Fans of the departed Chrysler 200 Convertible may have a savior in the form of Buick dealers, according to a report.
GM Inside News reports Buick dealers have seen what their version of the Opel Cascada will look like, and that it will arrive as a 2016 model year vehicle. That suggests we’ll see it sometime in 2015.
It’s been widely anticipated Buick would receive a version of Opel’s convertible as part of those brands’ cooperation that also brought us the Regal and Encore. But this is the firmest confirmation yet that the Cascada will join the Buick-GMC lineup as something of a halo car.
GMI‘s report suggests the Buick will be visually identical to the Opel, apart from the badge. However, no powertrain details were discussed. The largest gas engine offered in the Cascada right now is a 1.6-liter turbo four producing 170 horsepower. The Encore’s 1.4-liter turbo is also available. Both seem rather small for the U.S. market, however. Considering the Cascada shares some underpinnings with the Buick Verano, it’s reasonable to suggest that car’s 2.0-liter turbo engine with 250 horsepower could be squeezed in.
The convertible market has been pretty barren lately, so it’s nice to see Buick entering the category with a nice design like the Cascada. Even if Avis finds it popular.
By Zac Estrada
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