Buick Expected To Roll Out New LaCrosse, Convertible In 2016
31
Sponsored Links
Buick’s future will include a convertible and new compact, GM Authority has learned. The Tri-Shield brand has seen sales rise 13 percent in the first half of 2014, and the brand wants to keep the momentum going well into the future. Here’s what we expect from the brand in the near future:
- Buick Convertible: set to be Buick’s take on the Opel Cascada convertible (and possibly using the same name), the two-door cruiser is expected to be powered by the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that Consumer Reports praised in the Regal.
- Buick Envision: Buick’s compact SUV will be called Envision in China and possibly in North America as well. It will slot between the full-size Enclave and subcompact Encore CUVs. Most likely, the new Envision should be ready for U.S. consumption in mid-2015 as a 2016 model, and will possibly use a different powertrain than its Chinese counterpart.
- Buick Verano: a new Verano is anticipated for 2017. The car should share its platform with the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze and be the equivalent of the next-gen Opel Astra.
- Buick LaCrosse: the LaCrosse is scheduled for a redesign for the 2016 model year. The large Buick will be the first vehicle built on the successor to the Epsilon front wheel-drive platform, dubbed E2XX, also utilized by the future Buick Regal as well as the Chevrolet Impala and Malibu.
- Buick Regal: due for the 2018 model year, the next-gen Regal likely will ride on a version of the E2XX platform.
- Buick Encore: after facelift for 2016, the Encore is expected to be redesigned for 2018.
- Buick Enclave: the next-generation Enclave SUV will begin production in the spring of 2017. The new vehicle will be lighter and will likely use a smaller, more efficient V6 paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Lastly, we’re still waiting for a new Grand National/GNX based on the Alpha platform.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a Corvette Z06 and 2024 Silverado. Details here.
Sponsored Links
Cascada “hardtop” convertible?
Caught the hardop bit too. For Buicks intended market being on the upscale end of things this seems logical. Also these next 3-4 years can’t come soon enough. It will be neat to see all of this come to pass.
Where’d you guys get “hardtop” from? I saw no mention of it.
Putting a 2.0T in a D2XX does not a Solstice make.
Screw it, if Cadillac/Chevy develop a sub-Alpha rwd platform we’ll be golden. Might be why they built the new Camaro on the longer Alpha that the CTS rides on and not the shorter ATS (shorter Alpha would be more in line with 2015 Mustang’s size), it will keep some room for model sizes.
Nor a Saturn SKY Redline or Chevy HHR SS. However, with the Solstice GXP and Sky Redline, a GM-sanctioned LNF Turbo Upgrade Kit was made available. Giving the GXP and Redline a bump up from its stock 260 HP to 290 HP. A cold air intake was also available.
Although the Cascada might only weigh around 1700 lbs., If Buick would offer an engine around 300 HP, it might make it very attractive. If it’s underpowered, I won’t be trading my 2011 Camaro Convertible in for it. The Camaro V6 came with 312 (323) HP and it’s probably heavier than the Cascada. We’ll see…
I must lack refined, upmarket taste, or something like that because I’m liking the Buick lineup a whole lot more than that of Cadillac.
Firstly, the design seems more create and a bit more diverse than the small, medium, and large near identical Cadillac design. I’m thrilled to see Consumer Reports rank Regal above ATS in the same category–I’ve always felt this way but figured it was just me.
The Cascada will be a great addition to the Waterfall marque.some goes for Envision, the possible GN and potential Omega based flagship that may be in the pipeline.
Buick, aside from being FWD is doing everything Caddy should be doing (and everything Lincoln plans to do.) The beauty of Buick doing it for thousands less makes the brand an even more compelling proposition for drivers looking to be discrete about their wealth.
Watch out Cadillac: One of your greatest rivals shares the same assemby line as you!
I wish I could dislike you comment a million times.
Just log on under different screen names if it means so much.
Just curious as to why you dislike my comment. There is obvious market space for a brand like Buick (what Buick intends to evolve into).
The next Lacrosse should be longer and have a lower body than the current Lacrosse…..maybe 200-201 inches long….57 inches in body height.
The current Lacrosse looks a little chunky…the next Lacrosse should have a lower sleeker hood and more good looking front and rear fiestas.
Make the 2016 Lacrosse a true full-size car…. I just doen’t see that a flagship would be mid-size.
The next Lacrosse needs to grow in size to Impala size.
The Regal needs to grow a little to fill the space between the new Verano and Lacrosse. Right now these cars are crowding each other out.
We will see a car over the Lacrosse on the Alpha yet but the GN and GNX name may be a little misleading to some folks as it will not be like the car of the past. I expect it to be more worldly and more euro in nature since it will be for a global market. It will not be an upright coupe with only straight line muscle car over tones.
I do not get the Solstice talk as Buick really does not need a roadster right now till they get the rest of the house in order.
I do agree the Turbo 4 should get a boost over 300 HP in some Buick models as that is where the new and better engines are headed. The Eco LNF can go 400 on the parts in it now so it can be done.
I own a HHR SS with the GM Turbo Upgrade with the 290 HP and 315 FT LBS and it is a hoot and also returns 1 more MPG. I see 23 PSI daily in boost with no issues in 5 years.
Now I have heard GM was looking to do more upgrade kits and Buick would be prime to receive them. All they are is 2 replacement 3 bar sensors and a computer flash and that is it. The Solstice with the Standard 5 speed saw 340 FT LBS and 290 HP. The new trannys can take more torque so use it. The only issue is these cars are rendered premium only as the only negative. All the people I know with them would never give them up.
As for the convertible I thought it was a soft top. While the hard top would be nice it also would run up the price more and make the low volume model less profitable.
Are you saying that an Alpha is going to be a future flagship.
I expect some kind of sedan shared with Opel to be placed in the Buick line up.
I hate to call it a flagship as the term is so over used anymore but it would be the largest model in the line up and would be the best featured model available.
I see it as a more sport sedan and Audi/Porsche like sedan based on comments that have trickled out.
It would be targeted more at the younger middle aged professional type as the lacrosse would be left to the snow tops.
I also see AWD becoming more of a company wide feature or option on all models. right now only the Verano is the only FWD only model as the rest do offer FWD or AWD. GM should market this better as so few people realize Buick is a more AWD division than they realize.
Opel keeps saying its focus will be on small cars & and that the next gen Enclave, with Monza styling, will be the flagship.
The Grand National may not happen. We now know for sure that Commodore/SS is dead meaning there will be no need for speed & Regal/Insignia is handling sporty fun. Would an Omega based flagship not make more sense than Alpha?
An Omega would work well in China as a next gen Park Avenue, already used as a RWD livery vehicle. This type of large vehicle would give BUICK a true luxury sedan in North America. Buick will need to share cost witneither division and, in this case, Cadillac seems the more logical choice. (The prior GM CEO was even quoted a saying that Buick would probably share Omega.) Also, Buick sharing with Cadillac is old school traditional.
With the next gen Astra/Verano/Excelle expected to grow a tad, we can Regal and Lacrosse to do the same.
I just don’t see any space for an Alpha based (198 inches at most) vehicle within the line up. Meanwhile, an Omega can challenge the Audi 7 for thousands less.
An Alpha based Buick would be hot but, unless it is used for Regal, makes no economic sense.
I agree with a lot here as possibilities as we just do not have enough info yet on the Omega.
While Cadillac needs leverage for the Omega. Buick would be better off with coming CAFE with the Alpha so the argument can go either way.
As for division we also have to toss in Holden as Australia will get some Opel’s and Chevys,
The car that keeps sticking out is the one with the Panamera type shape to the rear that was in the Holden commercial. It was also mentioned by Mark Ruess as a Buick and some also consider it for the Monza sedan. What is this based on and who will get it? This is the wild card and is it an Alpha or Omega? I am betting Alpha.
The other thing is the Omega has been toss out as a possible SUV platform too. Could it be taking over for the Lambda as that would solve the leverage problem and supply a Cayenne like SUV for Cadillac or Buick?
The other factor is the Lacrosse remaining in name and FWD or will it move to a RWD/AWD? We have nothing concrete here as of yet either.
It will be interesting to watch.
If the car in the Holden advert its based on Omega, one would think that Commodore could have lived on.
I’m a but worried that this Panorama-inspired vehicle will end up being the new upmarket Lacrosse discussed. (Interestingly, Lexus says the new LS will be Panorama-like).
Holden is lucky in that it can obtain the best Opel and Chevy autos. I wish Chevy could rework Corsa and Astra hatch models for NA since they don’t really fit Buick.
It is too early to say what it will be as Chevy now has a Impala and the SS and both cars will remain once the Zeta will leave production.
As for the Panamera I have not been a fan but the critics and buyers have loved it much like the Cayanne. Both have been very profitable and image cars for the company. Now what works for Porsche may or may not work for anyone else remains to be seen.
Australia is unlucky to lose the Zeta with no home built replacement but they are lucky as Holden will be permitted to pick from some of the best cars GM offers to sell in their market. They will see a variety of cars that would have never been built or imported before.
I know there is some tough feelings yet but it is the only way GM could catch and sell anything near the numbers Toyota is putting out.
Do you really think SS will live on? There have been reports that SS will die with Commodore, as it should be, if the product is NA only and not OZ bound.
Putting that much R&D into regional product sold in small batches is silly; this becomes more true when you consider that such a project, the resource, would be better spent at Buick or even on a Chevy that appeals to more than just the Baby Boomer segment. (The fact that Chevy needs a small RWD sports to woo millennial shoppers is not discussed or considered enough.)
Reports suggest a SS varient is on the way for Impala which could be an interesting option considering the high quality of the vehicle.
I agree that the Lacrosse needs grow to Impala size….plus the next Lacrosse should get rid of the blind spots and those rediculesly thick pillars……the Audi A7 and Mercadies M-class are vary good looking cars and the Lacrosse should be bigger verzon of those cars…with there low four-door coupe bodies and thin pillars.
The new 2016 Chevy Malibu is going to be longer, lower and sleeker and it looks better than the current Lacrosse….I think the same thing should happen to the next Lacrosse.
Since Mark Ross said that Buicks flagship is going to be a much more good looking Pamorama….I believe that the next Lacrosse will look something like the Opel Flextreme concept…..it will go from it’s chunky tri-box body…into a sleeker less chunky four door coupe body…..a Opel Flextreme with a more rounded rear ???
I’ve been woundering what the 2016 Lacrosse is going to be like….I hope it grows in size…I hate to see another mid-size car for Buicks flagship….if its midsize I wouldent see it as appealing…people has complained about the trunk being too small.
The 2016 Buick Lacrosse should be a FWD verson of an Omega platform car with 4 door coupe styling…..since the 2016 Lacrosse style would compete with the Porsch Paminara…..it should have a lower body than the current Lacrosse because the Porsch paminara has a low body height and 4 door coupes are sleek and have low body heights.
body…. 199 inches long……height: 57 inches… and it would be a better looking car for sure.
Buick has the opportunity to strike while the iron’s hot with their upcoming product portfolio. The future lineup sounds good so far, but more is desired. This is their chance to introduce more dynamic and desirable vehicles to their lineup: namely a large RWD sedan and coupe. Or they should build the next Grand National (or Riviera) off the upcoming Camaro chassis.
Let’s be honest here folks. Kia/Hyundai is putting out some very good luxury vehicles as of late, and I believe they’re entering territory that Buick (and Cadillac) should have a strong presence in. Just look at the little details: reclining rear seats, power adjustable headrests and leg extension, alcantara headliner, power trunk; is this not what Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Lexus offer in their luxury sedans? Yet, there’s not a Buick that even comes close to this level of luxury. If even the lowly Kia brand can elevate to such heights there’s no excuse for Buick!!! But Buick is in the best position it’s ever been, therefore I can see the introduction of such prestigious vehicles as a way to help bolster sales and maintain a higher appeal value.
I saw the shape of the hood and front fiesta on the 2015 Mazda 3 sedan and it looks good….maybe the hood on the 2016 Buick Lacrosse should look like that…and it would look like a much better looking Porsch Paminara.
Additionally I think the next generation 2020 Chevy Impala should be retro and look like the 1969 Impala and the Regal…I doent know….but to differantat the Lacrosse from the Impala I think the Impala should stay a conventional sedan and go retro….and the Lacrosse to be a sleeker sportier 4-door coupe sedan….that would allow the Lacrosse to grow in size because they would would have totally different styles than right now…right now in the current generation if the Lacrosse is the same size of the Impala there would be more competition because they are both conventional sedans and they pretty much look the same.
The 2016 Lacrosse can be….199 inches long and 57 inches tall……..the 2020 Impala…..202 inches long and 58.5 inches tall…..that the Lacrosse would be quite smaller than the Impala….just a thought.
When I read your articles, many sentences are eliminated. Is there anything that you can do to deliver a full article?
Best,
John