QOTD: What Would You Do With The Cascada?

by Derek Kreindler

Published: October 18th, 2012

The Opel/Vauxhall Cascada got a surprisingly warm reception on TTAC, considering that it’s a ragtop with humble origins based on the Delta II platform (thank you, readers, for correcting my mistake).

The internet seems to think that its importation as a Buick is pretty much a done deal, but we can have a thought exercise where you get to dictate the terms of its introduction.

I’d like to sell this car as a Riviera, since it has a nicer ring to it than “Regal Convertible”, and it’s not really a Regal either (Delta vs. Epsilon platform). Even though it shares its underpinnings with the Verano, a separate nameplate might even be a bit of a halo car for Buick. Not everyone wants a Camaro when choosing a ragtop. This is a great alternative.

Put the Verano Turbo’s 250 horsepower Ecotec in there and you’ve got a pretty credible number to throw out in advertisements and enough “pep” to impress customers on test drives. The exterior styling and interior materials, at least from the initial press shots, look like they were done right from the start.

Apparently, a couple version was also planned, but budget constraints have put it on ice. Too bad. That would have made a great Cruze Coupe. What would you do? Different name? Different powertrain? Different brand?

#Buick #Cascada #GeneralMotors #GM #Opel #QOTD #QuestionOfTheDay #Vauxhall

Derek Kreindler

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14 of 41 comments

Pch101 on Oct 18, 2012

The legacy names appeal only to GM fanboys. Most consumers couldn't care less about all of this wonderful GM nostalgia. I wouldn't call it a Riviera because that was a large car. But whatever they call it is less important than is maintaining some consistency going forward; the next version of the car should be given the same nameplate as this one, come hell or high water. Changing nameplates with every model cycle only confuses people.

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- Sunridge place on Oct 18, 2012
  
  Sometimes, those name changes were to escape the past and have been successful. Aveo to Sonic. Sonic a much better product...totally changed from Aveo and now #1 in retail sales in its segment Cobalt to Cruze. Cruze a much better product..totally changed from Cobalt and now a solid player in the compact segment at very sold transaction prices vs competition and Cobalt Can't think of too many name changes in the last few years that haven't worked out.
  
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- Pch101 on Oct 18, 2012
  
  @sunridge place Some consistent market leaders over the years: Accord Altima Camry Civic Corolla Notice what they have in common. Name changes with every model cycle require that a company educate the consumer about the new model's purpose, which only makes the job of marketing that much harder. GM's approach to frequent name changes is more closely associated with failure than with success. The exceptions don't prove the rule.
  
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- Russycle on Oct 18, 2012
  
  @sunridge place Pch, notice what else those name have in common. They're sales leaders in their segment, and not perceived to be shit-boxes. I don't agree with much that GM has done, but when it comes to educating consumers, trying to overcome a reputation for crappiness is one hell of an uphill climb. Saddling a new model with the same moniker as last year's running joke is a cruel handicap. I do agree that names of successful models should be retained, and GM pretty much does that.
  
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- Sunridge place on Oct 18, 2012
  
  @sunridge place Yes PCH...I understand that name changes create some confusion and need for additional marketing. I wasn't recommending it as an ongoing strategy. My point was some of the recent name changes were really necessary given the damage to the previous name cause by lousy product in the past. That was a needed change and they need to stick to the branding of the model going forward once the product is better. You seemed to imply that those past name changes were a mistake and I was simply pointing out that those recent name changes have proven largely successful. Moving forward, I would imagine the next gen Chevy compact will be named the Cruze instead of the 4th name in the cycle....Cavalier to Cobalt to Cruze to ??.
  
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- Pch101 on Oct 18, 2012
  
  @sunridge place "Saddling a new model with the same moniker as last year’s running joke is a cruel handicap." It's usually a bigger handicap to change the name. Think Hyundai Sonata. That nameplate has been around for over twenty years, and has not always been associated with good quality. Yet the reputation of years gone by has no bearing on its perception in the marketplace today. The biggest burden on the automaker is a bad brand, not a bad nameplate. Keep the name, improve the car, and improve the brand's standing along with the improved car.
  
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- Sunridge place on Oct 18, 2012
  
  Yet Hyundai didn't keep the Excel name and switched over to Accent for their subcompact hatch. Much like GM changed some names but not others.
  
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- 28-Cars-Later on Oct 19, 2012
  
  @sunridge place I agree, changing names can be confusing. Find a suitable model name and stick with it.
  
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- Geozinger on Oct 19, 2012
  
  @sunridge place What's in a name, really? (Corolla) Tercel, Echo, Yaris... Yes, no good reason to change the names. I'm just using those as an example of an otherwise highly-regarded company's decision to change the name of their sub-compact offering over the years. However, I'm not entirely convinced that all of the brand equity is in the model name. The Mustang had a few years in the wilderness, too, but if FoMoCo hadn't made the decision to improve the car, I'm certain it would have been cancelled. Additionally, I'm convinced that if the car is good enough, it could be named the Vomitus (or Mucous) and people would buy it. I can remember the first time I read the Camry name, I thought it was a typo. It STILL bothers me to hear it pronounced, it sounds like my hearing aid is @#$@#!-up again. But, if through some disaster, the Camry name became tarnished, it wouldn't necessarily tarnish the whole Toyota brand. True?
  
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RatherhaveaBuick on Oct 18, 2012

Simple. SKY-lark. Right there in the title. Hopefully a convertible with that name will be easy enough for the general public to swallow. Riviera should still be saved for the elusive "halo car" that Buick so desperately needs to produce... Also: Turbo or bust.

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- Ranwhenparked on Oct 18, 2012
  
  The original 1953 Skylark was available only as a convertible - actually, it was the only Buick ever built exclusively as a ragtop, so that name probably fits the best out of all the options.
  
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Alluster on Oct 18, 2012

Cant resist throwing a lighthearted jab at all the typos. Derek, a couple version of what is planned? And Apagtth, what are the two cadillacs offered by Chevy? On topic: You are all wrong. Of course it will be called a Varano Convertible. Why would you think GM named the Verano (Summer in Spanish) as such to begin with? The convertible was in the cards all along. Like many have said, I hope GM will not Buickify this beautiful car. When the Camaro and Corvette can get away with not having a corporate grille, why cant Buick. Just please switch the badges and call it a day.

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Corey Lewis on Oct 19, 2012

I think of the last generation of Skylark, with it's goofy appearance and lackluster-everything attitude, and feel that would be a bad choice. The Reatta was a marketing disaster, so can't go with that. This car is too small to be called a Riviera, so let's wait to use that name on a Cadillac Ciel-based Buick vehicle *drools*. Might have to be called the Regal Cabrio/Coupe. Or perhaps, SOMERSET.

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- RatherhaveaBuick on Oct 19, 2012
  
  I wish they could use the name Reatta, but Somerset is a nice choice as well. The last generation of Skylark was horrible, you do have a point there.... But as alluster said, they're most likely just going to call it a Verano Convertible. Lame.
  
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