Inovev expects production of 30,000 units / year of new Buick Regal
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Inovev expects production of 30,000 units / year of new Buick Regal
- The new generation of the Buick Regal marketed from this fall will be the last car of the brand derived from an Opel model. Indeed, the Regal is derived from the Opel Insignia which is the last Opel designed under the ownership of General Motors. As such, it can carry a Buick logo, but Buick will no longer be able to badge the next Opel models, designed under the ownership of PSA. The construction of the future Buick range will have to be done on a new basis, probably of Chevrolet models.
- The latest Opel-inspired Buick is exactly the same as the Opel Insignia launched in Europe in the first half of 2017. It is a D-segment sedan, competing with Ford Fusion (Mondeo), Lincoln MKZ, Chevrolet Malibu and most importantly Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima which dominate the US PC market.
- In the Buick range, it is located above the Verano sedan (C segment) and below the LaCrosse sedan (E segment), this brand having neither a B nor a F segment sedan.
- Like the previous generation, the new Buick Regal is produced in Canada, in Oshawa, Ontario. It is the least produced model of the Buick brand in the NAFTA region and will remain so, as Inovev expects production to be no more than 30,000 units annually over the next five years.
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Read more... Inovev expects production of 30,000 units / year of new Buick Regal
FCA USA 2018-2021 Product Plan
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FCA USA 2018-2021 Product Plan
- The FCA group communicated the product plan for its range of vehicles manufactured in the NAFTA zone for 2018-2021. Vehicles launched in 2017, such as the new generation Jeep Compass, are not included in this list.
- For the next four years, emphasis will be placed on the launch of new SUVs, as of the next 12 launches, 8 will concern SUVs, 2 only will concern sedans or coupes and 2 will concern pick-ups.
- Concerning brands, the effort will be focused on Dodge (5 launches) and Jeep (5 launches). The Chrysler brand seems to be abandoned, with only two launches, and the 300 sedan seems seriously threatened.
- The B segment (Fiat 500) sedan will be phased out at FCA, as this model has not been successful in the US market. On the other hand, it is possible that the 500X (B segment SUV) continues to be imported from Europe to compete with the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore, which retain a low but stable market share.
- FCA will complete its range with brand new models like the Jeep Scrambler and Wagoneer, as well as the Chrysler Aspen and another Chrysler D Segment SUV derived from the Dodge Journey, whose name remains unknown.
- On the other hand, predicted volumes for Dodge Barracuda were deemed insufficient, and the project has been stopped. The most important launch will be that of the Dodge Ram pickup which remains FCA’s biggest selling model.
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Ford USA 2018-2021 Product Plan
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Ford USA 2018-2021 Product Plan
- The Ford Group has communicated the product plan for its range of vehicles manufactured in the NAFTA zone for 2018-2021. Vehicles launched in 2017, such as the new generations of Ford Shipping and Lincoln Navigator, are not included in this list.
- For the next four years, emphasis will be placed on the launch of new SUVs, with 6 of the next 12 launches being for SUVs, 4 for sedans or coupes, and 2 for pickups.
- As for the brands, the launch effort will be focused more on Ford (9 launches) than on Lincoln (3 launches).
- The B Segment (Ford Fiesta) sedan will gradually be abandoned at Ford, as this model has not met the expected success in the US market. On the other hand, it is possible that the Ecosport (B segment SUV) will be imported from Romania or India to compete with the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore which retain a small but stable market share.
- Ford will complete its range with newer models such as the Ford Bronco or Lincoln Aviator, and will renew a good part of its SUVs during the period 2018-2021 (Escape, Edge, Explorer) as well as its F-150 pickup which remains Ford’s biggest selling model. The larger F-Series pickups will be replaced after 2021. For now, the production site of the future Focus remains uncertain.
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GM USA 2018-2021 Product Plan
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GM USA 2018-2021 Product Plan
- The GM group communicated the product plan for its range of vehicles manufactured in the NAFTA zone for 2018-2021. Vehicles launched in 2017, such as the new generations of Chevrolet Traverse, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain and, more recently, Buick Regal, are not included in this list.
- For the next four years, the focus will be on launching new SUVs, as in the next 14 launches, 9 will be for SUVs, 4 for sedans or coupes, and 1 for pickups.
- Concerning brands, the focus will be on Chevrolet (7 launches) and Cadillac (6 launches).
- A single launch will be for the Buick brand, which means that this brand will gradually become marginal in the NAFTA region line-up, while it will continue to prosper in China. It is true that the acquisition of Opel by PSA hampers the Buick brand inasmuch as its models were previously derived from Opel models (Verano, Regal, Cascada, Encore) that Buick will no longer be able to use in the future. The B-segment sedans (Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Sonic) will be phased out at GM, as these models have not met the expected success in the US market. The Chevrolet Cruze (C), segment Malibu (Dsegment) and Camaro (E Segment) are still too new to be replaced before 2022. The Chevrolet Impala (E segment ) however seems threatened.
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Bentley unveils new generation of Continental GT
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Bentley unveils new generation of Continental GT
- Bentley, which produces approximately 10,000 cars a year, is the luxury subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. The current range includes the Flying Spur (launched in 2005, restyled in 2013) and Mulsanne (launched in 2009, restyled in 2016) sedans, the Continental GT (launched in 2002, restyled in 2010) coupé and convertible, and the Bentayga ( launched in 2016) SUV.
- In September 2017 Bentley unveiled the new generation of the Continental GT coupe. It shares its platform (MSB) with the Porsche Panamera and the Audi A8 (and not with the VW Phaeton, as did the previous generation) whereas the Bentayga SUV shares its platform (MLB) with the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne.
- The new generation of the Continental GT keeps the silhouette of the older generation, but many details differ (longer wheelbase, less front overhang, enlarged grille, almond shaped tail lights). The model is 4.81m long, 1.95m wide and 1.39m high, which is very similar to the dimensions of the old model.
- In terms of engines, the new Continental GT is available in V8 4.0 over 500hp and W12 6.0 over 600hp.
- Since the former Continental GT sold 66,000 units in 15 years (4,400 units per year), the new model could reach 5,000 units per year. The new model will be manufactured at the historic site of Crewe (England), like the old Continental GT and all Bentley models.
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