Should the Opel Adam be offered in the U.S. as a Buick?

[Mike!]

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.

[xnoitaNx]

Sure, because every generation deserves their own Cadillac Cimarron...

[JCT]

just import it as Opel no need to rebadge any thing

[MCTB]

Blatant A1 copy is blatant.

Also, no.

Yeah, because as everyone knows, Audi started this class with its A1




And no, they shouldnt. I do see 500s more than Smarts but they arent that thick on the ground. If they could afford to bring it in as a Chevy, it might be okay. Or, better yet, make an Abarth counterpart and TCL will leg hump (but never purchase)

[4-Dr-W-a-T]

It looks better than the 500 and Smart, looks like a Cygnet.

Too many hipsters and stoned dogs in the commercial for me,.... pass.

[6cylVWguy]

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.

[Mike!]

Yeah, because as everyone knows, Audi started this class with its A1

Audi designs are copied all the time maaan. The Porsche 356 is a total TT ripoff.

[uncleho]

*I am not confirming/denying/implying that this car is in GMNA's product plans.*

I strongly disagree. There is a reason why the Germans are tripping over themselves to fill this niche.

I'm not even going to ask.


Personally, I love the styling of this Adam over the Spark (the whole Chevy styling theme is so bizarro to me I can't even take it anymore. The Spark's demented anime look. The Sonic's puckering grille and uncohesive lights. The Malibu's attempt to look like a truck. The Impala... well, that one looks alright actually... for a big car.).

Although I would love to see it sold here... I wouldn't know what to make of Buick selling it, but then... I (like many here) have notions of what Buick means burned into my skull. Maybe it can be marketed to younger gens who didn't grow up with the Buick of old. It is possible... given the right marketing. But then... given how GM cannot sort out how to hire VPs that fit their mold without firing them within months... I am not too sure.

BTW... why is it that Opel (or any Euro brand) marketing pics for cars always lead with white folk looking halfway normal and ethnic folks looking stereotypical and/or doing weird-ass **** like cartwheels on the hood. Do minorities in Europe look and act like this?

[tampaSi]

Yeah, because as everyone knows, Audi started this class with its A1

Or, because it looks exactly like a f**king A1.

[uncleho]

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?

It's for youthful hotties going to the beach and ex NBA stars.

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.

[50fridge]

If gas prices go up to $5 a gallon then I could see GM could make a business case to sell it in the US. Upmarket subcompact cars are not very popular though in the US currently so at this point it would be better to sell the Spark only because it is cheap.

[Fe2O3]

BTW... why is it that Opel (or any Euro brand) marketing pics for cars always lead with white folk looking halfway normal and ethnic folks looking stereotypical and/or doing weird-ass **** like cartwheels on the hood. Do minorities in Europe look and act like this?

Yeah, you gotta make a little extra room on the sidewalks so they can "express themselves".

[Chris_V]

No.

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.

Buick has done small Opels before.










Even when peopel though of Buick as big cars, they sold the small Opels, from the '60s to 1980.

[MCTB]

Or, because it looks exactly like a f**king A1.

I must be missing it because the side profiles and 3/4s are not "exactly" alike. I mean, theyre small cars with sloping windshields but I see nothing else.

[BLK9GEN]

Or, because it looks exactly like a f**king A1.

OMG...how will anyone ever tell the two apart?!

[1985Jetta]

Could be a Fiat 500 competitor.

My first thought. I like it.

[Mike!]

OMG...how will anyone ever tell the two apart?!

OMG, they all have two doors, four wheels, and a contrasting roof color!!



How can I tell one from the other?

[IronJoe]

Cool looking car - but it just doesn't fit the Buick image IMHO.


If only GM had a small, quirky, unconventional European brand in which a small, fun, efficient hatchback could be sold to US buyers....

[Jerico007]

looks better than the fiat

Agreed....but thats not hard to do.

[tragik]

That other small Sonic-based Buick should have been called the Buick Eve and you'd have a gold mine.

[Troike]

The only Buick I could see such blatant hipsters driving would be this one (name that video):



Except hipsters possess no mechanical abilities; only inane knowledge, quasi-artistic talent, and barista skills. so they would not drive any Buick.

[vrsexxy_GTI]

Seriously just drop Buick and bring over Opel, Buick will always be known as a geezer brand.

[6cylVWguy]

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.

If Saturn was still around, they would have made a great modern day Merkur. Though if that happened, it probably would have meant the demise of Buick. I agree with you though--the Adam would be a much better fit for the Saturn brand than any other domestic division of GM.

[1985Jetta]

Now that I looked at the picture harder, I think this looks way better than a 500. I would love to have one.

[partario]

The only Buick I could see such blatant hipsters driving would be this one (name that video):

My Hooptie!


Anyway, I see a bit of Ford Ka in Opel Adam.



Yet, unlike the Ford, Adam actually looks quite nice.

[Swallow Doretti]

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.

You mean like this?

[BLK9GEN]

Seriously just drop Buick and bring over Opel, Buick will always be known as a geezer brand.

I'd rather drop you on your head, but gauging by some of your brilliant contributions to this forum, I'm guessing that already happened many years ago.

Buick is doing great these days. GM would be stupid to dump them in favor a brand that means absolutely nothing to most Americans.

[BattleRabbit]

Why dont they just bring it here as a f**king opel? Bout time they revived the opel brand here....

Yeah, and they could sell the Opel branded cars THROUGH BUICK DEALERS.

Why does that seem familiar....

[MK5golf]

Im sure that, even if it were manufactured in Germany, Buick can do good for its self by importing them in small numbers. Get people into the brand, and they'll "move up" to other models.

I for one like the Adam, but I like all miniature hatchbacks.

[mike02467]

Yeah, and they could sell the Opel branded cars THROUGH BUICK DEALERS.

Why does that seem familiar....

Hmm, could it be because all of the current Buick line up are Opel's and Vauxhaulls?

[BattleRabbit]

Hmm, could it be because all of the current Buick line up are Opel's and Vauxhaulls?

I was thinking more because cars like the Opel Manta and GT were sold as Opels through Buick dealers.

[r_fostoria]

Am I the only one who thinks that ,with those devilish looking eyes and thin, upturned chrome grille mustache, it look like it wants to tie a young girl to some railroad tracks or trick her into marrying it for her inheritance? I do like it though. It's a neat looking little car.

[justanotherusername]

I'd like to see it come to the US, but I don't think Buick is the right brand for it.


It would have made a nice Pontiac........

[whitejeep1989]

I'd like to see it come to the US, but I don't think Buick is the right brand for it.


It would have made a nice Pontiac........

Would have been a better Saturn. Pontiac was trying to get back to performance-based image, before the plug got pulled. The Adam would not have fit that too well.

[The Holy Molar]

It's a great looking car but I think branding it as a Buick would ruin it.