I wouldn't want retro," Simcoe says. "What the market wants is something that will stand out."
I was wondering. Is the next generation GTO gonna be an evolution of the current design(which most say doesnt stand out) or evolve from some other design?
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Re: Buick plans lineup expansion; rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles to be featured
Originally Posted by smackkk
Zeta will debut with Pontiac in the next-generation GTO - but the design won't be retro, he says.
"I wouldn't want retro," Simcoe says. "What the market wants is something that will stand out."
I was wondering. Is the next generation GTO gonna be an evolution of the current design(which most say doesnt stand out) or evolve from some other design?
"I wouldn't want retro," Simcoe says. "What the market wants is something that will stand out."
I was wondering. Is the next generation GTO gonna be an evolution of the current design(which most say doesnt stand out) or evolve from some other design?
