Photo: Opel
We recently heard that Buick was still considering bringing a convertible to the U.S. as a rebadged version of the Opel Cascada, but now an article from GM Authority makes it sound like it’s a matter of when, not if, the compact drop-top is brought over to our shores. Speaking with unnamed sources, the Cascada will become a global product within the next 18 months.
That timeline matches up with what was being reported last month where the Cascade was said to be appearing in showrooms by early 2016. Unlike that report, though, this one definitively says that Buick will continue to use the Cascada name for the car instead of rehashing the Riviera name, which has been mentioned recently.
The Opel Cascada was just introduced for the European market a little over a year ago, so the styling and technology should still be competitive on the market. With the Chrysler 200 Convertible and Volkswagen Eos both leaving the U.S. market, it will be interesting to see how buyers react to such a model. On one hand, the lack of options could make the timing perfect for Buick to introduce its front-wheel drive soft-top convertible, but at the same time, pricing could position it too close to bigger, sportier convertibles like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro.
One thing a Buick Cascada would have on its side, though, is efficiency. In its current form, the Opel Cascada has three engine options each with a manual or automatic transmission, but a U.S.-spec Buick version would likely be limited to the more powerful 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder paired solely to a six-speed automatic. In addition to the U.S., the Buick Cascada would also be offered throughout the rest of North America as well as China.
The Opel Cascada was just introduced for the European market a little over a year ago, so the styling and technology should still be competitive on the market. With the Chrysler 200 Convertible and Volkswagen Eos both leaving the U.S. market, it will be interesting to see how buyers react to such a model. On one hand, the lack of options could make the timing perfect for Buick to introduce its front-wheel drive soft-top convertible, but at the same time, pricing could position it too close to bigger, sportier convertibles like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro.
One thing a Buick Cascada would have on its side, though, is efficiency. In its current form, the Opel Cascada has three engine options each with a manual or automatic transmission, but a U.S.-spec Buick version would likely be limited to the more powerful 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder paired solely to a six-speed automatic. In addition to the U.S., the Buick Cascada would also be offered throughout the rest of North America as well as China.
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