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All-New Buick GL8 Century Announced In China

Just days after revealing the first teaser image for Buick’s next-generation large MPV, General Motors has officially announced the all-new Buick GL8 Century as the brand’s next flagship in China. The company revealed the name and new details of the next-generation Buick GL8’s most luxurious variant, which will make its world debut in the Asian country during the 2022 Buick Brand Day.

The all-new Buick GL8 Century MPV reintroduces one of the most iconic nameplates in the Tri-Shield brand’s long history, this time coming as a new, more prestigious trim level and the pinnacle of luxury in the Buick range. As such, the automaker claims that the GL8 Century will open a new luxury MPV segment in the Chinese market.

“Since its debut in 2000, the Buick GL8 has built an unparalleled presence in the premium MPV segment through five generations,” said General Director of Buick at SAIC-GM, Cesar Toledo, in an official press release. “The all-new GL8 Century will keep up the momentum, introducing a new era of luxurious MPV transportation,” he added.

Reinforcing its position as the brand’s flagship and longest-serving vehicle in China, the upcoming Buick GL8 will once again raise Buick’s bar for attainable luxury by debuting an all-new range-topping variant that will redefine the boundaries of premium mobility. In fact, the all-new Buick GL8 Century will stand out for including a higher level of craftsmanship and the latest technological innovations to meet the needs of the country’s social elites.

As such, the all-new Buick GL8 Century will introduce a two-tone body with a special paint treatment to enhance its style, in addition to a cabin with first-class amenities. The GL8 Century will come standard with a large folding smart screen in the center of the cabin, debuting a luxurious wall-mounted entertainment system with a refined design that elevates exclusivity and turns the second row into a private space.

The all-new Buick GL8 Century, which will soon be fully revealed in China, is based on the upscale Avenir trim, but further raises the bar for Buick’s sub-brand by becoming the most advanced and luxurious MPV in its class. This strategy is similar to the one adopted by GMC with the new Denali Ultimate trim level, and the full name could be Avenir Century, as suggested by interior trim in the teaser image.

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Deivis is an engineer with a passion for cars and the global auto business. He is constantly investigating about GM's future products.

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Comments

  1. In other world news, true Buick Century’s throughout America turn over in their car graves thinking about how such a storied name could be placed upon such an atrocious looking thing.

    Please keep this one in China.

    Reply
    1. Yes, the sub 100 hp Tech 4 power Centuries from the ’80s are sad tonight…

      The Chinese would probably receive this well, too “wild” for American taste

      Reply
      1. At least they sold a 150k of them in the US some years- more than today’s pathetic US lineup combined.

        Reply
        1. To Avis, Dollar, Enterprise.. Also let’s not forget Olds sold over a million a year and they’re gone. Stop it with this “USA is the only market” stuff, we all know why Buick is still here, I have no problem with it.

          Reply
  2. It’s the same news and the same story every day. I don’t know why people here deny reality. Buick is a Chinese brand, a unit of gm’s Chinese operation and is no longer an American brand.

    I was very sad for a long time when the announcement came down that Oldsmobile was to be killed. I kept hoping GM would change their mind. Alas, they didn’t. I was also quite upset to see my beloved Pontiac die. It was the brand I’d actually owned and was more personally connected to. Saturn, Hummer, SAAB, Holden have also gone away and each time I hated to see GM shrinking and losing more and more of themselves. Buick seemed to be the lucky one; the survivor. In hindsight though, at least least Oldsmobile and Pontiac died with dignity. Oldsmobile went out on top with their best lineup in years and though Pontiac had been allowed to wither it was nothing like the indignity Buick is suffering from today. It’s truly sad for any red-blooded American car enthusiast. They’ve been wholly turned over to foreigners and their once great names like Century are festooned across slab-sided hideous vans built for communists. David Dunbar would be appalled by what Barra and her crew have done.

    I hate what it’s done to me too. I promise I was once the biggest fan and defender of GM. Now I’ve become a snarky critic. It’s been a heartbreaking ride to see what’s become of the company I loved.

    Reply
    1. Ci2Eye: As you and I tend to be on the same page most of the time, I can’t be here. I will certainly agree with you about being sad to see some of those GM brands (Ok, just Olds and Pontiac) go away. Saturn and Hummer? Could care less. Both were a waste of GM’s time and resources that should have been spent on the Olds, Pontiac and Buick brands while doing more for Cadillac and Chevrolet too. But this Buick/China thing is certainly not new. When I first got into sales back in 1988 at the Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Honda store, Buick was already quite big in China and has only grown in size. In fact, our Buick rep told us back then that Buick was spared from the chopping block (like Olds) because they were so big in China. So you can’t blame the current management (Mary, etc) for this and you can’t blame GM for utilizing Buick’s success there to help keep them alive here.

      My gripe is that China gets more of everything that we are not getting and that Buick’s image will be forever done if they go this direction in styling. This thing they are calling a Buick GL8 is a horrendous design and if they like it there, fine. But why tarnish the great names by putting them on that?

      Reply
  3. Dan B.

    I think we mostly agree. I’m happy Buick is doing well in China. I regret though that they’ve essentially abandoned the American market and Americans in favor of it. There’s only one American-made Buick left. Everything new for the brand is developed for, launched in, and sold solely in China. The days of the Riviera and Park Avenue and Regal and the slogan that “The Great American Road Belongs to Buick” have passed. All there are today are Asian imports and one Traverse variant still marketed in the US as a Buick.

    BMW, Mercedes, Honda, etc. all flourished in America at the end of the Twentieth Century and specific models were built to cater more precisely to US tastes. Those carmakers didn’t abandon their home markets though. They still do robust business in their native lands with US sales supplementing their operations and sales there. GM, however, and especially recently under Barra has just allowed Buick to die here. There have been no new US Buicks developed aside from Enclave. The US market just gets leftovers from the Chinese operation. It’s true this began years ago but Barra has been singlemindedly focused on EVs and trucks, starved Buick of any new products in America, and has essentially allowed Buick to fully transition to a Chinese brand alongside Wuling and BaoJun. As an American, I think I would’ve rather seen them killed off.

    Reply
  4. I’d vote for GM to offer it here as a premium only minivan and totally unique to Buick USA.

    Reply
    1. Guestt: The sad part is that people here would probably buy that thing. After all, they already line up for the SUV’s, CUV’s and nearly every cheap and ugly Toyota now.

      Reply
  5. … strange … ok, a minivan to carry entertained children to school in China… those days …

    why all ””car”” manufactures put a SAD ”smile” grille on front ?

    Reply
  6. I think this vehicle could sell in the United States under just the name Century. GM should offer a minivan. They still sell in big numbers here.

    Why let the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Kia whatever it is called and the Chrysler Pacifica get all those sales?

    Reply
  7. The Buick Century name is quite old. I was about to buy one in 1994 when I found a great Buick Regal instead. After driving it for 21 years, I sold my Regal to a friend who is still driving it now. I am glad that the Century name has been revived.

    Reply
  8. …..and there used to be a Buicktown aka Flint that thrived from 1903 to here he are🤔
    Peace
    Ross P. Alander
    Labor Arbitratot
    Very proud native of Flint who worked in the Buick Foundry
    Flint-Lansing-Tampa

    Reply
  9. I did not sure where it went🤔
    Ross
    Flint “Buicktown” Lansing- Tampa

    Reply

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