Regal Rod

Now things are starting to get interesting in that the Buick Regal GS has been green-lighted for production by GM management, even though no date has been set yet for its release.

That’s good news for people who have wanted Buick to show more performance given that it has done so in the past in the form of the Buick Grand National. Besides, with Pontiac gone, there hasn’t been much of a reason for people to return to their Buick-GMC-without Pontiac dealerships. The G6 and G8 are both dead, casualties of the general’s 2009 bankruptcy and subsequent restructuring.

Autoweek and Autoblog have confirmed that the Buick Regal GS is coming to market, though as of this writing that news hasn’t appeared on GM’s website. I’ll take their words as being good as gold to share this news with you.

Turbo Regal

The Buick Regal GS showed up at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit this past January in concept form. That car was all wheel drive and featured a 2.0L turbocharged I4 engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Horsepower has been pegged at 255, but as Autoblog notes GM may tweak the engine to bring it closer to the turbo Hyundai Sonata model which produces 275 hp.

Who would have ever thought that Buick would need to keep pace with Hyundai? Things have certainly changed in autodom; then again Pontiac is R.I.P. and GM needs Buick to pick up the slack.

Future Buick

Buick will likely drop the dowdy Lucerne in the next year or two as it brings in a compact sedan to slot below the Regal. What would provide a nice halo for the brand would be if GM were to decide to go ahead and build the Buick Riviera concept that has made its way around the Chinese auto show circuit.

The original Riviera represented the best of Buick, a sport luxury coupe prized for its styling and performance, something the concept has attempted to capture.

New Products

Though GM hasn’t named specific models slated for its accelerated production cycle, I believe that the following represents the company’s strategy going forward brand by brand:

Cadillac – The CTS line is almost complete, giving Cadillac a world class mid-size car line that competes nicely against BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus. Next up is the replacement for the STS and DTS, which GM has code-named XTS. Ideally, GM would stretch the current CTS sedan to accommodate the model, buying it some time and saving money until a fresh model could be released in 2015. But I don’t see that happening. Instead, expect some sort of front wheel drive sedan arriving in 2012.

Expect the Converj to arrive in 2012, a car based on the Chevy Volt platform. The SRX is all new while the Escalade is tired and in need of a crossover body ala Buick Enclave. Expect that to happen soon after the XTS hits the market. Beyond that, if Cadillac gains traction, the line will expand with a car slotted below the CTS and perhaps a luxury two seater. Hybrids will be offered fleet-wide by 2015.

Buick – The Lucerne is on its last legs which means that the LaCrosse will take over as the largest car in Buick’s line. I expect that we’ll see a refreshed Enclave for the 2012 model year, while a baby Buick, smaller than the Regal, will appear about the same time.

My thinking is that GM will clarify Buick’s direction by adding fresh new models once the baby Buick hits the market.

Chevrolet – We know the Malibu is being moved up but what about the aged Impala? I can’t see GM backing off in the police pursuit vehicle market, not with Ford relying on the all new Taurus and with Carbon Motors set to come out with their dedicated police cruiser in 2012. Look for an all new Impala in two years, perhaps based on a stretched Malibu platform to complement the Holden Chevy Caprice import which will be sold in low numbers.

The remainder of Chevrolet’s line up is solid with the compact Chevy Cruze ready to appear next summer and with a smaller, Beat-type car to follow. A new Aveo or Aveo replacement will show up within the next two years, while the HHR will be dropped and several truck and SUV models will be modified. I see Chevrolet relying a lot more on crossovers like the Traverse and Equinox, perhaps dropping the Tahoe and/or Suburban if they present a drag on fuel economy numbers and customer interest wanes.

Finally, can we expect a new Corvette soon? Yes, by 2012 the C7 ‘Vette should be in showrooms, parked next to the extended Camaro family.

GMC – Whatever GM does for Chevrolet trucks will be done for GMC. It remains a mystery to me why these two brands are still competing. Personally, I would have converted GMC into Chevrolet Trucks and kept Pontiac. Then again, Fritz never asked me. R.I.P. Pontiac G8.

Financial Position

Much of what is being considered depends on GM’s financial position, gas prices, demand for alternate vehicles, and any number of other market changes that will occur over the next 3-5 years. GM has been given a huge second chance that no business of its size has ever received, so let’s hope that top management gets it right and remakes the automaker into a profitable money-making entity once again.

Plus, I want GM to pay back its loans and for the federal government to recoup the $50+ billion of taxpayer money sunk into the company and now treated as equity. I don’t think that is too much to ask!

From Germany with love. All new Opel Insignia inspired Buick Regal will go on sale in North America next spring.

In advance of its official debut at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show on December 2nd, General Motors has taken the wraps off of its all new Buick Regal, a 2011 model which will go on sale in North America next spring. Based on the Opel Insignia, the Regal will be built in Germany and shipped across the Atlantic to slot below the Buick LaCrosse.

China First

The new Regal model is already on sale in China and will be powered exclusively by four cylinder engines. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, GM expects that the sedan will achieve at least 30 mpg highway. A turbo-charged model will roll out summer 2010 to give customers the option of getting a car with an extra bit of performance.

Though the Los Angeles show is still weeks away, GM introduced the Regal to LA customers on Thursday. That particular showing revealed the turbocharged model equipped with a driver selectable suspension system and Euro-tuned chassis. Buick is touting the Regal as a sport sedan with Susan Docherty, general manager of Buick GMC proclaiming that the all new Regal is “like nothing you’ve ever experienced from this brand.”

GM says that the Buick Regal is like nothing sold by this brand previously. Maybe Buick should consider a "Grand National" version of the car too...wouldn't that help enthusiasts to sit up and take notice!

Premium Models

As part of GM’s quest to have Buick battle the lower end of the premium car market, the automaker says that the Regal’s competitors are the Volvo S60 and Acura TSX. Essentially, GM is targeting entry level Lexus, Acura, Volvo and other upscale brand’s products with Buick models, while positioning Cadillac to battle the more luxurious models on the market.

Yes, that means that GM is calling out Lexus and others by identifying some of their models as luxury (LS 460) and others as premium (IS 350), hoping that its own customers realize those distinctions when comparing Cadillac and Buick models. Will that strategy work? It may which would allow GM to sew up the upper end of the market with these two brands.

2011 Regal

Powered by its front wheels, the first of the Regals will be offered in just one trim level to start – CXL. Featuring a 2.4L I4 engine with 182 horsepower, a smaller 2.0L turbocharged I4 will arrive later, producing 220 hp.

Among the notable features of the 2011 Regal will be standard 18” wheels; stability and traction control; four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel anti-lock braking system, brake assist and electronic parking brake; 12-way power, heated, leather seating for the driver; Bluetooth capability, XM Radio and of course OnStar; available navigation system with flash and hard drives; four link independent rear suspension; and more.

GM only offered one interior shot of the Regal. Be as it may, you're looking at it.

German Love

GM hasn’t announced pricing yet for the Regal, which may be something that they’re waiting to share in Los Angeles or perhaps just in advance of the model’s release next year. Interestingly, this model is being built by Opel for Buick. Now that Opel is remaining in the GM fold, maybe the automaker decided to throw German workers a bone by having them handle production.

See Also — Buick: From Bland To Beautiful

Photos courtesy of GM Corp.

PR Forces Gone Wild

Thanks to a flurry of activity on GM’s PR people over the past several weeks, what GM will look like in about three years hence is becoming clearer. There are still some loose ends to be tied and final decisions made, but based on what I’ve read with a little conjecture thrown in, the following is how I expect GM to look like in August 2012:

Cadillac – Lincoln may be narrowing the sales gap, but Cadillac is looking to do battle with Audi, Mercedes and BMW instead of worrying about what the Ford Motor Company is doing. If GM is successful, Cadillac will retain its top American luxury brand position, while offering a compelling reason for German luxury car buyers to make the switch. Cadillac will complete the CTS line in 2010 by offering a coupe to go along with the wagon and sedan, selling V-Series models of each. DTS & STS will be ditched in favor of one larger model, dubbed XTS. A smaller, 3-Series fighter, code-named the ATS will become the Baby Caddy while the SRX will remain the entry level crossover. Expect the Escalade to die, replaced by a Buick Enclave type crossover. The Cadillac Converj concept will become a reality within a year of the Volt’s launch.

Buick – Just three models fill out the Buick fleet, in the North American market that is. The Lucerne will go away while the LaCrosse and Enclave will live on. A smaller Traverse based crossover will join the line up and be offered as a PHEV too. Look for the Regal’s return, slotted below the LaCrosse with at least one more model, a Chevy Aveo based crossover being added. Look for some sort of Voltec vehicle to join Buick as soon as possible.

Chevrolet – When you make up 60% of GM’s US sales, then a lot of love should come your way. The Impala is tired looking and needing a makeover, but all we know is that the next generation Malibu will hit the streets in 2012. Look for an updated Corvette around that time with several newer, smaller models joining the line up including the Spark, Beat and maybe something similar to the Toyota iQ. I expect that GM will delay the release of its next generation trucks and SUVs, choosing to pour all of its resources into hybrid and electric technology, ala the Volt. The Chevy Cruze will quickly become the brand’s best seller by 2012 and the Camaro rag top will be really hot!

GMC – What will become of GMC? The same plan for Chevy Trucks will be used to fortify GMC. However, I expect that GM may try to bring in one or two truly unique or specially equipped models to help distinguish GMC. After all, when paired with Buick, GMC has a premium image that it wants to maintain. Now could be a good time to differentiate GMC and Chevrolet by tweaking both lines enough to help GM capture an additional slice of the truck market.

Time Is Of The Essence

Of course, the next few months will determine if GM’s plans have a chance of succeeding. The automaker must win back lost customers, go after younger buyers and must NEVER borrow another dollar from the federal government again or otherwise risk the wrath of a segment of the American populace (me included) who would rather pull the plug than pay out one more dime!

See Also — Ford 2010: Arriving Sooner Than You Think!

Creating Buick Buzz

A case in point – many weeks before the all new 2010 Buick LaCrosse hit the market, GM had a mass online unveiling of the sedan, whereby bloggers, journalists and other industry folks could get a good look at the car while mingling with GM brass after the product roll out. That move created a lot of positive buzz for the new model, allowing GM to keep the LaCrosse in the news well before the first cars began to show up in Buick/GMC showrooms.

GM also has been quietly testing a new, smaller vehicle for the Buick line, one that will share the same platform underpinning the Chevy Cruze as well as the electric Chevy Volt. Photos of a camouflaged clad sedan were “leaked” to the internet, creating more buzz for Buick. While not much is known about the car, it is expected to hit the market within the next year or two.

Buick Crossover PHEV

Now GM says that they are readying yet another product for Buick, this one a crossover PHEV – plugin hybrid electric vehicle. That technology has been in the works for some time and was supposed to find its way into a Saturn vehicle. But with Saturn being squeezed out of the GM fold, the automaker has decided to use Buick to bring the technology to market.

The unnamed crossover will be smaller than the Enclave, seating five passengers. Though GM hasn’t said it, it likely will share the same platform as the Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Terrain and the Cadillac SRX, badge engineering that will cross all four of the New GM’s brand lines.

A standard model offering a 2.4L I4 or optional 3.0L V6 engine will be available in 2010 while a hybrid model using a modified version of GM’s two-mode hybrid technology would be optional and made available in 2011. The hybrid technology will be based on the same lithium-ion battery cells and technology that GM calls “Voltec” which will power the Chevy Volt.

Who Will Be First?

About the Buick PHEV GM had this to say, “The Buick plug-in hybrid is expected to be the first commercially available plug-in hybrid SUV produced by a major automaker.” That may be true, but only if GM beats the Ford Motor Company to the market. I test drove the prototype Ford Escape PHEV earlier this year and if my memory serves me correct, the plugin Escape will be making its debut in 2011 as well.

Off to the races!

Source: General Motors

See Also – First Drive: Ford Escape PHEV

Where Chevrolet, Cadillac Stand

Chevrolet represents the “All American Standard Bearer Brand” for GM, the entry level, catch-all make that is designed to lure new customers while keeping established ones satisfied. Sure, customers may eventually climb to Buick or Cadillac, but with the widest number of vehicles offered, many are content to call Chevrolet home.

On the other side of the spectrum is Cadillac, the “All American Luxury Brand” although Lincoln may beg to differ on this point. If you want consummate American luxury, then Cadillac delivers. And if the DTS, STS and Escalade are too American for your tastes, the CTS line does a decent impersonation of a European touring sedan.

Somewhere in the middle of these two are a pair of brands that lack pizazz – GMC and Buick. And that is where things begin to get cloudy.

GMC, Chevrolet Perpetuate Badge Engineering

A scrutiny of the GMC line reveals that Chevy trucks and GMC are virtually the same, perhaps just a bit different in some of the packaging details. GMC and Chevrolet persist in the practice of badge engineering, a syndrome GM has long used to round out its product line up. Perhaps GM has plans to move GMC in a different direction, but for now every GMC product is sold elsewhere, chiefly at Chevy dealers.

Buick’s position in the company should be clearer, but with different signals being sent out by GM management and marketeers, the customer may not have a clear picture of what the brand is about and where it is headed. Clearly, the big Buick Enclave SUV is a strong departure from Buick blandness, offering a style that is bold, crisp and the envy of Cadillac dealers who probably are still wondering why they aren’t the ones selling the Enclave as the next generation Escalade.

The all new LaCrosse midsize sedan is an improvement over the generation one model, but its place in the company is not too clear. Has it been developed to compete against Acura and Lexus or has the LaCrosse been designed to appeal to Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima drivers? Or something else?  I’m not sure and have read varying interpretations from inside and outside of GM which makes it difficult to say with all manner of certainty.

The Aged Buick Lucerne

Then of course we have the aged Lucerne, the big front wheel drive sedan that is new on the outside but underneath rides on a 1980s H body platform. I honestly like the way the car looks, but with the standard V6 in place the car is slow as molasses when compared to similar models. Besides, cheap interiors should have died with the 1990s – the Lucerne perpetuates this madness in spades.

Winding Road magazine published an excellent piece recently – General Motors 4.0: What is a Buick? – which airs many of the same questions about Buick that many people are asking. And therein lies the problem – if GM has a plan for Buick, then they need to clearly state what that is. “Take a look at me now” may make for a memorable tag line, but not if customers aren’t all that sure what they’re supposed to see.

See Also — Buick LaCrosse On Track For Summer Release

Although still several weeks away from appearing in Buick showrooms, GM rolled out the 2010 Buick LaCrosse to media folks, a sedan design that is a vast improvement over the current model.

GM introduced the 2010 Buick LaCrosse to members of the media today, a five passenger sedan that is a vast improvement over the current iteration. That isn’t to say that the 2009 model lacks in visual appeal, rather the 2010 is a notable and refreshing change.

The news conference roll out was strictly online which, for itself, was a change in the way GM usually handles introductions. In recent times, GM flew media in to a central location, where everyone could view, touch, and drive the model. Given GM’s bankrupt state, that no longer is a wise option. Instead, GM poured all of their resources into providing a media extravaganza online.

Some Surprises Offered

The Buick LaCrosse will be powered by a standard 3.0L V6 with an optional 3.6L V6 offered.  Those engine choices were to be expected, but not the 2.4L I4 engine which will roll out a few months hence. Apparently, the addition of a four cylinder model was a more recent idea, perhaps given the Obama administration’s recent pronouncments regarding higher corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) ratings. GM expects that the I4 LaCrosse will get 30 mpg on the highway.

I’m spending some of my time this afternoon chatting with GM managers regarding LaCrosse marketing, engineering, design, etc. I’ve posed several questions so far including the following to GM’s Susan Docherty who heads up the sales, service and marketing for Buick-Pontiac-GMC:

The Auto Writer: The AWD LaCrosse could be competition for the Cadillac CTS sedan.  How will Cadillac handle in-house competition?

Susan Docherty: With 4 core brands each brand will target specific consumers with very different needs and wants. Buick targets those wanting premium entries without compromise and Cadillac targets consumers seeking more prestigious luxury.  With respect to AWD, it’s like safety, not specific to a particular brand.

I’m not sure that Ms. Docherty’s answer would satisfy customers who might see the CTS and LaCrosse all wheel drive versions as being models worth comparing. With GM using the words “luxury brand” to describe both Cadillac and Buick, then there is a place for confusion if not in-house competition.

I’ll have some additional details about the LaCrosse in the coming days and will publish my “first drive” as soon as I get the chance to drive one.

Source: GM Corp.

See Also: Luscious LaCrosse Leaves Lexus Lurching

Priced from $27,835, the all new 2010 Buick LaCrosse is a vast style and engineering improvement over the previous generation model, a sedan which will help to advance the image of Buick in North America and beyond.

Buick is one brand that General Motors believes will help ensure its success for the long haul. Although Chevrolet outsells all other GM brands in the US combined, Buick easily outsells Chevrolet in China which is now GM’s second largest (and fastest growing) market.

A Renaissance In The Making?

Here in North America, Buick is on the verge of getting several new models including an all new LaCrosse sedan which will debut later this summer in Buick showrooms mid to late June as a 2010 model. This particular car is already on sale in China where it is sold alongside the Enclave, Park Avenue, Regal, Excelle and the GL8, the latter based upon the unsuccessful Buick Terrazza minivan sold here from 2005 to 2007.

Clearly, the LaCrosse’s exterior design pushes the sedan upmarket somewhat, with the $27,835 base price ($1500 higher than the 2009 model) for the entry level CX model complementing that move. Though I haven’t gotten the opportunity to drive the newest LaCrosse yet, I’ve seen it on display at car shows and believe that it’ll appeal to Lexus ES owners.

Improved Engine and Transmission Pairing

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse will be powered by GM’s new 3.0L direct injection V-6 engine and is matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. This pairing will be a vast improvement over the current 3.8L V-6 and four-speed automatic transmission, a set up that yielded only 200 horsepower compared to the 255 horsepower for the new configuration. My best guess is that the all new LaCrosse could achieve about 30 mpg on the highway when EPA figures are tabulated this summer, a remarkable feat for a car of its class.

In addition to the base CX, the LaCrosse will feature three other trim levels: CXL FWD ($30,395) , CXL AWD ($32,570) and the top of the line CXS ($33,765). Yes, an all wheel drive version of the LaCrosse will be available, pitting the LaCrosse against base European sedans which offer this feature. While a V8 will no longer be offered with this model, the CXS will inherit the Cadillac CTS engine which pushes horsepower up to 280.

Incidentally, this car will be equipped with all of the usual luxury goodies including leather heated and cooled seats and chrome plated 18-inch wheels pricing it just a few thousand dollars under the base Cadillac CTS, possibly putting the front wheel drive LaCrosse in competition with the rear wheel drive CTS.

Nah, I don’t think so — these are two different kinds of cars.

Generous List of Standard Items

Perhaps the most noticeable difference for the all new LaCrosse besides its huge styling improvement inside and out, is the list of items now standard. These include: European-designed chassis and suspension systems; real-time damping suspension system; high-intensity discharge headlamps with adaptive forward lighting; side blind zone alert; Bluetooth phone connectivity; rear-seat DVD entertainment system; and six standard air bags, including roof-mounted head curtain side air bags.

Production on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse will begin early this summer at the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas. The LaCrosse will continue to be sold as the Allure in Canada.

Source: GM Corp.

Related Reading: Luscious LaCrosse Leaves Lexus Lurching

At the same time, the industry is going through a deep cleansing, one that will rid it of excess capacity, inefficient operations and see several brands disappear. I believe that Ford will replace GM as the largest producer of cars in the US followed by Toyota. Hyundai and Kia will continue to gain market share while Chrysler’s future is hinged on its relationship with Fiat, a very precarious one at that.

GM Faces A Deep Challenge

Looking closer at General Motors, I now see its US operations pared to the point where only three brands will survive. Despite President Obama’s optimism, it’ll take years to settle GM’s debt as both bondholders and union members hold firm. Now that the president has signaled that he won’t let GM die, what do these parties have to lose? A lot if they don’t hold their ground.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

In keeping with the tradition of Sergio Leone, I offer to you the following categories to define GM’s future, particularly as it relates to its critical North American base:

The Good — Chevrolet comprises a full 60% of GM sales, therefore the Chevy brand is the face of the new GM. If this brand isn’t healthy enough to compete against Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen then the company will die.

Cadillac is the premium bookend for GM, a luxury division that needs additional assets. The CTS franchise is a success, the SRX a worthy model, but the replacement for the STS/DTS is a mystery. As for the Escalade, it will probably soldier on as a car based crossover at some point. Lincoln wasn’t much of a threat for the past decade, but now Ford’s luxury division is fighting back, positioning itself to leapfrog Cadillac.

The lifespan of Buick depends on how well the company emerges from restructuring, bankruptcy or not. Its Chinese base is upholding the brand, but in order to be a good middleground brand for GM, it needs some product loving. And quick.

The Bad — The Pontiac G8 is a knock out car, but not enough to keep the brand alive.  Cash strapped GM cannot afford to keep Pontiac alive, so may it rest in peace. The G8 could find its way over to Chevrolet…let’s hope so!

The GMC brand can now die, allowing GM to consolidate Chevrolet trucks with GMC. They’ll be a big battle with Buick-Pontiac-GMC franchised dealers, with some likely to gain a Chevy Trucks franchise in their settlement.

The Ugly — No longer relevant and a big embarrassment, Hummer will probably cease to exist unless a foreign, niche manufacturer buys the brand, its dies and assembles Hummer elsewhere.

There isn’t much that can be said about Saab unless the pending new owner of Volvo makes a pitch for the brand to create Scandinavian Motors. Nope, I don’t see that happening at all.

Pity, poor Saturn — it was once a decent idea that should have been dismissed long before a plant in Spring Hill, TN was built for “a different kind of car company.” Okay, I’m biased: I leased a 2001 Saturn L-Series and actually liked the car, body panel gaps and all.  But, Saturn held Chevrolet back and was always a tremendous financial drain on the automaker. I would hate to see it become a supply house for a Chinese or Indian automaker. Peugeot? Maybe.

Ups & Downs With GM

Life at GM will never be the same, a company whose heritage is a mixture of lousy production methods (pre-1980s), cool technology (OnStar) and stiff competition (Toyota, et al).

If the company does survive, it may eventually have to hook up with another automaker to stay in business. Perhaps Carlos Ghosn would be interested in an automotive troika provided that GM comes to the party without financial baggage.

Related Reading –Brain Drain: GM Whacks Engineers

I first mentioned in October 2006 that Opel and Saturn would share a number of models and followed that up with numerous articles explaining the European origin of the Aura and Astra as well as the Saturn Sky making its way across the pond as Opels. Later, GM announced that by model year 2014 the two brands would be virtually seamless with most products shared (save for the Saturn Outlook crossover).

Opel’s Future Is In Doubt

Now that GM has apparently decided to kill off or sell Saturn, those plans have been canceled. Moreover, with GM looking to spin Opel off (or at least a share of its European brand), Opel’s future is in question as well.

Naturally, much of what is being aired as “news” lately is based on speculation, some of it coming from industry analysts with a healthy dose being suggested by GM itself: Better to make the news yourself than have the press constantly define your company by suggesting its impending demise.

Opel and Buick, Perfect Together?

The rumor du jour is that Buick and Opel will now begin to share some products, beginning as early as this year when the Opel Insignia hits our shores — not as the next generation Saturn Aura as was originally planned but as the revived Buick Regal. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as GM needs to fill its Buick-Pontiac-GMC stable with fresh models, something Opel can help do for it.

Buick is in the midst of a radical overhaul which began when the beautiful Enclave crossover was added to the fleet last year. Its LaCrosse sedan, the smaller of two sedans (the aged Lucerne being the other model) will be updated and replaced by a model now being sold in China, the brand’s largest market. The Regal would occupy the slot directly below the LaCrosse.

Opel isn’t likely to supply the Lucerne replacement as that car is much larger than anything the German brand now builds. Sharing the platform which powers the Cadillac DTS, the Buick Lucerne will most likely get a detuned version of the model GM says will replace both the Cadillac STS and DTS. The last we heard about that is GM is planning a front wheel drive model for it sometime around 2011 (why they won’t stretch the popular CTS’ platform to create this model is a mystery to me).

Orphaned Saturn To Buick Too?

If Saturn isn’t sold and their current product line with it, what will happen to its models? Well, the Aura and Astra would die as they are Opel transplants while the Sky would probably be discontinued as GM has no plans to continue with it or its sibling the Pontiac Solstice. The Outlook is already being sold as the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave so unless GM loses its minds and decides that it should become a Pontiac, then we can kiss that model good-bye too.

That leaves the VUE which could be the perfect entry level crossover for Buick. With the Enclave serving on the upper end and the Vue on the lower end, Buick would have the two crossover models it needs going forward. As far as sedans go, the Lucerne, LaCrosse and Regal would fill out the Buick line as we know that going forward those two body styles will power the fleet.

Of course, coupe enthusiasts such as yours truly are imagining that the Buick Grand National could one day make its return, a two door sport coupe sitting on the Insignia-Regal platform.

Dream on!