Car Throttle

Saturn has been sold to The Penske Group, and to continue sales until the new owner finds a vehicle supplier, GM has contracts to continue producing the Aura, Vue and Outlook. All is good, right? Well, that deal doesn't include the Vue Plug-In which was slated to go into production. Those plans are now in limbo. There is still is the remote possibility the vehicle could be built for Penske as the contract negotiations are ongoing, but that scenario is unlikely given GM's desire to use the technology in other applications. What vehicle will be using it then? Some have speculated the new Chevrolet Equinox and Cadillac SRX could be candidates for the technology. However, it could be used for a new crossover for Buick. I've heard rumors

Just 4 GM brands made the cut and will be continue part of the new leaner, meaner, faster, smarter (ok ok that's enough) "New GM". Buick is one of the brands that made it. Doesn't make sense you say? Actually no, it makes a lot of sense. The Buick brand is huge in China and cutting Buick here would have a big impact on that. Even if Buick lost money in North America (which it doesn't) it would make sense keeping it open for the big profits and sales in China. Furthermore, great products have come (Enclave) and are coming (2010 LaCrosse) that hold a lot of promise. GM has a really big opportunity to go after Lexus with Buick, offering cars with some style. Leave Cadillac to take on

Buick Business Concept. Bland name, amazing vehicle. Like most of the other vehicles introduced at the Shanghai Auto Show, no official images came out immediately. Official press photography and press information have now been released though and wow, I'm impressed! Routan? Pfft. The Business Concept truly would be the ultimate minivan/MPV if produced. From here on out though, I'm going to refer to it with the MPV moniker. That's what Buick calls it, and it sounds better too. Avoids the whole "minivan" name tag stigma thing the United States is currently going through. According to Buick, the concept was designed with "global input" at the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), a joint venture between GM and it's Chinese partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). The Chinese seem to be best at designing Buicks; they just get it.