Jalopnik
We dig Chinese-market Buicks. There's a handsome LaCrosse available as a hybrid. Then there's the Park Avenue, a RWD sedan based on a stretched version of the Pontiac G8's Zeta architecture. Now the Chinese market has this, the restyled Buick Excelle for 2009. It looks pretty good on the surface, but what's underneath?
Those crisp lines are actually wrapped around the same basic car as the Suzuki Forenza. Yes, it is essentially the same subcompact that serves duty as Top Gear's "Reasonably Priced Car" in the form of a Daewoo Chevy Lacetti. There's no word on the technical specs yet, as the Excelle will be officially unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show later this month. Just don't expect anything bigger than a 1.8-liter inline-four. Does that make this a badge-engineered abomination, or do you like the little bugger? It's certainly better than a late-model Century.
[CarScoop]
Comments
Fiiiiine Colinthian Reather.
This begs the question. How long will it take the Chinese to figure out they're buying American cars that Americans won't buy?
The Forenza looks nice from the outside. Just not that safe. Interior looks decent on this Buick.
out here in belleville michigan, i always see proto-type chinese buick running around here in the sticks...i guess it makes sense, since the average car here is a 1992 ford tempo
I fear a Buick compact car in the United States would cause a few heads to explode. Then again there was that uber sweet Skylark in the 90's.
Chinese Buicks, what's next?
I think we should start boning up on our Mandarin; we're all doomed!
The weird thing is that while Buick struggles over here, they still have that 1950s American cachet over in China. They've become the Gen-X yuppie/bourgeois car of choice for many people, especially since for many people, disposable income is growing so quickly over there.
@BlownOring: Back in the 80's my dad used to have a Buick Park Avenue that had 'touch screen' controls for HVAC and maroon velour seats. I thought it was the coolest. I also used to think it was exciting as hell when my dad would get a Buick Skylark as a loaner car when the Park Avenue was in the shop. I didn't realize that the Skylark was actually a lesser car.
Nice interior, but I thought that roofline looked familiar- Forenza, bingo! The Forenza is not a good car. That's 1990s Daewoo engineering, which wasn't much to begin with. Much like the proverbial gold-plated turd, this Buick may look all shiny and nice, but it's just crap underneath.
This is a sweet little car, but it released on its own, it would flounder. If released with that awesome chinese Park Avenue, the would have the beginnings of a hot little lineup.
Does the navigation system alert you to nearby riots?
I hear OnStar in Engrish is WiththeStar.
Buick could use a smaller car to slot in under the LaCrosse, but I don't think that particular smaller car is the one to do it. Out of all the Chinese Buicks, I'd say that would be the one not to sell here, well, that and the GL8 minivan.
A small, North American Buick would ideally use Opel's Delta II platform.
@ash78: Nice one. Shree smirre for you.
It's hard to even figure out where Buick fits in to the GM portfolio. I bet if they went away no one would lament the loss unfortunately. They have effectively been replaced by the Japanese psuedo-luxury brands. GM would be just fine with Chevy, Pontiac, Caddi and GMC. I dont even get what Saturn is about anymore.
GM is already doing in China what it took them years to accomplish here in the US. They are using their name to sell an underwhelming product to an unsuspecting public, at a higher cost than would have been possible for a lesser nameplate. So, in this example, take a Daewoo, slap a Buick Name, get the public to think it's an upmarket car, and charge more for it. The buyers will eventually get wise, stop buying said Buicks, and move on to some other make.
Worked for GM here in the US, seems to be working in China.
wait, cause the Chinese will think this sucks? it comparison to the shit boxes with YouTube worthy crash tests, this is light years better.
yes, we would call it Cimarron2, they call it Nirvana
Looks like a Kiaundai?
I wonder why the American Buick's aren't assembled in China? 99% of the components are built there anyway.
@ranwhenparked:
They could call it the Buick Mulan
@PeteJayhawk: Um, Hines is smiling because he's Korean and he drives a Ferrari...
It was the steering wheel that tipped me off (we get the Chevy Optra in Canada).
I like them well enough, but I don't see it working as a Buick. The Cobalt is noticably more refined.
@CharlzR: Thank you for that very correct reply . He is Korean ........his mother was. And he's been given several humanitarian awards by that country. Besides his Superbowl MVP
@UDMan: There was also a Buick Sail, which was a rebadged Opel Corsa. Keep in mind the Chinese who originally wanted all GM-produced cars to be badged as Buicks.
"Then there's the Park Avenue, a RWD sedan based on a stretched version of the Pontiac G8's Zeta architecture."
Does it have the Vette LS-x engine option?
How much do these things go for in China EX TAXes? Prices?
+ Watch video
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For anyone that hasn't been to China, Shanghai and Shenzhen, plaes with a little cash floating around, seem to be filled with about 20% Buicks as new cars. My host cruised a LaCarosse. The pimp rear end looked like a US Altima. It hsd a I-4 engine! Wow. Grandma in the US sure would be pissed.
And, no I cannot type after a week of typing.
Wow, I am a retard. Thank you for reading. No more McCallan tonight.
Be glad they buy it. It makes that fugly Camaro and vette possible here. G.M. only needs Chevy - Buick - Cadillac, they should get rid of everything else.
OMG THESE CHEAPDESIGNERS/ENGINEERS/CHINESE BASTARDS, DONT U PPL SEE?? THIS CAR IS USING THE SUZUKI VERONA/CHEVORILET OPTRA CHASSIS, LOOK AT THE ROOFLINE AND C PILLAR OF THIS CAR AND COMPAREIT TO A VERONA OR A CHEVROLET OPTRA.....ITS THE SAME CHASSIS, ALL THEY DO IS CHANGE THE FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS....
THE BOSS HAS SPOKEN
i mean suzuki forenza not verona
I remember one time, a long while ago I saw a Buick Skylark or Somerset or some similar model with the two outer points of the 'k' broken off on the rear of the car.
It now spelled 'Buici'
All Buicks have the potential to be a Buici.
@Galaxie500:
Yes, you're perfectly right, the Chevy Cobalt is a much better car than the Saturn Astra, and the Impala totally trumps the Pontiac G8.
Pontiac and Saturn clearly have no redeeming models whatsoever, and are not keeping thousands of dealerships in business and racking up hundreds of thousands of sales for GM to customers that presumably cross-shopped, and rejected, the Chevy and Buick alternatives.
Is anyone suggesting that VW pare themselves down to just VW-Audi-Bently? Or that Fiat drop everything but Fiat and Alfa-Romeo?
A diversified portfolio of brands aimed at different segments of the population is a proven business model, one that has worked well for GM for over a century and has been emulated numerous times by others.
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