Updated: Future of GMC Acadia Uncertain?

[nsap]

Update: Future of GMC Acadia Uncertain?
Sources indicate GM is electing to cancel the next Acadia.
www.GMInsideNews.com
February 15, 2011
Update: February 16, 2011
By: Nick Saporito

Update: GMC Communications reached out to GMI today regarding the future of the Acadia and the state of the crossover on the market today. GMC spokesperson Kelly Cusinato stated, "Acadia is a very important vehicle in the GMC portfolio and we don't plan to leave this growing crossover segment."

Cusinato also cited that Acadia sales are up 27-percent over a year ago and that the recently launched Acadia Denali has caused GM to increase production capacity of the Acadia at the Lansing Delta Township assembly plant.

GMI often gets inside information pertaining to future General Motors product, not unlike mainstream publications. According to GMI sources the future of the Lambda-based Acadia is very questionable. That does not imply that the Acadia is being removed from the lineup, but at this time GMI sources have not been informed of a replacement program for a future Acadia. As the case with all unofficial reports, the information contained within could very well change between now and 2014, when the next Acadia is due out.

Nevertheless, it sounds as though GMC is quite happy with the success of the current Acadia. Last year GMC sold just over 68,000 Acadia crossovers, accounting for nearly 20-percent of GMC's total sales.

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Despite General Motors' reduced brand structure in North America, some product overlap still exists. For that reason, sources are telling GMI that GM has elected to cancel the Lambda-based next-generation GMC Acadia crossover.

The Acadia launched in 2006 (2007 model-year) and has been fairly successful on the U.S. market. The GMC model is one of four crossovers that have existed on the GM Lambda platform. The Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and former Saturn Outlook all reside on Lambda.

Sources familiar with GM product planning state that the decision was made to cancel the next Acadia to reduce product overlap in Buick-GMC stores. The overlap coming from that of the Acadia's sister product, the Buick Enclave.

The Enclave's tremendous sales success has given it the priority as the one large crossover for Buick-GMC dealers to work with when the next-generation model launches in 2015 model-year. In fact, GMI sources also stated that GM is considering boosting Buick Enclave output at the Lansing Delta Township, Michigan plant to meet increasing demand.

This isn't the first time GM has canceled the next-generation Acadia. It was also canceled back in late 2008 when the entire GMC brand was put under internal review. GM then placed the Acadia program back into the hopper after their June 2009 bankruptcy.

It is worth noting that GMC still has several new products in the pipeline, including another generation of the smaller Terrain crossover.

[StormHunter77]

As an Acadia owner, I would have to say this is the single biggest disappointment from GM since bankruptcy. The Acadia is the single most perfect vehicle for my young family needs. People ask me about it all of the time, and I tell them - it's perfect. My wife refuses to drive a minivan and the Acadia has the macho look she loves with the space we need for, well, everything. I did NOT want a fancy Enclave. I did NOT like the looks of the Traverse. We leased an Acadia with the idea that we could get the next model when it arrives in showrooms in a couple of years. If they cancel it I highly doubt we'll go into an Enclave or a Traverse. We'll probably buy our lease vehicle.

By the way, if you cancel the Acadia and move forward with a Lambda Escalade, GM will officially have it's head up it's tailpipe. How can you ignore all the Acadia owners?

I am really upset with this rumor and sincerely hope it's just that....a rumor!

[Quickening]

Ok so they have a smaller CUV than Terrain, but isn't Buick getting the Encore too? So they are still going to have overlap...

I have no issue with reducing overlap on the Lamba2 platform.

[GPScott]

I kill cars.

I had a Pontiac Grand Prix 2007-2010. Nothing else needs to be said there.
Then I bought a Mercury Grand Marquis. They started making Panthers in 1979? I owned one for 6 months last year and it's no more.
So I buy an Acadia back in November and now......

Way back in the day I wanted an Aurora SO bad but I was not of driving age. I guess my mere desire killed Oldsmobile.

But seriously, this is really disappointing. My Acadia reminds me of my Pontiac in a lot of ways... it seems a lot more sporty where the Enclave is luxurious and the Traverse feels a little more "cheap." There is certainly space in GM's lineup for all three.

[Hitman1970]

Bad idea! That will leave two versions of the same sheet metal, Enclave and Traverse. Cost cutting much, GM?

My wife's Outlook is squared off like the Acadia which she prefers to the curves of the Chevy and Buick versions.

Are they doing this to make room for the Cadilambda?

[Titanic]

Odd. That's the only one my wife likes, and she's gunning for it to be her next car. We test drove the Traverse, which she dismissed; and she wouldn't consider the Enclave due to style preference.

All of the talk on the mommy message boards is about the Acadia.

Overlap is only an issue when the cars aren't distinctive, and the Acadia and Enclave are well differentiated.

[bballr4567]

So, what will happen with the Caddy lambda version comes out? Is the Enclave going to be put out to pasture?

Stupid. Differentiate them more and keep them around. The price increase from a Traverse to an Enclave is quite substantial. I guess GM just doesnt want new customers for GMC.

[TORRED1]

I guess all those Acadia owner's know how us Pontiac owners feel

[CadiEldo67]

Ok so they have a smaller CUV than Terrain, but isn't Buick getting the Encore too? So they are still going to have overlap...

I have no issue with reducing overlap on the Lamba2 platform.

I thought the Encore was going to be on Delta II while the Terrain is slightly larger on the Theta platform.

I see Acadias everywhere, I'm very surprised by this decision. My question is, if they realized that the Acadia overlapped with the Enclave so much - why did they add a Denali version? So it can be a carbon copy?

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

WHAT? It's one of their best-sellers! Come on GM!

[Variant]

Since when is GM concerned with GMC overlapping with other brands?

I'm not an advocate of killing GMC, but the Acadia does not overlap with the Enclave any more than any other GMC overlaps with its Chevy counterpart.

[tgagneguam]

I kill cars...

In light of your abilities, I'd like you to drive the following vehicles:

1) Toyota Camry
2) Toyota Corolla
3) Toyota Avalon
4) Toyota 4Runner
5) Toyota Prius... That should about do it for Toyota.

Then, I'd like to see you in the following vehicles:
1) Nissan Leaf
2) Nissan Altima
3) Nissan Titan... Naw, that's doing "alright" on its own
3) Nissan Maxima
4) Nissan Quest
5) Nissan 370Z...

The, you should move onto Honda. Then Hyundai. Then Kia. Then BMW...

[Hitman1970]

5500 per month sales is not enough? Which is more than Enclave BTW.

[GPScott]

In light of your abilities, I'd like you to drive the following vehicles:

1) Toyota Camry
2) Toyota Corolla
3) Toyota Avalon
4) Toyota 4Runner
5) Toyota Prius... That should about do it for Toyota.

Then, I'd like to see you in the following vehicles:
1) Nissan Leaf
2) Nissan Altima
3) Nissan Titan... Naw, that's doing "alright" on its own
3) Nissan Maxima
4) Nissan Quest
5) Nissan 370Z...

The, you should move onto Honda. Then Hyundai. Then Kia. Then BMW...

I had two Nissan Xterras. Maybe the Asians are immune?

[AdmiralViscen]

I was just at dinner with a guy who drives an ML350 who was saying he wants to get an Acadia. I doubt he'd get a Buick. Smart move GM

Also why did I see a commercial for a 2011 Lacrosse CX? I thought CX/CXL/CXS were going away.