General Motors CEO Mary Barra has confirmed a new SUV will be built at Opel’s plant in Russelsheim, Germany. The new SUV will be Opel’s second flagship, alongside the Insignia, and is part of GM’s 245 million euro investment in the Russelsheim plant, which Barra first announced in March of this year.
With GM’s plans to continue to further align its Opel and Buick brands, it seems logical to think this new Opel flagship SUV will make the transatlantic swim to North America. Barra disclosed very little information on the crossover, however when we hear “flagship,” we think “full-size” which means the vehicle in question could be about 16-feet in length, or roughly the size of Buick’s current Enclave.
This Opel/Buick rumor regarding the Enclave replacement stretches all the way back to 2011, when we heard the two brands would share a next-generation flagship crossover which would slot in above the Insignia. We got wind of it again in March, and this official announcement from GM lends further credibility to the gossip.
The current-generation Enclave has been on sale since 2008, which means it could stand to be replaced in the near future. The new Opel flagship isn’t expected to be revealed until 2017, leading us to believe the Buick variant may drop first if the two brands do end up sharing the model.
Comments
It seems as if Buick will not be taking the lead on many projects. Enclave by Opel is especially shocking due to the American nature of the large SUV.
No doubt Mark Adams will include certain Buick cues like the sweep spear as seen on the next gen Verano and the modified takes already present on many Opel products.
Hoping Detroit and China do not get completely snubbed. They both make good stuff.
Rather a SUV on the E2XX platform, but not Enclave size. Similar to the Buick Envision which we assume to be based on D2XX, the compact car platform, i.e. related to Buick Verano/Excelle GT/XT, Opel Astra, Chevrolet Cruze.
And please note the wording of the press release according to which the new car “will be produced at Opel’s traditional headquarters in Rüsselsheim by the end of the decade.” That leaves time up to 2019.
Opel management has said several times that they don’t see an Opel larger than the Insignia.
Not correct. They don’t see a sedan (Audi A6 or BMW 5 Series competitor) larger than the Insignia, but that does not apply to SUV’s.
With regards Vauxhall & Opel selling cars above the Insignia I cannot see a Audi A8, BMW 7 Series competitor (even though they would sell a few), however I can see & feel they will launch a 5 Series/ A6 competitor because of many reasons, one being I cannot see Buick Regal being Buick’s biggest car nor can I see Insignia being Holdens which figures eventually Vauxhall & Opel will relaunch back into the E segment in Europe too, a size of car & market they have traditionally done well in.
2020 we will see this car. today is 2014.
Opel like Lacrossa not n o science fiction, and be sure to.Insignia is a mid-size sedan. However, the higher middle class, such as lacrosse to be sure. Never has, of course, be excluded, as well as the luxury sedan Audi A8.
90s was the Vectra – omega-senator. Vectra is currently insignia.
But today, of course, is the hard classes of cars have become bigger and more luxurious. the middle class has already become a bigger and more luxurious. New VW Passat and Mondeo already see what. what should be the new Verano this is all fiction.
we see buick lines
http://www.autobild.de/bilder/opel-monza-suv-endlich-wieder-ein-grosser-opel–5459560.html#bild1
I wounder how big the 2017 buick Lacrosse is and how long it is.