Buick’s Akerson Thinks Opel a Good Fit

The average age of Buick buyers has dropped from 64 to 57 during the last five years, and recent statements by General Motors chief Dan Akerson indicate that the tri-shield brand may soon be doing even more to attract younger buyers. Akerson was speaking at an investor conference in June when he mentioned that two Opel models would be a good fit for Buick, and that the decision by his predecessor to not bring these cars stateside was a mistake.

The Opel Adam is a stylish three door hatchback that takes aim at a market segment dominated by the Mini and Fiat 500, and the Cascada is a midsized convertible with plenty of room for four. Both cars have been well received by enthusiasts and the automotive press, and they would join the recently unveiled Verano sedan and Encore crossover if they found their way into Buick showrooms.

The Opel Adam lures fashion conscious city dwellers with a modern yet retro look that features sculpted sides, an aggressive stance and a floating roof. The car was unveiled at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and is offered in a myriad of interior combinations that include 18 interchangeable door and dashboard panels and 15 upholstery choices. Fit and finish on the car is excellent, and the car squeezes an impressive amount of technology into its compact 145 inches. A popular option is a sliding fabric roof that gives the Adam an almost convertible like feel.

The Opel Cascada was a hit with the public when it was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and is billed as a four season convertible. Four seats provide ample room, and the folding roof features thermal insulation for the colder months. When the sun is out, the top can fold down in only 17 seconds by pressing a button on the key fob. The Cascada, like the Adam, has an impressive interior which features soft touch materials and exposed stitching. Getting in and out of the back can be challenging in a convertible, but the Cascada addresses this issue with a system called Electric Easy Access.

The Cascada will likely sport the same 2.0 liter four cylinder engine as the Buick Verano and Regal if it is sold in the United States, and the 270 horsepower this engine produces would be a significant power boost over the European version of the car. Buick has received a lot of praise for their safety technology, and the Cascada would fit right in with advanced features that include lane-departure warnings, a rear view camera and a blind spot information system.

No firm plans have been announced to add the Adam and Cascada to the Buick lineup, and GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky admitted that amalgamating models for the US market was a complex and costly process. However, the success of cars like the Mini and Fiat 500 show that American consumers are open to vehicles with a European flavor, and the two Opels seem to be a good match for the path Buick is on.