Comments on: GM Heads for the Chinese Riviera http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:55:50 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: John Williams http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/comment-page-1/#comment-97951 John Williams Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:01:04 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/#comment-97951 I believe the NA Focus was considered by "focus groups" (ha!) and corporate HQ to be the safest choice in terms of design -- that and the fact that most of Ford's European offers have in the past been complete failures in terms of sales. Cost is also a big consideration -- the EU Focus would be costly to bring over, let alone build here. I think the big problem is that the Big 3 are looking at Accord/Camry sales too hard for their own good -- by adopting nearly all of their bad traits while cost-cutting the good ones. Hence you're left with a stodgy 4 door sedan with bland styling marked with gimmicky trademark Big 3 styling cues, engine and suspension tech that's at least a generation behind the CamCord, and interiors that loudly announce the overall cheapness of the car itself. And don't forget the cars are currently playing second-fiddle to the Big 3's "Sure-Fire Cash Cow": SUVs and CUVs. Meanwhile, cars like the Park Avenue and concepts like the Riviera are sent away to Europe and China, countries where potential customers have a higher expectation of the Big 3 and higher standards to hold them to. I believe the NA Focus was considered by “focus groups” (ha!) and corporate HQ to be the safest choice in terms of design — that and the fact that most of Ford’s European offers have in the past been complete failures in terms of sales. Cost is also a big consideration — the EU Focus would be costly to bring over, let alone build here.

I think the big problem is that the Big 3 are looking at Accord/Camry sales too hard for their own good — by adopting nearly all of their bad traits while cost-cutting the good ones. Hence you’re left with a stodgy 4 door sedan with bland styling marked with gimmicky trademark Big 3 styling cues, engine and suspension tech that’s at least a generation behind the CamCord, and interiors that loudly announce the overall cheapness of the car itself. And don’t forget the cars are currently playing second-fiddle to the Big 3’s “Sure-Fire Cash Cow”: SUVs and CUVs. Meanwhile, cars like the Park Avenue and concepts like the Riviera are sent away to Europe and China, countries where potential customers have a higher expectation of the Big 3 and higher standards to hold them to.

]]> By: Dorian666 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/comment-page-1/#comment-97929 Dorian666 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:58:49 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/#comment-97929 I have come to the conclusion that North America is a third world area for most car manufacturers. We get the least body choice, least engine choice, least interior type choice , least paint colour choice. The only luxury we get is the largest engine avaiable. Vehicles are high volume low profit in NA here and that is affecting our options. I have come to the conclusion that North America is a third world area for most car manufacturers. We get the least body choice, least engine choice, least interior type choice , least paint colour choice. The only luxury we get is the largest engine avaiable.

Vehicles are high volume low profit in NA here and that is affecting our options.

]]> By: Sherman Lin http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/comment-page-1/#comment-97852 Sherman Lin Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:09:04 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/#comment-97852 If they can get a production version with gull wing doors that would be very cool. If they can get a production version with gull wing doors that would be very cool.

]]> By: quasimondo http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/comment-page-1/#comment-97803 quasimondo Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:39:47 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/#comment-97803 How cool would that be to see Tiger Woods driving that thing to the next PGA event? How cool would that be to see Tiger Woods driving that thing to the next PGA event?

]]> By: Orian http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/comment-page-1/#comment-97800 Orian Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:33:09 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/#comment-97800 Danhar, I disagree. Buick wants to be like Lexus and this would be the perfect model to attract younger buyers and start moving them from their geriatric brand label they have now. Even with Tiger Woods endorsing their cars they continue to put out models that only my grandparents would want. Danhar, I disagree. Buick wants to be like Lexus and this would be the perfect model to attract younger buyers and start moving them from their geriatric brand label they have now. Even with Tiger Woods endorsing their cars they continue to put out models that only my grandparents would want.

]]> By: Danhar http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/comment-page-1/#comment-97790 Danhar Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:13:57 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/#comment-97790 A car of this type would fit into Buick's NA lineup about as well as a body-on-frame SUV would fit into Saab's. A car of this type would fit into Buick’s NA lineup about as well as a body-on-frame SUV would fit into Saab’s.

]]> By: quasimondo http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/comment-page-1/#comment-97773 quasimondo Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:33:40 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/gm-heads-for-the-chinese-riviera/#comment-97773 Once again, the American automotive consumer gets stiff-armed. If it's not Ford giving us that uberturd instead of the real Focus, then it's Buick sending over what could potentially be a game-changer for them overseas. This is a shame. You'd think the an automaker would give the choicest cuts to their domestic markets. The Japanese and European automakers do it, why can't the American automakers do the same? Once again, the American automotive consumer gets stiff-armed. If it’s not Ford giving us that uberturd instead of the real Focus, then it’s Buick sending over what could potentially be a game-changer for them overseas. This is a shame. You’d think the an automaker would give the choicest cuts to their domestic markets. The Japanese and European automakers do it, why can’t the American automakers do the same?

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