In its attempt to consolidate its global product development, General Motors is reportedly planning to further combine the efforts of Buick and Opel by offering the next-generation Buick LaCrosse and Enclave in Europe under the Opel umbrella.
The move would help GM further amortize its development costs and it would give Opel an opportunity to compete in a higher-level segment than it does now, even if large crossover and sedan sales in Europe are a small slice of the overall market. The LaCrosse and Enclave would face few rivals in Europe – aside from, perhaps, the Lancia-badged version of the Chrysler 300.
GMInsidenews says that the next-generation Enclave will bow in Europe first as a 2015 model. Expected to ride on an updated version of the car’s current Lambda architecture, the Enclave might actually take advantage of a turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine for Europe. Unlike North America, European tax structures are making it increasingly difficult for automakers to sell non-premium vehicles with engines larger than four cylinders.
The next year, the redesigned LaCrosse could follow. Like the current car, it will offer a four-cylinder base powertrain in every market. GMI suggests that the car will use the now-departed Opel Omega nameplate, a badge last used on a rear-wheel-drive sedan that was sold in North America as the Cadillac Catera.
GM has had no problem offering its smaller cars across the globe, but it has only dabbled with selling larger global-platform vehicles in Europe in recent years.
The Opel situation
GM has long relied on Opel for product development, but the automaker hasn’t enjoyed the sales success of German rival Volkswagen in Europe.
Initially, GM planned to use its Saturn brand as an outlet for Opel products in North America, but it now appears that the Detroit automaker is planning to switch things around. When GM pulled the plug on Saturn, it transfered the Opel Insignia-based stillborn second-generation Saturn Aura to Buick, which rechristened the car with its historic Regal nameplate. Both industry reviews and sales have been tepid, at best, for the Buick, but the Insignia has received rave critical acclaim in Europe.
The question at GM is whether it can reverse its fortunes by sending cars aimed primarily at North America (and China, where the LaCrosse is a hit) to Europe.
References
1.’Opel getting next…’ view
