TTAC News Round-up: How Low Can Oil Go, IROC an El Camino, and What's Buick Bringing to Detroit?

by Mark Stevenson

Published: December 29th, 2015

ttac news round up how low can oil go iroc an el camino and what s buick bringing

A picture is worth a thousand words, or millions of dollars worth of cars not built by the United Auto Workers.That, and Buick is planning a surprise for Detroit, oil prices are ever-so-slightly up, a super mullet El Camino, and Manny, Moe and Jack … after the break!

Chinese Buicks are on their way to the USAThe Chinese-built Buick Envision is on its way to the United States just over a month after the United Auto Workers ratified its contract with General Motors.The Envision, built by joint venture SAIC GM Dong Yue Motors, is seen here sitting at port before being loaded on a car carrier to set sail for the United States, reports CarNewsChina.Future owners of the Envision can expect a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood as GM will not offer the smaller 1.5-liter turbo engine in the U.S. It goes on sale in July.The GM-UAW contract was ratified even after 60 percent of skilled trades workers voted against it.

What’s Buick bringing to Detroit? Probably a new Enclave.According to the Detroit Free Press, Buick is planning a surprise for the Detroit Auto Show next month. Part of keeping that surprise is not talking about it, so Buick’s Duncan Aldred declined to discuss details.Instead, let the speculation begin!The Freep says it could be a production version of the Avenir concept shown last year, but sedans are selling as well as ice cream in the middle of January at the COBO Center. The Freep offers up a more likely candidate — a redesigned Enclave — which is where we’ll put our bets.That or it’s a concept.One thing the surprise reveal definitely isn’t: a Buick Verano hatchback, which is simply an Opel Astra with Buick badges in China. We have it under good authority that the Verano won’t spawn a fifth door in North America.

I didn’t know you could mullet harder than an El Camino, but you can!Look at this! The only thing missing from this picture is some guy named Bubba with way too much Powerball money driving into the Florida sunset with his new dog named Jeb!Thanks to Hemmings, I now know the 1984 Chevrolet El Camino IROC-S was, in fact, a thing and one is for sale for the ~~low, low~~ stupid crazy price of $27,750.If one of our readers buys this, we will send Jack to track test it.

The price of oil went up half a tick, but is still insanely lowBased on a few guys in New York City casually saying, “It’s getting a little colder outside,” the price of oil went up a dollar, reports Reuters. But that dollar is added on top of record low prices for that sweet, sweet horsepower juice.Both Brent and WTI crude are sitting under $40/barrell. Remember when it was $100 a pop? Those were the days.Those record lows are contributing to budget deficits in resource-heavy economies, such as Saudi Arabia. The oil-rich nation has posted a $98 billion (with a B) shortfall for 2015. It’s solution to the deficit: pump more oil. That other war that nobody is really talking about probably isn’t helping matters though.

How many crappy accessories could you get for $1 billion? Carl Icahn might find out.Even though Pep Boys agreed to Bridgestone’s latest takeover bid, Carl Icahn is unwavering in his determination to buy the aftermarket part and service company.According to Automotive News, Icahn has now upped the bid to $18.50/share, for a total now eclipsing the $1 billion (with a B) mark. Pep Boys has three days to respond to the offer.But that’s not all, according to AN:In announcing the proposal, Icahn Enterprises said it would be willing to pay an even higher price, so long as Pep Boys doesn’t increase the termination fee in its deal with Bridgestone. Bridgestone initially offered $835 million to purchase Pep Boys in October.

#BillionWithAB #Bridgestone #Buick #BuickEnclave #BuickEnvision #CarlIcahn #ChevroletElCamino #China #DetroitAutoShow #ElCaminoIroc-s #Enclave #NAIAS #NorthAmericanInternationalAutoShow #SaudiArabia #PepBoys #Envision #OilPrices

Mark Stevenson

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Iamcanjim on Dec 30, 2015

There are benefits are drawbacks to manufacturing in China beyond the consumer lashback. All GM units in China are Joint Ventures, 51% Chinese and 49% foreign. That means a Chinese company is collecting profits, but probably not contributing to R&D or even infrastructure. There is the basic instability of the Chinese economy, making it risky to do business there long term. There is the basic long term instability of the Chinese political system. The place could descend into civil war very quickly. There is the massive costs of bribes and gifts. When the factory was built, several CCC members got multi million dollar gifts. Finally there is the risk of tariffs and trade wars. The Chinese still have punishing tariffs on US goods and the US has chosen not to respond. However if Sanders or Trump land in the White house that situation will change. It won't hurt GM to use their excess capacity in China, but it's far to risky to transfer a lot of manufacturing.

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Kmars2009 on Jan 02, 2016

It seems EVERYONE complains about Volvo being made in China (S60L? I have yet to see one!) Yet here we are...with GM doing EXACTLY the same thing, on a possible big seller for Buick?!? What gives? Volvo primarily builds in Sweden and is thrown under the bus...while GM does it, and gets a hall pass? I don't think so! To be honest, if this works out for GM, I wouldn't be surprised to see many more GM vehicles assembled there. SHAME ON GM! They are an American Company shipping American jobs off to China! At least Volvo is already backed by Geely and has a plausable excuse. GM? Not so much!

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NJRide Let Cadillac be Cadillac, but in the context of 2024. As a new XT5 owner (the Emerald Green got me to buy an old design) I would have happy preferred a Lyriq hybrid. Some who really like the Lyriq's package but don't want an EV will buy another model. Most will go elsewhere. I love the V6 and good but easy to use infotainment. But I know my next car will probably be more electrified w more tech.I don't think anyone is confusing my car for a Blazer but i agree the XT6 is too derivative. Frankly the Enclave looks more prestigious. The Escalade still has got it, though I would love to see the ESV make a comeback. I still think GM missed the boat by not making a Colorado based mini-Blazer and Escalade. I don't get the 2 sedans. I feel a slightly larger and more distinctly Cadillac sedan would sell better. They also need to advertise beyond the Lyriq. I don't feel other luxury players are exactly hitting it out of the park right now so a strengthened Cadillac could regain share.
CM Korecko Cadillacs traditionally have been opulent, brash and leaders in the field; the "Standard of the World".That said, here's how to fix the brand:[list=1][*]Forget German luxury cars ever existed.[/*][*]Get rid of the astromech droid names and bring back Seville, Deville, Eldorado, Fleetwood and Brougham.[/*][*]End the electric crap altogether and make huge, gas guzzling land yachts for the significant portion of the population that would fight for a chance to buy one.[/*][*]Stop making sports cars and make true luxury cars for those of us who don't give a damn about the environment and are willing to swim upstream to get what we really want.[/*][*]Stop messing around with technology and make well-made and luxurious interiors.[/*][*]Watch sales skyrocket as a truly different product distinguishes itself to the delight of the target market and the damnation of the Sierra Club. Hell, there is no such thing as bad publicity and the "bad guy" image would actually have a lot of appeal.[/*][/list=1]
FreedMike Not surprisingly, I have some ideas. What Cadillac needs, I think, is a statement. They don’t really have an identity. They’re trying a statement car with the Celestiq, and while that’s the right idea, it has the wrong styling and a really wrong price tag. So, here’s a first step: instead of a sedan, do a huge, fast, capable and ridiculously smooth and quiet electric touring coupe. If you want an example of what I’m thinking of, check out the magnificent Rolls-Royce Spectre. But this Cadillac coupe would be uniquely American, it’d be named “Eldorado,” and it’d be a lot cheaper than the $450,000 Spectre – call it a buck twenty-five, with a range of bespoke options for prospective buyers that would make each one somewhat unique. Make it 220 inches long, on the same platform as the Celestiq, give it retro ‘60s styling (or you could do a ‘50s or ‘70s throwback, I suppose), and at least 700 horsepower, standard. Why electric? It’s the ultimate throwback to ‘60s powertrains: effortlessly fast, smooth, and quiet, but with a ton more horsepower. It’s the perfect drivetrain for a dignified touring coupe. In fact, I’d skip any mention of environmental responsibility in this car’s marketing – sell it on how it drives, period.  How many would they sell? Not many. But the point of the exercise is to do something that will turn heads and show people what this brand can do.  Second step: give the lineup a mix of electric and gas models, and make Cadillac gas engines bespoke to the brand. If they need to use generic GM engine designs, fine – take those engines and massage them thoroughly into something special to Cadillac, with specific tuning and output. No Cadillac should leave the factory with an engine straight out of a Malibu or a four-banger Silverado. Third step: a complete line-wide interior redo. Stop the cheapness that’s all over the current sedans and crossovers. Just stop it. Use the Lyriq as a blueprint – it’s a big improvement over the current crop and a good first step. I’d also say Cadillac has a good blend of screen-controlled and switch-controlled user interfaces; don’t give into the haptic-touch and wall-to-wall screen thing. (On the subject of Caddy interiors – as much as I bag on the Celestiq, check out the interior on that thing. Wow.)Fourth step: Blackwing All The Things – some gas, others electric. And keep the electric/gas mix so buyers have a choice.Fifth step: be patient. That’s not easy, but if they’re doing a brand reset, it’ll take time. 
NJRide So if GM was serious about selling this why no updates for so long? Or make something truly unique instead of something that looked like a downmarket Altima?
Kmars2009 I rented one last fall while visiting Ohio. Not a bad car...but not a great car either. I think it needs a new version. But CUVs are King... unfortunately!