Posts Tagged ‘buick’
GM aplies for Patent on Opel Insignia OPC in China
Published on August 10, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
GM applied for patent on the Opel Insignia OPC in China. Note the missing logo, they won’t sell it branded as ‘Opel’. The Insignia is made in China by Shanghai-GM and sold as Buick Regal, so any fast version would likely be branded Buick as well. But there is something strange with the front of the car…
Facelift Buick GL8 makes Two new Buick GL8′s
Published on August 3, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
Shanghai-GM is working on a facelift for the Buick GL8 MPV. At the same time they are working on an all new GL8. This is not as strange as it might sound. Chinese automakers, including their western partners, often continue production of the old car when a new one arrives.
It is then sold as a cheaper entry-level car and usually gets a small facelift to make it at least look a little new. Shanghai-GM seems to take this road as well. So soon we’ll have two GL8, this facelifted ‘old’ one and a brandnew car. See here for another example from Beijing-Hyundai.
Buick Excelle GT Priced
Published on June 21, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
The Shanghai-Buick Excelle GT sedan will go on sale on June 23 and will be priced between 150.000 and 200.000 rmb, that is between 22.000 and 29.400 US dollar. Dealers already have the car in their showrooms so we got a shipload of new pictures.
Spotted in China: Buick Regal Limosine
Published on June 8, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
Found this in an article about limosines for marriage. Between the obvious Benzes and Audis this Buick Regal limosine. The Regal is made in China by SAIC-GM, this is the previous model, it is now replaced by a rebadged Opel Insigina. The limo is at least 1.5 meter longer, the conversion likely done in China. A beauty for a marriage indeed.
Buick Excelle GT from 150.000 rmb, sales start June 23
Published on June 7, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
Dealers in Beijing ask a 1000 rmb deposit if one wants to buy the new Buick Excelle GT. This shows the market is waiting eagerly for GM’s new medium size sedan based on the European Opel Astra. Sales of the Excelle GT will officially start on June 23 with a price of 150.000 rmb for the basic 1.8 with 108kw and 177nm. See below for a fresh set of pictures including some of the interior:
Spy Shots: new Buick GL8
Published on May 28, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
The new Shanghai-GM Buick GL8 was expected to debut at the Beijing Auto Show but didn’t make it. Instead GM brought the Business Concept, which debuted one year earlier in Shanghai. That is a nice looking machine and good good, the new GL8 loox a lot like it.
Opel Ampera to be Imported in China from 2011, branded ‘Buick’
Published on May 24, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
The Opel Ampera will be imported in China in the first half of 2011 so GM had to apply for a patent in China to prevent BYD and others from copying it.
The fact that GM went for the Opel-design instead of for the orginal Chevrolet Volt-design likely means the ‘Ampera’ will be branded as a ‘Buick’ in China, like the Opel Astra is the China-made Buick Excelle and the Opel Insignia is the China-made Buick Regal. It makes sense, Buick is the stronger brand in China and might so persuade more people to go for a hybrid.
The European Opel Ampera is scheduled to debut in the second half of 2011, so it loox like China will get it before Europe does. All 3 cars, Chevy Volt, Opel Ampera and Buick XX, will be made in the same factory in America, thank you very much.
Buick Excelle GT NAKED in the Rain
Published on May 19, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
SAIC-GM forgot to launch the Buick Excelle GT at the Beijing Auto Show because they thought weird electric concept cars more important, or that Sail. But!, here it is in a rainy Shanghai. It’s based on an European Opel Astra sedan and will make it to the US as a Buick. Engines are a 1.6 turbo and a 1.8. Later, me hope, some 2.0 turbocharged madness. Car on the pictures is the 1.8.
New Buick Excelle Sedan on Sale in June
Published on May 14, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
The new Buick Excelle sedan did strangely not appear on the Beijing Auto Show but now does appear naked in a field. Got confirmed the machine wil hit the Chinese market in June. Engines: 1.8 with 105kw and a very nice 1.6 turbo with 135kw and 235nm. Price will start at 179.900 rmb for the 1.6 turbo and 157.900 for the 1.8.
Beijing Auto Show Preview: Buick GL8 ‘Business Concept’
Published on April 22, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
SAIC-GM is working on the new GL8 but it is not finished yet. So now Buick brings this nicely styled GL8 ‘Business Concept’ to the Beijing Auto Show. That is a weird name so I guess it is designed in China and not in the US. Size: 5278mmx1985mmx1809mm, wheelbase is 3198.
