Buick to take on 500, MINI with Adam hatchback?
Buick is hoping to get its own version of the Adam sub-compact hatchback.
Buick has confirmed that it is looking into adding the Opel Adam (pictured) to its lineup in the United States. Introduced across Europe in 2013, the Adam is a premium sub-compact hatchback that squares off against the MINI Cooper and the Fiat 500 on the Old Continent.
Aldred is not the first executive to make a case for a U.S.-spec Adam. Former General Motors CEO Dan Akerson often voiced his desire to see the hatchback on our shores but he explained that federalizing it is a difficult and costly endeavor because it wasn't designed to comply with U.S. regulations. The Cascada, an Opel-turned-Buick that was introduced in Detroit, faced the same problem but it is more expensive so it's easier for Buick to recoup the investment.
The Adam could nonetheless join the Buick lineup when it is given a mid-cycle facelift in Europe, meaning it will likely arrive in time for the 2017 model year. The hardtop and the Cabriolet variants of the pint-sized hatchback will cross the pond but whether or not they will be joined by the crossover-esque Adam Rocks model is up in the air.
Similarly, Buick has not revealed what its version of the Adam will be powered by. The Opel-badged model is available with several three- and four-cylinder gasoline-burning engines whose outputs range from 70 to 150 horsepower. All models are front-wheel drive and most are equipped with a manual transmission.
Additional details about the U.S.-spec Adam will emerge over the coming months if Buick decides to federalize it. The automaker will almost certainly get the next generation of the Adam because it will be designed with U.S. regulations in mind from the get-go but it is not expected to be introduced until 2018 at the very earliest.
