2012 Buick compact sedan

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Will be sold as the Excelle in China, but GM hasn’t announced a name for the US yet.
Basically a sedan version of the Opel Astra. With a different front end.
At least for the US.

The interior seems pretty nice too, but not that much nicer than the cheaper Chevrolet Cruze.
As a Buick, it will need to offer something more than the Chevrolet version.

Conversation 18 comments

  1. I like it, but hope they don't call it Excelle, too much like the crappy Hyundai model. Skylark would be better.

  2. "As a Buick, it will need to offer something more than the Chevrolet version"

    Acura doesn't

    Lexus IS doesn't

    Why should Buick spend the money?
    Are they trying to steal BMW/Mercedes/Cadillac customers?

  3. not quite sure what to think about them stupid chrome strips above the taillamps, ive seen it without camo and it looks real stupid !

  4. "Anonymous said…
    "As a Buick, it will need to offer something more than the Chevrolet version"

    Acura doesn't

    Lexus IS doesn't

    Why should Buick spend the money?
    Are they trying to steal BMW/Mercedes/Cadillac customers?

    December 30, 2009 9:51 AM"

    You are an f-ing idiot if you honestly think that Acura offers nothing more than a Honda, or that the Lexus IS offers nothing more than a standard Toyota.

    GTFO of here.

  5. Definitely a Cruze and all those Buick front end are all looking too similar to each other ala Audi that most can't tell apart

  6. Judging by a post on here, it looks like the competition is getting very scared of the Chevy Cruze. It really is that good and makes the Honda Civic look like a plastic toy. Check out the differences in interior quality and design, not to mention the Cruze has better mileage. This is only a pre-production Buick, so the parts are not production quality yet…But it still looks like the interior will be of high quality.

  7. You are an f-ing idiot if you honestly think that Acura offers nothing more than a Honda, or that the Lexus IS offers nothing more than a standard Toyota.

    GTFO of here.

    December 30, 2009 11:22 AM

    your both wrong ! name the toyota version of the rear wheel drive IS ??? perhaps you meant the ES which is a camry in drag ! you seem to troll this blog all the time correcting other commenters and seeming to think you know it all, well ya dont and i find you very boring !

  8. This is just what Buick dealers need, a smaller car to get younger drivers driving Buicks. And for the uninformed comments about Acura and Lexus, remember the TSX is sold as an Accord elsewhere, in Canada they even have an Acura model of the Civic. The ES350 is really only a Camry in disguise. Yes they are nice cars, but they have humble beginnings. Why is it so wrong for American makers to share platforms and models across brands, but it is perfectly fine for Toyota and Honda? Stop being biased!

  9. Very nice. Much better than the horseshit being shoveled out by Acura and Lexus lately. Seriously, why would anyone want to pay that much for a gussied up Honda or Lexus?

  10. Why did they bother to try and camouflage this, it would have been almost invisible without all that tape. Really boring design.

  11. I see no point to this car in the Buick lineup. Buick, make something that people aspire to own, not more Toyota/Honda/Hyundai wannabe s#^tboxes.

  12. " Anonymous said…

    Judging by a post on here, it looks like the competition is getting very scared of the Chevy Cruze. It really is that good and makes the Honda Civic look like a plastic toy. Check out the differences in interior quality and design, not to mention the Cruze has better mileage. This is only a pre-production Buick, so the parts are not production quality yet…But it still looks like the interior will be of high quality.

    December 30, 2009 3:25 PM"

    Sooooo what you are doing is comparing the Civic which was introduced in late 2005 to a vehicle that hasn't even been released yet in the states in 2010.

    The new Civic will be released for MY2012 and blow the POS Cruze out of the water. The Cruze is a brand new model and it STILL isn't getting glowing reviews and people are commenting on the chintzy plastic and fit and finish.

    Don't forget that GM tunes their vehicles to perform well on the EPA tests. Good luck trying to achieve that mileage in the real world, or actually enjoy your driving experience since the auto transmission REFUSES to downshift.

    Nice try though.

    "Anonymous said…

    You are an f-ing idiot if you honestly think that Acura offers nothing more than a Honda, or that the Lexus IS offers nothing more than a standard Toyota.

    GTFO of here.

    December 30, 2009 11:22 AM

    your both wrong ! name the toyota version of the rear wheel drive IS ??? perhaps you meant the ES which is a camry in drag ! you seem to troll this blog all the time correcting other commenters and seeming to think you know it all, well ya dont and i find you very boring !

    December 30, 2009 4:57 PM"

    I'll correct you again.

    The name for the actual Toyota? It is called the Altezza. That name was dropped though when Lexus was introduced in Europe/Japan.

    Again, GTFO of here.

  13. name the toyota version of the rear wheel drive IS: COROLLA/Pontiac Vibe is a cheap, but versitle platform. Like the (more expensive) Chrysler LH/LHS/LX; it can be FWD/AWD/RWD. (The Chryslers were also designed to fit both V6 & V8; either longitudinally or transversely). Not sure if the cheap Toyota "econo" platform can handle the wide variety of engines that the (bigger) Chryslers have; but they are a more sophisticated design than the sloppy handleing or underperformance of the IS or Corolla might suggest. And the Lexus Hybrid sedan uses much of the same package. I think the limiting factor of these small Toyotas is more due to extensive use of cheap materials, than to any lacking of flexibility in the basic design.

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