www.GMInsideNews.com
September 20, 2012
By: Nick Saporito
Today Buick and GMC announced to dealers that the two brands will collectively launch nine new or revised products over the next 12 months. The announcement comes as both brands continue on their third year of consecutive retail sales gains, and enjoy an impressive 40-percent conquest rate.
Some of the nine new products have already been announced, while the rest are quickly becoming common knowledge thanks to insiders and spy shots. For example, Buick-GMC is counting the revised 2013 GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave and Encore crossovers in the group of nine.
Additionally, Buick confirmed that revised LaCrosse and Regal sedans will also launch over the next 12 months. While this is the first time GM has confirmed the redesigns, spy shots of both have all but validated that both sedans will be revamped likely for the 2014 model year.
On the GMC side, the brand confirmed that their entire truck and SUV lineup will be all-new within the next 12 months. For those keeping count, that means a new Sierra, Sierra HD, Yukon and Yukon XL.
The announcement means that, by this time next year, the oldest products in the Buick-GMC showroom will be the Buick Verano and GMC Terrain.
To recap the new products—along with GMI’s predictions—see the below list:
- 2013 Buick Encore – All New
- 2013 Buick Enclave – Redesign
- 2013 GMC Acadia – Redesign
- 2014 Buick Regal – Redesign
- 2014 Buick LaCrosse – Redesign
- 2014 GMC Sierra – All New
- 2014 GMC Sierra HD – All New
- 2014 GMC Yukon – All New
- 2014 GMC Yukon XL – All New
The new Buick Encore small luxury crossover, which will be priced at $24,950 including a $750 destination charge, arrives in early 2013. A Buick Regal luxury sport sedan, Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan, GMC Sierra and Sierra HD full-size pickups, as well as GMC Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs will arrive next year.
In addition to these nine models, GMC will offer luxury-appointed Denali versions of its four upcoming vehicles and a new 2.0L turbocharged powertrain will be available in the Buick Verano this year.
By the end of 2013, the oldest non-commercial models in a Buick/GMC showroom will be the Buick Verano luxury sedan and GMC Terrain small SUV. Verano has been in dealer showrooms for less than a year and has gained sales volume every month since launch. Terrain arrived as a 2010 model and is on pace for its best sales year ever in 2012. A new Denali luxury trim level recently was added.
GMC also announced the return of the GMC Canyon midsize pickup as an all-new model to be built in Wentzville, Mo. Arrival timing will be announced later.
“While we continue to make strong progress in fuel economy gains on our full-size trucks, we know that there is a group of customers who want the functionality of a truck but may not need full-size pickup,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick and GMC Marketing. “We believe that introducing a new, agile and efficient mid-size Canyon will meet the needs of many pickup buyers.”
Buick and GMC have grown together as distinctly different but complementary brands. Together, they have sold more than 400,000 vehicles so far this year, a pace that should allow each brand to achieve a third consecutive year of sales gains.
“We’re not only selling more vehicles, we’re bringing new customers to the Buick and GMC showroom,” said Brian Sweeney, vice president of Buick and GMC Sales and Service. “Both brands report more than 40 percent conquest sales. Buick was the only automotive brand in the United States to reduce the average age of its buyer during the past five years, and GMC continues to attract more female buyers and – with Denali vehicles – more import and luxury owners.
Overall, General Motors will have 70 percent all-new or significantly refreshed products across its four U.S. brands in 2012-2013.