Can BUICK - Of ALL Brands - Sell A HOT Hatch?

If you haven't been dialed into the latest happenings going on in Europe, Opel recently announced its all-new Astra GTC. The abridged version: it's a hot hatch.

According to Car and Driver, General Motors confirmed that we will be receiving the same vehicle on U.S. shores under the Buick nameplate.

Wait! What?! A BUICK hot hatch?

I mean, I know they're building the Buick Regal GS and everything but, really?

Considering all of this, does this make sense to you? Buick has had a terrific bounce post-GM bankruptcy but is this a bit of a stretch?

Before you comment, just do me a favor and look at our cover image. Now imagine a Buick grill on that vehicle...

After revealing the first images of new 2012 Opel Astra GTC last month, General Motors confirmed that the US of A will be getting a both a hatch and convertible version of Opel’s latest hot hatch…in the form of a Buick.

The Astra itself however, is not new to the American market as a reworked version was sold here in the states in the form of the Saturn Astra, which never really took off...

[Source: EGMCarTech]

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veyron1001 - 5/8/2011 10:18:54 PM

+8 Boost

Ford is so lucky to have a Euro division that listens to their customers.

chewy - 5/9/2011 4:50:49 AM

+2 Boost

Even VW sells only a relatively small amount of GTIs each month and the GTI has a good following and history behind it. The Astra 3 door does look swoopy, but the sedan Verano will have significantly better sales.

LACMAN - 5/9/2011 12:01:37 PM

0 Boost

Wait, blazinboy is from America??? *scratches head* Well I'll be d*mned...

Whelan - 5/9/2011 1:00:54 PM

+1 Boost

I'm not really sure how that comment makes any sense.

The first gen US Focus was the SVT, never named the ST in the states. The upcoming ST based on the new 2012 Focus is coming end of this year early next and being sold as the ST in both the US and Euro markets.

The Focus RS is so far ONLY slotted for the European market and not estimated to be sold in the U.S. At least not before the new models refresh. They are waiting to see how the ST does, and I will be sure to let them know as it's on the top of my buy list next year.

And while this Buick does sound appealing, by the time they get it here on sale in the U.S. I will already have several thousand happy miles in my ST.

uaw_lax - 5/10/2011 12:01:50 AM

+1 Boost

sure you do

Lexus - 5/8/2011 10:50:50 PM

+2 Boost

Really nice I like it a lot.

MorePower - 5/9/2011 5:02:47 AM

-2 Boost

Lexus sells a hatch now and they are the Japanese Buick! The demographics of Lexus' customers prove it.

ctp0011 - 5/9/2011 7:23:43 AM

0 Boost

I think it's a great idea! Buick and Opel have a long-standing relationship--the (German) Opel was sold here in the USA by Buick dealers in the 60's and was a great little car! The Asian one in the 70's, not so much...

0to60 - 5/9/2011 1:50:16 PM

+3 Boost

Not sure a hatch is what their customers want in the US. Maybe a Wagon. A hatch is pretty sporty for that brand.

uaw_lax - 5/10/2011 12:03:24 AM

0 Boost

i think more and more Americans will like the versatility of a hatch they where once big in the 80's.

geoff448 - 5/12/2011 8:34:00 PM

+1 Boost

I think it looks fantastic. And just because buick doesnt and never has sold small cars doesnt mean they cant or never will, sh*t changes.

tango - 5/16/2011 6:10:45 PM

+1 Boost

I think the best way to tackle this issue is to forget what Buick USED to be and just sit back and wait for the next new vehicle to surface. It's like the way most people are looking at Hyundai and Kia. I welcome any move by GM to distance Buick from its past.