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Opel Insignia wagon would make a mighty fine Buick Regal

Once again, the Buick Regal's European stablemate will be getting a long-roof iteration, and our spy photographers have caught it out testing. Normally we wouldn't be overly concerned about the new Opel Insignia wagon, but considering the rumors surrounding a Regal wagon, we have reason to pay attention. Like the next-generation Insignia sedan that we've previously seen, this wagon adopts a much longer and wider look compared with the current model. The nose is also noticeably more upright than the gently sloping iteration of its predecessor. These changes are accompanied by more slender lights and a generally more broad-shouldered look. It's difficult to discern much else, though. As for the odds of this wagon appearing in the States, they look decent, but far from guaranteed. The next Regal sedan will probably continue as a rebadged Insignia, and may be built in Germany. Rumors of a wagon have persisted, supported by word of focus group testing with other wagons and the registration of a trademark for "Tourx." If Opel produces another high-riding, plastic-clad Country Tourer model, we could see it come here with the Tourx name to challenge the Subaru Outback, Audi Allroad, Volvo Cross Country models and, most recently, the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain. It would also provide the company with another crossover-esque model for little extra development cost. We've also heard a report that a Regal wagon of some sort was confirmed at a dealer meeting. Related Video:

Buick Cascada convertible likely dead after 2019

Opel announced it was discontinuing a few cars today, but the one that got our attention was the Cascada. The plan is to let the Opel Cascada live out its life until the end of 2019, with no replacement in the works. This brings into question the future of the Buick Cascada sold in the United States, since it's basically the same car and produced by Opel in the same factory in Poland. The Cascada has been on sale in other markets since 2012 badged as either an Opel or Vauxhall, but the Buick-badged car was only introduced in North America for the 2016 model year. Of course, Buick could decide to build the model beyond 2019, but it would need to find a new manufacturing location, convertibles aren't exactly popular, and the car would be egregiously old at that point. In other words, it looks like the Cascada is dead after 2019. We asked Buick what the game plan might be, and were told that there is nothing official to say at the moment. That's par for the course for something a manufacturer doesn't want to talk about yet, but it's also possible the announcement came as a surprise. Opel is no longer owned by GM, so the announcement actually came from the brand's new PSA ownership (the same French company that owns Peugeot and Citroen). As for the rationale behind the decision, that was a head scratcher, too. Opel/PSA said it was discontinuing the Cascada, as well as the subcompact Adam and Karl, in order to meet increasingly stringent emissions requirements and produce crossovers instead. This seems contradictory. Replacing a low-selling convertible and a pair of low-profit subcompacts with high-selling, high-profit crossovers sure seems like a solid business decision more than an emissions requirement one. Indeed, the Buick Cascada has never been a raging success in the United States either, with only 5,595 leaving the lots in 2017. It helped bring in some different kinds of customers to the Buick brand, but the impact is minute compared to a vehicle like the hot-selling Buick Encore. Related video: Featured Gallery 2019 Buick Cascada View 17 Photos Rumormill Buick Opel Convertible buick cascada

Buick shows off new Ultra Luxury Interior for LaCrosse

The options sheet of the 2014 Buick LaCrosse gets all kinds of fancy with the addition of the Ultra Luxury Interior. Pointing its Tri-Shield logo at the world of haute luxury, the cabin treatment combines sangria leather with ebony accents, shadow tamo ash wood trim and a microsuede headliner to "drive fashion forward."
You'll need to start with LaCrosse models with the 3.6-liter V6 and either the Leather, Premium or Premium II trims to go all Brioni and Buckingham on the cabin, and the privilege package will run you $2,495. We're told that you won't find such contrasting hues anywhere else in the class, though, and that kind of exclusivity might make any price a bargain.
You can find more information on the Ultra Luxury Interior in the press release below, along with some intensely fashion-foward gobbledygook.