Following a flurry of reports signaling the future demise of the GMC Acadia, here’s a change-up of epic proportions: according to Cheers & Gears, the Acadia will not be discontinued. Instead, the next-gen full-size crossover from GMC will shrink — moving to the Theta Premium platform that currently underpins the Cadillac SRX (and impending Saab 9-4x).
Apparently, the reason for the change is the fact that the Acadia is cross-shopped more frequently than GM is comfortable with its platform mate — the Buick Enclave; both vehicles are usually sold side-by-side in Buick-GMC dealerships. On top of that, the Acadia was originally designed to be the shell twin of the long-gone Saturn Outlook — and since Saturn and the Outlook are no more, the Acadia has become the most expensive Lambda to produce. All this led The General’s product planners to downsize the next-generation Acadia, reportedly bringing it from a full-size to a mid-size crossover.
However, there’s a slight problem with that strategy: using the same platform as that used by the Caddy SRX would make the Acadia uncomfortably close in size to the already-popular GMC Terrain. Assuming that the platform shift for the Acadia is true, we’d expect the Terrain to follow the Acadia in its trip to the liposuction department, where it would lose some heft and length — becoming a true compact crossover rather than the compact-midzier tweener it currently is.
Also of note are the possible powerplants for the next-generation Acadia and Terrain. For the Acadia, we’d put our money on the upcoming LFX 3.6 liter V6, while the Terrain would most likely use a reworked version of the 2.4 liter ECOTEC LAF as well as the much-rumored turbo-charged LF3, or even a 2.0 liter boosted ECOTEC.
Whether these reports will materialize — as we say all too often on the GM Authority podcasts — will only be determined by time. Stay tuned!
[nggallery id=273]
Comments
I still dont understand. Why is the Acadia more expensive to make than the Encave and Traverse? They basically share their platforms, engines, and some interior materials.
I don’t think it’s necessarily more expensive to make… the reason for its slightly higher price is that it’s more of an artificial positioning instrument used by GM to position the Acadia slightly more upmarket simply because it’s a GMC.
And that’s truly an unfortunate turn of events, since positioning should never be artificial in the auto industry. There’s always new ways of adding value, whether it’s with powertrain, interior design, interior componentry, or even (longer/better) warranty. The Acadia, save for the different sheetmetal (which is good), is a Traverse twin. There are a few very small interior differences as well… but nothing that makes it more “upmarket”.
I hope the next-gen will change all of that. Until then, GMC is still a brand in search of its true place in the world. And we all know what happens to those…. right?
Yeah, sadly, auctioned off, sold, or the chopping block. DX
Not unless they’re trying to make this thing go up against the Explorer with new 4WD?
If true, this will most likely be a smaller vehicle than the current generation. It will be Grand Cherokee sized… the Explorer is much bigger — with a very usable third row to boot.
I think very few people who buy the Explorer will even know about the capabilities of its 4WD system or even use it. It’s a soccer mom taxi, first and foremost.
Haha 😀 yep
I’ve seen few people buy those top end Explorers and happens to be one of those soccermoms. I’ve wonder if they do know how to use it……
… [Trackback]…
[…] There you will find additional Informations: gmauthority.com/blog/2011/02/next-gen-gmc-acadia-to-ditch-lambda-move-to-premium-theta/ […]…