Reports from the Front
By Tom Stephens
GM Vice Chairman
Last week, we had a new and future product showcase at which employees, potential customers, dealers, media, analysts and others toured our Design facilities and test-drove vehicles at the Milford Proving Ground. The main reason we did it was to get people talking about us — and to us. And, this is the important part, when they talked, we listened.
And we got some great positive feedback… the future Cadillacs drew great praise, our GMC concept was very well received, and the lineup of fuel efficient Chevys — Spark, Aveo and Cruze — impressed many of our guests. Three future Buicks we showed also drew a lot of interest and compliments.
However, not all the feedback was positive.
The Buick crossover we showed received consistent feedback from large parts of all the audiences that it didn’t fit the premium characteristics that customers have come to expect from Buick.
You may recall that this was the Buick compact crossover I announced in Traverse City a few weeks ago, with a plug-in hybrid version to accompany it — this is not the smaller Buick crossover we showed that was playfully referred to as “the baby Enclave.” That vehicle did very well and remains in the lineup.
We were all struck by the consistency of the criticism of the compact crossover. And what we decided to do in response is a good example of the essence of the new General Motors… acting quickly, and boldly, and listening to feedback from customers, employees, dealers, media and just about anyone else with an opinion.
Last Friday, reaction to the Buick crossover was discussed at the meeting of our Executive Committee, the newly formed group that steers product decisions, and it was decided that if it didn’t belong, it didn’t belong. Buick crossover canceled. Fritz Henderson, Bob Lutz and I and the rest of the committee decided to take swift action to prevent a potential underperformer from reaching the marketplace. And we decided that the important plug-in hybrid technology would be applied to another vehicle, at no delay, that we’ll discuss in the very near future.
What gives me pause is how quickly we made a decision and carried it out. In the past this would have been a several-month process involving meeting after meeting of the APB, ASB, and various other acronyms, and also many “offline” follow-up discussions before a decision was reached and enacted. This happened in one day.
So there’s the proof, in my eyes, that the new GM is listening, and moving quickly. Watch this space.
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Mr. Stephens,
You said “So there’s the proof, in my eyes, that the new GM is listening, and moving quickly.” The fact that the Saturn Vue made it so close to being rebadged as a Buick is proof that GM’s leadership still doesn’t get it. Rebadging vehicles is something the “old GM” did, and focus groups should not be required to call this out.
Please learn from this and make sure it doesn’t happen again. The future of GM depends on it.
if you really want to get the saturn vue to market as another vehicle, chevy really should have been the first choice…that combined with the mild hybrid malibu and the large chevy suv/trucks, as well as the volt, would really make a statement about chevy being green….just like toyota and honda are (trying) to do…arent they the manufactures that you are trying to compete against anyway????…since the voltec is going to make its first appearance as chevy, i think thats only fitting…buick and cadilac should be competing against lexus and acura…and should “copy” their approaches to hybrids….using hybrids to improve performance at no cost to fuel economy….in other words, adding the hybrid technology to a v6 engine in buick and/or cadilac and adding it to a 4 cylinder engine in a chevy.
p.s. you should have at very least put a new front end on the compact suv….from the pic i saw, it looked EXACTLY like the saturn, only with a buick grill in the space left empty by removing the saturn grill…the shape of the headlights alone have nothing in common with the looks of other buicks!!!!!!
Its great that GM is listening to the consumers and the media and that such swift decision making is a part of the new GM. Always keep in mind that consumers don’t want you to cheapen the brand. it is one thing to build Buicks with outstanding value (like Lexus LS features and ES prices) it is another thing to build the 2011 Cadillac Cimarron. I hope that GM will continue their product development at a fast pace and that the new Buicks including the baby Enclave will arrive asap!
Wish the Executive Committee could act so swiftly in reconsidering the name “Cruze” and drop it. It if doesn’t belong, it doesn’t belong.
lol, whatever name you pick, imagine that nameplate will be in use twenty years from now! (like the Civic, Accord, Corolla, Taurus, etc).
Cruze (versus Cruise) is too “L33t speak”-like.
In 20 years GM would have changed the name at least four times. I suppose each new executive has to put his or her brand on things to show they are worth their salaries.
Yeh, show us you really listen and drop that idiotic name Cruze. It doesn’t matter if you are calling it that idiotic name all over the world. You are calling the LaCrosse Allure in Canada aren’t you?
Keep the name Cobalt or use Nova or something else.
Check out GMInsideNews and find the Poll there about changing the name Cobalt. The vast majority want either the name Cobalt to stay or to use Nova.
Cruze is a stupid name for a car!
I dislike the idea of renaming the Cobalt as the Cruze. The Cobalt already has made an impact with it’s own name and the “Cruze” sounds like it’s trying too hard to be hip. It also pulls to mind the image of a minivan for me. Also, that name has been over-used on too many different styles world-wide. I think it’s time to let that name sleep for a while.
C’mon GM, dump that Cruze moniker and rename it Cavalier! Cavalier has 23 years of brand recognition and you all dumped it in concern of it being a rental car image; well, renaming it to Cobalt didn’t change that image you are so concerned with; the Impala is a fleet queen and it is still an Impala. Bring back well established names the general public recognizes and improve upon them!
I agree w/ you. They should dump the Cruz name and stop this revolving door of names thing that they have been on the last few years. The problems w/ there car has not been one of bad naming, actually I think they have been genaral good at naming, but they place them on bad cars. Why not REFINE the flaws out of the products. btw I still like Cavalier think that was a great name for a smalll car plus its well established.
In Brazilian Portuguese, “Cruzes” (which means crosses) is sometimes used as an interjection to expresses the emotion that something is distasteful (as in bad, ugly, filthy or nasty).
Maybe it also applies to Spanish.
If “Cruze” will be used as a global name, maybe it might be a good idea to have the marketing department check it.
Sounds like a flashback to the days of the ill-fated Chevy Nova which also meant “no go” in Spanish.
I personally hope you succeed because your products are worthy of recognition. I own one and believe the imports are grossly overrated. However, I do agree that using the name Cruze for the Cobalt’s replacement does not seem like a good choice. The Cobalt nameplate has already made a significant positive impact in the marketplace and keeping that name would seem like the wisest decision. Just show improvement with an updated version. Additionally, it would probably help with the resale value of the current owners of Cobalts to some degree and demonstrate loyalty to existing owners that could result in sales for return buyers for the new model. As one person pointed out, the Cavalier name is a great name; but because the vehicle was allowed to get so stale late in its cycle it would probably not be a good idea to use it now. The name Cruze just sounds juvenile and does not sound like a name that will withstand the test of time. Nova is a great name and probably should have been used on the Cobalt when it came out and continued on the new Cruze, but since it wasn’t you already have some momentum with the name Cobalt. By the way I have also been seeing more commercials on television for GM cars and I am glad to see that. It’s about time. Go get em!
As a guy who loves his 08 CTS, I am glad you are listening! I am not sure if this is the right venue I also posted in “The Lab” but in your “What makes a Chevrolet a Chevrolet” video that was recently released, you show a dashboard with an iPod plugged in and the comment is about the latest technology…unfortunately the iPod you showed is a first generation model that is at least 5 years old. As a marketing guy who works with the automobile industry, I found it to be a real gaff and think it needs to be addressed.
Thanks
Good point. GM, pay attention to the details because we are!
Thank you so much GM! I am so glad you appear to be a changed organization. Please keep it up. Your critics (I’ll admit I was sort of one in the past) will not allow you even one mistake and their negative opinions are set in stone before they even see your cars, judging by the people I’ve talked to. Every new car you make must be stellar, especially the upcoming PHEV. It will take exceptional cars like the Volt and CTS (and Caddy Converj, pretty please!) to change minds that have been made up since the ’80s and early ’90s. I know you have changed mine, since I would not have considered buying GM vehicles until recently (largely because of the Volt). I still am no GM loyalist, but I am excited to see US auto manufacturers finally improving themselves and giving us options to get off oil and help the environment.
I am very pleased by the action to cancel the “new Buick Crossover.” What I find hard to understand if how our marketing people could have been so “isolated” from public opinion as to be blind-sided by this. If I read our strategy correctly, we were taking a Vue and “rebadging” it, granted with some new technology, to sell as a Buick. Seems to me that this was a less than stellar idea to begin with. What I don’t understand is why weren’t we wblr to “read the tea leaves” with our own people before we ever went public with this vehicle.
On the other hand, Tom is right on to be proud of how swiftly the decision to stop was made. That is what the “New GM” must do. My question is even more basic. Why were we trying to do another “rebadge” when we said years ago that wouldn’t happen again? Seems like the “Old GM” to me. Tom and his peers should have never had to make a decision to cancel something that never should have gotten that far.
Phil- Appreciate your comments on our Buick crossover decision. The challenge with this issue is that we have great technology with the plug-in hybrid system that we want to get on the road as soon as possible. Now that we don’t have the Saturn brand, we had to look at all of our options. We thought Buick could work – consumers and media said we missed the mark. We still feel the technology needs to live on – we just need to make sure we have the right vehicle. Stay tuned!
Tom,
The vehicle could still work, but needs to be styled like a smaller Enclave (inside and out) and not just a VUE with a Buick grille on it. A restyle when moving a perfectly good vehicle from a former brand to a current one is not a rebadge. So please consider some new sheet metal for this vehicle before casting it aside. Seriously, focus groups don’t exactly get it right every time (see Aztek for proof).
This is proof that GM is not about the hype, the trip last week was not a stunt. It was to get insight to the market, and what consumers and auto insiders think about what GM is doing now, and their plans for the future. I am very proud to have been apart of the tour last week, and look forward to continued work with GM on future endeavors.
Most refreshing story I have read in a long time. The “old GM” example is so true. I was in a meeting this morning and heard this program was cancelled already and everyone thought it was a mistake (as in “we can’t make a decision that quick”). This is such a stark contrast and evidence that the New GM can be faster and better.
It’s great that you’re listening to customers, but I think it should have been more obvious that a Saturn re-badged as a Buick wouldn’t sit right with customers. Re-badging cars is insulting to the consumer and is largely responsible for the position GM is in now.
Anyway, kudos on streamlining your decision process. It really is a good sign. I’m still rooting for GM and defend the company whenever I can.
Kurtis ~
I’m sure it WAS obvious to many GM employees. It’s just that until it came to the attention of the Executive Committee, no one had the authority to do anything about it.
I bet that for every misstep GM has made over the last 30 years, there were plenty of GM employees who knew the company was headed down the wrong path. It’s just that no one with decision authority took them seriously. It’s always that way in bloated organizations with several layers of management.
Agreed. Someone mentioned earlier how disappointing that this product made it THIS far. I wonder how many red flags were raised up to the media event. Mr. Stephens himself wrote this entry as if it was the first time he’s heard about it.
Maybe the message is FINALLY getting to top management now- which is encouraging. It would have been nicer if Mr. Stephens was a little bit more honest and addressed the actual problem though: the car was just a re-badged Saturn.
Thank you thank you. That was a bad idea from the start.
Have you also heard complaints about the underperforming 3.0L V6 and the lack of enthusiast and magazine enthusiasm for the ‘10 SRX?
What will you do there?
And where’s our RWD Buick and Chevrolet sedans!!??
Thanks, Aldo. Appreciate your comments on the SRX powertrain. We need to offer a variety of powertrains that will fit the needs of all sorts of drivers – with the right balance of fuel economy and performance. In addition to the 3.0 liter V6, the SRX includes an optional 2.8 liter turbocharged V6, the first turbocharger ever offered by Cadillac in the U.S. This powertrain should be perfect for drivers who want a little more. This engine will deliver 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, without much sacrifice in efficiency. This optional engine choice will be available in October.
“…the future Cadillacs drew great praise…”
…and the current Cadillacs among their owners:
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090818/CARNEWS/908189997
“So there’s the proof, in my eyes, that the new GM is listening, and moving quickly.”
I basically agree, Mr. Stephens, however, I wished GM also had listened in terms of an afterlife for the Pontiac G8. I guess, this story would make a lot of enthusiasts really envious:
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/6545104/news/report-gm-makes-more-pontiac-g8s-for-australia/index.html
since the pontiac g8st never made it to the u.s, they would not be “rebadging” a pontiac….they should go ahead and send it over as a chevy el camino!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had an opportumity to drive the new Cadillac SRX and offer the following comments:
Pros
Drives like a dream
Excellent acceleration
Quiet
Beautiful exterior lines
Good gas milage
Cons
Seriously lacks rear seat leg room
Consider changing metal dashboard trim to wood
Storage rack in rear compartment was clumsy and hard to use
Cons
[...] lot can happen in two weeks. On Wednesday, Tom Stephens, vice chairman for General Motors, wrote in the G.M. Fastlane blog that the Buick crossover had been canceled after receiving overwhelming criticism at a showcase of [...]
This is exactly the kind of news I like hearing. I know the general public doesn’t have the patience to listen to all the details of GM’s progress, but this decision represents to me the most major turning point in GM’s recent history.
Now my only hope is that upper management is taking full responsibility for the success of the company, I hope they don’t confuse agility with whimsy. In a big change like this, the grass is definitely greener on the other side, but don’t start looking for new fences once you get it right. Define those brands with steady, concurrent messages that are the same year after year. Don’t tell the public what your brands are — no one likes being lectured to –, show them what the brands are. Attach the emotions and personal experiences that are indicative of what the customers want in your brands, and then stick to them for a long time. The big change in perception will happen with steady and small but unwaveringly confident action.
Second the “where’s our RWD Buick and Chevrolet sedans!!??” mainly based on the future lack of the wonderful Pontiac G8 line. Oh, and not to be numb to the green movement… but where’s our LSA powered Z/28, I’m tired of the Blue Oval having the fastest pony car around!
Suggested next issue for the Executive Committee: Pontiac G8 = Buick Wildcat
Yes, or no?
I say yes, or Grand National.
I also think that Chevy should have a 4 door based on the Camaro platform. Smaller than the G8, with good MPG.
Chevy Chevelle anyone?
It would sell like hotcakes, especially in SoCal.
I think it is interest that vehicle are getting smaller more compact and more MPG, I would like a car with these feature as alot of other people do. I would like to test your new vehicles that are starting to come off the assembly line. I am exciting and thrilled to see what it is coming to next and I want to part of it. I want my family to buy an american vehicle for the next perchase of the vehicle and I would like is to be a GM. I have a feeling your company will be great. Thanks for listening GM..
The original Chevelles were only 2 door, while their 4 door counterparts were called Malibu. I say bring back the G8 as the Chevelle, or make an entirely new design “retro musclecar” called Chevelle. Equip it with an LS2 as base engine with a big block V8 as and option. With all the baby boomers retireing and some wanting to relive the good old days, this car would sell in the millions without detracting from either Corvette or Camaro sales. It didn’t back then, and it shouldn’t now.
Not true, the Chevelle was a 4 door also.
A Compact affordable 4 door RWD Sedan would be amazing for GM. and make business sense because there would be another vehicle to base on that platform.
Anyone listening?
I hope it’s yes! It would be a great surprise from GM for all Buick fans!
Grand National would be better name for the G8. G8 needs to be redesigned though, and it should have at least 60% American content to have credibility.
Still feel Wild Cat would be a good name for a Buick coupe like the Solstice.
I can’t see how a relatively large sedan could be called Grand National… While most Buick Wildcats are 4 doors and all are relatively large cars (unlike the Solstice…).
http://fyi.gmblogs.com/2009/07/photo_of_the_day_twin_1965_buick_wildcats.html
Good news about cancelling the Buick crossover variant. Too bad that the same wasn’t done for the GMC Terrain. It doesn’t fit the GMC image in my opinon. Looks like it should have been a Hummer (Maybe it was supposed to have been the H4, with the boxy look and small windows)
@Aldo: I’m driving an SRX as part of our Captured Test Fleet (whereby we have GM employees drive the vehicles before they go on sale to the public to see if any last-minute fine-tuning is in order), and got a ‘reflash’ on my vehicle (focused on engine/transmission calibrations) last week which significantly improved the performance and response of the 3.0L V6. So, in short, yes, GM is listening, and yes, they’re moving faster than you think.
That is good news because the transmission performance of the base SRX has been criticized by numerous media outlets. Customers do not like jerky transmissions, especially in luxury vehicles.
Jerky transmissions means that the gears are engaging quickly and positively. A smooth shifting tranny is indicitive of lots of slip going through the torque coverter, which shortens transmission life. I personally would rather have positive shifts over smooth shifts any day.
Robert,
During a shift the torque converter can stay locked. A smooth shift means there is slippage in the clutch packs, but if they are designed for that purpose, what’s the problem with allowing some slippage? On the contrary, a hard shift puts more shock load on the entire driveline, and the band clutches (although a lot of transmissions don’t have band clutches anymore) which can cause them to fail. I would take a smooth shifting trans anyday (especially in a Cadillac)
Thanks Adam for your reply. Good to know. But no amount of “reflashing” is going to overcoming the terrible lbs:torque ratio. Or that the Lexus RX350 gets better EPA ratings, more power, and is quicker in tests.
Cadillac lowered the bar for the SRX, and they still missed it.
Please, please, please just following one guiding principle:
Cadillac = RWD-based premium cars/SUVs/crossovers/halo cars
Buick = FWD-based premium cars & maybe wagons and hatchbacks
(keep the Enclave but don’t add any more CUVs/SUVs).
Don’t cannibalize Cadillac sales with Buick. The easiest way to differentiate Caddy and Buick is via drivetrain!!!!!
That’s completely wrong!
I’m among those who’ll never buy a Cadillac no matter which wheels drive it and I’ll never buy a FWD Buick either…
I respectfully disagree. Buick should be a stepping stone to Cadillac. It you want to continue to lure more youthful buyers to the Buick brand, you need to offer RWD sedans/coupes that offer some excitement, in addition to the FWD models that its current base enjoys. I would love to see a G8-based Buick model with the DI V6. And keep up the good work. The quality & style improvements are getting noticed by some of us.
***Buick should be a stepping stone to Cadillac***
This made sense when GM owned 50% of the market. Not so logical now. By extension, does this mean that BMW and Mercedes should offer a stepping stone brand?
Speaking of Buick, I’ve never quite understood how they intend to compete against Lexus with so few models. Also considering that Cadillac seems to be competing directly against them will all models save the ES. Acura is a much more logical target for Buick. The new LaCrosse seems quite competitive and in some cases superior to the TL, the Lucerne is leagues better than the RL, the Enclave betters any SUV or crossover at Acura. All Buick really would need is a car to compete against the TSX. Offer AWD on all models, and Buick would be taking on Audi as well. Considering some of the more questionable styling elements , namely those unsightly grilles, Buick will have them beat in styling as well. If Buick can match Audi for interior quality, fit, finish, materials and execution then I think Buick might finally be taken seriously by buyers of these other brands.
I like Lexus models except the RX and the EX, and I hate all Acuras. I’d like to get a small Lexus IS, or a GS, and I wish that my favourite brand (Buick) would have something to match these models! I’ll hate Cadillac and I’ll never buy one. I just want a newer RWD Buick! I’m currently driving RWD (or should I say 4×4) Toyotas which I really like too and my next newer car will probably be a Lexus.
GM makes a quick decision that most agree with and still people are complaining. The Vue could have worked if the styling was changed substantially but I really don’t think such a crossover was necessary when the Terrain would be in the same showrooms with a superior design and newer technology. I think people were most turned off by the lack of change between the Vue and Buick model. Don’t add another 5 seat crossover in the price range of the Terrain and Equinox, its not necessary.
I can understand why GM initially thought that a Vue could be re-badged as a Buick. Many Opels and Saturns were starting to share the same styling, and Buick was starting to head in the Opel-ish direction as well.
Rebadging seemed like a good idea on paper for these reasons, but the Vue looked a little bit frumpy, which doesn’t mesh with Buick’s new gorgeous styling direction. As long as the plug-in powertrain doesn’t die, I’m happy.
I have been a fan of the 2-mode Vue CUV since 2007 and I would like to see the technology developed for the Vue used in another vehicle. The Vue design has lost a lot of its appeal with me and I much prefer the 2010 Equinox design. Consider using the 2-mode Vue as a mule for refining the technology, but use the technology in another vehicle.
[...] “it didn’t seem to fit into the Buick family.” GM vice chairman Tom Stephens writes on the GM FastLane blog that they canceled the vehicle to “prevent a potential underperformer from reaching the [...]
Way to go. Decision-making the way it should be – and the right decision, too boot. Glad to hear that the plug-in technology will survive.
Now, if only you’d keep the G8 alive as a Chevy, all would be right with the world.
Awesome news. This shows that GM is changing. Thank you!
Love my Rendezvous.
Hope Buick will have a truly classy small CUV in the future that fits the Buick image.
The Enclave is great but to big and too expensive for small famlies or single guys like me. Buick’s needs lower end vehicles that will appeal to GM buyers who bought Pontiacs. Hope the better recieved Buick styled CUV will fill the bill.
apologies for the snarkiness….
*Hope Buick will have a truly classy small CUV in the future that fits the Buick image.*
That would be called a Cadillac SRX.
[...] “it didn’t seem to fit into the Buick family.” GM vice chairman Tom Stephens writes on the GM FastLane blog that they canceled the vehicle to “prevent a potential underperformer from reaching the [...]
One more thought – the new 2010 Chevy Equinox is a fantastic compact crossover, and it seems to me would be the ideal recepient of 2-mode plug-in technology. You don’t need another compact crossover in your lineup – there’s no room for it without product duplication, the error of the past – you just need it available as an option for consumers.
The idea of a small or compact Buick crossover is fine. It’s was the apparent execution that was flawed in this case. I realize GM probably had sunk a lot of investment in the Saturn and Buick needs new products ASAP, but when it appears that all GM can do is put a Buick grille on a Saturn, that’s horrible. Especially after so much has been made of uick’s renaissance and beautiful designs, then you try to make us think a Saturn is a Buick when it’s not. Give Buick a proper small or compact crossover and I likely will buy it. (I only say “likely,” not definitely, because I want to see what you do with it first.) Make the best Buicks possible- this was not one of them!
As a complete car outsider (I just buy them, I don’t really “get” all this “culture” thing), This all seems so weird to me. I don’t buy a “line” of cars, I buy a car. “Re-badging” seems irrelevant. It’s a well-designed car, reliablility is first and foremost, affordability is second (initial price and cost to operate), and style is nice as long as it’s still aerodynamic (i.e. don’t drag down the car with Batmobile armor).
Bloggers and Twitterers should be asked simple questions: are you shopping for a car? If the answer is yes, would you consider this car, and if not, why wouldn’t you consider this car. If you are NOT shopping for a car at this time, well, thank you for participating. If someone wouldn’t buy a great car because it’s been re-badged, well, that’s just odd.
Ask ten thousand people this and you’ll build cars that will sell now. Just my two cc’s worth.
Interesting. So you don’t care that GM charges $2,000 + for Pontiac G5 over a Cobalt because it has a different grille and taillights (which probably cost them $0 to do)?
The old GM already did that and look at the cars they have done recently… Even if people (like me) won’t consider buying a new car, that doesn’t mean GM shouldn’t care about what these persons have to say! When I was a kid, I was mostly impressed by one brand (Buick) and that’s why I got my first one at age 15 and that’s why I had so many others since! Manufacturers shouldn’t neglect used car buyers because it’s them who dictate the resale value of their new models (if very few used car buyers want a particular model, the resale value will drop until some will reconsider buying it!). And resale value is something that most new car buyers care about! Even companies like GM that lease cars can lower their monthly payments if the expected value of the car is higher at the end of the location term!
[...] “it didn’t seem to fit into the Buick family.” GM vice chairman Tom Stephens writes on the GM FastLane blog that they canceled the vehicle to “prevent a potential underperformer from reaching the [...]
News from the Front…….Maybe my post will qualify. I was a fairly loyal GM owner for over 25 years. My last two (ownership) experiences were so bad that I traded my last GM for a Lexus after 8 months and took a major loss. Two dealerships and MANY bad experiences totally turned me away from GM.
I feel betrayed and want to know why I should trust GM again after losing so many dollars and having many terrible experiences with your vehicles.
I wonder if this will post or if I will receive any type of answer………….
WOW What a comment —–
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“News from the Front…….Maybe my post will qualify. I was a fairly loyal GM owner for over 25 years. My last two (ownership) experiences were so bad that I traded my last GM for a Lexus after 8 months and took a major loss. Two dealerships and MANY bad experiences totally turned me away from GM.
I feel betrayed and want to know why I should trust GM again after losing so many dollars and having many terrible experiences with your vehicles.
I wonder if this will post or if I will receive any type of answer………….
_______________________________________________________________________________________-
GM needs to put Quality back into the equation. When other auto makers are producing quality vehicles there is no excuse for GM to produce sub standard vehicles. Too many GM vehicles are rated average or below in quality.
Changing the names of vehicles does not change the quality.
As for dealer customer service — This too has been a long standing problem that continues to be ignored.
Too many customers feel cheated when they walk out of a dealer. There needs to be better transparency in pricing.
When customer service at dealers and quality of vehicles have been known issues for decades why is this not addressed by GM management?
Sounds like the customer above was once a loyal GM consumer. Looks like GM has tried very hard to push him away to another manufacturer.
GM needs some new management. The team that presided over the market share decline and could not fix the quality problems need to go.
Well we don’t know because we did not see the compact Buick crossover.
Success does not come in cancelling a product however.
That’s like saying your trip to nowhere was a success because you avoided an accident.
Nope, the only way you can declare this episode a success is if you intelligently design a new compact Buick crossover expediciously and with no delay. A new compact crossover worthy of the Buick name and worthy to represent the brand in the most popular and fastest growing segment.
Now again, none of this would have happened anyway if Buick China was in full control.
But anyway…STOP THE PRESS!!!
Any good investor will tell you success in the market does not come from picking hot stocks and winners. That’s gambling. Yet that is the course GM’s product line still seems to take.
Pick a hot segment say HHR, get in th retro gig then drop it like a hot potato 6 years later.
We should measure success of GM models by their life expectancy relative to Toyota. I bet you Toyota’s vehicles like the Camry and Corolla have a life expectancy far beyond Chevrolet’s comprable cars like say the Cavalier, Aveo, and Impala.
In other words, how long will Toyota be selling a car called the Camry? Well it’s probably approaching the 40 year mark. How long has GM been selling the Cavalier? Well it had a good 8 years give or take. Now use any number of examples like Aveo versus Yaris etc. etc.
Building a brand like the Camry or Taurus is still the true golden egg that GM still continuously seems to avoid. GM’s products are as good as ever but GM needs more a better brand and strategy than these one hit wonders, and that my friends, takes time.
Bottom Line?
GM I am not looking for the next hot thing I am looking for a better strategy.
There will be a direct relationship between life expectancy of a vehicle line and long term growth in sales.
That’s the bottom line.
Fastlane short…
You can reinvent GM and it’s product approval strategy every year for the next 10 years but, BUT, a good long term product strategy of continuous improvement does not need a reinvention.
Edawrd, you make some good points, but just a few minor corrections of you don’t mind: The HHR first went on sale as a 2006 model. So unless you know that the Orlando won’t replace it before 2012, then it’ll be four to five years.
The Corolla is now currently the longest running model name still in use. It is the one that began in the 60’s. The Camry name didn’t show up until the mid to late 70’s.
The Cavalier name ran from 1983 to 2007 when the Cobalt replaced it. Making it a far longer run than 8 years.
I have seen so really smart, thought out and accurate comments here but many just simply make absolutely no sence at all. This is one of the latter. You state, “Building a brand like the Camry or Taurus is still the true golden egg that GM still continuously seems to avoid. In other words, how long will Toyota be selling a car called the Camry? Well it’s probably approaching the 40 year mark. How long has GM been selling the Cavalier?”
1. A Camry or Taurus is NOT a brand! It is a model made by the brand.
2. Why did you choose the Cavalier in stead of a Corvette. Chevy has been selling them for 56+ years.
Why should anyone car how long a specific model has been manufactured? Many car companies change the model name or designation everytime they make a major change to it. In fact many companies just use combinations of numbers and letters to designate a model. As far as I’m concerned I really don’t care what a car model is called as long as it is a good car. A Camry would still be the same car if Toyota called it a SE650V. I can’t think of any other product besides a car that the average person would even know the model name or number.
——————————————————————————————
“You can reinvent GM and it’s product approval strategy every year for the next 10 years but, BUT, a good long term product strategy of continuous improvement does not need a reinvention.”
———————————————————————————————-
Good Comment — Quality sells — You do not need a one hit wonder. You need continuous improvement.
Quality, Value, Fuel Economy and Customer Service — A winning strategy.
Can GM do it?
[...] has cancelled its recently announced compact Buick crossover, which would have offered the plug-in hybrid system [...]
Tom Stephens,
As great as a fast acting GM is I have to wonder about cutting a product so quick. Could GM post pictures of this product so the rest of us who weren’t part of the GM open walk through can get a look at it?
On that note: Is there public invitation given?
I think it rather foolish of GM to invite the public to look at cars without getting a good geographical representation of their sample customer bases. If GM only invited local people only how can Bob and the crew be sure that somewhere else in the country that car might not have ben a hit?
On that note please post the complaints about it and allow the rest of us to make some commentary. I think Buick could use a small cross over (Vibe sized) but it has to be much nicer then GM typically makes it.
Maybe its best not to go to the opposite extreme so bad. There are very specific things GM customers are looking for in various vehicles but is that enough to remove an entire vehicle from the product line?
[...] “it didn’t seem to fit into the Buick family.” GM vice chairman Tom Stephens writes on the GM FastLane blog that they canceled the vehicle to “prevent a potential underperformer from reaching the [...]
WOW.
I must say, I’m as much of an efficient-vehicle fan as I am a Corvette/Camaro fan. And though I didn’t see this vehicle…or hear the specs (yet), I trust you made the correct decision to axe it, though I mourn the loss, frankly. I think every brand deserves two Halo cars: One performance, one efficient. A balance, and the right to flaunt the most diverse lineup in the industry. Perhaps a Plug-in Buick car? The hair are already rising on my neck.
And I am absolutely ASTOUNDED at the swiftness of this decision…nearly miraculous, in my opinion. I hope to see more of this. MUCH more of this. However, please heed my warning, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Stephens…don’t get carried away and begin making crazy knee-jerk reaction, you will have passed to the other extreme of the spectrum, with little improvement. I’d hate to see that start happening.
Hey…I do have a question, though…now that you’re well on your way to being “in the black”, where does the Direct Injection V8 engine project stand? Last we heard, it was pushed back, due to money constraints in very early 2009…pleasepleaseplase say it’s on the fast-track to your cars and trucks again?
Let me get this straight-you are canceling a decent CUV, but Buick is going to get a small CUV based on Gamma II, which is the platform for the Aveo!? You have got to be kidding me.
One more comment-you need to do something about the Caddy Grills. They come across as cheap and tacky. You will never win over BMW and Mercedes drivers until the Caddy design theme matures.
Also, the smaller Caddy should be called BTS, not ATS. The DTS name should stay also, XTS makes no sense.
BTS
CTS
DTS
Steve,
Caddy grills come across as in your face. Possibly cheap.
How could Caddy make them appear less cheap?
I would make them smoother, as in the Converg Concept and perhaps not so freaking big.
The ATS concept should be a sedan first for this entry segment to target the Lexus IS. the grille should be less obtrusive. See grilles like the 77 Cutlass Supreme and the 76-77 Grand Prix for inspiration.
Acura’s new grilles seems like an add-on and do look cheap. Let’s see if it hurts their sales and helps Lexus IS.
[...] changing Cobalt to Cruze Go here: http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives…comment-132490 Make sure GM knows how we feel about the Cobalt name changing to Cruze. GM claims it is listening [...]
It almost seems like you were operating still in the old mode and the new mode kicked in to make a bold decision. Then you realized ‘oh my gosh we acted different’. Now that you know you can and will act different the maybe you can make more bold decisions. I would like to see a bold decision come about the EFlex platform. I would like to see them admit that the styling and Volt was a product conceived from a different GM years ago. The new GM will say:
Today we at the new GM realized the E-FLex system is an evolving new paradigm which holds significant promise in the future to attain higher mileage and efficiency in the evolution of the automobile. While we have made actual running prototypes we recognize this technology will require limited release as test vehicles to select customers and fleet sales. The cost of such vehicles will initially be greater, therefore we now expect to roll out the E-Flex platform on higher profit vehicles in the beginning. Eventually the economies of scale will mean more affordable mid sized and compact vehicles. However, to possibly compensate we are announcing the new EV2 to be sold as a Chevy in mid 2010. It will be a practical sporty five door hatch to compete with the Leaf. The simplicity of an all electric drive train allows us, with our experience, to bring it to market quickly and we have been secretly working in prototype testing. Now the New GM announces it’s availability soon!” A bold decision!
Stan,
Couldn’t disagree more. GM needs the VOLT platform in small, mid and large cars. Personally I really think they need it in the Buick line. Also they need a V6 even if its only 0.5 liters. I4s are rough running in my opinion.
PLEASE DON’T CHANGE THE COBALT NAME TO CRUZE!!! KEEP THE COBALT NAME!! First it was Cavalier. Then renamed to Cobalt. Please don’t rename it again, and change it to Cruze. Keep the Cobalt name!
I’m not a fan of name changing in general, but I dont think there is much to be lost with the dropping of the Cobalt name. The Cobalt has only been around for 5 years and its not really a great brand. To many people “Cobalt” means rental car or government car. It really doesn’t resonate with customers. I think GM is saying the Cruze is so different it needs a brand new name. In addition, this is the worldwide name for the car and GM wants to establish this brand in many countries. Going forward I don’t think they will be using any new compact car names.
Had a chance to drive the new Ford Fiesta at the EAA’s AirVenture at Oshkosh a few weeks ago. From what I saw there, the Cruze has more problems than just a bad name. The new Fiesta looks and drives like a mighty fine car, and it’s not even for sale yet.
GM,
Why aren’t you at events like AirVenture letting people see what you’ve got coming?
Leave it at Cobalt!!!!
Great to here you are trying to listen. I have many gripes with GM though I have owned nothing but GM since I started driving. I am small car guy, tried the big tools with big motors but I just prefer the smaller ones like the Cobalt which I was disgusted to hear it was being replaced instead of updated. And by what? This thing called a Cruze? WTF! This mini malibu(don’t get me wrong, the Malibu is very nice) but this Cruze is just ugly and you are going to offer it with no fun. Instead of millions in development you should have just redid the Cobalt with the Cruze interior and kept the exterior close to the Balt but with a nice refresh. Ashame this great car is going away, guess I well just have to face that my last new GM is going to be my current Cobalt SS/SC. I toyed with the thought of going with a new Turbo but, too much invested in this car and I am sure I can find a TC down the road on some second hand dealer.
[...] “it didn’t seem to fit into the Buick family.” GM vice chairman Tom Stephens writes on the GM FastLane blog that they canceled the vehicle to “prevent a potential underperformer from reaching the [...]
I see no reason to change the name cobalt to cruze. You will make our old cobalts worthless.
OK, am I the only one who finds that comment hysterically funny?
Please show us that GM is listening and build some RWD Buick Wildcat, Buick Riviera, Buick SportWagon, and Buick GS models…
And I hope that GM noticed that many complained about rebadging the Vue as a Buick but not so many complained about rebadging the G8 as a Buick! Rebadging isn’t always bad!
Amen. Put a Buick body on the G8 and call it a Riviera or a Wildcat & I’ll be down to the dealer in a heartbeat. The G8 is a very-well engineer vehicle. No reason to let it go to waste. Why should the Aussie’s get all the good stuff!
The sad part of this entire story is that it took a customer clinic–and Twitter–for a group of well-heeled executives to realize the Vue-ick was a bad idea. This is the kind of decision making that led the old GM to damage great brands like Pontiac and Oldsmobile. It also shows that Fritz doesn’t understand what “badge engineering” really means. I thought I recalled him saying “no badge engineered” cars to a well-intentioned Bob Lutz when Bob wanted to bring the G8 back as a Chevy. And now, Fritz green lighted the Vue-ick to the point it reached a customer clinic? I shake my head in dismay.
I always wanted to work in the automotive industry from the day I turned 5. My dad gave me an Italian sports car steering wheel so I could pretend to drive in the car with him. By the time I was 6, its wood rim seemingly showed 30 years of wear from daily use with my drool-coated fingers. Fifteen years later, my college graduation seemed to occur contemporaneously with the domestic auto industry driving itself in a ditch. I was offered a job with GM, but just couldn’t take the comparatively meager pay and lack of job security compared with my other offers. I can’t imagine how many other talented people were lost to other industries and jobs.
GM, it’s time to lure those talented people back. To the board, it’s time to replace the caustic GM lifers with the fresh blood that lies beneath them. That’s the only way to ensure vehicles like the stillborn Vue-ick is never conceived again.
I honestly think that it is a mistake to get rid of the Cobalt, there are a bunch of Cobalt lovers who will be very disappointed if the car is scrapped. There are tons of us out there who have a Cobalt now and were hoping to get a Cobalt again when the time came to get a new car, and I feel that it won’t be the same with a Cruze
Yup, x2. For the first time I’m considering the next Ford Focus to replace my Cobalt. Like many others I am pissed off at the name change!
What happened to the tuners? Come on Chevy. You were doing great things with the Cobalt SS, but it’s like you took that and just threw it out the window. Is there ever going to be another SS version like the Cobalt?
Tom
great move!!
now, if NewGM does listen to people..
go ahead, read all the replies to Bob Lutz’s recent Blog on Fastlane about the cancelation on the Chevy based on the Pontiac G8……. and do what the people ask.. Bring a wonderful Zeta sedan to the Chevy showrooms!!
I agree I’d love to see a Grand Sport Buick based on the G8.
As I see it, too many middle managers within the GM ranks are lemmings who act based upon what their boss or bosses boss thinks. There is no thinking on your feet, or sounding the alarm when a badge engineered Opel nearly makes it as a Buick. Just go with the flow, and hope you don’t get noticed when the next employee cuts come along. I’ll bet somebody overheard “Oh yeah, Bob Lutz really likes the new Buick Vue”, and then nobody stands up at GM and time and money is wasted until a decision is made based on an external product showcase group. Frankly I’d be embarassed to tell this story – it shows a very broken GM.
Is that the type of workforce that you want at GM, or brandless identity that stands for nothing? Is there nobody inside willing to stand up and take a stance against what was nearly another marketplace flop? It’s this type of attitude that would have allowed the Pontiac Asstek to make it to market. And still you haven’t learned…
People wonder why Pontiac was killed. With the onslaught of badge engineered junk like the Torrent, G5, Sunbird, Aztek, Montana and Vibe – what did you expect? Sure there were outliars like the Solstice (barely) and G8 and GTO, but the family lineage was severly broken due to the internal stupidity allowing the brand to mean nothing. And now you’re using the same playbook for Buick?
If this is the new GM, shut off the lights now and save yourselves further embarrassment. You’re done.
How is Buick following the path of Pontiac? Part of the issue with POntiac was that it was a “sporty” division with too few sporty cars. Buick is not making the same mistake. The Lacrosse is unique within GMNA. The Enclave shares components with other GM products but has its own look and it appropriate for Buick. The 2011 Regal wont look like any non GM product sold in the US. I’m sure the Buick compact will have its own look and more luxury features than the Cruze. Buick is on the right track, they just need MORE product.
“Part of the issue with Pontiac was that it was a “sporty” division with too few sporty cars. Buick is not making the same mistake.”
Right, Buick can be known as the “stodgy” division with too few stodgy cars.
As an employee who participated in the Product & Technology Event, I have to say this is great news as I did not hear any positive comments about the vehicle. It’s unfortunate that the need to make this decision wasn’t recognized sooner, but the good thing is it’s a done deal now. Let’s continue to make all new vehicle launches winners…
[...] before a decision was reached and enacted,” wrote GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens in his blog. “This happened in one [...]
Put it in the GMC Terrain especially since your keepin the V6. Fits w/ that brands image and price point.
I’d appreciate the hybrid technology being applied to a Minivan. I’ve got kids to haul and being able to do that efficiently would be ideal.
I’m sure I’m not the only one.
At the moment, there are NO hybrid minivans for sale in the US market at all.
Take a stand.
[...] GM’s blog, the company’s Vice Chairman Tom Stephens noted that the company received “great [...]
I have been buying GM vehicals for 30 years, most recent a torrent ( very nice, I love it)
however when driving at night I like to turn down my outside mirror when someone is following me
and dim my dash lights.
Well all the dash lights do not dim such as the shift indicator high beem and fog lamp
indicators witch is ok because the mirror control and reostat have no light and I can’t find them
anyway!
The moral of the story: what ever you build don’t forget the DETAILS
So, Gubmint Motors kills a model after the public tells them it’s garbage. How come no one at the Tubes had an inkling that the car was a loser?
Might as well keep the Cruze name. No matter what you pick, people won’t like it. Any name is better than the meaningless alphnumeric soup used by Mercedes, Lexus, Infinity, Acura, BMW, etc. If you enter any of their names into their secret corporate decoder rings, it spells out “overpriced pretentious crap”.
Look at Ford/Lincoln/Mercury names
Fusion – Does the car melt into a sigle blob ?
Milan – A town in Italy ? Its American !
Focus – On what ?
Taurus – The car is bull ?
Mariner – A car named after people piloting a boat ?
Sable – PETA will throw paint on it.
Point is, EVERY name for a car can be as stupid as someone wants it to be. I understand Cruze is being cute for cruising around, having fun driving, etc. Leave it at that, the people who attack it here wouldn’t buy one no matter what you called it.
That was a very funny Post I have to admit.
However, if it is called a Cobalt I have a check made out already. If its called a Cruze, then sayonara GM. I know I’m not the only one. Making loyal GMers angry is not a good way to go about business in this climate.
I agree that names matter, and “Cruze” is a mistake, but if you base your buying decision strictly on the name, you’re making a bigger mistake. To refuse to buy an improved car just because the name was changed is to cheat yourself.
Ted,
Some of us like the alphanumeric soup…. like me. They tell me a lot about products when I compare them. For instance the G5 is smaller then the G6 then the G8…. Can’t do that with product names…
So do I Nate. When I see a BMW 328i*, I know exactly what I’m looking at. Or if I see an MB C300** or C350, again I know what I’m looking at.
In my opinion, the Teutonic way of identifying car models is much better.
___________
* A 3-series body with a 2.8 liter fuel-injected engine.
** A C-class with either a 3.0 or 3.5 liter motor.
Nate, Zeke and others,
I seriously can’t figure out the hatred towards names. Could you imagine your wife telling you that she won’t marry you because you name is Nate?
Also if you like the teutonic naming convention so much more because “you know what you’re looking at”, then do you name your kids “Boy 1″ for the first born boy, and “Girl 1″ for the first born girl, and then “Boy 2″ and so on? That way when I meet your family I know exactly that A) that “Boy 1″ is in fact a boy and B) is older than “Boy 2″ And I assume you refer to your wife as “Wife” since using her name would not tell me she is married to you. It’s rediculous.
And as for what each names means, does it really matter? I bet if you look the world over, there are many meanings for each word. To say that LaCrosse is an Indian game is stupid. Or to say that “Escalade” is a ladder. Wow, apperently the Camry means crown (just read that somewhere), however I doubt any royalty will ever be transported in a Camry, and I don’t think anyone would ever wear a car on their head. I guess we should boycott the Camry too, because it isn’t used for it’s named purpose, and since Monarchy’s aren’t good, we should punish Toyota for trying to tell us they are good.
The moral of the story is. the naming thing has gotten way out of hand. And I agree with Frank, to not buy a car because of it’s name is only cheating yourself.
sorry charlie, the 328i is not a 2.8 litre fuel injected engine…it is a 3.0 liter…the 330i is a 3.0 litre turbocharge engine, both with fuel injection…………
Ted,
You forgot to do a riff on Enclave, Escalade, Lacrosse, and Lucerne.
Enclave ~ a special type of ghetto. All enclaves are ghettoes, but not all ghettoes are enclaves.
Escalade – French for ladder, steps, or escalator
Lacrosse ~ A Native American game, the French word for “The Cross,” or a city in Wisconsin
Lucerne ~ A city in Switzerland, or where I live, a brand of milk and yoghurt.
Why rebadge the VUE but not the G8? Not a good start , on other blogs you hear GM doesnt like to rebage as the excuse for no G8 then turn around and in the same breath announce the rebadged VUE.
So which is it? The New GM listens ( not to pontiac owners/ enthusiasts) or we dont rebadge ( unless its Saturn).
Just seems like another round of ‘old GM’ thinking in a new wrapper.
The entry level Cadillac (ATS) should be a sedan first and it should target the Lexus IS on looks. Coupe is nice but the sedan would sell better in this segment. Grille should not be overbearing for this entry level model.
The Converj design should be offered as a high end coupe.
Cadillac should have an SUV like the Enclave.
The question should not be does it look like a Cadillac, the question should be what market segment are we missing on style and target that. (People know a Cadillac when they see it).
Lexus looks like everything else on the market – Its the most for the jelly bean design out there thats why its outselling its foreign competition.
BUICK – affordable luxury sport segment –
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Brand Mystique – Stylish IMAGE – Quality perception – Value .
—————————————————————————–
Buick line-up – interpretation of what GM should do after seeing.
1. Riviera sedan – 2000 Lacrosse concept as the next Riviera sedan. Why hasn’t this style been built yet? What is GM waiting for? This car could be built on the Aurora chasis with a window dip. Buick should have this flagship name and look to energize the base. The 2000 LaCrosse concept design gets practically universal accolades at the country club set. Should offer a small V-8 option can be either OHV or OHC. Can be FWD. Flagship Riviera sedan should replace Lucerne.
2. Regal – Shanghai Riviera concept should be a “sedan” first and coupe and be the next Regal. The front of this car gets universal accolades. The comments are it would be better as a sedan. It would undercut the Lexus IS and Acura market for sure. What is GM waiting for?
3. LaCrosse – fantastic ride with great interior. Beautiful rear design and side profile. The Buick grille should offer a toned down or painted option for a sport model with a rear spoiler. Review 77 Cutlass Supreme and 76-77 Grand Prix grilles for inspiration at Buick.
4. Grand National (G8) if possible. RWD. (not just black seats – needs recline levels – not those difficult knobs – at least 60% American content on the G8).
5. Wild Cat – small Buick roadster like the Solstice.
6. Skylark – small Buick sedan and coupe.
Not sure Buick needs an SUV with the Acadia.
The Saturn VUE is probably better as a Chevy or a GMC.
The Malibu should have a guage cluster more like the LaCrosse and the Malibu needs grab handles like the LaCrosse. The Malibu should offer perforated leather. LaCrosse guage cluster are easier to view than the Malibu or CTS.
Future Malibu exterior updates should target Volkswagon styling cues rather than Accord. Rear angles of future Malibu design are better than the front angles. The Accord/Camry is ‘too much like everything out there’ comment. That is what can give GM the competitive edge on design. Current Malibu actually looks better than Accord/Camry and just needs exposure and market penetration.
Color combos – try bronze mist exterior with gray leather interior, more sky blue with dark tan leather, mist blue with cashmere leather – steel gray/silver with saddle tan leather interior – . White diamond with tan leather interior. Make lower rocker panels dark contrast.
Trade in value promise – more for trade-in instead of high rebates. Look at the high response on cash for clunkers. People react to a good trade in offer. This is what the foreign competition does.
*Talk-up powertrain technology features in the brochure and on the web.
*American pride. – GM is doing is extra-large part to contribute to the landscape of America.
Make sure people know about it – how can they believe if they have not heard?
“The Saturn VUE is probably better as a Chevy or a GMC. “
It will end up as BOTH a Chevy and a GMC so they can compete against other. That would be the GM way.
The Cadillac XTS has nice proportions. Like the possiblity of a v angle verticle tail light look from the 64 Bonneville.
best concept designs:
2000 Buick LaCrosse concept as close the original as possible. Gorgeous. (8 spoke wheels) fall 2010 introduction V-8 option.The original drawing of this car was so perfect. Name it a Riviera sedan.
Other best concept elements are Sabatini Toronado front end – gorgeous
many of Sabatini interpretations of classic GM tail light designs are very strong.
Shanhai Riviera concept – front end gorgeous.
Jason Godsil Tucker concept -very good.
Lincoln MKR concept front angle best, rear angle just ok.
Ford Forty-Nine concept front very strong.
Ford Iosis concept car.
Lincoln Mark X concept grille and tail lights.
Lincoln continental concept very strong.
2010 Mercury Milan front with 2009 Mercury Milan tail lights.
new Ford products are very stong, 2010 Taurus, 2010 Milan, 2010 Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, MKX.
Lincoln MKS – tires are too big, doors are too tall, trunk opening is hard to use. Front end is good tail lights are good, interior is good.
judging by looks and size, 2009 milan tail lights should bolt right on to the 2010 milan….i would actually switch to the 09 rear bumber as well…i just hate the way it attaches under the taillights!!!!
actually, i would prefer a 2010 fusion with a 09 milan rear bumper, trunk and taillights….would look WAY better!!!!…front end on the fusion is very atractive but the rear end looks childish/gimicky!!!!…esp with the little hump on the bottom edge of the taillights and the diamond pattern on the taillights!!!!…..actually, all never fords have at least decent looking front ends, rear ends, not so much…the current focus looks like someone through up!!!horrible!!!interior matches the exterior, i will give you that!!!!
[...] it back. In fact, Tom Stephens, GM’s vice chairman for product development admitted in a GM blog post that the company reacted after listening to feedback from many sources including customers, [...]
I am just visiting to check out this “new GM” thing. It seems like Mr. Tom Stephens had someone on his staff cook up his blog post. That isn’t very authentic or fun.
And by the way, why isn’t Mr. Stephens responding to everyone’s points here on his blog to prove to us that he is actually listening, instead of just lending his name to some re-branding campaign that involves “newfangled” technology like “A Blog.”
Prove that you are listening, Tom. Make a comment. Respond. People read your post and they responded to what you said, or what your staff wrote and you signed off on.
So now (and this is how the game is played) you respond to them. Thereby showing us that you are actually listening.
Show.
Not.
Tell.
I was one of the people at the event and I got to drive quite a few of the cars as well as look at a number of future concepts. All in all, I was pretty pleased with the improvements in overall quality. There were certainly less corners that had been cut. I recall renting a 2005 Malibu when I was in Hawaii a few years back. The trunk was absolutely flimsy, the paint on the inside edges of the doors was so think you could see primer in some places and the engine bay was a sea of plastic molded covers. The new cars I saw there were greatly improved.
That said, I’m not really a big fan of the way the wheels and wheel wells look on your large truck and midsized SUVs. The wheel wells are enormous. All you see in back behind the wheel. This subsequently makes the wheels look tiny and undersized. I assume this is a fuel efficiency measure but it looks sort of ridiculous.
In regards to the Cadillac concepts, I was happy to finally see a replacement for the ages STS.The barnd really needed an upper end flagship car. I wasn’t nuts about the “small” cadillac. It basically looked like a smaller version of the CTS. I think more could be done to give it a more youthful, almost sporty appearance. Perhaps a bit more aggresive styling in the front and rear.
I liked the Spark. You’ll sell those things like pancakes, especially out here in Cali. I felt the instrument cluster was pretty zany. It reminded me of something you’d see on a scooter. Not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing. But its certainly original.Its one of the first micro cars I’ve seen that doesn’t feel like what it costs. I really did not like the new Aveo replacement. The proportions were all wrong. It looked a bit bloated and the design was bland. I would get rid of the Aveo entirely. The current Aveo is junk and its not helping your image of being a rennaisane company.
I liked the new buick lineup of small to mid-sized sedans but feel that there is a need for a flagship, full-sized model that oozes luxury. I just recently saw pics of the Chinese Regal. Beautiful car. I think a version of it would do well here. The cars I saw there looked all a bit too much the same. To me they looked sort of like smaller versions of the same car.
Lastly, thanks for having me there. It was an honor and you all are extremely professional and seem to be fully on top of the game. My only regret is that I didn’t get to drive the Camero or ride in the Volt. That and I got all nervous when I met Bob Lutz and couldn’t think of anything cool to say!
We need more models to take up the slack for the loss of Pontiac. You know darn well, without more models for Buick, these knuckleheads will be buying more Jap cars. Pontiac people are not going to buy a Chevy!
[...] GM is actively listening to what the public wants, and due to customer feedback, GM has decided to cancel production of the Buick crossover. The plug-in technology that was originally slated for this vehicle will be applied to a different future model. For more information, read GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephen’s post on the GM FastLane Blog. [...]
Mr. Stephens, your self-congratulatory comments on GM making a quick decision to stop the Buick crossover speak volumes about the company’s flawed product development process, which apparently hasn’t gotten any better under the “new GM”.. Frankly, that badge-engineered vehicle should never have gotten to the stage it did. Unfortunately, no such restraint has been shown in getting the Terrain into production.
I am curious…when the CARS Program ceases next week, ending the Federally subsidized purchase of new vehicles and sales significantly drop, do you have new resource requirement plans already in place to obtain additional bailout money for the rest of the year to keep GM out of bankruptcy?
Sheth said “Buick is not making the same mistake”. Buick has said time and time again that they want to be compared to Lexus. Show me a Lexus that is a thinly rebadged Rav 4, or maybe an xB. Put a Lexus grille on either one it and call it a day – right? Never in a million years. Oh but that is good enough for GM and Buick. Good enough until a group of outsiders bitch slaps you back into reality and tells you how dumb your idea really is. The cheap way out and good enough should never be allowed at GM – not when a brand reputation and the company survival is at stake.
This is the stupidity that I’m talking about – the same shortsighted logic that caused Pontiac to go down among the “damaged brands”. And anyone defending this is helping nobody. It’s acting just like the GM insiders that approved this Vueick to move forward.
If you don’t know what your brand is, what it stands for and how to protect it, you should find another line of work. The cheap way out is the wrong way out, but GM is seemingly too oblivious to learn from past mistakes.
Amen!
Todd Baumgarten,
I disagree.. I’ve always been a Pontiac driver but today I think the Buicks are light years ahead of Pontiacs.
I’m a little confused by GM’s future product brands vision. It did not make sense to me for them to kill off the “excitement” brand and keep stodgy, old Buick. The paradigm shift needed in public opinion to bring profitable numbers to a Buick showroom strikes me as much greater than it would have been to broaden Pontiac’s appeal. Then, what do I know?
CTS wagon? Still-born. Never should have wasted time and resources for the American market. Not a profitable endeavor. Thank goodness they The new Vauxhall Insignia that is to become the 2012 Buick Regal. Just put Buick badges on its grill and decklid and I would actually think about owning my first Buick. Are you really listening, GM?
Unfortunately, The “new GM” cares even less about their customers than the “old GM” did. Buick sucks, get over it. no matter what you rebadge as a buick, it will still never be a Pontiac. You corporate bean counters make me sick. Fritz and Lutz need to be fired ASAP because they are destroying a company that took years to build. Pontiac is the only car company that stands out among the rest of the GM lineup. It is the only performance division you have. You have lost billions of customers as a result of your decision to kill this sacred American brand. And now, you shove all your old, ugly cars that nobody likes, down our throats. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY under 50 is going to buy a buick. And your Chevrolet lineup is absolutely terrible as well. The ‘new camaro’ is the ugliest car this side of the planet.The GMC brand is a re-badge of Chevrolet. And cadillac also shares its design with Chevrolet. How BORING can you get GM? look at your sales records in America. look how much more cars Pontiac sold compared to boring old buick. Who cares what the Chinese want. they will eventually stop buying your ugly buicks, and then what? Thats right, you haven’t thought of that yet. Your looking at “oh, buick is selling better in china than anywhere else, lets keep them and kill our four best brands here in America.” Yea, we know how you think Fritz and Lutz. We are not stupid. We know you want to please everyone other than your American customers, the ones that got you here in the first place. But when the time comes, in a few months, when the chinese get bored with your nasty looking buicks, what will you do? You will have no sports car that appeals to people who are not millionaires , no luxury or classy cars, and certainly no performance cars in your line up to please the loyal customers that you will eventually abandon too. GM will only be able to offer cheap plastic interiors, underpowered and boring engines, ugly body styles, and a bunch of rebadged GMC, Chevy, Cadillac, or Buick cars on your lots that you will never sell. the only option you have to keep a future like this from happening, is to keep Pontiac. Right now in the United States of America, Pontiac is your second highest selling brand. Pontiac OUTSOLD Buick and Cadillac COMBINED. And then Pontiac went on to sell TRIPLE the combined amount of your your Buick and Cadillac line-up. And that was only in July. did you see the sales figures in June? they are almost identical. Starting to see anything yet? Pontiac is your best brand, and you need to keep it. listen to your LOYAL GM customers who have bought your vehicles for years, and keep Pontiac.
Wow…where to even start on this post.
“Buick sucks” – personal opinion, with no data to back it up.
“No matter what you rebadge as a Buick, it will still never be a Pontiac” – You’re right, Buicks are much nicer cars, despite not having the performance edge on Pontiac
“Fritz and Lutz need to be fired ASAP…” – Fritz has only been the head guy for a couple of months, and GM was hurting well before he took over. To say he’s destroying the company is just not true.
“(Pontiac) is the only performance division you have” You mean the only performance car Pontiac had – the G8? The G3 and G4 are definately not performance oriented. The G6 was alright, but could be matched by the Malibu for the most part. Also, ever heard of the Chevy Corvette and Camaro? How about Cadillac CTS-V, STS-V?
“You have lost billions of customers…” – Billions? Really? I don’t think GM has sold Billions of any brand, and maybe not even as an entire company. Pontiac sold a couple hundred thousand cars in the last couple of years. Several orders of magnitude from “billions”
“Nobody, and I mean NOBODY under 50 is going to buy a Buick” – Really? You know that as a fact, because I bet I can find several people in the next 10 minutes that are under 50 that bought a Buick.
“They (Chinese) will stop buying Buicks” – Again, you know this as fact?
“…kill our four best brands in America” – please expain how you think Hummer, Pontiac, Saturn and Saab are GM’s four best brands. It can’t be buy sales, because Chevy holds that crown. Probably not profitability. Not reliability because Buick has that. Not performance, because Chevy and Cadillac have more higher performance models than Pontiac.
“…no luxury, classy, of performance cars…” – Again, Corvette? Camaro? CTS-V? LaCrosse (classy)
Keeping something just because it sold a lot of vehicles doesn’t make sense, and I’m willing to bet that GM didn’t make as much money on Pontiac as they can and do on Buick and Chevy. You do realize that GM is in business to make money.
Wow, I can’t believe I even spent the time to reply to that…
If axing this vehicle is the right thing do do and the decision could be reached so quickly… why did it take a bunch of Twits to get you to move?
On August 20, 2009 at 2:14 pm Edwin said:
The entry level Cadillac (ATS) should be a sedan first and it should target the Lexus IS on looks. Coupe is nice but the sedan would sell better in this segment. Grille should not be overbearing for this entry level model.
I agree with Edwin – the CTS, nice as it is, is overdone on the grille. More streamlined and much less smaller grille would be great on the ATS. Also, the 3.6L DI with AWD and 6 SPEED MANUAL is a must for this car. If Cadillac wants to compete with Audi and BMW, the 6 speed manual and AWD is an absolute must. Of course the other CTS goodies like aromatic leather w/ french leather (heated and cooled), Bose stereo, NAV, bluetooth connectivity, and iPod connections are also expected in every Cadillac.
It’s pretty sad that there is no premium car from a Detroit nameplate that is less than 185″ long (except for the Corvette).
If I am missing one, please let me know.
Thanks Rod,
Agree. Both the CTS and the Camaro are great cars. They are doing well in their respective segment. They would do even better if GM implements the following cars to round out the plan. Home run singles don’t make a whole team in baseball either. GM should hear us that they are missing a large segment of the business with products to target the Lexus IS on looks AND the mid-size executive car luxury sport segment which relishes a small V-8 option. These market segments influential among car buyers and attract attention with their purchases. This should be a top priority at both Cadillac and Buick now. Keep in mind that these segments aren’t concerned about +/- 2 mpg difference in a small V-8 option, while the 4 cyclinder luxury buyer looks for size as an image more than whether it has a 4 or 6. These segments are image conscious and lifestyle oriented. The executive family often are SUV owners looking for an additional car to park in garage number 3. GM is missing these car buyers at an unbelievable rate. What’s parked next to the Acadia and Escalade in this family’s garage is the question GM needs to wake up to. What does the spouse want to drive around on the shopping spree. What does the son/daughter really want. This family may have 3 to 5 vehicles. Often they will be newer and include all sizes. The millenial generation, sons and daughters are more patriotic – as the polls show – and many want to buy American, they want to KNOW MORE ABOUT AMERICAN CARS, believe me, they ASK questions of American car owners, I get them all the time, like how do you like your Camaro . . ., Firebird . . . Cadillac . . . How do you like your . . . American car . . simply because their parents can’t advise them, and they really want they American model. This is encouraging to hear. Their parents own foreign brands and the kids like the American models more . . .. If GM offered the right choices of cars to suit their image and lifestyle this would probably overcome their parents choice of a Lexus or enable them to get their parents to try the American model. Then there are those who already have an American SUV and just can’t find the American sedan or coupe they want to buy so they start looking at foreign brands. GM enthusiasts have the answers. . . .
Encouraging to learn that those awesome engineers I mentioned are working on a Cadillac ATS concept. At the same time, they really seem to have heard GM enthusiasts on the Cadillac XTS which hopefully will have the curves its needs to penetrate the competition and lure the executive car segment buyer while energizing GM’s base customer. The XTS should not have a straight dash but offer more of the executive car dash cluster dash and shift lever with the STS refinement.
The Cadillac ATS concept as a sport sedan first, gives GM the opportunity to lead in the 4 cyclinder luxury sport segment. Mercedes C, BMW 135 i, Lexus IS, and well as Audi are creating an image for the competition among the small luxury enthusiast. These buyers also may work their way up the chain to other luxury cars, or even eventually own more than one or two models. We like coupes, but we’re saying to build these entry cars as sport sedans to gain sales momentum first. Don’t miss the market. (Most of the competition’s sales come from their base models, so the performance version is there to show case the car). BMW 135 i is a coupe and that can come once GM builds the sales volume in the ATS sedan and Buick sedan versions of this segment.
HOT 4 CYCLINDER LUXURY SEGMENT
GM should build both the Cadillac ATS as a sedan first and the Shanghai Riviera concept as a Regal sedan to entice the small luxury segment buyers. GM”s persistence will return a profit and reward in this segment.. The Olds Trofeo at one time was a stand alone beautiful coupe that did tempt quite a few BMW buyers at the time. Back then, GM did not seem to have an winning overall strategy for the product line. With both an ATS and a Buick version offered in a sedan first GM would clobber the competiition.
These small luxury segment cars should feature beach side commercials of the millenials generation gazing at it, just as Honda commercials have done.
SMALL V-8 option for the Midsize LUXURY/EXECUTIVE CAR SEGMENT
Build the 2000 LaCrosse concept as a sedan (what a beautiful car) and call it a Riviera sedan. This is the market for this car, these buyers really want a real Riviera name car and this car is the one. The Olds Aurora is somewhat similar to the 2000 Lacrosse concept:
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/buick/2000-buick-lacrosse-concept-ar396/pictures.html
This 2000 Lacrosse concept as a Riviera sedan having the small V-8 option maybe a 5.3, could offer a supercharged version to take on Mercedes in ads. Talk about energizing Buick, this would really do it. The base model Riviera could offer a fuel efficient verson of the 3.0 V-6.
The foregoing strategy enables GM to focus its 2010 LaCrosse 3.0 V-6 on fuel economy and make it achieve better than Lexus ES on fuel.
XTS could offer the 3.6L V-6 and the 4.6L V-8. Cadillac should keep the Northstar for the top line until it has the Ultra.
Buick Riviera luxury sedan could offer the 3.0L V-6 and 5.3L V-8
This strategy of offering both performance options and fuel efficient options would better achieve GM’s goals of IMAGE and sales dominance while achieve efficiency goals.
2000 LaCrosse Concept is a WINNER
Lincoln would be much farther ahead on its image and overall sales if had offered the executive car MKR concept with a small V-8 offering at the top of the line. There a lot of people who want to buy the Lincoln MKR as a sedan at the country club, but even more of them took immediately to the 2000 LaCrosse concept when the pictures were laid on the table. The 2000 LaCrosse concept beat EVERY concept sedan from the foreign competition at the country club among all ages groups. I was even taken aback by how many people with certainty preferred it over the Lexus.
Our tour was a whirl wind tour, and what a great opportunity, but if we’d had more intense time to share input . . .
AND ONE MORE THING,
The 2010 LaCrosse is selling fast. This is really going to be big for GM and boost the companies image. Everyone who sees the car and sits in it is saying they want it. Another friend wants one of these new LaCrosses.
GM should ask all the dealers not to have these adjusted market value stickers on the new LaCrosse or put any tinsel after market add-on the door pilars unless the customer wants it.
This new LaCrosse is boosting GM’s and Buick’s image. Its very important to sell as many as as people want to buy and place orders. Say yes, yes, yes, whatever the customer wants to have on the car.
The LaCrosse CXL with perforated leather, wood steering wheel and sun roofs are flying off the lots. They have none left at the dealers in central florida. And MOST people don’t even know the car exists yet. Most seem to say they don’t know about it yet. This car is going to turn the tide for GM.
At the GM event, many wanted to drive the the CTS-V, the Corvette, the V-8 products. There is a reason. . . . .
The Riviera Sedan (2000 LaCrosse concept with a small V-8 . . . . . .
What is with the sudden want to change the name Cruze to Cobalt?!?!? Changing from Cavalier to Cobalt back in 2004-2005 was a mistake. The Cavalier was a long running car that sold good. The problem: The 90’s in to the 00’s, GM was caring about the upcoming GMT-800 trucks and cared way less about the rest of the lineup. The foucs was TRUCKS. The Cavalier, did good, but then GM let it go. That, however, can no longer happen and must not happen. So, why keep the change from Cobalt to Cruze?? I see it as, the Cruze is a new car. Yes, the platform is the second generation Delta platform, under the current Cobalt, but starting with a new name, for one of the best GM small cars in a while is the right thing to do. Changing names shows that GM is much more responsible, and that they are trying to rid of the old GM’s desicions and mistakes.
ps: Was the small Buick crossover really a re-badged Vue? Or was that picture made up by someone to give an example of what would happen (two-mode CUV)??
http://www.egmcartech.com/2009/06/10/video-next-generation-buick-enclave-clay-model-spotted-on-cbs-news/
Tom: As a participant in the Product Technology Event on August 10th, I would like to thank GM for the invitation and say that I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the Heritage Center and the chance to see the great vehicles GM produced in the past. The next day it was an honor to be given a sneak peek at future products at the Design Center and would like to provide some feedback on the new vehicles shown.
1. I really liked the GMC concept shown as did many in my group including my fellow Southern California guests, and we thought GM should show it at an upcoming SoCal Auto Show.
2. The Buick “Compact” sedan was very nice and will do well in the California market as long as GM offers a competitive powertrain, something like a NA version of the 2.0L DI Turbo as a base with 1.4L and 2.0L Turbo engines as options.
3. I thought the “Mid-Size” Buick sedan had an aggressive style which will find success in SoCal and think that GM should consider a Wagon version of it as a stylish, more affordable FWD/AWD option for buyers who may like the CTS wagon but either prefer FWD or cannot afford the CTS price today, but will in the future.
4. The Buick crossover concept looked good and will be a great option for those who find the Enclave too big for their needs.
5. Liked the Spark and was pleasantly surprised with the interior space and the fresh approach taken in the dash design.
6. The Aveo concept had a more aggressive look than today’s and was wondering if GM was going to offer it in a Coupe and 4-door sedan, the 5-door is acceptable since the Yaris 3 and 5-door sell in SoCal but I see many 4-Door versions of the Yaris on California roads. GM should consider using the Coblat name on the new Aveo since it is close in size and can build on the still competitive existing Cobalt giving current Cobalt owners a car to buy.
7. Was impressed with the Cruze styling and really liked the added interior room and fact that the rear seat has a nicely angled back rest for more comfort when I got a chance to sit in the one at the proving grounds, GM should do well with it but think GM should retain the Cobalt name and offer a Coupe version for younger buyers.
8. The Orlando concept was nicely sized and liked the idea that it can seat seven adults with good leg room for all passengers.
9. The Volt has a sporty upscale look to it with an innovative and nicely appointed interior to go with it’s innovative powertrain technology and liked it’s 5-door hatch versatility.
10. The Malibu was a surprise and looks alot more expensive than what it is likely to sell at in the competitive mid-size segment, and even the interior is an improvement on the current Malibu’s class leading interior (quite an accomplishment). Any chance of a Monte Carlo Coupe version?
11. Loved the small Cadillac concept and am glad GM is finally offering a car in a segment with a strong sales history in California.
12. The large Cadillac concept looks like a Cadillac should with good proportions with an more elegant and expensive look to it than the current DTS or STS.
Overall all the new concepts were impressive and show GM is at the top in terms of styling and powertrains across a wide variety of segments, the cancelled Buick crossover was nice but I can see were it overlaps the recently introduced Equinox, Terrain and SRX which can use the Plug-In Hybrid powertrain and think the GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX would be the best starting points, then offer it in the Equinox a year later, or maybe use the impressive 2.4L DI in a Equinox variant for better MPG.
I will comment on the recently introduced models and upcoming CTS Coupe along with driving impressions in a separate post.
Product Technology event.
GM staff was most impressive. The engineers we drove with we’re awesome.
Also share your concerns that GM should have the V-8 products for the luxury sport segment and keep it updated. The LS V-8 and the 5.3 may do the job with updated features. Both Cadillac and Buick’s luxury sport image are VERY important if GM is going to retake the car market like we are telling them.
Keep in mind that there is the STS with the 4.6 V-8 NorthStar six speed which has driver shift controls is very sporty. GM doesn’t advertise it like Mercedes does their perforamce models.
The latest Mercedes commercial of the V-8 luxury sedan that crashes through the dealer window, does a 180, and lands perfectly in the showroom?
Mercedes is not afraid to sound off about its top end cars and to be very bragadoceous. The E550 has 382 hp, 7 speeds, at $56K price MSRP. Lexus GS has 341 hp. These products are affecting GM’s image and gravy. GM simply has to change this in order to retake the overall car market.
I asked someone why they bought the 750 BMW when the STS is really just as nice and cost less.
They said they liked the big tax deduction they got from the lease and the price wasn’t important.
Lexus peddles their ES350 to the mass market and it supposedly averages 22 mpg and qualifies for cash for clunkers? But they generate their Image from products like the 8 speed GS with 341 hp.
Time to pay attention to he GM enthusiasts, wouldn’t you say.
That executive board that makes these fast decisions. HUM.
Hate to bring this up:
3.0 LaCrosse 3.0 averages 20 mpg. Lexus ES 350 averages 22 mpg.
Why is GM letting the EPA do these phony mpg averages?
Since we as enthusiasts are beiing asked to swallow a V-6, when we aren’t going to by the way, the Lexus ES 350 V-6 averages 22 mpg and the Lexus GS gets 341 hp.
You see, GM enthusiasts are right. GM is letting itself be walked on by the government and the EPA.
The STS V-8 Northstar is still a favorite with 320 hp. I prefer the STS, but GM enthusiasts expect corporate join us. The STS Northstar six speed feels more powerful than its competition, could be the torque and the better GM transmission. So if the potential buyer actually drove the STS Northstar they’d probably be persuaded. My friends E55 AMG has more horsepower on paper, but the STS Northstar six speed actually feels as strong and has a better overall feel.
However, GM should fix these paper tigers and make it so the products and the message win.
The CTS-V outperforms the BMW M5 in the latest competition. But notice, the message is not out there.
IMAGE
With the XTS, the CTS, and the ATS, still feel its very important for Buick to have a competitive luxury sport sedan. The 2000 LaCrosse concept is the most impressive design presented in this class by any automaker. GM still has the Aurora on the shelf.
The 3.0 V-6 and the 3.6 V-6 feel good for a V-6, nice acceleration, but its still a V-6. There are those of us who want the V-8 feel.
And they should really offer a smaller attractive sedan to target the Lexus IS at the entry level. They seem to be working on it. the ATS needs to be a sedan first and the grille needs to be flowing and attractive.
Lexus even stuck a 5.0L V-8 in the IS and calls it F performance.
1. Buick should build both the 2000 LaCrosse concept sedan as the Riviera with a window dip, and a V-8 option.
AND
2. Buick should build the shanghai Riverira concept as a Regal sedan.
Let’s see these decisions made fast.
The LaCrosse should already offer the ecotec 4 cyclinder if GM is so concerned about mileage. I don’t want to hear we can’t do this or that. If you can’t make the 3.0 V-6 average 22 mpg for cash for clunkers on the LaCrosse and you can’t put the Ecotec 4 in it right away, then don’t come up with excuses that you can’t build the 2000 LaCrosse concept and offer a small V-8.
Imagine the 2000 LaCrosse concept V-8 option taking on that Mercedes in a commercial.
GM wants IMAGE, we’ll GM enthusiasts just gave you a plan for image. More than one if you read all the way back. We’re on your side but you gotta trust US, we are your FRIENDS and we’ve been right plenty of times.
I think, this model not only will work for South America, but also for Europe and even the US:
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/6546388/news/first-photos-of-production-2010-chevrolet-agile/index.html
To me this looks like an attractive successor of the Aveo.
As an Engineer I found the tour of the Pre-Production Volt assembly to be insightful and found Frank Weber’s presentation educational and proved to me that the Volt is on schedule and will be produced.
Now for some driving impressions and some improvements I shared with the GM staff who rode with us and asked for suggestions.
1. Liked the Terrain and think GM should offer a “Off Road” capable trim package with larger more aggressive tires, a one to two inch higher stance with a more off road capable differential with hill decent assist, similar to the one Jeep has for the Patriot. A model like this fits the Terrain’s styling and would be attractive to buyers in the Northeast looking for a vehicle that can go through snow covered roads, and the modest lift will maintain the Terrain’s excellent on road handling capabilities. The Terrrain’s aggressive styling allows GM to offer Off Road accessories like a front brush guard and GM should provide the suspension, skid plates and drivetrain upgrades to permit some real Off-Road capability. This would fit GMC’s “Professional Grade” image with a small crossover with class leading (Professional) capabilities and broaden GMC’s customer base with buyers who want more capability but may not want a Jeep.
2. The Acadia has a sporty look to it and hope GM offers the Denali version hinted at the design center with a 300 HP version of the 3.6L and magna-ride suspension.
3. CTS needs a V8 option to better align with the 5-series that offers two I-6 with a V8 and top M-Series V10, maybe a 340 HP DI version of the 5.3L and add displacement designators like the competition with CTS 3.0, CTS 3.6, CTS 5.3 to compliment the CST-V which lke the M-Series is defined by the “V” not displacment.
4. Really liked the CTS wagon and was surprised at the amount of cargo room available within an attractive exterior.
5. New Sierra was impressive to this truck owner with better chassis dynamics than my GMT800 and liked the performance of the AFM engine, and liked the Two-Mode Hybrid powertrain in the Denali with transparent transistion between “modes” and look forward to next generation of this system.
6. I found the HCCI powertrain to be nearly transparent with only one instance where there was a slightly harsh changeover (something like a firm downshift), and was informed that they are close to eliminating this problem, to me the HCCI concept holds great promise and I was encouraged by the performance of the prototype and even issues like a few the changeover would not be a deterrent to buyers who like to own the latest in technology. GM should consider a real world HCCI trail program like the Hydrogen Fuel Cell “Project Driveway” one.
7. The Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered Equinox was impressive and don’t think most drivers would know that it was not conventionally powered except for the smooth power and slight “electric motor” sound which I actually liked. I was also encouraged with that the next generation is much smaller and wish I had more time to take a closer look at the display at the proving grounds.
8. The 2011 version of the Duramax was quiet and powerful with smooth shifts from the transmission and the only negative was the news that the 4.5L Turbo-diesel V8 is not likely for production for a while yet – if ever, unless there are changes in standards and a market uptick.
9. Only had time to drive the Camaro 3.6L V6 and it was impressive with plenty of power to go with the responsive chassis and would have liked to drive the V8 version to compare but it was a popular car and time just ran out.
10. Another impressive engine was the 2.4L DI I-4 in the Terrain and made the Terrain one of my favorite vehicles at the proving grounds with ample power from the 2.4L that complimented a surprisingly good handling of the Crossover’s chassis with a well appointed interior and IMO a great looking exterior, all that and a 32 MPG rating for the FWD version.
11. Not all the products were what I expected and was disappointed in the performance of the 3.0L V6, especially in the LaCrosse where it felt lackluster and had very poor low end power, my Dad’s 3.5L powered Impala feels much better and the extra HP from the 3.0L could not offset the added weight of the LaCrosse over the Impala. The 3.0L V6 did feel better in the Terrain so it might be the slightly lower power rating in the LaCrosse or how the engine is “mapped” to transmission shifts, but the LaCrosse CX and Terrain I drove are very close in overall weight so not sure what the difference in feel is due to.
12. I found the exterior of the LaCrosse CX trim level to be cheap looking and lacking features like Fog Lights that every single competitor to the LaCrosse provide as standard equipment, the Vue-ick was cancelled becuse of these things, is GM going to correct issues like this to ensure the Buick LaCrosse is considered “class competitive” to it’s rivals or be viewed as a noticeable “step down” in prestige from the competition. GM has one last chance to get this right and missing details like not putting Fog Lights on a car in this segment shows GM has not done it’s homework very well, and is taking a risk that the LaCrosse may not establish itself as a “contender” in this profitable segment.
The CTS Coupe looked great in person but not available to drive and should do very well when offered.
I was impressed with the new Cruze interior and the extra room it provides over the Cobalt will surprise many with it’s level of interior design, materials and build quality.
The only “negative” thing I can say about the experience is that there just was not enough time to take in everything that was available to evaluate and really wish I could have driven the CTS-V, but was quite popular and I got wrapped up in looking at and driving the other vehicles like the HCCI and Fuel Cell. I also missed a ride in the Volt and was actually hoping we could have driven one at least for a short time to get a feel for what it was like compared to the Fuel Cell, HCCI or Two-Mode Hybrids.
There was also not enough time to take a good look at drivetrain models at the proving grounds and would suggest if GM does something like this again to do the Heritage and Design Center tours the first night (if possible) and spend next day at proving grounds.
Overall I cannot complain since GM did do everything it could have to get all of us around to these areas of interest and experience driving some of it’s upcoming products.
Some suggestions for GM to consider would be to do something similar in Southern California where many of GM’s best vehicles are “not on the radar” of many buyers and the media coverage and positive feedback from participants will go a long way to improving GM’s product consideration in California. If GM does do one on California they should include all Opel and Holden models not offered here for evaluation – it may get a few surprises on what California buyers really like and the best way to do it is to put real customers in real cars and let them experience them.
The California market can be quite a lucrative one for GM if it can only figure out what features and powertrains Californians want and in what vehicle, from what I saw GM is closer than they may think although there are alot of “holes” that need filled for true success.
What is this about? So some computer geeks shared that they didn’t like rebadging a Saturn as a Buick.
It is so reassuring that forum geeks are concerned about Buick’s brand equity.
I guess those kids were just about to buy their first Buick (which they always aspired to), but they just can’t stomach the dilusion of brand values by rebadging the Vue/Antara.
Congratulations for listening to what they had to say.
So what’s gonna be the replacement for this project? My proposal: Rebadge the Winstorm/Captive, but don’t tell anyone…
Hi Peter, I just wanted to let you know that as a GM employee, I was given the opportunity to view a full scale model of the vehicle in question. I was one of 120 and there were 100 potential GM customers and numerous media pundits that also viewed the model. This large group of people was diverse in terms of age, gender, race, job held, etc. It was the overwhelming negative response from this large number of diverse people that led to the decision.
Thanks Christy… I still don’t believe that GM should care.
I see no honest reason for an “overwhelmingly negative response”. Sure, it’s heavy and rather dull to drive, but – and that’s what matters at those events – it looks good, with refreshingly crisp lines. It obviously passed the clinics as a Saturn. But in the case of the Vue, that doesn’t mean it looks frugal in any way.
I would imagine the response was triggered by the desire of those present to ventilate their superior knowledge… “Eww, it’s a rebadged Saturn!”
Followed, inevitably, by an incantation of the shopworn Cimarron analogy.
Eww.
As a mom, I will be impressed when I see that GM is addressing the qualities that I look for in a car: space, functionality, cool factor, mpg, quality (will it last) and of course, safety. Rebadging a Saturn makes no difference to me if it speaks to my concerns above. I care a little about horsepower (like when I pull out in front of someone) but I need to know more about the car experience. I will continue to review cars from that perspective on TravelingMom.
I am the GM owner who grew up cutting his teeth on GM vehicles. My parents drove primarily Buicks,Pontiacs, and Chevy trucks. I can still remember when my father bought the 430 Buick Wildcat new. I remember when he traded it for a Lesabre and was disipointed with the performance. My first real car was a 1979 Z28 with a 4 speed and 3:73 gears. I stuck with GM through the 80’s with a new 86 Silverado, bad, and then a new 87 Z24 for my wife, worse. I then bought a new 88 Chevy truck which was very good. My last GM vehicle is a 2001 Tahoe for which it is time to replace. Our kids are getting older and I had thought of replacing it with a performance oriented sedan. Gm has an incredible car with the G8. Can’t make money on it as Chevy, market it as a Buick. There is no way I am buying a Lucerne with it’s optional Geritol dispenser, or a rental fleet Impala SS with forgettable performance. It seems as if the performance crisis of the 80’s is about to hit GM again. Performance across the line seems to be getting downgraded and replaced merely adequate new engine options, not very stirring. Ford now has sold a new drag race only mustang, A race only mustang for the mustang challenge, and even sold a drag pack dealer installed option. What really got me was that they paid your way into a national event so that you could then race your drag pack installed Mustang. Wait, I’ve seen all this before. I think that they are teaching from the Jim Wangers school of automotive marketing. Well guess what, It worked, I bought my first Ford in 2008, A new Shelby. I have been a life long GM supporter but if you think you can still keep me as a customer while downgrading performance, think again. There are more options out there now than there were in the 80’s. I do seem to remember a quote by a famous leader. “You can sell an old man a young man’s car, but you can’t sell a young man an old man’s car.” I believe he was the head of GM T that time.
Aug. 23 at 3:03, raymond writes:
“I think it is interesting that vehicles are getting smaller, more compact and more MPG. I would like a car with these features, as a lot of other people do. I would like to test your new vehicles that are starting to come off the assembly line. I am excited and thrilled to see what it is coming to next, and I want to be a part of it. I want my family to buy an American vehicle … and for (my) next purchase I would like it to be a GM. I have a feeling your company will be great. Thanks for listening GM.”
Tom Stephens responds:
“Raymond, we are building cars that are smaller and get better mileage, we are working every technology to lessen our dependence on oil and introduce renewable sources of energy. This is our best lineup ever and, I believe, the best lineup – top to bottom – in the industry. We are asking people to compare our cars and trucks against the competition. Raymond, we think more consumers will agree with you. You say you are thrilled and excited to see what comes is coming next. I say it’s an opportunity of a lifetime and I get to see it from the driver’s seat, so to speak. Thank you for your words of encouragement.”
Aug. 19 at 7:34 p.m., Sheldon Millsay writes:
“News from the Front … Maybe my post will qualify. I was a fairly loyal GM owner for over 25 years. My last two (ownership) experiences were so bad that I traded my last GM for a Lexus, after 8 months, and took a major loss. Two dealerships and MANY bad experiences totally turned me away from GM. I feel betrayed and want to know why I should trust GM again after losing so many dollars and having many terrible experiences with your vehicles. I wonder if this will post or if I will receive any type of answer.”
Tom Stephens responds:
“Sheldon, I can understand your frustration and skepticism. I can’t convince you with words. You are going to have watch us over time and see what our actions tell you. We have gone from 8 brands to 4, 50 nameplates to 34. Tough decisions, but necessary. That allows us to focus on all new launches. I’ve challenged my team to swing for the fences. Every new car or truck has to be a home run. No singles, or doubles, or drives to the warning track. Our vehicles will have to “WOW” people over or we are not going to get them back. We know that. What good is it to finish second or third on someone’s shopping list? If we don’t grab you in the first five seconds, if we don’t grab you with a visceral reaction to our design, our interiors, our propulsion systems, then you are just going to keep looking. Sheldon, thank you for taking the time to write us, to read Fastlane and to weigh in on the subject. It makes me think that you still care and might be willing to give us another chance. I hope you do.”
Aug. 19 at 8:28 p.m., Nate writes:
“As great as a fast-acting GM is, I have to wonder about cutting a product so quick. Could GM Post pictures of this product so the rest of us who weren’t a part of the GM open walk through can get a look at it? … Was there a public invitation?
Tom Stephens responds:
“Nate, we only have so many vehicles and limited track time, so we couldn’t manage a group of more than 100 people. The response was so strong that we are trying to figure out how we can reach out to more people and regions, given the limited number of vehicles and the cost of putting on an event like this. As for photos, we decided to keep Toyota, Honda and Ford waiting to see what they were up against. As for a small Buick crossover, stay tuned.
Aug. 20 at 5:07 p.m., Mimo writes:
“I am just visiting to check out this “new GM” thing. It seems like Mr. Tom Stephens had someone on his staff cook up his blog post. That isn’t very authentic or fun. And, by the way, why isn’t Mr. Stephens responding to everyone’s points here on his blog, to prove to us that he is actually listening … Prove that you are listening, Tom. Make a comment. ”
Tom Stephens responds:
“Fair criticism, Mimo. I need to respond faster and listen more. I’ll try to do a better job going forward. Listening to customers is the priority, so thanks for calling me out on that one.”
Aug. 21 at 7:08 p.m., Charlie H. writes:
“If axing this vehicle is the right thing to do and the decision could be reached so quickly … why did it take bunch of Twits to get you to move?
Tom Stephens responds:
“Charlie, I’ve been pushing our team to get plug-in hybrids on the road just as fast as we can. By the way, that deadline hasn’t slid back by one day. We will meet that target. I didn’t want to slow us down with expensive redesigns, but I had this nagging feeling that we were settling for less than an ideal solution. The consumer response just confirmed what I knew to be true in my gut. Fritz, Bob and I felt the same way and we took quick action.
“Thanks for everyone’s input and interest. I will be monitoring this site and commenting on occasion.
It would be nice for someone at Gm to comment on why you insist on using the insipid name Cruze that sounds like a 12 yr old came up with.
The name stinks, come on Bob, you’re head of marketing now you can’t possibly like the name. You correctly canned the stupid name Viva and kept Aveo, now do the right thing and get rid of the name Cruze.
Another thing-I see you guys are still not giving 100% when it comes to Compact cars-The Astra has better suspension pieces and you farmed out the design of the car to GMDAT and it shows. The car is an awkward mess, you should have had your superior NA designers work on the car. If I were you, I would tweak the design before it comes out because as of now I see mediocrity.
And PLEASE make the fabric on the dash optional. It looks really cheesy.
Steve,
But doesn’t the name Cruze just sound so, like you know, “kewl?”
Won’t that sound precious in the marketing campaign: “Dude, get a Cruze ~ it’s like, so kewl, you know.”
Tom Stephens writes, ““Charlie, I’ve been pushing our team to get plug-in hybrids on the road just as fast as we can. By the way, that deadline hasn’t slid back by one day. We will meet that target. I didn’t want to slow us down with expensive redesigns, but I had this nagging feeling that we were settling for less than an ideal solution. The consumer response just confirmed what I knew to be true in my gut. Fritz, Bob and I felt the same way and we took quick action.”
OK. I admit, realigning the businesses and models in a hurry is a daunting task. I can see the attraction in your thinking. And I can appreciate the desire to keep the investment in this on track. Thanks.
But, please, in the future, don’t let it look so much like the Twits are pushing you around.
You should just fire the whole Executive Committee. They are just idiotic enough to know the Chevrolet Viva is a great idea. Think about it. You can make a commercial with the ¨Viva Las Vegas¨ theme song and put an Elvis Presley in it. It would be simply fantastic. It connects the vast majority of consumers with a great American past – the era of Rock n Roll, and the King itself. America´s power was at its zenith during that era. Everyone who visits Las Vegas will ride in a Viva. It would be awesome! Ford has the Fiesta Movement. GM could have the Viva Sensation! Why, why are you stupid enough to shelve the idea? I don´t really understand.
You will definitely disappoint the Great CarKing Obama himself.
Please show me you are truly different and do it for me, baby!
About a possible small Buick crossover, how about something based on the Delta II architecture? As a current HHR owner, I’ve been trying to find out more on the Chevy Orlando which by all accounts is supposed to replace it. If Buick were to get a small Delta II based vehicle similar to this, I think it would work out pretty well. I don’t agree with the third row seating in a vehicle of this size though. To me, a vehicle should only have a third row if adults can easily use it. In a Delta II based vehicle, anyone over age eight would have a very difficult time even considering riding back there.
Names are important for appeal. And there’s usually a legend or a mystery behind a name.
Cavalier, Cobalt, and Cruze are all great names, each with a story perhaps. Each can be used in the future. Cruze should be especially popular.
Millenials seemed intrigued by the mysterious Harley Earl commericals.
Buick has great names. Riviera, Regal, Invicta, LaCrosse . . . . Buick could even use its legendary name Phaeton for a four seat convertable.
The Matrix movie which introduced the Cadillac CTS was filled with stealthy symbolism:
“There is a power before you, you do not understand” – quote from The Matrix movie. A harbinger of the CTS-V perhaps?
GM’s “Aurora” was actually a name used for the secret hypersonic aircraft that replaced the top secret SR 71.
The bumble bee Camaro is a classic from Transformers.
Could Ultra Magnus in the Transformers movie be named for GM’s Ultra V-8 program that was put on hold?
GM enthusiasts keep up with the the legendary Greek alphabetic codes which underpin the platforms. Could there be more?
Cadillac (ATS) a new beginning, Cadillac Alpha. Alpha Trion is from the movie Transformers. Could it correlate to “ATS?”
Cadillac (XTS) – what does Chi Tau Sigma mean? the name would be XROSA (pronounced – X- Rho – Sa) , The embodiment of XTS. (Replace the R for T – (Rho can symbolize Tau. Sa means prince in coptic language, Sigma in greek). A perfect symbol of the Rose. ρόζα – ρόδο. Chi-Rho-Sa. This sedan would be the reverse symbolism of “SRX” in Greek. ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ.
Could it be? . . . . .
I am very glad to see that GM has taken quick action to the opinions of the public, but why not do so a bit more with the G8? At least don’t leave us in the dark as to why it is being forever discontinued, because we all know Fritz’s answer of “I don’t like rebadging” was false, and I never saw any numbers to support Bob Lutz’s response of “No Business Case.”
The top execs might have to get encourgement on how to handle all the new found success which I believe is on the way. Then we could take them out for dinner here in Florida!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve asked the question: Do we have to shop for the good engines like the 5.3L V-8 among the slow sellers? Why not let’s do it right from the start and offer the engine choice in the beautful design. The G8 is a good looking car (that could be a Buick Grand National) but it needs more American content, more than just black seats, recline levers and not those hard knobs. And let’s offer the good engines like the 5.3L V-8 from the beginning. The LS V-8 is fine for the top line cars and the Northstar is still a favorite product. These are image makers and flagships for GM. They are very important to maintaining GM’s image as a leading car maker.
Before the GM event, I visited a some local car dealers. One large local chevy dealer had locked all the Malibus on the lot, as much to say they are not for sale (even though they tied balloons on them). In contrast, the Honda dealer had several Accords unlocked without balloons. (Nissan also had almost all the cars unlocked and wanted to show me inside several different cars). The Honda dealer wouldn’t let me leave without driving one, even if though I said I wasn’t wanting to buy one, and just looking. The salesperson starts asking you to test drive one anyway, you may feel bad if you don’t, they didn’t even ask for a last name or drivers license.. Salesman just rushed in and gott the keys to the Accord. When you finally relent to test drive the Honda Accord, they ask you how you like it on the drive. My recent Accord test drive was most unimpressive, it was very slow by the way, the RPM guage wiggles all over the place and the car feels as slow as a turtle – doesn’t feel anywhere near as quick or smooth as a comparable Malibu – if only the world knew how much better the Chevy actually is. (The local Saturn dealer is very open and friendly and also insisted that I test drive an Aura even though I said I was just looking, Saturn was excited to show the car). This was very eye opening, since GM’s Chevy division and its people have actually made a much better product than the Honda. We can only hope the the Malibu is marketed and gets enough exposure to lead the segment. The Malibu even looks nicer. The Accord mpg isn’t as good as Malibu. The Accord did have grab handles. The Honda service waiting room is overcrowded, uncomfortable, and has very few amenities compared to the Chevy dealer. Acura dealer on a prior occasion was high pressure to test drive one their TL cars – not really too impressive feel either. They seemed to try to make their interior on the 09 TL as nice as Buick. It seems you almost have to just walk out in order to escape some Acura dealers. When you say you don’t like it, they try to make you read their technology display or something. Once an upset customer walked in complaining about their Acura transmission and I was able to quietly slip away. The sales people seem to have been forced to memorize their Honda/Acura facts.
While one large local Chevy dealer won’t dare ask customers to drive one – you would have to ask. The sales people are slow to find the keys, even to open the doors to just look inside a Malibu. This is not what GM wants to hear or what GM enthusiasts like to say. They made the typical customer browse and inquiry difficult. And if you ask to see inside two of them . . . its really seems hard for them to find their way around to unlock it. The salesman unlocked a couple cars and within about 10 mintues or so, the manager had locked them up again. The same local Chevy dealer asks people to buy cars they haven’t driven, while the local Honda dealers ask people to drive cars they aren’t going to buy. After the Honda presentation which I was shown the ipod capabiltiy, I called the Chevy salesman to ask if the Malibu had ipod capability, and two of them didn’t know right away whether the Malibu had an ipod capabability. One said he honestly didn’t know, he asked another person over his shoulder who informed him it didn’t have it. I didn’t believe them so I looked in a Malibu brochure and informed the salesman later, the Malibu did have ipod capability. The salesman claimed earlier he was certified on chevy products, but his usual duty was at the import brand accross the street. No surpise, the one Honda dealer claims to be the top Honda dealer in the state in sales. (Though I’d hoped to see improvement, experience at this chevy dealer hasn’t changed much, even with different people there – since my neighbhor attempted and was unable to buy a new 07 Corvette convertable from them over the phone and ended up calling another another chevy dealer to make the cash purchase. The phone call had been to agree on the amount of the cashiers check. Perhaps the dealer didn’t think the customer was serious, even though he had driven up to the dealer to look at the Corvette in his fairly new model Mercedes E 430.
At the local Buick dealer, the entire shipment of 2010 LaCrosses at with sunroof sold in less than one week. Amazing, they even added a roughly $3,000 adjusted market value onto the MSRP (thought this adjusted market value was a thing of the past). The customers won the fight and bought every last 2010 LaCrosse with the sun roof in less than one week.
The higher option package Ford Taurus with the wood steering wheel sold out at the local Ford dealer too.
Every LaCrosse model had the base 3.0 engine. However, there are three times as many people who might have gotten excited with a full Buick line-up including a classy Riviera sedan (2000 LaCrosse concept offering a small V-8), a Grand National G8 GT, a hot new Regal (shanghai Riviera concept in a sedan). Since these are not the same segments, even more customers would have snatched them up and GM would have made even more profit.
There is soo much money ready to spend on good looking new cars. People are just waiting for an exciting car to come along. The rate of sale on the 2010 LaCrosse during the depths of a recession prove it. None of these customers got any cash for clunkers money and they bought them faster than the cash for clunkers with retails over $33,000 each.
The new Lacrosse design deserves the credit. Why didn’t they buy a month ago or a year ago? Because they were not inspired to buy. The fact that they bought one model up so quickly also shows that they did not necessarily need a new car. It was more an impulse decision among those who can afford it. If GM had more to offer they would buy more.
There is a business case for affordable luxury sport and for high end luxury.
The good news is that they didn’t buy a foreign brand in the preceding weeks and months. Just thing about it. This was after cash for clunkers and the cars didn’t qualify for cash for clunkers anyway. The buyers who bought up most of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse in Florida couldn’t find any other car they wanted to buy during the government promotion. So they didn’t buy anything under the cash for clunkers offer.
The Malibu needs those grab handles inside like the Buick has. The Malibu should offer perforated leather interior and have a wood steering wheel option on the lot in one option package. Tan and Cashmere leather in one color, not all two tone choices.
GM enthusiasts already knew there is a business case.
GM enthusiasts were RIGHT again.
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There is also a market for light trucks out there. There are too many 20 somethings looking at foreign branded light trucks. People are looking for an affordable pick-up with a 4 cyclinder, perhaps a turbo diesel to add to their family of cars to do odd jobs and to haul things around. Or just the 20 – somethings looking for a stylish pick-up. GM has to focus on the entry level pick-up truck and cannot afford to cede this market to the Tacoma.
Or to Mahindra which will soon be marketing a pickup in that category built in Toledo.
Its another case of Chevy having a better product like the Colorado Z71 which is not getting attention it should vs the competition.
This problem of attention to the Tacamo vs the Colorado was brought to my attention by a friend just recently. As we discussed the issue, we noted many 20 somethings who are just being seen so to speak in the Tacoma. Many would like to buy American, but aren’t as aware of American light trucks or car products. These buyers are also lifestyle oriented and image conscious as the affordable luxury car buyers are. Many of these potential fashion truck buyers, If I may use the term fashion truck, are suburbanites who want to be cool in their trucks. Its an image purchase, and they will chose the more image oriented product, even though Chevy may be the better “truck.” GM should realize there is a disconnect between the potential buyers and their cultural – lifestyle outreach. Image conscious, lifestyle oriented buyers may sum up the whole California and east coast market gap issue in a nutshell.
While more established trucks like Silverado are known, the Colorado is not as well known. How does the consumer know they are supposed to buy a Colorado? It cannot be assumed that they will figure it out. They want someone to tell them the Colorado is their product that fits their image. The Colorado should get more image promotion – bottom line. Today’s Colorado customer is tomorrows Silverado customer. Chevy should increase the exposure of the entry level truck segment. Too many 20 somethings are being lured away from Chevy and GM should address this. Some buyers of the entry level trucks like Colorado could end up being suburbanites who already own a car or SUV and just want a light truck for convenience sake. Others may be be college students wanting a sporty truck.
I see Chevy has an attractive concept on the books called the Colorado Crew Z71 plus in 2007.
http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/2006_sema/0611_2007_chevrolet_colorado_crew/index.html
Why hasn’t this updated Colorado Crew design been produced?
These blogs were really first to give great weight to the poll this spring that 72% would consider buying American vehicles. A newer poll just showed the 81 % would consider buying an American vehicle. By nearly a 3 to 1 margin respondents said they would consider buying American vehicles than a foreign brand.
The issue presented is that the potential buyers don’t seem to understand which American vehicles are meant for them to chose. For instance may know the Silverado or have heard of it, but they may be much less aware that there is a Colorado that is the size they are looking.
Ford seems to experience this lack of awareness concept as well. When Ford made the Ford 500, customers were less aware of it. The Taurus seems to create more awareness. When potential buyers see the Mercury Milan, they may choose it as a better design than the competition, but are less aware that it exists since the name Milan is somewhat obscure.
They may have seen the Avalanche which has name recognition and an image, but not realize that the Colorado Z71 is a choice in their segment.
The Colorado Z71 crew needs some star power, high profile programming. It should be featured in Truck contests and shows. Why can’t Silverado ads show the Colorado? Maybe the family has one Silverado and then adds the Colorado for the kids to drive.
There should be a lot more creativity and complementary advertising of the whole Chevy line-up.
Edwin writes, “A newer poll just showed the 81 % would consider buying an American vehicle. By nearly a 3 to 1 margin respondents said they would consider buying American vehicles than a foreign brand.”
A very interesting poll. At about the same time that poll was conducted, Honda and Toyota were looking at 10% and 6% sales increases, year on year, and GM was suffering a 20% sales decrease, year on year. That’s rather a large disconnect between the poll’s alleged domestic intenders and actual results. Why do you suppose that is?
Charlie H. said,
very interesting poll. At about the same time that poll was conducted, Honda and Toyota were looking at 10% and 6% sales increases, year on year, and GM was suffering a 20% sales decrease, year on year. That’s rather a large disconnect between the poll’s alleged domestic intenders and actual results. Why do you suppose that is?
Thanks Charlie,
Polls show American’s really want to buy American.
These numbers emerged in the midst of other data about he economy and sentiment of taxpayers last fall that the media were reporting in December 2008. What the media did not expect is that bloggers here in fastlane like myself would instead see a very important positive newsworthy statistic amidst the polling data – which the media and auto analysts almost overlooked which has led to more polls now confirming what GM enthusiasts already knew.
Overwhelmingly, Americans say the would consider buying an American vehicle over a foreign brand. ABC news with Brian Williams’ staff seemed to have noticed this blog and shortly thereafter mentioned it in his news cast. Other networks followed suit, and finally, FOX seems to have relented and joined GM enthusiasts to report latest poll which showed a whopping 81% are considering an American vehicle – (finally, we’ve gotten FOX to see good news in the American auto industry).
April 2009 poll showed 72% of Americans would consider buying an American car:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/28/autos/polk_study/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote
September 2009 poll showed 81% of Americans would consider buying an American car:
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/090903-Survey-More-Consumers-Would-Consider-American-Brands/
Cash for clunkers sales were based somewhat on available inventory, so what was in stock played a role.
Luring buyers to American car showrooms
1. American car companies often build the best vehicles. Yet, the disconnect appears to occur when Americans aren’t sure which American vehicle they are supposed to chose. They have heard about certain foreign models, so there is a certain comfort zone with the middle group of undecided buyers. Then there are those who are familiar, but need some inspiration to trade from an appealing design. A factor may be simply that many of these undecided buyers aren’t sure just which American car to buy, so they take the easy route and chose what they’ve “heard” the most about lately.
2. American car buyers may expect a more fair offer for their trade-in than a rebate. But the dealer expects them to take the high rebate to make up for the insult of a low trade in offer. Let’s try it the other way around. Give them the a good offer for the trade-in and don’t worry about offering too many high rebates. Don’t let them walk over a trade-in value. Consumers cared enough to buy American, so they may indeed expect more attention from the dealer, that’s a natural expectation. They may also be more sensitive over routine repairs since they ‘cared’ enough to buy American. While foreign car dealers seem to play the opposite game of offering higher amount for the trade-in to inflate the customer ego yet offers fewer incentives and makes phony claims about residuals. Cusumers may not realize the price paid is simllar, but “feel” better about getting offered more money for their trade. GM should offer more money for trade-ins and not let anyone walk instead of playing the rebate game. GM should have a Trade-in Value Promise campaign
BETTER PRODUCTS THAT THEY HAVEN”T HEARD ABOUT?
3. Many buyers who want to buy American also fall into the image conscious, lifestyle oriented group that wants to hear that the car they are buying is special in some way and that it meets the image and lifestyle they want to project. If a Chevy Colorado is buried somewhere on the lot and they don’t know it exists anyway, how would they know to go looking for it? They would hear from friends which fashionable pick-up out there is for their group. The Tacoma is luring too many 20 somethings simply because this group seems to have no idea that the Chevy Colorado Z71 exists. When you see the Chevy Colorado Z71, the reaction is wow that’s a nice truck.
The Mercury Milan looks great, but mention it sometime and you may here something like – Oh which car is that? Yet, when someone sees one, they typically react with “wow” that car looks great – what car is that? The Mercury Milan is reported to have a high conquest rate winning over many foreign car buyers, but it is still reletively unknown to those who are not car enthusiasts.
The 2010 LaCrosse, the Acadia, the Enclave are grabbing the attention of GM’s base customer – this enthusiasm is spreading to those undecided consumer. These products have succesfully penetrated undecided suburbanites who say they want to buy American but don’t know what to buy. They are receiving assurance that these products are the ones they should be going after so they go after them. Many in this group have an ocean of money to buy almost any car they want at any time. Many of them buy on impulse and have 3 to 5 vehicles. GM is missing an ocean of business among this group.
This group will buy the fuel efficient Malibu for their son/daugher, the LaCrosse, the Acadia, the Enclave, the Escalade, the CTS, the STS. They are trend setting image conscious buyers and they are looking to buy American, but don’t hurt their feelings or insult them on a trade in offer or they will walk. Don’t ask them to come back when they are serious, because most of them can write a check on the spot for the car. This group will buy the attractive sedan like the Riviera with a small V-8 because it has class. An Olds Aurora meets the expectations of this customer, if they know it exists.
GM doesn’t have enough choices in luxury/affordable luxury on the lot, that is a reason for lagging sales. People say they would consider American and they mean it. Many in this group ALREADY HAVe an Acadia or an Enclave. They show up on the Buick lot and say “show me your best CAR.” (this is an exact quote by the way ) – the Lucerne has exterior design issues – headlights too big tail lights too small, etc. This group wants an executive car like the Aurora and when they don’t see it they walk. Its just that simple.
The 2000 LaCrosse concept should be built as a successor to the Aurora, and now that GM has has emerged, it should built the small V-8 Ultra program as originally planned. Its $300 M well invested.
The 4.0 V-8 and the 5.3 V-8 are extremely wonderful powertrains that are the right size and deserve an update.
The want to buy American suburbanite group may ask for the blue car with “ivory leather” like the Volvo she saw, and if they tell her no, she sighs and wants to look somewhere else until she finds it.
Cashmere keeps changing from ivory to light tan, so which is it?
Color is important, style is important, sometimes a small V-8 is important to this group to one spouse or the other. 2 miles per gallon doesn’t phase them. A 6 cyclinder is sometimes seen as not really prestigous enough to this group.
BMW and Mercedes are not giving up on suburban America’s wants for luxury powertrains and cars, and GM and Ford need to be leaders in the game.
This undecided suburbanit group may buy a college car for their son/daughter, have an SUV for the weekend and a nice V-8 luxury sedan to impress. They may have a 4 cyclinder, a 6 cyclinder and an 8 cyclinder at home. They aren’t impressed when a car company pitch tries to tell them well, our 6 cyclinder has high horsepower. they don’t want to hear that. They want what they asked for. When they say they want the luxury car in an 8 cyclinder, they mean 8 cyclinders.
At a typical ride and drive event people line-up in the 8 cyclinder line to drive in droves, they drive the 4 cyclinder and the 6 cyclinder last in case you didn’t notice.
GOOD NEWS
We haven’t seen any official numbers yet, but the rate of sale on the new 2010 LaCrosse with the sun roof appears to be phenomenal since the entire shipment sold out here in central Florida in about a week. There are none left at the Buick dealer. They may be hiding one base model. The 2010 LaCrosse didn’t qualify for cash for clunkers and it was delivered after the cash for clunkers sale. What’s more the local dealer even added about $3,000 adjusted market value and the customers still won the battle. The AMERICAN PEOPLE BOUGHT THE LACROSSE WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT TELLING THEM WHAT TO BUY.
The Chevy dealers may lock-up all the Malibus and try to keep them from the public, but fortunately, Americans are still fighting to buy them because they are great looking, popular and stylish. The customers are winning.
Americans with high probablity will FIRE their government AS MANY TIMES as it takes until the government relents, and STOPS trying to tell Americans how to live or what to buy. A government that tries to tax our soda pop, tell people what to eat, dictate CAFE standards, isn’t going to stay in office very long. People are just waking up to it.
The American people most likely will not back another cash for clunkers program that tries to tell US what to buy. WE only tolerated temporarily, because it helped our friends at GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Japan based their incentive on vehicle age, not fuel economy.
Americans don’t like the bail-outs and Gov’t rescues in these polls either, but WE tolerated them temporarily because of or special admiration for GM, Ford, and Chrysler as a special part of America. And People most likely will stand behind GM, Ford, and Chrylser over any POLITICIAN, PARTY, or TALK SHOW HOST. That’s why we didn’t see the opposition that is emergent an in full force over health care and cap and trade. Americans are much united against the elitists who think they can tell the American people how to live than it appears yet. That may also be the reason for the high numbers of people 81% who say they are considering buying and American car. We hear lots of people saying great admiration for Ford lately. GM has the opportunity to really soar in sales with Buick and Cadillac if the products flow.
The people will likely very soon demand Congress to fix the economy with a pitch the public and the media has never seen before. The people want the economy fixed and their patience is running short. There was true bipartisanship among supporters of the American auto industry. Supporters held together and put aside their partisan differences. America’s economy and manufacturing base are essential to its security. Jobs and economy have been the central issue in the last serveral elections and probably will intensify as issues.
Congress is not the boss, the think tank gurus are not the boss, and the banks don’t run the economy, the AMERICAN PEOPLE are the BOSS.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10.
Top 10 Best-Selling Vehicles – September
By Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor – Edmunds.com
The 10 best-selling vehicles for September.
1. Toyota Camry
2. Ford F-150
3. Honda Accord
4. Toyota Corolla
5. Honda Civic
6. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
7. Honda CR-V
8. Chevrolet Impala
9. Nissan Altima
10. Toyota Prius
Hi
Great that GM canceled the design for the Buick crossover so quickly. It does leave a hole in the Buick lineup. Buick needs a unique crossover not seen in any of the other brands.
I think a BMW X6 crossover type Buick would fit nicely in the Buick lineup. This would be a unique crossover for GM and fit nicely with the Buick brand. It would be a European flavored design (fits in good with the Buick Insignia/Rega).
Why not take the BMW idea and make it into a unique small crossover for Buick!
I’m not sure so about the popularity in American made vehicles just yet. Sure I’d like to hope in the next 5 years at the most American made vehicles will have regained their dominance. However, your polls don’t add up. There is a lot of distrust in American made vehicles and people know with certainty Japanese cars last. I’d love to see GM prove your polls correct. I”m routing for you!
How about more product development for the two-mode Chevy Tahoe Hybrid its a great vehicle. More advertizing is also need here to let the world know this. MPG when driven correctly and reliability are excellent.
The Chev Tahoe Hybrid and all the two-mode Hybrid vehicles could use an owners advisory council, similar to what is done in the aviation industry. These owners could work with GM to indicate the issues and what makes sense for them as future product development. The cost would be minimum to GM, complete it sim ilar to the OnStar committee. Also for maximum involvement and good participation by the owners why not extend there new vehicle warranty by a month as a suggestion, the vehicle is so reliable it would be a paperwork issue for GM so how about two months? Just a thought. As an owner of the first generation two-mode technology why not update our vehicles to the current standard until you make a major product change. Also I know that it is hard to off a expensive new component technology like the Hybrid battery and if this is the case why not offer it to the older vehicles as a GM Goodwrench Option customer pays, at least we would have the option to buy agian like the aviation industry that seems to work. However for the smaller updates, software changes etc this should be no charge to just thank the loyal customers for buying GM and to keep them Buying GM. What about a combined Hybrid/Volt quarterly Magazine for owners much like you have for the Chev Trucks. A great future option if technically possible and I know you have GM Engineers out there that would be more than happy to design and develop a plug in Option for the two-mode system. This is a technology win-win one for GM offering product updates for the owner at there option, GM makes money and the customer has the ability to get the technology in there older vehicla. I know that GM is not in the aftermarket business, however why not rethink this process with the Hybrid/Volt line up. Several aircraft manufactures offer upgrades that can only be completed at there factory service centers, ie Goodwrench approved facilities. The Hybrid is a new animal along with the Volt and GM is changing for the better why not rethink this concept in your buisness plan. Buy a Hybrid from GM and you will always have access to the latest upgrades both for noncharge while under warranty and also large product improvements would be avialable to owners both under warranty and out for a optional cost. GM can dominate the future you just need to look forward at options, customer loyality, and latest vehicle updates. Enough said you have a great vehicle in the Chev Tahoe Hybrid thank You! Ken
These owners could work with GM to indicate the issues and what makes sense for them as future product development.
Good idea, but too radical for a company such as GM.