A couple of weeks ago, General Motors announced that it was going to release a compact crossover under the Buick name. Yesterday, the company announced that it scrapped the plans. The automaker decided to do away with the vehicle because it received poor reviews from consumers, industry analysts, and automotive journalists.

On GM's blog, the company's Vice Chairman Tom Stephens noted that the company received "great positive feedback" on some of its designs, but that the "Buick crossover we showed received consistent feedback from large parts of all the audiences that it didn't fit the premium characteristics that customers have come to expect from Buick." Translation: the people didn't like the car, it got bad reviews, and it will not be made. Reportedly, one of the consumers invited called the auto "hideous."

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), flush with $13.4 billion in federal bailout cash, is going on a diet.

Media reports indicate that the beleaguered automaker is going to focus on four core brands in North America: Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC. Chief Executive Rick Wagoner told Bloomberg News that the company may retain Saturn, though the once-cutting edge brand's future remains cloudy.

Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson said the company's "worst case scenario" indicates that it will need need more than the bailout money it has already received. Oy vey. That's not a good sign.

If there is to be a turnaround at GM -- and I realize that's a big if -- the automaker has to dispose of Saturn. Remember how GM trumpeted Saturn as a different kind of car company? It never quite worked out that way. I always found Saturns to be underpowered and ugly. Maybe one of the big European or Japanese car companies will purchase the division for the right price.

This post is one in a series on prominent company nicknames. See all 25, and share your thoughts and memories about The General below in the comments.

"The General" does not deserve its nickname any longer. Founded in 1908, General Motors (NYSE: GM) was the largest car company in the world for almost seven decades. It lost that distinction to Toyota (NYSE: TM) during the last year.

GM has 50% of the U.S. car market at one point. That is now down to 20%.

"The General" still maintains a number of the most successful brands in the world: Cadillac, Buick, Chevy, and Pontiac. Years of neglect have pushed the company into a position where it does not make competitive cars in its home market. It greatest current sales successes are in the Chinese market and Latin America.

In 1955, "The General" was the No.1 company in the Fortune 500. It held that position until 2000.

Alongside General Electric (NYSE: GE), GM is probably the most important American corporation of the last 100 years. That won't be true going forward.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

GM (NYSE: GM) now has eight car brands. Since some models are built off similar platforms, a sedan from Saturn may not be much different from one sold by Chevy. The problem is GM may not be taking sales from Toyota (NYSE: TM). It may be taking sales from itself.

Last year, GM introduced three crossovers, according to The Wall Street Journal-- the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia, which are all but identical, and the more luxurious Buick Enclave. There are, of course, only a limited number of crossover buyers. Strong sales for the GMC crossover may hurt Buick.

GM thinks it can manage all of its brands but in a falling domestic car market there is little evidence to show that the company's plan will work.

It is time to kill some of GM's brands, save marketing money, and stop most of the competition among cars built by the same parent company. The firm's weakest brands by sales and falling units are Buick and Saturn. Most of their models are matched by cars in the Chevy, GMC, and Pontiac lines.

Shutting down brands is hard, an admission of defeat. But it is time for GM to let some of its model lines go.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

This post is part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst of 2007. Voting has now closed and readers have chosen the Cadillac CTS as the hottest automobile of the year. Be sure to let us know in the comments if you are pleased with this result.

What is it about a car that makes it "hot" for you? Is it slinky lines, European styling and a deep throaty growl? Perhaps you prefer a ride with all the luxury appointments: leather, navigation, DVD players, and surround sound. Are you the kind of driver that seeks out a pavement-ripping roadster with more horsepower per pound than a F-1 formula racer, or are you more into the touring feel? Whatever your criteria for choosing a hot car, we're asking for your opinions on the following four vehicles, and we like to know which one you'd choose as Hottest Car of the Year for 2007.

There is a bit of a shuffle these days in regard to when manufacturers release their year models, so for comparison I am using what I believe is the latest available production model for each of the four competitors. Please feel free to consider more than just one model year as you make your judgment. I want to know which vehicle make and model you think owns the road.

This post is part of our Money Face-Offs feature. Let us know who you think comes out ahead in this head-to-head match-up, and check out our other Money Face-Off posts.

Celebrities -- they're more than superior human beings, they're money-making machines. If these celebrities were stocks, which would be the shrewd buy?

Tiger Woods, unarguably the world's greatest golfer, or David Beckham, the world's best-know soccer player -- in which would you invest?

The industry that is Tiger has shown consistent growth in earnings, with PGA winnings in his first 13 years as a pro exceeding $70 million. His presence in a golf tournament boosts television ratings by 50% or more. He almost single-handedly established Nike in the golf equipment world. He holds the #5 place in Forbes' Celebrity 100 and was #2 in press clippings in 2005. Nike (NYSE: NKE), Buick (NYSE: GM), American Express (NYSE: AXP), Accenture, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Tag Heuer are among the companies that shovel buckets of cash his way in return for his endorsement.

David Beckham is no slouch in the cash category, either. The Times estimates the soccer star brings in a cool $40+ million for endorsements, including Adidas, ESPN, and Motorola (NYSE: MOT). Even in soccer-lite America, he has 51.9% recognition, more than twice that of NBA MVP Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs.

In a recent survey jointly conducted by The British Council and a China daily, 84% of young Chinese want to purchase a car (despite the fact that 80% of them are concerned with global warning).

General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) hopes to capitalize on that 84%. Shanghai General Motors' joint venture with Shanghai Automotive have announced the creation of interest-free car loans, as they fight for additional market share in the competitive Chinese market. In the first six months of 2007, General Motor brands have lagged in China behind the sales increases for passenger vehicles. Sales for Shanghai GM were up 12%, while overall car sales in China climbed 26%.

The "Buick Elite Wealth-Management Program," as its called, will try to lure buyers into financing in a nation where many prefer to buy cars with cash. GM officials said they were unaware of the initiative before it was announced to the Chinese media, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Tiger Woods has been the face of General Motors's (NYSE: GM) Buick brand since 1999, but that's about to change. Faced with increasing competition for leaner overseas competitors, GM has decided it can get more mileage out of Tiger by using him with corporate level marketing, especially OnStar, a navigation service available in all eight of GM's brands.

The change makes perfect sense because it will allow GM to use Woods to sell all its cars, not just Buicks. But I have to disagree with some of the analysis of the decision. According to marketing expert Laura Ries, "The brand personalities just didn't go together, like oil and water," she said. "Buick is an older person's car. Tiger is very young, very cool and at the top of his game. You imagine him driving a Bentley or a Mercedes or a Lexus."

I think that is actually a big part of what made Tiger such an effective spokesman. Let's face it: Youth is in and even if the average age of a Buick driver is 61, I would bet that most Buick drivers don't want to think about that. Using Tiger Woods, who is young and cool, helped to revitalize that brand

As Mark LaNeve, Vice President of North American sales at GM said: "Tiger's a great asset. We can use him in lots of ways. Why shouldn't we use him in ways other than Buick?"

That's why the switch makes sense, and GM needs all the help it can get in remaining relevant.

General Motors Inc. (NYSE: GM) kindly sent me the promotional material I've been waiting for about the new Buick Enclave. As a life-long fan of GM (six Buicks, four Chevys, and one Jimmy thrown in), I greatly looked forward to getting a look at promotional materials for the well-crafted Enclave. While that little beauty met all my expectations in regard to looks, style, appointments, and detail, one particular issue has left me a bit deflated.

The 2008 Buick Enclave sports an overall mpg rating range of 16/24 for all types of driving. I would have overlooked the gasoline use issue if not for the fact that these promotional materials use the words "superior fuel economy " when revealing the numbers. This fuel economy rating applies to an "advanced" 275hp V6 engine, which I'm sure makes the Enclave a blast to drive, but my issue is this: I already get similar mpg numbers for my 1997 Chevrolet half-ton pickup with its 5.2 litre V8!

Really GM, it's not that I have a particular problem with the rating as it stands. The fact of the matter is, at a list price of between $32,000 and $37,000, anyone who purchases the Enclave is probably not too concerned about the price of gas anyway. My point here is this: if the company is not interested in stoking the fire under loudmouth goofballs like me who enjoy spewing our opinions, until the day GM puts out a half-ton pickup that gets 30 mpg in town and a crossover SUV that rates closer to 36 mpg, it would do better to reserve the words "superior fuel economy " for when it's speaking of GM's goals.

But that's just my opinion.

If mere athletic talent sold product, kids would be lining up for Tim Duncan's shoes, since he is the best player in the NBA. But it doesn't. It takes a combination of extraordinary athletic accomplishment and charisma to push a brand over the top. Three such athletes, Amanda Beard, LeBron James and Tiger Woods, are front and center in this week's news.

Two are at the peak of their pulling power. LeBron James (Nike, NYSE: NKE, Coca-Cola's (NYSE: KO) Powerade) fresh from an astonishing game five of the NBA Eastern conference playoffs, is dominating the sports page, if not the San Antonio Spurs. The Cleveland franchise has gained $185 million in value since his signing, and the $90 million he received from Nike seems like a bargain now. When his contract expires in 2008, he could demand -- $250 million? $500 million? It is possible, by the end of the career, he could be the first $1 billion athlete?

If Tiger doesn't beat him to it. Beginning tomorrow, Tiger Woods (Nike, Buick, General Motors, NYSE:GM) starts his pursuit of the 2007 U.S. Open. He's inked a 5-year, $40 million deal with Nike, and $25 million from Buick. Unlike LeBron, Tiger can look forward to another 30 years of playing, with lots of green jackets and green cash to come.

General Motors Corp.'s (NYSE: GM) first quarter results may not be as bad as they look, even though they are horrendous.

The company missed Wall Street forecasts largely because of losses its former financial business incurred in the suprime mortgage market. Net income was $62 million, or 11 cents per share, compared with $602 million, or $1.06 a year earlier. Revenue fell 16% to $43.9 billion. Excluding one-time items, profit was 17 cents per share. Analysts had expected profit of 87 cents on revenue of $40.9 billion, according to Thomson Financial.

Nonetheless, the automotive business had a $272 million profit, down from $295 million, helped by the cost-cutting undertaken by Chief Executive Rick Wagoner. Profit in the automotive segment on an adjusted basis was $304 million, up from $40 million.

So far, investors have indicated that they believe GM's challenges are more daunting than its rivals. The automaker's shares have lagged both Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and DaimlerChrylser AG (NYSE: DCX).

But has the market unfairly penalized GM? Is all of the bad news priced into GM's stock?

Anyone looking for a true contrarian bet should consider buying the shares. Remember people don't get rich following the crowd.

I may never hear the word "depreciate" without thinking of the late great Michael Hutchence and the INXS half-single, "Mediate." Anyway...

After consulting Kelly Blue Book, arguably the expert on the subject of used cars, Forbes released its list of the eight worst new-model vehicles in terms of projected depreciation. Claiming the dubious top spot is the Buick Ranier SUV. With a base price of $32,285, the vehicle, made by General Motors (NYSE:GM), is expected to retain just 42% of its value after two years. Five years out, the Ranier will be worth about 26% of its purchase price. The Dodge Caravan Minivan, a DaimlerChrysler (NYSE:DCX) vehicle that I'm fairly certain half of my new-Mom friends have purchased in the past 12 months, starts with a base of $19,770 but will keep just 41% of this value 24 months later. Third is the Dodge Durango SUV (pictured, right), with a base price of $27,055 and projected value retention of 38% after two years.

Rounding out the top eight:

• Ford (NYSE:F) Crown Victoria Sedan
• Ford E-Series Van
• Kia Amanti Sedan
• Kia Spectra Compact
• Ford Mercury Grand Marquis

Stay tuned for tips on smart shopping for a vehicle that won't utterly disappoint when it becomes time to trade it in ...

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

One of the stocks that I like to keep an eye on is AutoNation (NYSE: AN). It interests me due to their number one position in online auto sales and because of their robust size. I'm getting a bit curious about how quiet it is over there in terms of news items. I'm not the least bit worried about what they're up to. As I've said before, generally a lack of news means that things are going in a business-as-usual fashion.

As of this writing, the most current news item you'll find on the AutoNation website is their Oct. 26, 2006 news release of their third quarter earnings report. . The most current news piece I can find on the web is a reference to the AutoNation Inc. presentation at the China Auto Services Market Summit, December 5, 2006 at JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai . What this signals to me is that AutoNation is yet another active participant in the massive movement to exploit China's blooming economic opportunities. The summit seemed to be geared more towards automobile service operations than towards outright retailing of automobiles. The logistics of moving cars to market, the financing of new vehicle purchases, underpinning the retail segment, leasing, renting and mechanical service were among the topics of focus. The entire summit signals to me that the groundwork is being carefully laid for a major influx of automobiles into mainland China.

I like the feel of the whole thing. "Detroit's" big three are surely in full preparation for this impending boom. Aren't they? I want to see some advertising fliers showing Chevrolet (NYSE: GM) Silverados parked along the Great Wall. I want to see pictures of the streets of Peking jammed with Nitros (NYSE: DCX) and Explorers (NYSE: F). I want to see some of the money we've spent on cheap Chinese die cast tools and toys coming back as wages for American workers. I want my piece of their economy now. C'mon gang, it's time to bring it on home!

Our correspondent, Mike Brewster, is a freelance writer and sports enthusiast. We asked him to begin contributing pieces on the business of sports.

Following the shortest drive of his career (about 10 feet of stage while behind the wheel of the newly introduced Buick Enclave last week at the L.A. Auto Show), world number one golfer Tiger Woods is back making business news, re-upping with NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) Tuesday for a third successive multi-year contract.
While terms weren't announced, this pact is bound to exceed the two previous five-year agreements, which at $40 million and $100 million were relative bargains for the Oregon sporting goods giant.

Interestingly, Nike's stock price took a tumble on the news, thereby temporarily disproving my "As-Tiger-Goes-So-Goes-Nike" theory. Ever since Tiger regained his form over the summer and posted six consecutive PGA Tour wins, Nike's stock has risen from a 52-week-low of $75.52 on August 10 to a high of $99.30 on November 30. But today, the stock fell nearly a full percentage point. Maybe Tiger's deal is for a little more scratch than we thought?