If it’s not apparent how important China is to Buick, let us paint a picture for you. The brand has sold over 6 million vehicles in the country since 1998, and the love affair shows no signs of dwindling. Some of Buick’s most important product for the U.S. has been introduced in China first, including the first-generation Verano. And the 2016 Buick Envision may follow the same trend.
While we await a new 2016 Buick Verano on our shores, Buick has teased the upcoming next-generation Verano for China. Except this time, it won’t be called the Verano.
Along with the teaser, Buick announced the car will take on the Wei Lang name in China, and will debut on the eve of Auto Shanghai on April 19th. The car will be placed as a new strategic mid-range model for the brand in China, and cues from the Avenir concept car are said to have trickled onto the design.
We’ve already seen supposed leaked spy shots of the car completely uncovered in China, and the teaser image seems to follow that design. Things become a little more angular up front, and the angry chrome strips above the tail-lamps are discarded in favor of a wedge shaped design. The car will utilize General Motors new D2XX platform, which will also underpin the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze.
Stay tuned for the official unveiling in a few short days.
Comments
They are saying this is a China specific model which is curious but keeping in line with Cruze. GM should save money by offering one model as Ford does.
On a diffrrent note, given Buick sucess in China, would it not be logical to expand the line up as GM is now doing with Cadillac?
In some ways, Buick is more important to GM profits given North American and Opel sales.
Buick deserves more than a six model US line up and could easily destroy Lincoln, Acura and Infinaty.
Forget Lincoln and Acura, go in for the big money kill. Buick’s already destroying Chevrolet in the car and suv/cuv segment, I say give Buick a full line up too. Buick is GM’s Ford from a to z really. No reason since Buick is smoking Chevrolet in quality, options and design that Buick shouldn’t expand upon that line up wise and smoke Ford too. Buick is mainstream, it’s sporty, it’s luxury. That’s why it’s GM’s Ford. Everything Chevrolet wishes it could be. Probably Cadillac too given the recent Buick concept at the auto show. Time for GM to finally off Chevy for good so Buick cars,suvs and cuvs can take over. Just look at the dumpy Chevrolet Trax compared to the Buick Encore. It’s now wonder people want the Buick. Same with the cars and suv’s. Nobody wants the dumpy Chevrolet’s anymore, might as well buy the nicer Buicks or Fords. Give the Corvette and Camaro over to GMC or Buick since they’re the only Chevy’s worth anything. GMC will remain GMCo’s truck line. Really, just roll Escalade into the Denali line and dump Cadillac too. Waste of money. Buick/GM does everything better against Ford and others than Chev/Caddy does.
Why on earth would GM off Chevy? They sold over 2 million Chevies in the US alone last year. At about $30,000 per vehicle that is about $60 billion in revenue. Do you have any idea how stupid it would be to give up those sales? Yeah, sure, off Chevy. Buick is big in China but not anywhere else. Buick is not GM’s Ford. Buick is not price competitive with Ford. It simply isn’t. Also Buick they should do better than Chevy in quality, they are supposed to be a luxury brand (or near luxury if you prefer). That said, Chevy smokes Ford in both initial quality and long term dependability. Ford wishes it was near the quality of Chevy. Remember, all four GM brands are in the top eleven at JD Power.
You’ve got to be kidding me. Buick’s are Very price competitive with Ford and Chevy both. Within a few grand and sometimes just a few hundred on nearly everything. You’re talking an extra 10 bucks a month on a payment for something that you’ll enjoy more and it will have better resale value to boot. I agree, there’s no point in Chevrolet with Buick around. With GMC here, it makes Chevrolet even more redundant.
Love the greenhouse depth and the V shaped side window treatment . Plus , the sexy side crease adds to this Chinese version of the Verano . I’m speculating , but hopefully this D2XX platform will be as couple of inches longer in wheelbase and approx. 2 inches wider , please ? This should be a huge hit in China , again !!
Chinese only, does that mean that it’s not coming here ever, or just not yet? I’m beginning to become angry at GM’s apparent disinterest in letting Buick shine in North America. Are they trying to kill Buick off?
China gets new Verano, we get stuck with same old aging model.
China gets Envision, we wait in silence.
Lacrosse is borderline ancient, spy photos are floating around, but it’s NOT going to be a 2016 model… 2017 or bust? I’ve been waiting for this car, but I can’t wait until 2017… going to have to buy something else.
The jury is still out on whether they will produce the Avenir, but would we even see it if they do or will that be China only too?
Oh well, at least the Enclave gets a bronze colored grille and new wheels *sarcasm* , and we have the upcoming Cascada convertible direct from Europe that they couldn’t even bother to change out the grille on. Cascada is Spanish for waterfall, and it’s ironically the only Buick that doesn’t have a waterfall grille.
Um, what? Get rid of Chevy? What sort of blasphemy is this? You honestly think GM is going to replace Chevy with a brand that DOESNT even build its own cars? They’re ALL opels, European cars rebadged as buicks. (With the exception that maybe, just MAYBE..the 2017 grand national will use a US based/created platform)
get rid of Chevy, sure…it’s not like Chevy doesn’t have a Way more iconic history and a background compared to measly Buick. creating the most sought after muscle cars.
Buick is popular in China, and that’s it. They’re mediocre here, I barely see Buicks as much as I see Chevy’s.
Chevy is huge in the U.S. I don’t see people here going around saying “hey, did you see that new Buick!?”
Sorry, Bud. The 2016 Z06, and the new alpha based camaro, and the 2016 Malibu, and you’re really saying buicks better? Until they finally stop rebadging opels and create something in their home land (U.S.) then I’ll never take them seriously. But if you like Buick, just get yourself a real Opel.
This same car has now been spotted in Chicago in silver and sporting covered up emblems. I’d say maybe not China only.