Now that we’ve had time to digest everything about the 2017 Buick LaCrosse, which made its official debut at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, we’re here to discuss the car’s global ties. Below, you will find why we think 2017 LaCrosse could very well be the next Holden Caprice.
Let’s back up for a moment, however, and get technical. This scenario requires a global mindset, knowing Holden will be a key influencer and hold heavy ties to Opel and, subsequently, Buick in the future.
The 2017 LaCrosse measures in with an overall length of 197.5-inches, and a wheelbase of 114.4-inches. The car has very much stretched its legs on a more premium variant of General Motors’ E2XX platform. In comparison, the current Holden Caprice sits with an overall length of 203-inches, and a wheelbase of 118.5-inches.
On paper, the 2017 LaCrosse is a smaller vehicle but, when peering at interior space, specs tell another story.
The 2016 Caprice allows rear-seat occupants 43-inches of stretching space. The 2017 LaCrosse comes in at nearly 40-inches, 39.9-inches to be exact. We realize the 2017 LaCrosse gives up three inches of leg space, but here’s where we start to build our argument.
The Holden Caprice plays in a space nearly all its own in its home market, where it has been quite successful despite no major updates since 2006. In China, where the same vehicle is sold as the Buick Park Avenue, the vehicle has flopped immensely.
The LaCrosse already sells in much larger numbers than the Park Avenue, and Buick has been keen to call this 2017 LaCrosse its flagship model. It’s very likely the 2017 LaCrosse will sit as the flagship tri-shield vehicle in the United States, and China. Meanwhile, Holden receives a near-proper replacement for the aged Caprice with a more efficient use of its platform, nearly similar interior dimensions and greater fuel efficiency. Believe us, rear-seat legroom is plentiful.
At Opel, the 2017 LaCrosse would slot right in as a flagship full-size sedan, sitting above the incoming 2017 Opel Insignia. The 2017 Insignia is expected to also stretch its legs, albeit not nearly as much as the 2017 LaCrosse, also residing on E2XX. Expect dimensions of the 2017 Insignia to nearly mimic the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu within millimeters. Ditto for the 2018 Holden Commodore, which will likely be based on the 2017 Insignia.
The future lineup creates enough of a gap to justify exporting the 2017 LaCrosse to Europe for Opel, and to Australia for Holden. Is it an identical strategy to the current Zeta-based vehicles? No, but it’s a pretty bang-on representation of them with new, global architecture.
We feel it is worthy to mention this lineup hierarchy, which sits as LaCrosse-Regal in the U.S. and China, full-size flagship-Insignia in Europe, and Caprice-Commodore in Australia, does leave legitimate space for a proper, rear-wheel drive full-size much like the Buick Avenir show car. Do we think Avenir production is likely? Not really. But, it is worth the mention.
While Holden rides the wave on its last bunch of locally-produced Commodores and Caprices, global strategy is going on behind closed doors. We’re not sure if we’re correct, but we think the situation is seriously plausible.
If so, Australia, meet your new Holden Caprice.
Comments
How about my theory: the Lacrosse is the new Commodore.
Holden has already started investing in the Insignia brand with the launch of the Insignia VXR (OPC) and I feel that they will replace the Malibu (the new generation is not going to be made in RHD) with the next generation Insignia as their mid size model. That would leave space to use the Commodore name of a RHD version of the Lacrosse for their large sedan.
Opel/Vauxhall/Buick/Holden – GM’s global hybrid brand
rambo_005,
Believe us, we thought about this for awhile. The proportions aren’t right, though. Commodore will be Insignia based. This LaCrosse is not the Insignia, as the LaCrosse is much longer than the upcoming Insignia will be. There’s a link, but the LaCrosse is not the direct replacement, hence why we think it could be a great Caprice replacement.
Cheers,
-Sean
According to GM rumors, the next Insignia will be a hatchback designed for “European tastes”, and not making it’s way to Oz.
I predict that Lacrosse will replace Commodore with Caprice dropped. Also, the next Malibu/Insignia won’t be much smaller than Lacrosse and 193 inches qualifies as a large mid-sizer.
Those rumors are wrong. The Insignia will have a hatch variant like the current model does. It will also have sedan and wagon variants. And it is coming to Oz, probably as the Commodore.
Best GM car design I’ve seen to date , edging out the 2015 Chevy SS ,,, it is that good !! It is understated but has the rear side arch creases that appear to be from the Buick Avenir model , me thinks . Congratulations , Buick !
Opel is not going to sell LaCrosse in Europe that is for sure.
This is probably going to be a replacement for Commodore, since Holden chief said that current Commodore is going to get a 3 different models as a replacement. Insignia, LaCrosse and future Insignia SUV (which is going to become Opel’s flagship next to Insignia).