Buick Straightline Archives

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The reign of The Bob at General Motors will end on May 1. That's when GM vice chairman Bob Lutz will pack up his office at Detroit's Renaissance Center and retire. Something tells us the less flamboyant and charismatic Ed Whitacre, GM's CEO, might not be that sad to see him go.

It will be interesting to see if this retirement sticks, as Lutz also called it quits in February 2009.

GM had placed an embargo on news stories of Lutz's retirement until 10 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, but Bloomberg and CNBC evidently couldn't wait that long. 

GM has issued a press release following the break.

Lutz is quoted thusly in the release: "I can confidently say that the job I came here to do more than nine years ago is now complete -- the team I have been fortunate to lead has far exceeded my expectations. Our product lineup is as strong as it has been in GM's history. The perception of our products and brands is beginning to catch up with reality. And most importantly, the absolute commitment to being a product-driven company is engrained throughout the organization -- from the top down -- and I am confident that, under Ed Whitacre's leadership, the straightforward, singular focus on product will endure."

Lutz's tenure at GM dates to September 1, 2001, when he joined the company as head of product development, after a career at BMW, Chrysler and Ford.

For more on Lutz's career, check out Bill Visnic's writeup on the Auto Observer blog.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNBC via Detroit Free Press

Categories: Auto Industry,Buick,Cadillac,Chevrolet,GMC,General Motors

Updated

As expected, there has been a management upheaval at General Motors today. The biggest change is the separation of sales and marketing leadership for each of the brands. Each brand will have a sales vice president reporting to GM North America President Mark Reuss and a separate marketing VP reporting to Susan Docherty, now the VP of U.S. marketing, who of course also reports to Reuss. Formerly, Docherty was in charge of marketing and sales.

"The premise of the structure is simple," Reuss said, "a clearer marketing focus to sell more vehicles, and freeing our sales and service experts to focus on customers and dealers."

As we reported earlier, Bryan Nesbitt loses his post as Cadillac general manager and will move back to Europe to lead design efforts there. He is succeeded by Kurt McNeil, previously a general sales manager at Chevrolet. Meanwhile, Don Butler (pictured above left petting horse) will return from the vehicle traffic monitoring company INRIX to head up Cadillac marketing. He's a GM veteran who formerly led OnStar, and uh, at one point he was a product manager for the Pontiac Aztek.

More interesting is the appointment of Alan Batey (pictured above right looking pleased) to lead Chevrolet sales and service. Batey's most recent position at GM was as president and managing director of Holden in Australia. No doubt his appointment will fuel more rumors about the reincarnation of the Pontiac G8 as a Chevrolet. Jim Campbell will lead Chevrolet marketing, in what will apparently be a slimmed down role -- he had been serving as Chevrolet brand general manager since his appointment back in December.  

Finally, Brian Sweeney will stick with Buick-GMC as that two-in-one-brand's vice president of sales and service, while John Schwegman, formerly a marketing director at Chevrolet, handles marketing.

Another major development is the appointment of Chris Preuss, up until now GM's vice president of communications, to lead the OnStar telematics division. He'll report directly to Reuss. However, unless GM is planning to release some ground-breaking new technology for OnStar and/or has a plan to take on Ford's Sync, this does not appear to a promotion for Preuss.

To help us all get a handle on all the changes, GM has released an new organizational chart for its management structure. It's after the jump.

IL News: GM Shakes Up Sales and Marketing: Nesbitt Out at Cadillac 

Continue reading...

Categories: Auto Industry,Buick,Cadillac,Chevrolet,GMC,General Motors

The all but confirmed 2012 Buck Regal GS may not get all-wheel drive like the concept shown at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.

Bob Lutz, GM's Vice Chairman, told Inside Line that there have been numerous internal discussions about the direction of the proposed vehicle. He said that the product planners are debating whether all-wheel drive is worth the added weight and cost.

Lutz didn't confirm any details on the engine destined for the GS, but he did note that they were less than overwhelmed by the performance of the Opel's turbo V6. With that in mind, don't be surprised if the Buick GS arrives with a turbocharged four-cylinder tweaked beyond the 220-horses generated by the standard turbo four.

First Drive: 2011 Buick Regal
 

Categories: Buick,Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Sedans

Let there be no doubt: The hot-rodded Buick Regal that the company unveiled as a concept vehicle at this year's Detroit Auto Show, the GS, will be going to production.

Take a peek at the photo we grabbed of a what is clearly a Buick-ized version of the Opel Insignia OPC, the European-market model on which the GS is based. The vertical air intakes on the nose are a sure give-away to this blacked-out protoype's high-performance nature. The prototype, which still wears an Opel logo in on the trunk lid, even sports the three-badge Buick logo on the front grille.

The eventual production version will share the Opel's adjustable suspension system, its big wheels and its manual-transmission. It will not, however, use the Opel's turbo V6 (which is also used in the Cadillac SRX turbo). If you believe Buick's Detroit-show vehicle, the GS could come with turbo-charged four-cylinder power. But Buick might yet decide that the direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 that currently does duty in the Chevrolet Camaro and Cadillac CTS is better suited to the car.

Categories: Buick,General Motors,Opel,Sedans,Spy Photos

No big secret here. Buick gave us a glimpse of its upcoming small sedan at the L.A. Auto Show late last year, so the fact that prototypes are running around Detroit is no big surprise.

Based on the same platform as the Cruze, this new Buick will mostly likely share drivetrains and suspension components. Most of the Buick-ness will be baked into the final suspension tuning and cabin isolation. Safe to assume it will get a big ol' list of standard features too. Look for an official debut sometime later this year.

Buick Gives Sneek Peek of New Sedan at L.A. Auto Show

Categories: Buick,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Sedans,Spy Photos

Wait, you missed the big webchat with Brian Sweeney, the latest general manager of GM's Buick/GMC duo-brand? Well good for you then, you probably made good use of that hour of your life. We on the other hand sat through it and learned, well, nothing.

Actually, we learned that Buick might still be stuck in a thick haze. You know, the one that made executives feel like everything was going just great when in fact everything was crumbling around them?

Not convinced? Then check out these choice passages from today's little back-and-forth with Buick's top exec.

Q: Why am I not seeing a lot of Lacrosses and Terrains at my local dealerships and when I ask if they are getting any, they tell me GM is not letting the dealers have them?

A: We're selling the LaCrosse and Terrain off the trucks, Nathan. They are both extremely hot and dealers are taking orders and selling them as they arrive. I can't speak to the specific situation you refer to.

Q: Does GMC have plans on having totally different vehicles than its brother Chevrolet?

A: Terrain is a great example of differentiation from Chevy -- only the only the windshield and roofline are shared with the Chevy Equinox. The Denali line is another exclusive to GMC and not Chevy.

Q: Brian, yesterday I saw an artist rendering of a 2011 Regal coupe. With Buick trying to change perceptions, appeal to a younger audience, and garner attention. A 2-door version would be a great idea for the return of the long awaited Grand National.

A: Thanks for your comment on the Regal. We love the enthusiasm for the Gran National.

Uh huh, Buick LaCrosse customers are buying them right off the trucks, GMC is waay different than Chevrolet and, of course, everybody loves the Gran National.  

Continue reading...

Categories: Auto Industry,Buick

That's the question GM has been asking itself for the past several months, and now we have what they think is the answer. Starting in the spring, the 2011 Buick Regal CXL will go on sale with a base price of $27,745.

The CXL is the only trim level that will be offered out of the gate and it will only come with the standard 182-horsepower, 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder. Later this summer, a turbocharged CXL with 220-horsepower will go on sale for $30,245. Next year, Buick will add a base CX model to the lineup, but no pricing has been determined yet.

2011 Buick Regal
 

Categories: Buick,LA Auto Show,Luxury Cars,Sedans

Is this the 2012 Buick Regal GS? Probably. For now, though, we have to call it the Buick Regal GS Concept while Bob Lutz winks in our direction. You'll see this car at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. And you'll get sweaty palms when you see its flat-bottom suede steering wheel and blacked-out interior.

Turns out the Regal GS Concept is down with OPC. Yeah, that's right, Opel Insignia OPC. It borrows heavily from this European car. To start, the Regal GS is all-wheel-drive with an electronic limited-slip rear differential (i.e., the Haldex system used on AWD Saab 9-3s).

It also has the driver-adjustable Interactive Drive Control System (IDCS) which allows you to tailor suspension damping, steering sensitivity and throttle response. Specially designed front struts known as "HiPerStrut" are said to ward off torque steering by maintaining negative camber.

The Regal's 20-inch cast aluminum wheels are some of the prettiest we've ever seen on a GM sedan, and they're wrapped in 35-series rubber. Peek behind the front wheels and you'll see 14-inch rotors with 4-piston fixed Brembo calipers.

Oddly, the one thing that's not finalized on the production-ready Regal GS Concept is the engine. The show car has a higher-output version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder already slated for the 2011 Regal CXL. In the GS, the engine is said to produce 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It's hooked up to a six-speed manual.

But Buick might not use this engine in the production car. Rumors abound that Buick might replace the turbo four with a V6 -- either the 280-hp, direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 from the LaCrosse or the 321-hp, turbocharged, 2.8-liter V6 used in the Insignia OPC. -- Reporting by Dan Pund

Categories: Buick,Detroit Auto Show,Sedans

Bob Lutz  has written up a list of New Year's resolutions for GM and we've published them exclusively here on Inside Line. Think of it GM's 2010 to-do list.

Product is on top. Lutz writes, "GM builds cars and trucks and crossovers. That is what we do. In 2009, we were given an opportunity to continue doing so, and we must not squander that opportunity. Therefore, we are resolved, if you will, not to lose sight of the fact that if we don't build the best cars, trucks and crossovers on the planet, that opportunity will go for naught."

Also on the list: Changing people's minds.

"It's not arrogant to think you have great vehicles, so long as you do, and to try to spread the word about them. No one at GM has said that every vehicle we have is world-class -- we still have room to improve. And no one at GM, including me, has said that the consumer is too dumb to realize how good our new products are. All we've said is that the consumer perhaps is unaware of said fact. That's a far cry from being dumb."

Read the full article and tell us what you think of Lutz's, and GM's, order of priorities.

Inside Line Exclusive Feature -- General Motors: The Year Ahead

Categories: Auto Industry,Buick,Cadillac,Chevrolet,GMC,General Motors

Ken Cole, vice president of governmental relations for General Motors, will retire after 8 years on the job. In his place, GM's interim CEO, Ed Whitacre, will install his own men, John Montford and Bob Ferguson, both former AT&T executives.

Cole was tangled up in all the Capitol Hill battles during the year of upheaval at GM; his counterpart at Chrysler, John Bozzella, has already moved on to take a position with Cerberus Capital, former owner of Chrysler. Cole will stay on with GM as an advisor "until his retirement later in 2010," according to GM.

Montford (top headshot) will serve as a special advisor to Whitacre, while Ferguson (lower headshot) will hold the formal of title of vice president of government relations. They'll both be on the job January 1.

Detroit Free Press

Categories: Auto Industry,Buick,Cadillac,Chevrolet,GMC,General Motors

Toyota recalled nearly 4.9 million vehicles in 2009 -- the most of any automaker in the U.S., the Detroit Free Press reports. This is the first time Toyota has ever led in annual recalls, and of course this milestone is the result of the floor mat debacle during which 4.3 million vehicles were recalled.

Free Press writers crunched the numbers on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Web site. Ford came up second with 4.5 million recalled vehicles -- most of them covered by recalls for cruise control switches that can catch fire, a chronic defect in older Fords.

Next up was GM was 2.2 million recalled vehicles, followed by Hyundai with just over 1 million and Nissan with 700,000+. Chrysler rounded out the top five with 590,000.

You can see the full list in the Free Press article.

Categories: Buick,Cadillac,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Dodge,Ford,GMC,General Motors,Hyundai,Infiniti,Jeep,Kia,Lexus,Lincoln,Manufacturers,Mercury,Nissan,Toyota

No one will accuse Brian Sweeney, the newly installed head of Buick, of thinking too outside the box. At least not after reading a recent report in Automotive News.

In the article, Sweeney says Buick is hoping to attract buyers younger than 70. A bold strategy if there ever was one and somewhat attainable now that Buick has some decently attractive cars. Of course, we've been hearing this talk from Buick for years now, and last time we checked, Buicks were still quite popular with older drivers.

So what are his chances? Is the LaCrosse enough? What about the upcoming Regal? Will "younger buyers" (e.g. 40s and 50s) buy either of the new Buick sedans? Does anyone younger than 70 even care?

Automotive News
 

Categories: Buick

Cadillac has released the above rendering of, well, mostly of a headlight, in advance of the Detroit Auto Show.

Eventually, Cadillac is expected to unveil an entire concept car connected to this headlight--once that car is built, that is. That as-yet-unnamed concept is expected (by us) to be a large sedan that will reveal the basic styling the brand's upcoming XTS full-size luxo-boat that will replace both the STS and DTS models. Last we heard, the production car will use a version of the Buick LaCrosse's Epsilon front-/all-wheel-drive platform and won't go into production until 2011.

We make this leap of faith since, well, we know the XTS is coming, we can see two door handles on the driver's side (in spooky blue light) and because this thing looks big. Case closed.

We asked a Cadillac rep about the vehicle's size to which he cleverly replied, "no comment." We suppose it could be a concept to hint at the upcoming 3-series-fighting ATS sedan or possibly a thinly disguised Tata Nano competitor. He did confirm that it will not be a re-badged Toyota iQ city car.

Categories: Buick,Cadillac,Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,General Motors,Luxury Cars,Sedans,Toyota

Although GM's headlining act at next month's 2010 Detroit Auto Show is the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V coupe, leaked reports across the internet indicate that the automaker will also show a Buick Regal GS. If approved for production, the GS would be the high-performance mode in the Regal line.

 Inside Line has learned that the show car uses many parts from the European-spec Opel Insignia OPC shown here. There has been no confirmation of which engine is in the show car, much less any commitment on the motor that might be used in a hypothetical production car. But perhaps we'll see some Recaro seats and Brembo brake calipers.

It has also been leaked that GM will unveil a concept version of the Chevrolet Aveo called the RS (said to be larger than any production Aveo to date), plus a GM concept car called the Granite. The latter is described as an "urban utility vehicle," and you know how much we love those.

First Drive: 2011 Buick Regal

Categories: Auto Industry,Buick,Chevrolet,Detroit Auto Show,GMC,Opel,Sedans

After tidying up the executive ranks, new General Motors CEO Ed Whitacre set about in earnest to appoint a new chief financial officer. Today the company announced it has found one in the ranks at Microsoft. Chris Liddell will take over as GM vice chairman and CFO, effective January 2010. Liddell has been the CFO of Microsoft since May 2005.

Liddell takes over for current CFO Ray Young, who fell out of favor when the President's automotive taskforce laid into GM for its poor financial management. Young has been reassigned as CFO of GM's international operations and will be relocating from Detroit to Shanghai.

Before coming to Microsoft, Liddell was the CFO of International Paper, and before that, he was the CEO of Carter Holt Harvey Ltd., a paper products company in New Zealand. Liddell is a native New Zealander and holds an engineering degree from the University of Auckland, plus a masters in philosophy from Oxford University in England.

Categories: Auto Industry,Buick,Cadillac,Chevrolet,GMC,General Motors