Reports surfaced earlier this week that Buick was in line to get Opel’s next-generation Astra hatchback, but it looks as though those rumors were slightly off base. As it turns out, Buick will not be getting a version of the next Astra but rather a vehicle based on the Astra’s Delta platform.
According to a Leftlane source, Buick will not be getting a version of the Opel Astra for the 2012 model year. Instead, Buick will land an entry-level sedan based on the next Astra’s Delta II platform. As you may recall, the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze and Volt will ride on the Delta II platform.
Early indications suggest the new entry-level sedan will be based on China’s Buick Excelle. The current Excelle, which is based on GM’s Delta architecture, was just refreshed in 2008 for the 2009 model year, meaning an all-new version should bow sometime in 2011 or 2012 – keeping the same timeframe as the Buick Astra reports.
The current Excelle is powered by 1.6L and 1.8L powerplants, but we would expect the 1.4L from the Cruze to transfer over to the U.S. model. However, it remains possible GM could equip the U.S.-spec Excelle with a more powerful engine to differentiate itself from the lesser Chevy. The Chevy Volt’s powertrain hasn’t been ruled out for the next Excelle either. Whatever the case, GM has already begun development of the next-gen Excelle, as evidenced by our spy shots.
With GM’s new viability plan due in less than 30 days, we could hear more on the subject in the coming days. Stay tuned.



05/07, 12:53 PM
posted by:
A4
WTF id rather have a hatchback
05/07, 1:08 PM
posted by:
Borat
I hope this model will have automatic “Get out of left lane” feature absent on other Buicks and not familiar to their drivers.
05/07, 1:24 PM
posted by:
orangecones
This is more inline with what Buick is. It would not be right for them to have a Hatch. That said, it will be a bloated and bubbly americanized version of a chinese car with a buick moniker. The loyal 60+ year olds won’t buy it, and anyone under 60 won’t be caught dead in a Buick anyway. Projected Sales for 2011: 2. 1 to each Cher and Madonna because they refuse to admit they are dinosaurs.
05/07, 1:54 PM
posted by:
American_Cars_Crap
I know this question has been asked many times before, but who the hell buys a buick?? Its such a worthless brand. I say kill off buick and bring the Opel brand here, and keep the Opels European made. It will appeal to the American public, and Opel will be looked at as that cool new car from Europe that the Europeans have had for many decades now. At the same time GM can finally make some money from one of their brands. Also lets please bring back the French cars, I would love to see a Renault Clio V6 on the roads here.
05/07, 1:56 PM
posted by:
HondaHonda
Chinese love Buick.
05/07, 1:57 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
They just don’t get it. Who over here is going to be satisfied knowing their Buick was designed for China first and us second? And don’t kid yourself, people will know. Thanks to this implosion in the industry and the resultant media coverage more and more people who weren’t interested much beyond the fact that their car starts when they turn the key are now increasingly cognizant of not just the industry’s current issues but also just what exactly it is that they’re driving. I’ll bet 6 months ago that outside of forums like these very few even knew that GM sold Buicks in China much less that they were essentially the same Buicks soon to be here. If this is GM’s vision for Buick on our shores then it’s obvious they have no aspirations other than to maintain some intangible aura around the brand which the Chinese seem to value.
Speaking of which, just how the hell did Buicks get to be so popular over there in the first place?
05/07, 2:06 PM
posted by:
carstuff
Because they were the cars of Chinese Emperors for ever and ever.
This age thing really is starting to get to me. Can anyone read the data I have put here? Buick average age is only 4 years older than Hondas.
05/07, 2:31 PM
posted by:
Borat
Johnny, for whatever reason before China was occupied by Japan, US embassy personal and most of US merchants were driving Buick. Buick was associated with luxury in China. The legend lives on.
05/07, 2:46 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
I’d look at some of those Buick models too, everyone, they actually have some nice Buicks over in China. I think if our engineers could come up with something as attractive both inside and out as the new LaCrosse, then we wouldn’t be having this discussion. I’m personally more interested in the car it is and not where it was originated in design and who they designed it for – as my last several cars have either been for the European and Asian markets and we were just an afterthought.
05/07, 3:54 PM
posted by:
iluvamcars
jhonnycanauck, this new sedan will be all new, and based on the excelle in production now! it will arrive to both markets aroundthe asme time, so there is nothing to hide. buick is starting to appeal to younger people, just look at the enclave.
05/07, 3:59 PM
posted by:
Borat
jake, I don’t know about Chinese models, I think So. Koreans have a better happy ending
05/07, 4:22 PM
posted by:
2TellUTheTruth
A 3/5-door Buick hatchback, it wouldnt fly here. I could see a compact “semi-lux” sedan for Buick sorta goin up against the like of some of the tier II foreign competition; maybe even some of the tier I depending on the design and quality.
05/07, 4:34 PM
posted by:
A4
One of their biggest problems with that, American_Cars_Crap, is that the Opel brand used to be here back in the 80’s and earlier, and had such piss poor reliability that it was yanked from our market, much like peugeots, renaults, and alfa’s. A potential dealer network is in place with Saturn and Buick but honestly the cost to rebrand the distribution channels would be so immense that it makes absolutely no sense right now. If Opel came here they would certainly be first on my list of GM brands that I would drive, but many Americans don’t have that same opinion, and GM just doesnt have the funds. Saturn was their best bet.
05/07, 4:36 PM
posted by:
A4
I also vote to take buick out back and shoot it, and give saturn a stay of execution and move GMC into their dealerships once pontiac and buick are gone.
05/07, 4:52 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
A4, I’ll buy the bullets.
05/07, 5:37 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
The tag line will be Buick: Ugly as Astra.
05/07, 6:52 PM
posted by:
A4
johnny, knowing GM they’ll forget to bring the gun and end up throwing the bullets at them.
05/07, 7:01 PM
posted by:
anti-believer
Saturn doesn’t sell thats why they are getting rid of it. [clueless]
Buick hatchback would not sell. we’re not in the 80’s anymore
05/08, 6:25 PM
posted by:
gbb
Buick should be in line for the AXE!
05/08, 7:22 PM
posted by:
uoyerawohih
More young people buy mid-size Buicks than you think. And there are very few loyalists who would not buy one just because it appeared in the Chinese market first. In fact, the middle eastern Impala, Caprice, and all Buicks look better than ours over here, and many people would line up for these full size beauties, much like we used to have here. The last thing we need is more foreign cars like American_Cars_Crap suggested.
05/08, 11:32 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
youarehowhi, if it’s so simple how come GM hasn’t been able to figure this out for the last 30-40 years?
05/09, 9:37 PM
posted by:
Get Real
I don’t know anyone who drives a Buick. Nobody at work or family or neighborhood.
Exactly why is Buick being left alive and Pontiac and Saturn killed ??
05/11, 4:03 AM
posted by:
swamprat
Get Real asked a very good question.
Buick is the worst seller of the three.