General Motors’ vehicle order guides have revealed that its GMC brand will continue selling the first-generation GMC Acadia crossover alongside the all-new, second-generation model for the 2017 model year.
As customary for the outgoing generations of GM’s vehicles, the first-generation Acadia will take on the Limited moniker to become the 2017 Acadia Limited. The continuation of the first iteration of the Acadia for the 2017 model year will mark the ninth year that the full-size crossover will have been on the market in much the same form, save for a mid-cycle refresh for the 2013 model year.
In addition to the name change, the 2017 Acadia Limited also gets the following features as standard equipment:
- New 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels (PPE)
- Color Touch Navigation radio with IntelliLink (UI8)
- Head-up display (UV6)
- Cargo area audio system controls (RCA)
- HID projected low beam headlamps (TVD)
- Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning (UVF)
To note, the first-generation Acadia, including this 2017 GMC Acadia Limited, rides on GM’s Lambda platform and is a completely different vehicle from the all-new 2017 GMC Acadia, which rides on GM’s C1XX platform and ushers in the second generation of the Acadia nameplate.
Following are RPO-level changes and updates to the 2017 GMC Acadia Limited:
New Features
- Retail only Limited FWD and AWD models offered
Changes
- Following items now offered as standard equipment:
- (UI8) Color Touch Navigation radio with IntelliLink
- (UV6) Head-up display
- (RCA) cargo area audio system controls
- (TVD) HID projector low beam headlamps
- (UVF) Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning
- (PPE) 20″ chrome-clad aluminum wheels standard
Comments
This is a bit of insanity.. and makes no sense as it’s like Chevy continuing to sell the C6 Corvette alongside the C7 Corvette especially given how the new GMC Acadia is light-years better than older design.
It makes sense in that it offers clients looking for the classic Acadia size, space and 3 row utility. Also I suspect that this will get a lot of play in the rental market as well.
The tooling has already been paid for so this will grab a few more dollars out of the Lambda platform before bringing it out to pasture.
Impala made sense because it transitioned from a fleet car to a classy sedan… I own the former.
If the new old Acadia was much cheaper, like an iPhone 5c compared to a 5s I’d be interested because it would be nice to catch a break in a pricey segment
This makes a lot of sense. You overlap production so there is no down time. In the past many times they would shut one model down and then be a couple months before the new production starts. Ford has had this issue on some of their trucks.
Now also one much consider that the new model while it shares a name is really moving down in size and price a little. It is going to be closer to the Terrain that will soon also move down in size.
Once this larger Acadia is gone there should a a new mid sized models similar in size and price to replace it.
You just need to do the time line and consider the moving of the models in size along with future models we should soon see,
Even if they only sell 20K units of the older model they will make money as the tooling was paid off years ago.
GM has used this to good effect on many models of late and it has proven very profitable. And that’s what this whole exercise is all about is it not?
Plus it gives those who like the old one one more shot and also I suspect many big time lease packages on preset option packed vehicles will be offered.
Now if they’ll put the 8 speed on the new Acadia…… Even the new highlander has a 8 speed
Covering the gap and making sure it’s a smooth transition.
Malibu vs Mailbu Classic come to mind about 5 years ago, but the Classic was for fleet mainly.
Acadia is different, the current platform being more of a utility and people hauler (as is the Traverse) where the new smaller model appeals to a different crowd.
With the Yukon/Tahoe getting more and more upscale and less utilitarian (the folddown rear row in those mean an extra 7 inches or so lift over…our bigger dogs have enough issues with that jump, let alone another bunch of inches), shame that GM’s moving away from that with their next largest SUV too. Though I assume that gap will eventually be filled by something; not everyone wants a ATS/Cruze/Spark size “SUV”, CAFE or no CAFE.