Buick Exelle GT Sedan spotted out testing!
The Buick Excelle hatch has only just been on the market for a few months in naturally aspirated and turbo form, of which the turbo form is a 1.6T producing 184BHP (named the Excelle XT) which is quite the little rocket, however Buick at some point decided that this was not enough and laid out plans to launch a Buick Excelle GT which makes full use of the 2.0T borrowed from the larger Buick Regal and gives out 220bhp to the front wheels. When Excelle GT comes onto the market, the recently launched Golf GTI is going to have some real competition that it probably didn’t expect quite so early into the Chinese hot hatch race.
Buick are also planning a Buick Excelle Sedan, which has been spotted out testing in the USA and the PRC before now, this time a GT version was spotted out testing:
If the 1.6XT version is getting the 2.0T engine and will be called the Excelle GT then it is likely that the above sedan is also making use of the 2.0T from the Buick Regal. Although it is smaller than the Regal it does look to be a smaller version of the gigantic Buick Lacrosse, although slightly more handsome with its paunchy stance.
The Chinese press are still reporting that the sedan will come with a 1.6T and a 1.8L naturally aspirated engine, but why the GT moniker if it is destined to become an XT like its hatch sibling? We will know for sure at the Beijing Auto Show later this month when the Excelle sedan is finally unveiled.
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Looks kind of like a Korean car!
joe yoman u look like a korean car
Well, the Korean companies are doing pretty good and this is an ASIAN market.
The U.S. version is set to have enhanced design bits, including interior. Sound deadening too.
Its steering wheel reminds me of the Hyundai i20.
It doesn’t look like a Korean car, it looks like a regrilled German car…which it is, an (yet to be released) Opel Astra sedan in fact.
Looking forward to see it here in North America, especially in the 220HP 2.0T form.
~BG
Wow
I run into promotion video shooting other day in Shanghai. I was driving by so did not have time take picture. But look pre-nice in person and it had spoiler on the rear deck. Which they stick on to by double sided tape (LOL)
A hot hatch version of the Excelle is exactly what Buick needs – luxury in this category is all about quick, lithe driving characteristics. The pictures, however, show what look like rather too small wheels. I hope the GT is not a pseudo-sport package.