Shanghai Suprise! Buick HRV = Opel Astra!
18 April 2009
7 Comments
The Shanghai Auto Show will see the launch of another new Buick. This wont be another new vehicle, but it is another case of badge engineering. The current Buick HRV is the Daewoo Lacetti, but that has reached the end of its current lifespan for Buick, and is begining to look a little tired.
The Astra replacement is perfect for Buick who want a trendy, funky car to compete in the growing hatchback market, but dont really have the cash to develop a new model for the market.
The Opel Astra Wagon will probably also become the HRV Wagon for the Chinese market, which would eliminate the pesky problem of still selling the old generation Buick Excelle Wagon against the new facelift model which doesn’t have a wagon option.
The current Astra itself is getting a bit long in the tooth and is up for replacement soon!
@mark
Based on these spy shots, this is already THE replacement, to be sold in Europe next year.
Just compare the pictures above with the first official pictures of the 2010 Opel Astra:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-opel-astra-renderings/1486253/
Ash, did you mean that? Or were you relating these pictures to the current Astra?
aye, the 2010 one.
I never liked Astra’s, the latest ones are rather nice.
Yes Jackson I was thinking it didn’t look but much like the current Astra but couldn’t really remember what the new one was meant to look like. Looks like you’re correct.
Looks great./.
OK, I have a question………currently the current HRV (the rebadged Lacetti) sells in the 80-100,000rmb price range – a little more expensive than the Brilliance HRV, but equal with the Honda Fit. This was Buick’s least expensive car – the “price point” car for getting customers into Buick dealerships (remember the Sail is now a Chevrolet). Now, I think the Astra is a nice looking car, but MUCH more expensive than the HRV (right around 200,000rmb if I remember correctly – and I’m probably on the low side with my estimate) – how will Buick price this? Will it still be a price point leader? I doubt it, and I think that could be terrible for sales…….it will no longer be competitive in the 100,00rmb price range anymore. IF Buick can manage to keep this at 150,000rmb or less, they’ll have a hit on their hands – if not, good luck with declining sales.
This is great news if true.
The Astra hatchback that is currently sold here is an import and therefore quite overpriced. If they were to produce this locally (and badge it as a Buick), they could sell it much cheaper. I would welcome this.
But I’ve gotta ask, with these recent Buick models being rebadged Opels (ie-the new Regal), what will become then of the Opel brand and dealers here?