| Will Buick survive GM's financial woes or
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| | Regardless, the Lucerne is bit more
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| find itself in the heap of automotive
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| | refined and less dowdy than the models it
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| history along with Packard, Oldsmobile,
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| | replaces. It isn't likely to captivate
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| DeSoto, Plymouth, Nash, Hudson, AMC,
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| | young folks, but probably will be more
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| Studebaker, Checker, and countless other
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| | than able to keep current owners
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| makes?
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| | satisfied.
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| During the 1980s, Buick was a brand that
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| | The LaCrosse has been well received and
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| successfully straddled the fine line
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| | it, too, has replaced two Buick models
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| between luxury and performance. This GM
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| | when it was rolled last year: the Century
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| division sold big, fluffy Park Avenues
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| | and the Regal. Still, the car is based on
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| and LeSabres, while also selling the
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| | older GM technology and competes only
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| luxury/sport Riviera and the Regal. It
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| | marginally with new models from Lexus and
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| was this last model, the Regal, which
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| | Toyota. Fresh styling has helped and will
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| stunned the automotive world by winning
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| | keep Buick faithful happy at least for
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| Grand National awards during the early
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| | the time being, but the LaCrosse hasn't
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| 1980s. Today, all four models have been
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| | won over many competitors either.
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| terminated in favor of newer names
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| | Buick's three remaining models are all
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| including the Lucerne, LaCrosse,
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| | variations on current GM SUV and minivan
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| Terrazza, Rainier, and Rendezvous, models
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| | themes. There is nothing original about
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| that didn't even exist five years ago.
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| | these models other than the Buick badge
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| Where is Buick headed? Will GM's troubles
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| | and a higher level of standard equipment
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| finally kill off the brand? Will the
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| | than let's say, the Pontiac Aztek. Oh,
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| Buick name ever regain meaning? A lot is
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| | yeah, the Rendezvous' twin, the Aztek,
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| riding on these questions; the answers
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| | was axed by GM...too ugly!
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| may not be as simple to utter or imagine.
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| | So, there you have it: five models pared
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| GM's woes could spell Buick's demise. At
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| | down from almost ten that were offered
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| least that is the thought with some
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| | just a few years ago. None are completely
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| "experts" who believe that at least two
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| | new and none have a distinctly Buick
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| brands need to be pruned from the GM line
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| | touch to them, making Buick look as if it
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| up to save the automaker. General Motors,
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| | will, indeed, get whacked.
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| for their part, has said that they will
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| | But that isn't what GM is saying.
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| stick with all of their brands; instead,
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| | Instead, we know that GM is already
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| the company is using this crucial time to
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| | planning one new Buick model which,
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| put into place a long and painful process
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| | again, may replace two current models
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| to remake its entire image. With plant
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| | [does anyone see a theme here?] The model
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| closings, layoffs, and big losses racking
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| | being planned is an all new crossover
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| up, the world's #1 automaker cannot
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| | vehicle tentatively called the Enclave an
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| afford a misstep, so whatever plans the
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| | AWD crossover vehicle capable of carrying
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| automaker has for the company must be
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| | six passengers over its three rows. Yes,
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| executed flawlessly, otherwise further
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| | the vehicle sounds strangely similar to
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| trouble will ensue.
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| | the Chrysler Pacifica and it appears that
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| Buick and Pontiac have often been cited
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| | the Pacifica is in Buick's crosshairs
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| as the two divisions being the most at
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| | with this proposed model. Little is known
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| risk. Neither division has a clear
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| | about the Enclave other than that it will
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| identity with every model built by the
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| | likely be powered by GM's new 3.6L V6, an
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| brands similar to models built by other
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| | engine lauded by car critics.
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| GM makes. This hasn't escaped the notice
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| | Beyond the Enclave, Buick will have to
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| of critics who have called on GM to begin
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| | bring out newer models to replace the
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| dissolving the two divisions immediately.
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| | Lucerne and LaCrosse soon after the
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| If GM's words hold true, then Buick will
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| | Enclave's anticipated 2009 model year
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| stay around. In what particular form is
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| | release. Buick's chief competitors are
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| the question, but the "general" has been
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| | regularly updating their platforms and an
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| giving us some hints in the form of the
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| | aged Lucerne or LaCrosse can only
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| present model line up as well as at least
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| | exacerbate the division's problems. None
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| one future model planned.
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| | of this will occur without significant
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| Currently, the Lucerne is being heavily
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| | investment by GM and a cash strapped
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| marketed as it takes over the flagship
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| | company cannot afford to build new
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| role from the Park Avenue a model along
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| | models.
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| with the LeSabre the Lucerne has
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| | Copyright 2006 - Matt Keegan is a
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| replaced. Based on the Cadillac DTS, the
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| | freelance writer covering all of the
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| car combines luxury with value to offer
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| | important brands as well as industry
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| motorists a taste of Cadillac lavishness
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| | trends. You can keep your Lucerne,
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| at a discount. Therein is the rub: is
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| | LaCrosse, Century, Regal, Riviera, or
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| Buick underselling Cadillac or is the
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| | other fine Buick running at peak
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| Lucerne simply perceived as being all
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| | performance by shopping the Performance
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| that different from its up market
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| | Parts store for high quality automotive
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| sibling? That is hard to determine.
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| | parts and accessories.
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