New Buick GL8 breaks cover, China sales start next month

New Buick GL8 breaks cover, China sales start next month

After over 330,000 units sold in China, General Motors has unveiled the successor to the successful Buick GL8 MPV. Based on the Buick Business Concept shown at the 2009 Shanghai Motor Show, the new GL8 was developed by Shanghai GM in cooperation with the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC, located just outside of Shanghai) with Chinese users in mind.

Improved from the aging original in every aspect, the new GL8 offers an “unprecedented luxury MPV experience that is unmistakably Buick”. If you’re wondering why Buick, stepping foot in any big Chinese city will answer your question. New money Chinese consumers have their automotive tastes skewed more towards America, which means that luxury and size goes hand in hand. So does chrome and Buick!

New Buick GL8 breaks cover, China sales start next month

With length and width of 5,256 mm and 1,878 mm, the GL8 has a bigger footprint than a Toyota Alphard. The long 3,088 mm wheelbase is also 138 mm longer than the Japanese MPV, promising a large interior with three rows of seven seats. The 360-degree wraparound cabin inspired by luxury yachts combines Eastern and Western aesthetics and features ice-blue atmosphere lighting.

A two-piece sunroof, electric anti-pinch sliding doors, powered hatch, 10-speaker, 5.1-channel Bose stereo, 7-inch touch screen up front and 10.2-inch WVGA HD display at the back, OnStar and bi-xenons are the other luxuries that businessmen will love. The GL8 is powered by a 255 hp 3.0L SIDI direct injection V6 or a 2.4L Ecotec.

New Buick GL8 breaks cover, China sales start next month

The GL8 is priced from RMB 288,000 and RMB 388,000 (RM136k-RM183k) in China. The current car will continue to be sold, now powered by a 2.4L Ecotec/6-speed auto and positioned below the new model.

Big gallery after the jump.

[zenphotopress number=999 album=1783]

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • weeling on Dec 06, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    if this price sell in malaysia, i’m sure a lot of people gonna buy..

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  • wao lau weh~!

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  • observer on Dec 06, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    ultimate fuel gazzler

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  • anti-first on Dec 06, 2010 at 4:42 pm

    looks very ‘mainland chinesey’ <— if that's even a word.

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  • GLEAT!!! (Great in a heavy Chinaman accent = GL8!!!)

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  • lolypop on Dec 06, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    the old gen GL8 is very comfort for long distance…

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  • jhuan on Dec 06, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    HUGGGGEEEE….even bigger than Alphard..LOL

    Imagine this car stop next to ur little kancil, it feels like bigger than a 3-tonne lorry…But at price of 136k, i guess lots of ppl will be interested, just look at the number of Hyundai Grand Starex on the road already can tell m’sian love big MPV :)

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  • reuben how on Dec 06, 2010 at 6:17 pm

    AT LEAST they are getting side curtain airbags and ESC. What about MALAYSIA? We were once richer than JAPAN after world war II. Sigh. Look at us now….

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    • wat bout malaysia?..u know y malaya richer that time…tin(timah) mine n rubber tree..after the collapse if tin industry n introduction of synthetic rubber our economy become slower n weaker…japan in other hand is industrial country much differ than malaya that time..u don remember ur history lesson from school?

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  • Mohd Azizi on Dec 06, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    Actually 255hp for 3.0 L is very impressive… 127.5hp / 1.5 L, higher figure than already impressive Honda City (120hp). Not really the usual high displacement low output American engine…

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  • So cheap, that money in MY only can buy a damn stupid small wish (recond)

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  • Dream on……if those proton old folk dr.M and government remain unchanged….then wait and dream la…..now cake is not enough for them self internal sharing, do you guys think they will open another US automaker come in sharing their cake….if yes will be also own by their kawan-kawan and price it sky high with low spec like tanchong does on his new teana.
    1 kawan, 1 malaysia, Dr.M said: “lu jaga wa”, Naza said: “wa jaga lu” Rafidah said: “semua 1 keluaga”.

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  • High5 on Dec 07, 2010 at 12:37 pm

    noticed the auto had menual… isnt it?….

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  • Malaysian Car Industry disgusts me on Dec 07, 2010 at 12:54 pm

    if they badged it as opel it would look nicer

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  • Korean1st on Dec 07, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    this is the true monster, much cosier than Odyssey

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  • Joseph on Dec 07, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    Damn beautiful and well priced. Too bad, not for Malaysia cause of ‘protection’ for a 25 year old baby name Pohtong.

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