No More Land Yachts: Buick Wants To Be Known For It's SUVs And Crossovers

With the terrible sales of the Lacrosse, one wonders how much longer it will soldier on. I'm surprised they are doing a new Regal given that the Regal's sales were even more pathetic than the Lacrosse's volume.

MATT - You have knowledge of how car dealerships work - and while Buick can supply the SUV's and Crossovers for the family - there will still be some who need a car - and the idea that Buick would not have a car - would not fly in China - where Buick sells. And as long as they are going to design and supply that market with cars - they may as well send some of them here. WE already know that they will work to move production of those vehicles for their purposes to CHINA to get out of Germany (Costs are much higher).

@TomM To be honest, I'd give the Cadillac CTS to Buick as a Park Avenue rebirth and kill the Regal and Lacrosse. I've already said I'd kill the ATS and CTS at Cadillac and replace them with a new Seville (FWD and AWD) and build the Escala. Leave the mainstream sedans to Chevy with possibly a Cruze and a combined Malibu/Impala.

The market is shifting FAST. Locally the Trax, Equinox, Traverse, Escape, Edge, and Explorer are flying out of the dealerships with very little dickering whereas the Cruze, Malibu, Impala, Fiesta, Focus, and Fusion sedans require dickering.

With Cadillacs able to be had for Buick prices and with Maseratis able to be had for Cadillac prices, I question the value of Buick sedans.

If I were GM, for the USA I'd make Buick a near-premium softroader brand and resurrect Hummer to battle the Wrangler.

I know when I think of sport utility vehicles, the first brand that comes to mind is Buick.

LOL

Well if Carlosassfarter says it, it must be true.

Matt- MY Point was that US sales of the Buick Brand do not predict future development - since the brand is largely a CHINESE brand today - and SUVs have not taken over for cars in China. (Although they do sell well) ANd - as Long as Buick will require cars in China - GM will have to design them. In China - they prefer longer cars - so it is Likely the Impala will survive over the Malibu - since many of these cars have chauffeurs.

AS far as the ATS/CTS situation - they are on a premium FWD platform that cannot be justified as a Buick. What they could do it redesign the ATS at a CLA price point - where the ATS would be a bigger and better car and with decent styling they could actually sell them as Cadillacs. It is the CTS - which is too small in the rear seat - that needs help - and it would have to cover BOTH the C-class and at least part of the E-class - frankly I would offer regular and LONG models over here - as they do in China to do that. The CT6 - if it were priced just a little lower - and marketed properly - would be good competition for the E-class at the higher end.

DeNyscchen has many times said that there will be a "Halo" car that won't be a sedan. WHile many are predicting a sports car - I have always thought that a new "ELDORADO" - would be the obvious candidate.

@TomM There's barely a business case for Buick in the USA in the first place.

We CAN predict that the likelihood of Buick sedans suddenly become hot sellers isn't likely.

Buick's sedans are better off being Chevys. It's crossovers are better for Cadillac's bottom line.

Buick could easily be a China-only brand and the US market would not miss them.

The ATS and CTS are NOT front wheel drive.

Completely conceding sedans at Buick would be a brilliant move for GM.

Put the Buick grille on a Camaro and you have a new Riviera.