• Detroit Free Press, Thursday, August 20, 2009 10:29 AM

Less than two weeks ago, General Motors announced plans for a compact crossover Buick in 2011 that would come with hybrid plug-in technology. Yesterday, responding to the negative reactions of a few dozen consumers, analysts and journalists to the design of a prototype they saw, the automaker killed it, Tim Higgins reports.

You'll recall that one "sales and marketing guy obsessed with cars" named Joel Feder, tweeted that the unnamed vehicle was "hideous."

"We were all struck by the consistency of the criticism of the compact crossover," blogs Tom Stephens, GM's vice chairman for product development. "And what we decided to do in response is a good example of the essence of the new General Motors ... acting quickly and ... listening to feedback."

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