Autoblog

New Buick Excelle debuts in China, sedan coming to America soon

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, China, Hatchback, Buick, Misc. Auto Shows

2011 Buick Excelle XT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in August, when General Motors gave the media a tour of its design studios to show off pieces of its upcoming lineup, one of the cars we saw was a compact four-door Buick sedan. That sedan was essentially a re-grilled and trunked version of the recently introduced Opel Astra, but GM did not say what badging the car would receive in North America. However, the five-door hatchback version has just debuted in China at the Guangzhou Motor Show as the newest baby Buick.

In what is Buick's largest market, the compact is badged as the Excelle, and we wouldn't be surprised to see that name come to the U.S. provided there aren't any issues with the similarly named (and defunct) Hyundai Excel. The car we saw in August was identical to the Excelle shown above from the B-pillars forward. It only differs at the rear where the hatch was originally a traditional trunk.

Unlike the last Saturn Astra (and previous attempts at smaller Buicks), the inside of the new car looks much more upscale and should be more appealing to American consumers. We'll probably only get the 181-horsepower, 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder in the Excelle in order to set it apart from the 140-hp Chevy Cruze that shares the same platform. If our version gets the 138-hp 1.8-liter at all, it will probably be paired with the automaker's new, second-generation BAS hybrid system.

Gallery: Buick Excelle XT

[Source: General Motors]

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New Buick Excelle debuts in China, sedan coming to America soon originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen Buick Excelle for China snapped

John Neff — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, China, Buick, Chevrolet

Next-gen Buick Excelle for China - Click above for high-res image gallery

Soon Buick will have an entire lineup of competitive vehicles with the Enclave, all-new LaCrosse and soon-to-arrive-from-Europe Regal. Since the latter model is basically a direct port of the Opel Insignia, its success may help General Motors decide whether or not to snag a fourth model from another overseas market. The likely candidate is this car, the next-gen Buick Excelle that is currently sold only in China.

Recently snapped by spy photographers while undergoing testing with very little camouflage, the next-gen Excelle will adopt GM's Delta II small car platform that also underpins the new Chevy Cruze and Opel Astra. It's more closely related to later, however, as previous generations have been not much more than rebadged Astras. Just because Buick could sell the Excelle in the U.S., however, doesn't mean it should. Would the market really accept a Buick this small, especially when the Cruze is on sale across the street? Time will tell but you can let GM know what you think now in the comments.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Next-gen Buick Excelle for China

[Photos: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Buick Excelle for China snapped originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: GM China spokesman denies pondering selling Buick to SAIC

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:26:00 EST

Filed under: China, Buick, GM

Chinese-spec Buick Regal - Click above for high-res image gallery

Yesterday's rumors regarding a possible Buick sale to China's Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) might have been a wee bit premature according to an unnamed executive at GM China. This news should be anything but surprising - we didn't put much stock in the rumor when we first reported it - since the success of the Buick brand is one of GM's few current bright spots.

In America, General Motors has singled out Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick as the core brands that it will concentrate on, which gives further reason to believe that the Buick nameplate will be staying right where it is in the General Motors portfolio. Hummer, Saab and Saturn, on the other hand, remain very much for sale.

Gallery: 2009 Chinese-spec Buick Regal

[Source: Gasgoo]

REPORT: GM China spokesman denies pondering selling Buick to SAIC originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Mystery GM sedan spotted... Is this a baby Buick?

John Neff — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Sedan, China, Buick

These spy shots show a compact car that is rumored to be a baby Buick based on the same Delta II platform as the Chevrolet Cruze and next-gen Opel Astra. Just as the new 2010 Buick LaCrosse will share its platform with the next Saab 9-5 and Opel Insignia, this baby Buick would be one more model that helps General Motors increase the economies of scale for its small car platform.

While the spy shooter who took these pics claims that the car is destined for sale in China and the U.S., we're not so sure Americans are ready for a Buick of this size that will almost certainly cost more than the already capable Cruze. GM certainly doesn't want another slow-selling Cadillac Cimarron on its hands, but Buick/Pontiac/GMC dealers may be begging for a small car after Pontiac gets pared down to a niche performance brand and the G3, G5 and G6 go away.

[Source: Next Autos]

Spy Shots: Mystery GM sedan spotted... Is this a baby Buick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Buick Regal caught testing in China

John Neff — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, China, Buick

Click above for high-res gallery of 2010 Buick Regal spy shots from China

We don't feel slighted anymore over the Chinese getting what appears to be a pretty nice looking Buick Regal, not after those spy shots from earlier today showing the 2010 Buick LaCrosse that we'll get in the U.S. After all, the Chinese Buick Regal appears to be not much more than an Opel Insignia with a new front end based on these spy shots, while the U.S.-spec Buick Lacrosse gets an entirely unique interior and exterior design. All three cars - the Opel Insignia, Chinese market Buick Regal and U.S. market Buick LaCrosse - are based General Motors' Epsilon II platform. Of course, the Buick brand is much bigger in China than here in the U.S., and the redesigned Regal, one of the cars that helped the brand gain popularity early on in China, looks ready to continue that trend. Thanks for the tip everyone!

Gallery: 2010 Buick Regal - spy shots

[Source: China Car Times]

2010 Buick Regal caught testing in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: The next Chinese Buick Regal?

Alex Nunez — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, China, Buick, Misc. Auto Shows

While GM throws heritage names in the dustbin of history here in the U.S., some of the old names are alive and well in China. The Park Avenue soldiers on as a completely desirable Zeta-platform Holden import, and the still-available Regal looks like it may be primed to get a long-overdue refresh. China Car Times has posted a photo what appears to be a new Buick -- possibly the next Regal -- with its nose camo removed. Note the waterfall grille with the empty spot where the tri-shield would go. According to CCT, the Chinese motoring press says that the mule's basic shape is in keeping with that of the newly-unveiled Opel Insignia. This car would appear to have unique sheetmetal, however, as its front end is similar but not exactly the same -- it's more than just a grille swap a la the Park Avenue. Note also the absence of the Opel's hockey-stick body line on the mule. If it is the Regal, and if it is Insignia-derived, it looks like it's going to get a good amount of differentiation. In any case, signs point to another good-looking Chinese Buick in the works, and we're curious.

[Source: China Car Times]

Spy Shots: The next Chinese Buick Regal? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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