Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face

mbukukanyau · 10-19-2007, 01:38 AM

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King Riffle · 10-19-2007, 01:43 AM

I could swear we've seen this already.

mbukukanyau · 10-19-2007, 01:50 AM

I looked here for it and asked Mge if he had seen it. He had not. I am not sure though. Oh well, I think the interior looks really good though.
I like our Malibu exterior though.

mgescuro · 10-19-2007, 01:54 AM

I don't believe we've seen a revised Epica on GMI.

I love the interior.

King Riffle · 10-19-2007, 01:57 AM

Oh, I think I was thinking of the Optra. I can't keep all of these Chevy/Daewoo sedans straight.

It looks okay I guess.

mbukukanyau · 10-19-2007, 02:01 AM

what sort of term is "malibunized"?

I-Love-Pontiac · 10-19-2007, 02:11 AM

Yeah I remember seeing this car with the new grille back when the first 2008 Aveo 5 pictures were released.

**paul8488** · 10-19-2007, 02:31 AM

It's been said 100 times but I'll say it once more... why isn't that car in North America as a Buick? Even if it's not an 'ideal' Buick from a homegrown, tried and true Buick standpoint... it could go a long way to shoring up eroding Lacrosse and Lucerne sales. The new Lacrosse is what, two years away? There's no way Buick can survive on the Enclave alone. Bring this thing over with a proper Buick front end (the rear is already not too bad), even if it's only for a few years.

I think I asked before, but why don't some of you photoshop wizards stick an Enclave-like nose on it to see how it looks?!? Thanks!

**paul8488** · 10-19-2007, 02:54 AM

Still thinking about this... I'm certain the Epica would be a much better match for the Milan than the Lacrosse. I wonder if there's any way for GM to squeeze a bit more power from the inline 6...

ZvetteGuy · 10-19-2007, 02:54 AM

Wow... that does not look too hot...

I think that the front end looks great on the Malibu... but... wow...

Looks like it could be the car for the movie Scream...

derrado · 10-19-2007, 02:56 AM

You people need some perspective. The Epica is on a platform that traces back to the 1997 Daewoo Leganza. It's been updated, sure, but it's still a mediocre mid-size sedan with an odd engine configuration. Furthermore, the interior is chintzy, cheap plastic, and no amount of wood or two-tone effects can make that any less clear. The pre-facelift Epica had an attractive front-end, this one looks dorky, and the rear looks dated (especially if you see one in the metal).

DO NOT assume that every non-NA GM car is good and that the NA market is being wholly neglected.

mbukukanyau · 10-19-2007, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul8488

Still thinking about this... I'm certain the Epica would be a much better match for the Milan than the Lacrosse. I wonder if there's any way for GM to squeeze a bit more power from the inline 6...

Is that the same inline six in the TB or the same as Forenza? Are they the same engine?
Korean HP numbers are usually anemic

osv_alero · 10-19-2007, 03:21 AM

Wow, thats ugly.

genjy · 10-19-2007, 03:28 AM

I love how there's nowhere to put the front plate on that horrible looking front end.

Talk about a bad design within a bad design.

**paul8488** · 10-19-2007, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrado

You people need some perspective. The Epica is on a platform that traces back to the 1997 Daewoo Leganza. It's been updated, sure, but it's still a mediocre mid-size sedan with an odd engine configuration. Furthermore, the interior is chintzy, cheap plastic, and no amount of wood or two-tone effects can make that any less clear. The pre-facelift Epica had an attractive front-end, this one looks dorky, and the rear looks dated (especially if you see one in the metal).

Read the review comparing it to the brand-new Sebring and Australian Camry. They give it the nod over the other two as the better average, non-offensive midsize sedan. If that's not a Buick I don't know what is.

And what other car in its class has better interior design / plastics? If anything the GMDAT vehicles are above average in the materials they use. Not sure how they'll hold up long term, but in person an Epica has a very attractive and quality looking interior with tight gaps and nothing loose or flimsy feeling.

For comparison, I think the Epica has much nicer plastics on the dash and console and IP than the Astra, a hugely popular car that is apparently good enough for the US market.

As for the exterior design, yeah, it's not the prettiest car ever designed, but many find it attractive. Would I rather see an all-American dedicated Buick midsize sedan? Sure. Is that going to happen? Not for a few years. I think this would fill a hole quite nicely at Buick right now.

Quote:

DO NOT assume that every non-NA GM car is good and that the NA market is being wholly neglected.

I didn't say we need this car in North America at all costs... I said it would do a good job shoring up poor forgotten Buick for the next few years. The NA market isn't being neglected on the whole... but Buick sure is.

10-19-2007, 01:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
mbukukanyau 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In front of my computer Drives: 2006 HHR 1995 Honda Pasport SUV Posts: 9,815	Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face Click On Images For High ResolutionThursday, October 18, 2007 (San Diego Ca.) On very rare occasions do we allow non-FoMoCo products pictures to grace our home page. Link

10-19-2007, 01:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
King Riffle 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: AFK Drives: 2004 Ford Taurus SES sedan. Posts: 4,157	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face I could swear we've seen this already. __________________

10-19-2007, 01:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
mbukukanyau 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In front of my computer Drives: 2006 HHR 1995 Honda Pasport SUV Posts: 9,815	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face I looked here for it and asked Mge if he had seen it. He had not. I am not sure though. Oh well, I think the interior looks really good though. I like our Malibu exterior though.

10-19-2007, 01:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
mgescuro News Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 28,065	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face I don't believe we've seen a revised Epica on GMI. I love the interior. __________________ 2000 Saab 9-5 Aero 1995 Mercedes C280 1994 Jaguar XJ6 ...when all hope is gone, you know sad songs say so much... GMReinvention.com Cadillac: The Art of Irrelevancy *SAN FRANCISCO 2020!!*

10-19-2007, 01:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
King Riffle 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: AFK Drives: 2004 Ford Taurus SES sedan. Posts: 4,157	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face Oh, I think I was thinking of the Optra. I can't keep all of these Chevy/Daewoo sedans straight. It looks okay I guess. __________________

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10-19-2007, 02:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
mbukukanyau 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In front of my computer Drives: 2006 HHR 1995 Honda Pasport SUV Posts: 9,815	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face what sort of term is "malibunized"?

10-19-2007, 02:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
I-Love-Pontiac 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,732	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face Yeah I remember seeing this car with the new grille back when the first 2008 Aveo 5 pictures were released. __________________

10-19-2007, 02:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
paul8488 GMI Europe Editor Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: France Drives: 2006 Yamaha YBR 125 1990 Citroën Ax Posts: 14,549	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face It's been said 100 times but I'll say it once more... why isn't that car in North America as a Buick? Even if it's not an 'ideal' Buick from a homegrown, tried and true Buick standpoint... it could go a long way to shoring up eroding Lacrosse and Lucerne sales. The new Lacrosse is what, two years away? There's no way Buick can survive on the Enclave alone. Bring this thing over with a proper Buick front end (the rear is already not too bad), even if it's only for a few years. I think I asked before, but why don't some of you photoshop wizards stick an Enclave-like nose on it to see how it looks?!? Thanks! __________________ *It's been swell, but the swelling's gone down.*

10-19-2007, 02:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
paul8488 GMI Europe Editor Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: France Drives: 2006 Yamaha YBR 125 1990 Citroën Ax Posts: 14,549	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face Still thinking about this... I'm certain the Epica would be a much better match for the Milan than the Lacrosse. I wonder if there's any way for GM to squeeze a bit more power from the inline 6... __________________ *It's been swell, but the swelling's gone down.*

10-19-2007, 02:54 AM	#10 (permalink)
ZvetteGuy 3.0 Liter SIDI V6 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Arizona Drives: 1987 Chevrolet R10 pickup, 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix Posts: 725	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face Wow... that does not look too hot... I think that the front end looks great on the Malibu... but... wow... Looks like it could be the car for the movie Scream... __________________ Awww... life is so grand... my truck in the garage and the Ponti look'n good... all I need now is a Corvette or a girlfriend.... hmmmm... a Corvette may be cheaper

10-19-2007, 02:56 AM	#11 (permalink)
derrado 2.4 Liter SIDI ECOTEC Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia Drives: 1997 Holden Astra GL 1.8 sedan Posts: 129	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face You people need some perspective. The Epica is on a platform that traces back to the 1997 Daewoo Leganza. It's been updated, sure, but it's still a mediocre mid-size sedan with an odd engine configuration. Furthermore, the interior is chintzy, cheap plastic, and no amount of wood or two-tone effects can make that any less clear. The pre-facelift Epica had an attractive front-end, this one looks dorky, and the rear looks dated (especially if you see one in the metal). DO NOT assume that every non-NA GM car is good and that the NA market is being wholly neglected.

10-19-2007, 03:21 AM	#13 (permalink)
osv_alero 3.6 Liter SIDI V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Dundee, Oregon Drives: 2004 Tahoe LT (Bob), 2005 Malibu Maxx LT (Harold t Posts: 1,027	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face Wow, thats ugly. __________________ The U.S. trade deficit with China increases by $1 billion a day The U.S. trade deficit for automobiles alone is $11 billion per month http://americaneconomicalert.org/ For every one transplant job added in the US, nearly five jobs are eliminated

10-19-2007, 03:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
genjy 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 5,847	Re: FoMoCoNews Exclusive: Chinese Epica Gets New Chevy Sedan Face I love how there's nowhere to put the front plate on that horrible looking front end. Talk about a bad design within a bad design. __________________ 2008 5-cylinder turbo hatchback w/ 6sp manual 2006 4-cylinder minivan w/ 5sp manual

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