Buick is kicking ass these days. Not only did it survive GM's bankruptcy, it's now experiencing what many are calling a renaissance. Want proof? Just look at the Avenir flagship concept unveiled at Detroit. Sales numbers are solid and consistently improving. Buick is essentially at a place where Acura could only dream of being. To keep this revival in full swing, Buick is currently exploring additional segments that it would have outright ignored hardly a decade ago.

Specifically, GM executives are seriously considering importing a rebadged Opel Adam minicar to compete directly against the Fiat 500 and Mini. Buick officials are game for this to happen, but there's a problem: GM didn't plan for the US when it first engineered the car, and it would be "cost prohibitive" to do so now. However, the current Opel Adam was launched in 2013, meaning the next generation model has already begun its initial design and engineering work. If all goes to plan, it'll launch in time for the 2018 model year. Only this time around, GM will almost certainly make it US-compliant, and Buick will then have itself a sporty minicar.