The Buick HRV is lining up to become one of the best looking compact cars in the Chinese market for 2010, especially with its handsome powertrains that are going to be both cheaper, and more powerful than the competition in its segment.

Apparently the new HRV is in pre-production testing and will launch at the end of the year with the choice of a 1.6 and 1.8 naturally aspirated engines. Then there is the 1.6T engine producing an impressive 180bhp and 230Nm of power. The naturally aspirated 1.6L is 115BHP (155Nm) whilst the 1.8L is 143bhp and produces 177Nm. Clearly the 1.6T is going to be the darling of the bunch, it is the same engine that is in the New Regal 1.6T. Gearboxes for the new HRV are a 5 speed manual, and a six speed automatic.

Next year the turbo powered segment is going to get quite a boost, with the 2.0L Golf GTI and the new 1.6T HRV, and possibly the introduction of other TSI models such as the VW Polo – 2010 is obviously going to signal the return to the turbo days of the early 90’s.