Ask The Best And Brightest: Could Buick Use A Minivan?

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: October 28th, 2010

ask the best and brightest could buick use a minivan

China’s going nutty over the next-generation of Buick GL8 minivans, which recently strutted its Buick Business Concept-derived styling in downtown Shanghai. We’ve heard rumors of a Buick MPV coming stateside for some time, with each successive rumor placing the “Baby Enclave” on a different platform, first Delta then Gamma. Though the latest intel seems to indicate that the US will get a Buick-badged version of the suicide-doored Opel Meriva, wouldn’t an Epsilon-based full minivan be a more natural fit for the US market? Sure, it might cannibalize the Enclave some, but that hasn’t stopped Buick from offering no fewer than three mid-sized sedans. Could Buick be the next brand to re-hip the minivan? Should it be?

#Buick #China #FutureVehicles #GL8 #Minivan

Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments

Join the conversation

5 of 46 comments

ThriftyTechie on Oct 28, 2010

Yes! Of course Buick should! That way TTAC can would have subject matter for three solid blog posts: 1. Editorial on how stupid GM is for bringing back the minivan 2. Editorial o how stupid Buick is fro bringing back the minivan 3. Obligatory review of the minivan not involving kids and cargo, but focusing on the body roll when taking corners at 70% and the problematic hard-plastics in the interior. TTAC. you guys are unbelievable. When you're done beating a dead horse, you're dreaming about bringing out another one to flog.

Like Reply
- SCE to AUX on Oct 28, 2010
  
  Actually, I agree with your 'three solid blog posts'. GM should not bring back the minivan. They abandoned the market years ago - along with Ford - because their products were bad, boring, and a poor value. It's an uphill climb to re-enter that market, and GM ought to stick with trying to make money instead of being 'me too' in a market that others own.
  
  Like
Roberto Esponja on Oct 28, 2010

Hard to predict if it would be a good, or bad, idea...there's been cars out there that I thought would outright bomb (i.e., the clown car like Honda Element), yet they did alright. One thing it would have going for it is the huge side sliding doors, that's a plus in vehicles converted for limited mobility users.

Like Reply
- See 1 previous
- SVX pearlie on Oct 29, 2010
  
  Giant crossover / SUV doors suck in the world of ever-narrowing parking spaces.
  
  Like
- Ixim on Oct 29, 2010
  
  SVX, That's just my point - build a well-done 7-passenger hauler with the two SUV features lacking in minivans - high seats and extra ground clearance [as good as AWD for most conditions], and keep it short - maybe 20 inches less than those 205 inch Odysseys, et. al. Personally, I prefer real doors to sliders, unless cargo hauling is job 1.
  
  Like

Recent Comments

Calrson Fan Jeff - Agree with what you said. I think currently an EV pick-up could work in a commercial/fleet application. As someone on this site stated, w/current tech. battery vehicles just do not scale well. EBFlex - No one wanted to hate the Cyber Truck more than me but I can't ignore all the new technology and innovative thinking that went into it. There is a lot I like about it. GM, Ford & Ram should incorporate some it's design cues into their ICE trucks.
Michael S6 Very confusing if the move is permanent or temporary.
Jrhurren Worked in Detroit 18 years, live 20 minutes away. Ren Cen is a gem, but a very terrible design inside. I’m surprised GM stuck it out as long as they did there.
Carson D I thought that this was going to be a comparison of BFGoodrich's different truck tires.
Tassos Jong-iL North Korea is saving pokemon cards and amibos to buy GM in 10 years, we hope.