2009 Buick Excelle: '08 Beijing Auto Show Preview

[eb110americana]

The facelifted Excelle, which by-the-way is based on the Chevrolet / Daewoo Lacetti, also features a redesigned interior. Buick’s new Chinese subcompact sedan will make its public debut later this month at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

Full article at CarScoop.

(Click images to enlarge.)









(I know there are already a few threads on this, but this is the first with the official exterior and at least one new interior shot.)

[I-Love-Pontiac]

Well it's certainly a lot nicer than the Aveo.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Pontiac

Well it's certainly a lot nicer than the Aveo.

Yes, but don't forget, this isn't based on the Aveo. It's the larger Lacetti / Optra / Nubira platform. I think it looks very nice... the current one is already popular, so this new one should do very well. It's fun to say 'Bah, that isn't a Buick', but if it's what China wants, so be it! This one car could very well outsell the Lacrosse and Lucerne this year, if current trends keep up.

[member12]

It looks old for a 2009 model. It's not aweful looking....

China can keep this one. It will need it if Buick is to be a premium full line car maker. They'll probably get a lot of Chevy and GMDAT models to beef up the line as demand grows. I'm sure the Saturn Vue will make it over to China as a Buick before too long.

[mikmak]

Botox really works if you know where to stick it.

I really like it for what it is and where it is going to be.

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Yes, but don't forget, this isn't based on the Aveo. It's the larger Lacetti / Optra / Nubira platform. I think it looks very nice... the current one is already popular, so this new one should do very well. It's fun to say 'Bah, that isn't a Buick', but if it's what China wants, so be it! This one car could very well outsell the Lacrosse and Lucerne this year, if current trends keep up.

Agreed on all of it. I think that "what's a real buick" or even "what's a real chevy" will have to be changed in the years ahead as more and more product lines are changed. This is a convincing product - it may be Lacetti/Optra/Nubira/Forenza based, but looks nothing like the base product.

I applaud GM's effort here.

Additionally, seeing such a huge refresh for this car makes me wonder if we aren't going to see a next-generation version of the Excelle make it to the market until later than 2010/2011. This seems like a really nice refresh and it was my understanding that DeltaII would debut in 2010 and replace most of the other Delta/C-segment products.

Perhaps it will be rolled out in China later than Europe and the US?

Whatever it will be, I hope that GM brings the next generation Excelle to the US. I know we read Skylark comments before and it seemed in doubt, but this is a really nice looking compact vehicle that is stylish and upscale. I think Buick could get away with selling it here.

Just my two cents...

[spaz]

when GM bought daewoo a few years ago who would have imagined that GM would have held on to the Daewoo designed platforms for so long.

[Mr. Burns]

I love the front end, the rear is decent and the interior looks terrible! Like it's out of a minivan!

[ctaylorzl1]

Looks great, the center stack seems a little out of place, kinda SUVish, but not to bad. Other than that it looks very nice, and classy to boot!

[MrMax]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

Agreed on all of it. I think that "what's a real buick" or even "what's a real chevy" will have to be changed in the years ahead as more and more product lines are changed. This is a convincing product - it may be Lacetti/Optra/Nubira/Forenza based, but looks nothing like the base product.

I applaud GM's effort here.

Additionally, seeing such a huge refresh for this car makes me wonder if we aren't going to see a next-generation version of the Excelle make it to the market until later than 2010/2011. This seems like a really nice refresh and it was my understanding that DeltaII would debut in 2010 and replace most of the other Delta/C-segment products.

Perhaps it will be rolled out in China later than Europe and the US?

Whatever it will be, I hope that GM brings the next generation Excelle to the US. I know we read Skylark comments before and it seemed in doubt, but this is a really nice looking compact vehicle that is stylish and upscale. I think Buick could get away with selling it here.

Just my two cents...

I have to agree. If GM were to bring this, or the next generation of this compact here, and call it a Skylark, it could really be the start of a new segment.

Just think, with the direction gas prices are going in, a luxury compact segment makes a lot of sense. And for what GM is trying to do with their image, transforming into a technology leader in increasing fuel economy, leading this segment with a Buick would be huge.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

Whatever it will be, I hope that GM brings the next generation Excelle to the US. I know we read Skylark comments before and it seemed in doubt, but this is a really nice looking compact vehicle that is stylish and upscale. I think Buick could get away with selling it here.

Hmmm... I still think they'd be better off with an Epica. The Excelle is quite a step down from the Lacrosse in size... would it not make more sense to test the waters with an Epica-sized vehicle before going even smaller?

[cad1cts]

I like this car a real lot...They should give it a new high tech engine and new 6sp tranny and sell it here...make sure it has bluetooth and sat nav and onstar and all that...today not tomorrow...TODAY GM!!

[American_Muscle]

not at all, especially for china..bet it sells alot

[CADILLACSIXTEEN]

This is about as Buick as the BLS is Cadillac.
Its amazing out a Sub Compact (Aveo) in China gets LEDs and Projection head lights but only Cadillacs, Aura, and Astra get anything like that here.

[mgescuro]

I can't help but think that if the Cobalt had that nice of an interior, it wouldn't be such an embarrassment.