Given that Opel and Buick are now connected at the hip, could the Adam become a Buick? Buick already is driving down the average age of its buyers with current models and that should continue next year with the launch Encore crossover. After the engine/transmission upgrades, the Adam car could be the fashion statement Buick needs, but Opel will build the Adam only in Germany. Production would have to move to a more cost-effective assembly plant to make a Buick version profitable.
Fiat moved over 4,000 cars last month -- this is a steadily growing number, too, as the number of dealerships increase. At their current growth rate they'll be outselling Volvo sometime next year and well within reach of Mini -- with one car.
America has enough useless tiny 2 door hatches, ala smart fortwo and fiat 500. Those cars suck and don't sell, GM would stupid to bring the Adam to America.
There comes a point where cars get too small, slow, not any more efficient, and useless at begin a daily driver car to work in North America. This is the size car. They have their niche, sure... but they aren't extremely popular. What makes me laugh is how GM will pull out of making something like a competitive minivan (which while sales are down, they still sell quite a lot) when they used to sell many Ventures (before they made it snub nosed)... but they consider cars where they might make $8 profit per car on 10,000 units a year seriously. Take the Regal for example... it isn't selling very well, it's expensive to make, yet they offer something like 3 distinct trim lines for it and two separate front fascia's... and it's already getting a facelift :sly:.
GM, you already have the Sonic... people spending $13k on a new car don't want to pony up $4k extra for a Buick when you can pony up that money and get a Cruze. Here's a thought... bring the extremely useful Cruze wagon over. You'd sell more of them then the Adam (sounds like a name Jeremy Clarkson would coin for a car) and make more money on each sale.
I don't think it'd fit with the Buick image. Though interestingly, a theoretical small Buick and the "fashion class" (500, Mini etc) do occupy the same price range...
The Verano and Encore are already at the outer limit of how small a Buick can be without being ridiculous. Not to mention a Buick Grille on that is going to look asstacular.
Call it the Skylark, position it against the Mini/500/Beetle, certainly get noticed, I'd look at this before any of those if shopping that market :thumbup:
I think it would make a better Chevrolet and I can see the design translating. I know they have the Spark, but it's more economy based. I would only have the Spark available in poverty trim and sell the Adam with the cool stuff.
I think it would make a better Chevrolet and I can see the design translating. I know they have the Spark, but it's more economy based. I would only have the Spark available in poverty trim and sell the Adam with the cool stuff.
They probably couldn't sell the Germany-built Adam in the United States at a price that would make sense. Pretty sure it's impossible for any manufacturer to get a European-built car sold in the US for under $17,000 these days.
And besides, the Spark is doing extremely well so far (they've sold 4,000 in two months despite only being in some big-city markets, and dealers can't keep any in stock) but it's the $13,000 price point that's doing it, not the size of the car. Jack the price of the Spark up enough (or introduce an Americanized Adam) and people will say "whatever", and start looking at Sonics or 500s instead.
I think it's a pretty cool looking car. Heck, why not do what Chrysler does with Fiat and just put them in a cool corner of the Buick dealership and don't let Buddy Garrity (God, I hope someone gets this reference) types with terrible 1994-era suits try to sell them?
Don't even bother badging it as anything other than the Adam or something that kinda/sorta fits with the Buick naming convention.
I believe the bean counters think they're better off rebadging Opels and other overseas models instead of going through the huge expense of setting up another division.
No this would not be a good fit for Buick. I question what GM is doing with the brand bringing the Trax here as the Encore and this would make even less sense. Is GM trying to kill Buick?
What does make sens is to replace the Chevy Spark with this car.
Part of Fiat's success in this segment is affordable prices coming from North American manufacturing (assembly Mexico, some powertrain components USA depending on model). Unless they started assembling the Adam some place that isn't Germany, it would be too pricey to mimic Fiat's US success.
This is a bona fide MINI sized car though, so it would be neat to see them offer it. They've already sort-of got a Countryman competitor coming in the form of the Encore.
Neat looking car. But bring it over as a buick? No way. Chevy already has a couple of small cars. I don't see how a pseudo-upscale 2-dr hatchback will help GM or Buick. The styling of the car seems a bit too youthful and exciting for buick anyway.
Neat looking car. But bring it over as a buick? No way. Chevy already has a couple of small cars. I don't see how a pseudo-upscale 2-dr hatchback will help GM or Buick. The styling of the car seems a bit too youthful and exciting for buick anyway.
Haven't you been watching the "New Buick" commercials? :laugh:
It's for youthful hotties going to the beach and ex NBA stars. :thumbup:
It is obvious that Buick is aiming itself to be an Acura (which was once the entry luxo brand for post BMW yuppies). It'll be interesting.
I think things would have been easier had Saturn not folded, but then... some had to be folded. That meant a helluvah shakeup in the product planning for the future that now requires some really good marketing to pull off given the GM history.
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