Photo: Theophilus Chin
The GM compact car segment is one big happy family. You have the Opel Astra that's similar to the Buick Excelle that's similar to the Buick Verano that shares components with the Chevrolet Cruze.
After the debut of the all-new Astra K in Germany, some of its brothers will need to take a hint and be updated. That's why today we are looking at a rendering of the Buick Excelle Sports Tourer, which is essentially an Astra wagon in Chinese drag.
Theophilus Chin, who made these images while on vacation in Frankfurt, says Buick China will never make or sell such a car. Buyers over there don't take too kindly to wagons, preferring long wheelbase sedans and SUVs.
A recent report from CNN suggests General Motors may be the first US automaker to build cars in China and ship them to the US. Details are scarce, but it seems Buick is involved and the Verano sedan is the likely candidate, together with the all-new Cruze.
China, the world's largest car market by volume, is slowing down. Just to give you an idea of the numbers, they hope to sell 38,000 Envision crossovers in America by 2017, but the People's Republic already swallows 126,000 units per year already. If there is an excess in supply and production capacity, China might end up selling Americans their own cars.
So why would you buy a Buick compact wagon called Excelle and what would it be like to drive? Well, the Astra on which it would be based is lighter and more efficient than before. That allowed German engineers to downsize the engines, so the maximum you're likely to get is a 1.6-liter turbo with about 170 horsepower.
Theophilus Chin, who made these images while on vacation in Frankfurt, says Buick China will never make or sell such a car. Buyers over there don't take too kindly to wagons, preferring long wheelbase sedans and SUVs.
But what about America and the Regal?
We keep hearing that hatchbacks are dorky and nobody wants to buy them. But that didn't stop Volkswagen from bringing the Golf Sportswagen to America. Subaru is also doing quite well with its big-boot models.A recent report from CNN suggests General Motors may be the first US automaker to build cars in China and ship them to the US. Details are scarce, but it seems Buick is involved and the Verano sedan is the likely candidate, together with the all-new Cruze.
China, the world's largest car market by volume, is slowing down. Just to give you an idea of the numbers, they hope to sell 38,000 Envision crossovers in America by 2017, but the People's Republic already swallows 126,000 units per year already. If there is an excess in supply and production capacity, China might end up selling Americans their own cars.
So why would you buy a Buick compact wagon called Excelle and what would it be like to drive? Well, the Astra on which it would be based is lighter and more efficient than before. That allowed German engineers to downsize the engines, so the maximum you're likely to get is a 1.6-liter turbo with about 170 horsepower.
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