BREAKING: GM cancels Buick crossover before birth, will add PHEV drivetrain to another vehicle
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Aug 19th 2009 at 12:39PM 
Surprising news comes by way of General Motors today as the automaker has already canceled its recently announced Buick crossover, which in reality was little more than an ex-Saturn Vue emblazoned with Buick's trademark chrome waterfall grille. And therein lies the rub. As confirmed to Autoblog by Michelle Bunker, Manager of Buick Communications, initial feedback from the media, employees and dealerships regarding the upcoming vehicle was almost universally negative, as the product just didn't seem to fit with the direction the automaker said it was taking the Buick brand. As a result, GM has apparently canceled the program.
Thankfully, though, the Vue's plug-in hybrid powertrain will reportedly be transferred to another vehicle and will hit the market with no delay from the previously announced 2011 sale date. While some might say (and with good reason) that GM should have known the Vue didn't belong in Buick showrooms in the first place, the automaker cites this quick action as evidence that things really are changing at New GM, and it's hard to argue with that assessment – there's little doubt it would have taken countless meetings leading to numerous delays to make such a decision just a few months back.
In any case, GM promises to discuss the replacement for the PHEV in the very near future. Watch this space for more.
[Source: General Motors]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
inteller 12:56PM (8/19/2009)
So the VUE hardware will become a Chevy....no surprise here!
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ufgrat 11:23PM (8/19/2009)
No, the vehicle will almost certainly still be a Buick, but instead of a Vue with a Buick grille, I expect that the design team will knock out a genuine "Buick language" design to house the chassis.
While the current generation Vue isn't a terrible looking beast, if you compare this:
http://image.trucktrend.com/f/8470461/163_news080107_02z+2009_saturn_vue_2_mode_hybrid+interior.jpg
to
http://urbancouture.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/buick-2.jpg
It's pretty obvious that there's a severe generational gap. Externally as well, the Vue doesn't really look like the other Buick designs coming out of GM. If GM has changed as much as they seem to want people to believe, then they should be able to knock out a new design in a couple months.
Chris 1:26PM (8/19/2009)
Glad to see that the PR methods of the old GM are still alive. Announce something green, even if you don't really intend to carry through.
"GM Chairman Bob Lutz has said "sixteen hybrids in the next four years" and GM CEO Rick Wagoner said "one new hybrid coming out every quarter for next four years.""
We were hyped about the VUE two-mode, then it became the Buick, and now (maybe) something else. GM gets three times the PR out of a vehicle that has yet to be produced. Way to work that PR magic GM!
Let's just hope all the hype over the Volt doesn't end up following the same path...
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Gordio 1:57PM (8/19/2009)
I disagree. It's better they not sell a hybrid no one wants, which draws the misleading portrait no one wants hybrids. Taht's how the EV1 poor sales hurt electric cars: it didn't sell well, while hummer sold well, then GM was able to tell people "no one wants EVs"
Chris 2:21PM (8/19/2009)
You missed my point, GM can call it a Saturn, Buick, Chevy, GEO, Pontiac, GMC or even a Vauxhall... just find a name and stick with it. Stop introducing it over and over as a new hybrid vehicle (just for PR points) until you're ready to put it on a lot and sell it.
As to your EV1 analogy, I think it's a bit too late for GM to get away with saying there's no market for a small SUV hybrid. Ford has sold more Escape Hybrids than Chevy has with all their hybrid models combined.
GM should stop messing around and release the two-mode Vue (or whatever they want to call it) or shut the **** up about it. Enough PR bull...
Gary 3:47PM (8/19/2009)
This is starting to sound like mindless lashing out at GM. Almost as bad as people who say that the Chevy logo is ugly and wouldn't want a Chevy for that reason, or that the name Cruze is bad... I don't see how it's worse than something like Civic or Corolla.
Matt 1:38PM (8/19/2009)
Equinox PHEV like it should have been in the first place? What?
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Michael 3:40PM (8/19/2009)
Maybe they will go with the Chevy Equinox after all. Since the Vue and Equinox share the platform, it would probably make a good fit.
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Chris M 3:40PM (8/19/2009)
I'm hoping that GM Buick will put that dual-mode PHEV powertrain in a good sedan, rather than in yet another big heavy un-aerodynamic SUV or crossover. That way, they could have a plug-in hybrid with great performance and impressive fuel economy, thanks to lower weight and better aerodynamics.
Buick used to be known for nice sedans, just hope they get their Mojo back.
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!!D 3:51PM (8/19/2009)
This is not a surprise. Buick was spared the axe because the brand has traction in China... (Joke: And since China has different electrical plugs, it would never work) ... but only for luxury cars, not SUVs. Doing business in China is all about numbers: that is, there aren't enough rich Chinese willing to buy a Buick SUV. If they're rich enough to buy an SUV, they'll buy a better brand. But there are enough moderately wealthy Chinese that will buy a Buick sedan.
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unni 5:22PM (8/19/2009)
I know you never traveled out side north america, Man life/business is happening in Asia now. There is no more rich enough to buy SUV concept now.
!!D 9:49AM (8/20/2009)
You make assumptions and only understand half of the sentence. I've hit every continent except Antarctica and have been to Shanghai and Beijing. Yes, China is a very rich country and they have a young and growing middle class. But rich Chinese don't buy Buicks. They buy something more refined: Mercedes or Land Rover (this is a personal observation I made while I was there). GM is targeting the middle class with its Buick brand (this I learned when I did contract work for a Chinese ad company)... and not much of the middle class is going to buy a Buick SUV because young Chinese are very sensitive to the environment and don't want to appear like wasteful Americans (this I know from talking to 20-something-aged Chinese at the company I worked for).
Stan Peterson 11:32AM (8/20/2009)
HD,
The next Fable you will tell us that it is all a Western conceit about China's pollution problems. The Marxist country of China is not the World's greatest polluter. They didn't have to shut the country's factories for Three months to clear the air for the Olympics. . Only capitalist systems pollute, don'tcha know.
Please desist with the big Lie technique. . You sound like the New York Times' top reporter dispatched to the Soviet Union in the Thirties, amidst the Stalinist purges and planned Famine/genocide in the Ukraine. He famously wrote back: " I have seen the Future. And it Works!"
Fact is most Buicks are sold to people /organizations that never drive them. That is why the backseats have so much legroom, reclining rear seats, and other amenities for those being chauffeured about.
GM's sale of Buicks in China, is an unmitigated success. China is drawing the best designs from all over GM's worldwide kingdom for sale there, as a result. In America, we will profit from the World's best GM cars dressed as Buicks for China, also being manufactured here and showing up here.
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