The Daewoo Lacetti has given General Motors a true World Car that is selling well all around the world. The car is currently known as the Chevrolet Lacetti in Europe, the Holden Viva in Australia, the Suzuki Forenza in the U.S. and the Buick Excelle in China.
The Chinese have a thing for Buicks, and the LaCrosse sedan is a big seller there. The Excelle subcompact is being readied for its first redesign and Autoblog Spanish found some pics of the new sedan. From a dead-on angle it's quite an attractive vehicle, the front end featuring an elegant grille flanked by large, expensive-looking headlights. A quick trip around the rest of the vehicle, however, reveals some roots shared with our own Forenza, but we still think it will be the best looking Lacetti of the bunch.
Autoblog Spanish reports that the new Excelle will be available with two engine choices upon its release, a 1.6- and 1.8-liter four-cylinder. It will likely also be available in a five-door hatch version, like most Lachetti models are, called the Excelle FRV.
[Source: Autoblog Spanish]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jason @ Jul 8th 2006 10:35AM
I don't think Buick would even publicly acknowledge that thing here, much less offer to sell it.
That would be like trying to take a compact car that isn't trail rated, has a CVT, is available in 2WD, and trying to pass it off as a Jeep.
...
Ok, bad example.
Sugar's Dad @ Jul 8th 2006 10:37AM
This really is an attractive sedan, with products like this I can understand why Daewoo is up 48%. I would buy this car in a minute, wonder what the price is. Would Buick dare sell this car in the States.
Mansoor @ Jul 8th 2006 10:37AM
The Chinese basically want the biggest car they can get for their money. Big = status symbol there. I guess its good for Buick. If the rest of the world were as stupid Buick, Cadillac, and Lincoln would be unstoppable.
GoldenEye @ Jul 8th 2006 10:45AM
It looks like a Skoda. Buick just now knows the design the people want. I hate GM, but this car looks good!
GOKARTN @ Jul 8th 2006 11:02AM
mmmmmm........NO!
Colin M. @ Jul 8th 2006 11:05AM
Wow, looks like they took a BMW 3-series and gave it a shot of fat & ugly. Plus horribly oversized headlights, Lexus-style taillights, a stupidly blinged-out grille and a completely uninspiring profile. No thank you.
Ross @ Jul 8th 2006 11:51AM
The Buick Excelle has some nice styling cues despite its obvious economy car proportions, but selling a little car as a Buick like this might damage the semi-prestige of the Buick name. Mercedes-Benz encountered this a little when they sold the A-Class (or "baby Benz"). The Mercedes-Benz name has been popular for so many years that it didn't damage them too much, though.
Another problem that may hinder sales and harm Buick's reputation is the fact that the car is based on a lowly Daewoo, which is an "anti-prestige" name that carries negative connotations not associated with Buick. Basing a Buick on a Daewoo is kind of like basing a Cadillac on a Kia; the idea just might rub consumers the wrong way.
Also, I believe they'll have to make the ride quality and sound levels more favorable than other compacts to sell consumers on the idea of a little Buick. I mean, what good is a luxury name if it's on a chitty chitty bang bang car? If they do give the car decent road manners to accompany the name, I think this car will sell well. I might even drive one.
gcpm @ Jul 8th 2006 12:08PM
That has to be one of the ugliest sedans ive ever seen.
iQuack @ Jul 8th 2006 1:13PM
Took a China tour a couple of years ago and the Buick Century model is everywhere. Saw some Excelle's, too, and they were the best looking of the Daewoo cars--similar to a Suzuki sedan available in the U.S.
Buick has a long history in China and is said to be the first automobile to enter the Forbidden City in the early 1920s.
gkz @ Jul 8th 2006 1:27PM
looks like a clown car from the side and rear
Teve Torbes @ Jul 8th 2006 1:42PM
Get Ghosn in GM NOW! Prevent monstrosities like this from happening again...
bubba @ Jul 8th 2006 1:50PM
Buick is Buick....why do they even want to build a "world car"? they should stick to what they know, big safe great riding sedans....period
jojo @ Jul 8th 2006 2:10PM
How will the american premium brands transition to smaller cars? Americans living in urban areas desire smaller cars for easy parking, but want comfort and amenities resigned to larger american cars. Whenever a buick or cadillac logo appears on a small car though, some people cringe? why is that?
Will Cadillac and Lincoln ever build compact sized premium vehicles? or will that market be left to their European brands? (Volvo, Saab)
carbuzzard @ Jul 8th 2006 2:18PM
Two words: Cadillac Cimarron.
If GM wants to destroy any brand equity that Buick has, importing this will be the fastest way to do it. Personally, I don't think GM has the slightest intention of bringing it in. I think they'd be trying to keep you from finding out that it exists. Well, the more of these they can foist on the Chicoms the better.
bradt @ Jul 8th 2006 2:35PM
Ring
Ring
Friend: Hello
Me: Dude, I just got a new Buick.
Friend: What?!
Me: I got a Buick I'm coming to get you.
Friend: No, I think not.
BrianS @ Jul 8th 2006 2:38PM
It's sitting up high enough to look like an Audi All Road Quattro.
It needs to be lowered about 1.5 inches and given a plus-one wheel and tire upgrade. It also needs a different, non-Nissan Altima tailight and deck lid treatment. The front end looks nice, though.
Mark @ Jul 8th 2006 3:58PM
The Buick Excelle IS our Forenza (and our Reno). It is also sold in Canada as the Chevrolet Optra Wagon and Optra5 (no sedan body in Canada).
gschoneman @ Jul 8th 2006 4:16PM
YUCK........ A Daewoick??? Looks stubby and fat. What's with the nock-off Altima tail lamps?
PJ @ Jul 8th 2006 4:33PM
"A quick trip around the rest of the vehicle, however, reveals some roots shared with our own Forenza..."
Well, if by "some roots" you mean "abso-freaking-lutely everything," then yes. There's no way the Excelle--badged as a Buick, that is--would be a viable product outside of emerging markets like China's. But then, I've read nothing suggesting that Buick thinks otherwise.
It's certainly not coming to the U.S., so anyone who's concerned about that can relax.
In the meantime, I don't see what's so wrong about Buick selling this car in China. The Buick brand has an enviable reputation there, but most Chinese motorists can't afford to buy, refuel, or park--parking spots command big bucks in urban China--large cars like the Regal and LaCrosse. Plus, considering the rudimentary quality of most native Chinese cars, the Daewoo powertrain and interior don't hurt the perception of prestige.
For now, I think Buick actually did a decent job of "leveraging syngergies," to put it in Dilbert-speak. I just hope they're already working on their next compact, because once Toyota, Honda, and others penetrate the Chinese market, the Excelle's going to be exposed as the C-average, second-string design that we perceive it to be in the States.
Dan @ Jul 8th 2006 4:54PM
The Excelle looks interesting with several scoops of bland poured onto the design.
Ross (post #7), Cadillac had a car based on a "lowly" Cavalier, it was called Cimmaron. Of course, that led the way of models that was a rebadged Opel Omega - the Cadillac Catera, precursor to today's CTS.
If there was a Cadillac hatchback made by Daewoo, then GM is officially dead.