The Europeanization of Buick’s lineup is something we can count on for the future, as more Opel/Vauxhall models will make it stateside. Buick currently sells the Encore (Opel Mokka), Verano (Opel Astra sedan) and Regal (Opel Insignia), and next year will begin sales of the Cascada convertible as well.
So what comes next? According to a Buick top executive, the following Opel model to be imported to the United States as a Buick may be the Adam city car. Duncan Aldred, U.S. vice president of Buick and GMC, said a rebadged Opel Adam may arrive in the United States after the second-generation of the three-door city car will launch in Europe sometime around 2018.
“I’ve looked at the possibility of fast-tracking that into the Buick range sooner than later. I think it would make a great Buick,” Aldred was quoted as saying by Automotive News.
Aldred believes the Adam is “probably the most premium model in the Opel and Vauxhall range as far as content and materials,” making it an ideal candidate for Buick. “In terms of changing expectations of the brand, that would be another absolutely jaw-dropping moment for Buick,” he said.
Buick would have brought the Adam sooner, but the current generation model wasn’t engineered with US market requirements in mind. As a consequence, the executive says revamping the Adam for the U.S. would be cost prohibitive.
However, Aldred hinted that the Adam’s redesign would be tailored for the United States. That won’t happen earlier than 2018 though, as the Opel/Vauxhall Adam launched in Europe in early 2013.
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