Part of GM’s recovery plan is to shift several marketing strategies incluing their cars target markets. Believe it, the Buick Regal will be reintroduced to cater to younger drivers in an effort to rebrand Buick as a performance car manufacturer.

And by “younger,” GM means a few steps backwards from the grave. The average age of Buick buyers is 70 and Buick wants to target middle-aged people in their 40s.

Now the funny thung about this that the 2011 Regal is basically an Opel Insignia with a Buick grille and badge. How can an Opel Insignia be a performance vehicle?

Engine choices include a 2.5L engine that dishes out 182 hp and a 2.4L turbo that dishes out 220 hp. Hardly performance vehicles in today’s market where a Ford Focus (ST) easily dishes out 300 hp and put all that power under control. Hyundai can definitely do better with the Genesis budget luxury car.

Come on, GM. Make more sense for us.

Source: Buick

There have been reports that General Motors is developing a new Buick-branded crossover that will have a two-mode plug-in hybrid system, the same one developed for the Saturn Vue.

GM had already expressed intent to adapt the two-mode hybrid system for other brands within the company. With Saturn’s impending sale to Penske Automotive, new technology slated for Saturn is fair game for GM to apply to its other brands. A confirmed recipient of the two-mode hybrid system is the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox.

Just like with the initial plans for the Vue and new strategies for the 2010 Equinox, expect a full plug-in hybrid system to follow the two-mode hybrid variant. Some are saying that GM could also be eyeing the Cadillac SRX crossover as another platform that will utilize the Saturn two-mode hybrid system. With either the Buick or the Cadillac, GM can apply the new two-mode system on higher-price-range products.

Production of either the Chevrolet Equinox plug-in hybrid or the planned Buick one isn’t slated until 2011.

As Buick tries to amp up interest in a flagging product line, the carmaker is making its foray into mainstream small cars with the upcoming 2010 Buick LaCrosse. However, this shift from big luxury sedans could possibly mark the cancellation of the bigger models such as the Lucerne.

Every automaker is now looking to cost-effective, fuel-efficient, and environment-friendly cars to boost sales in the changing automotive sales landscape; so is Buick. The LaCrosse will be Buick’s first model that will be on the new global midsize setup for General Motors cars. The Lucerne, on the other hand, posted a 34.1-percent sales decline over the past year. The dismal sales for the brand’s biggest sedan could prompt management to shelf any plans for a next-gen model.

The priority shift is seen by many as a good decision, with big luxury being far from the minds of most consumers in this current economic slump. Only time will tell if the LaCrosse really is the answer that Buick is looking for.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse is set to debut at Detroit’s North America International Auto Show in January 2009.

Source: Left Lane

After 9 long years during which Tiger Woods endorsed the Buick brand, GM reached an agreement with the 14-time golf champion to end the endorsement deal. This is the latest in a long line of cost-cutting measures for the Detroit automaker, and it nullified 1 year left on the deal worth around $7 million.

Larry Peck, Buick’s golf marketing manager, said that timing had a lot to do with the deal, citing that Wood expects a child on the way and that, of course, GM would like to save money where it can. “We’ve had such a great partnership with Tiger. It’s hard for us to walk away from that. But this frees up time for him. And it sure frees up a lot of money for us.”

Woods had the Buick logo on his golf bag and appeared in numerous Buick commercials as GM tried to extend the brand’s reach to a more youthful target market. Additionally, Woods is a multiple winner in two PGA events for which Buick is a major sponsor—the Buick Invitational, which Tiger won six times, and the Buick Open, which he won twice.

Source: MSNBC

More GM madness with this newsbit. This is one thing that the company can’t afford right now. Recalls cost a lot of money and they just won’t be recalling a couple hundred thousand, they’ll be dealing with nearly a million vehicles.

857,735 GM vehicles has been flagged for due to a faulty windshield washer fluid heater. The fault may cause other electrical features to get screwed up, even create nasty smells, or smoke. This should be classified to a problem that should have never existed if only automakers haven’t brought all of this electronic thingamajiggery into the equation. A toasted car surely isn’t worth the perk of getting heated wiper fluids.

View the list of affected vehicles after the cut courtesy of the National Highway Traffic after the cut.

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I’m no hotshot business executive but taking the point of view of a consumer, I think that they need to rethink their branding strategies to pull themselves out of the abyss. Having multiple names (six divisions and six subsidiaries) to market their products provides all sorts of complications.

Take this potential move for example. After creating so much buzz on the upcoming Chevy Volt – the plug-in hybrid set to be released 2010 – they’re considering marketing the same product under a different brand. They’ve already considered a Cadillac Volt, now they’re considering a Pontiac version. And probably, even a Buick one.

Oh lordy, what are they thinking? This while trying to limit vehicle overlaps? I hope they become more clear on this one and I hope that their planned “versions” are more of shared technology.

Now how about marketing the first one as Volt. Then take swap out the hybrid with a full gas-guzzling engine then market it as New Volt. After mass outrage, bring the old Volt back and call it Volt Classic. Sounds like a plan.

Source: Popular Mechanics

With a lot of people disposing of their cars to get newer and more fuel-efficient cars, it has now become a challenge for dealerships to dispose of trade-ins. With a flailing company such GM, it is important to make their pre-owned vehicles much more attractive for buyers on a budget.

Now, they’re offering used-vehicle warranties with a 12 month/12,000 mile bumper-to-bumper coverage starting next month (September 13). Now this is shaping up to be a great deal compared to the former 3-month/3,000 mile guarantee.

The warranty, as with other standard warranties, would only cover defective materials and workmanship and will not cover standard wear-and-tear components such as tires and brake pads. Body and metal components that are often subject to rusting are covered by 6-year/100,000 mile warranty.

The new policy will cover GMC, Chevrolet, Buick and Saturn brands. The more luxurious Cadillac, Hummer and Saab brands offer separate and longer warranties (six-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper comprehensive coverage).

Car Magazine features this list of the the worst celebrity endorsers for cars. Quite an interesting list too.

• Bryan Adams and Audi
• Tiger Woods and Buick
• Celine Dion and Chrysler
• OJ Simpson and Hertz car rentals
• McLaren and its F1 drivers

In all honesty, I’d have to pick Toyota and its endorsers as the better ones. When that Britney Spears Toyota Vios ad came out, it really made me crave for one (in all hopes of having the pre-trashed out Britney inside one).

The best? James Bond. Nothing can make a car scream “Sex!” more than being driven by Bond. The Aston Martin DBS? Ooooh yeah! Don’t tell me you didn’t want one after watching Casino Royale.

Source: Car Online

After 12 years, Toyota-brand Lexus suddenly finds itself sharing the honors with another brand (a GM brand at that), Buick. This is according to JD Power’s 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study.

The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of 3-year-old (2004 model year) vehicles, finds that Buick and Lexus tie for the top rank position with a score of 145 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Following in the top five rankings are Cadillac, Mercury and Honda, respectively.

What do manufacturers gain from building dependable vehicles? Well, aside from assuring customer satisfaction, they basically create a positive image that can translate to better sales, not to mention savings on warranty coverages for valid claims for repairs early in the ownership. And who wouldn’t want a car that known not to break down in the simplest of conditions, right?