The MPV business may not be a hot one in the United States, but it sure is in China. Specifically, taxi companies and airports love the idea of a multi-purpose vehicle for its usability. Naturally, Buick offers the GL8 to fulfill this need in the People’s Republic.
Car News China has provided a leak showing the all-new GL8 ahead of its scheduled reveal, wearing very familiar styling cues to seen on numerous new Buick product in North America and China. Up front, the grille is Avenir influenced, and gives the MPV a much more upscale look.
Currently, three engines power the GL8, but a single 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will power the new GL8, and it will also receive independent rear suspension, too, replacing its current torsion beam setup.
The report states the new GL8 will go on sale during the latter half of 2016 in China, with a price of 200,000 Yuan, or around $30,554 USD.
Comments
Wouldn’t amaze me at all if it was still using the Pontiac Montana/Trans Sport platform.
Chris, So what? GM has typically been too speedy in spending billions and replacing platforms when completely not needed.
No customer makes buying decisions based on platform. People purchase based upon the ride quality, experience and economy that the platform provides.
This can would be a great Chevy provided a new front was added.
No customer makes buying decisions based on platforms? Really?
Ride quality, handling, and general performance are deeply rooted in the design of the platform. GM has been able to add performace cars to its stable that other manufacturers can’t due to platform limitations/ old technology…These vehicles have added billions ot GM’s bottom line. GM is also now pulling away from several manufacturers in platform technology allowing them to add performance and models to cars at the low-end of the price range that others cannot.
Platform investments are a long-term game…
Well, both of you are right – in your own way. What Steve meant, I guess, is that only people working in automotive business, auto journalists or “car geeks” do know all these platforms and vehicle underpinnings explicitly, while general public, while it does care a lot about all things you listed,
“Ride quality, handling, and general performance”,
don’t decide on the platform generation itself. Imagine a person who is no car savvy, say, I don’t know, elementary school teacher, tracking all car manufacturers’ platforms all nights and saying like “Oooh, this car is on totally new modular extendable platform – finally! It’s a new recent modular variable platform , being the outcome of their recent multi-million dollar research and applied engineering project, so I should definitely buy this new car now, when it’s released, because it rides on this new awesome terrific platform (which took NNN years to develop) – unlike the previous generation of the same model, which still rode on a third refresh of still good, but already outdated FWD platform named having its origins back in 1995”.
Common public don’t buy vehicles this way, isn’t it? 🙂
not bad. more pictures
Well thats an odd looking duck . Mercedes and Ford have these new boxy looking MPV’s on the market right now it wouldn’t suprize me to see something like this offered here . But not in my driveway .