Should GM Be Importing THIS?

Too Late Agent it will be a Buick, and be a Buick within 18 months.

Next Gen Elantra will have something for that ass though.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 6:49:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Looks like a Mazda 3.

— John_Stossel (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 6:51:58 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Definetely YES! These are great cars!

— tryme (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 9:10:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Wasn't this going to be the next update a Saturn? Their lineup was pretty much Opels anyways.

If anything GM should look into making the Pontiac Vibe a Chevy Model. They already have the Traverse as a CUV.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 9:19:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I'm not sure I agree on the Buick for old folks perspective. Their most rece3nt efforts including the newest ads are right5 there with the best of them. At least, I give them credit for recognizing the problem and addressing it head on. Go Maximum Bob!

— kuvakas (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 11:09:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

To answer why Chevy doesn't have the Opel models, it boils down to cost. The Astra is an outstanding car, Saturn couldn't move them and they were priced just above Chevys (comparing to the Cobalt). VW models have taken a long time to educate Americans on the value of a compact car and it worth. An Astra can come in at over $25K if priced out. That is a lot for a compact most know nothing of. Who can carry a model like this? GM is in a odd situation when it comes to Opel's compact offerings.

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 11:54:51 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This is our new Buick Verano it is slated to be produced in early 2011on the Gm delta platform in my home plant in MI.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 12:46:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Handsome car. Trouble is, if GM imported it, they would Americanize its design and muck it up. Has happened a hundred times before.

— 204E60 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 1:05:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The name opel should have replaced the saturn brand

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 3:06:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

You guys seem to forget that Opel has been sold to Magna/Sberbank with GM retaining only a minority stake in the company (well not officially yet but the transaction looks almost certain). Given the success (or lack thereof) of the last gen Astra in North America, I do not beleive Opel/Sberbank will shell out the cash necessary to re-engineer it for this market, market it and distribute it.

— MtlMotors (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 3:20:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Importing - NO.

Building locally? Yes.

Then make it a hybrid (plug-in or not).

— downtoearth (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 5:16:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Importing this car from Europe would be suicide. Interestingly, if they imported it from Australia (the models built by Holden) it would have lower cost. It's just a fact of life, really. But as 1UAW alluded, it may very well be built in the US. Not a bad thing for Buick at all. I think when GM separates the different brands by offering different chassis they are truly giving the brands unique identities. Slowlu but surely I'm becoming a Buick fan. They've been doing a fine job of that recently.

— tango (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 9:20:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

True but they didn't offer the more powerful optional engine in the astra. And I highly doubt the new elantra would be better than this based on the current gt which would compete with this. I like Hyundai but the elantra has to be one of their weakest cars. it was criticized for very cheap interior materials while the sonata, genesis and genesis coupe were praised ofr high quality interior and great fit and finish. they need to be more consistent with material quality across the line. Unless the new elantra is as good as the new sonata this car would be much a better choice.

— 85bmw745i (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 9:44:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Astras have Chronic Tranny Problems. Until they solve that, this car will have a huge shortcoming. Many people have reported the Astra under the Lemon law and have won, it has even been on the radio about Astra Reliablity. Of Course it was on NPR, since Saturn was a Liberal Company.

Agent Thats what I have been hearing. Unless GM is still deciding on this internally while saying they might bring this out publicly.

Ive had that in my Favorites a few months Agent, thats the plan unless things have changed already.

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/07/2010-buick-astra-spied-in-germany-could.html#comment-form

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 10:39:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I can picture this more as a Buick than a Chevy or GMC. Buick should just ad a few badges and call it the Apollo after the late 70's hatchback of the same Name.

— tecnopolis (View Profile)

Posted on 10/14/2009 4:04:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Verano, sounds like somethng Nissan or Dodge would name.

Its too small to be given a name like that too. When I think Verano, Im thinking a big ass SUV with 20 inch Chrome Rims glistening in the sun.

When I think this, it shouldnt be given a trendy name like Verve or a Big vehicle name like Verano, or even a Mediocre name like Astra. This car should be given some type of Alpha Numberic name, some retro name like Apollo, or something else.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/14/2009 8:12:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

85bmw745i, The Next Gen Elantra Sedan will be better, its a Next Gen Sonata Copycat, exterior and interior. The same with the Next Gen Accent Sedan.

http://www.hyundaibuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/elnatra.jpg

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/14/2009 8:18:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2011-hyundai-elantra-int-blog.jpg

Another Next Gen Elantra Interior shot.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/14/2009 8:20:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1