SHANGHAI: 2008 Buick Park Avenue (China)

[Flybrian]

First Look
2008 Buick Park Avenue (China)
Press Release

2008 Buick Park Avenue - Image Gallery

Shanghai, China - Shanghai General Motors (Shanghai GM) has introduced the newest member of its Buick lineup, the Park Avenue luxury sedan.

Like the affluent New York City boulevard of the same name, Buick's Park Avenue is trendy and luxurious. With its range of advanced technologies and high-grade amenities, not to mention a stylish design that conveys a sense of power and passion, it is representative of traditional American luxury sedans.

"The Park Avenue is the perfect blend of tranquility and power," said Shanghai GM President Ding Lei. "It shows Buick's ability to move with the times while continuing to leverage GM's global resources and our local knowledge. Designed especially for business leaders and other elites, it is a component of our effort to maintain our leadership position in China by addressing the needs of all of our customers."

The Park Avenue is based on GM's new global rear-wheel-drive architecture to ensure a premium driving experience. At 5,175 mm in length, 1,899 mm in width and 1,480 mm in height, and with an impressive 3,009-mm wheelbase, the Park Avenue also offers a highly spacious ride.

The Park Avenue 's genuine leather seats are designed to accommodate people of varying sizes with 8-way power adjustment for the front seats. All seats incorporate a massage function. A high-quality entertainment system with LCD panels and an advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning system offer the relaxation and comfort that one would expect of a luxury sedan. The Park Avenue 's GPS navigation system contains road information for more than 300 cities in China . The Bluetooth mobile phone system is also available.

Like all Buick products, the Park Avenue offers a high level of safety and peace of mind. It is equipped with the GM Local Area Network (GM-LAN) high-speed communication system, which is based on the top-of-the-line 32-bit 500 kb/second engine control system. With a signal transmission speed approaching real-time, information flow from various sensors is instantaneous, enhancing efficiency and safety. Further enhancing safety are six intelligent air bags for the driver and passengers.

The Park Avenue is powered by GM's smooth yet powerful AlloyTec V-6 engine, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds. The engine control unit features the latest Bosch E77 32-bit ECM processor. With the Remote Engine Start (RES) function, the driver can start the engine up to 20 minutes in advance within 60 meters distance. The RES function also can adjust the temperature inside the car.

Customers have a choice of two engine displacements. The Park Avenue 's 3.6-liter engine generates maximum output of 187kW (250 hp) @ 6,500 rpm and maximum torque of 340 Nm @ 3,200 rpm. Its 2.8-liter engine offers maximum output of 150 kW (201 hp) @ 6,000 rpm and maximum torque of 265 Nm @ 3,000 rpm.

Shanghai GM is offering five Park Avenue variants: the 3.6-liter Flagship, which is priced at RMB 498,800; the 3.6-liter Elite, which is priced at RMB 388,800; the 2.8-liter Luxury, which is priced at RMB 458,800; the 2.8-liter Elite, which is priced at RMB 368,800; and the 2.8-liter Comfort, which is priced at RMB 328,800.

[Northstar]

It's either time for the Lucerne to be replaced (by this) or the Park Avenue to return. Buick needs a car like this if it wants to move upscale. The details sound amazing.

[PONTIAC06]

Looks way better than the Daewoo version everyone was wooing over, AND would make a great addition to Buick with that interior!

[Cory Wolfe]

This car > Lucerne.

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

It is amazing that Buick China took the Holden Caprice and dressed it up that much. The interior looks very rich. It does not look stripped or anything. They would hardly need to change much to make it an American Buick. The sad thing is.. I knew GM was going to do this.. They are torturing people like VenSeattle with something he cannot have. It is like dangling a bottle in front of a baby when you know he wants it.

I do not understand why GM North America feels Buick does not deserve cars like this.. The LaCrosse and Lucerne's look stripped and more like Chevrolet Impalas compared to their Chinese counter parts. Why is it always GM everywhere else around the world gets it, and North American GM does not.

Are they afraid a car like this would hurt Cadillac sales?

The SLS looks better than the update we are getting..

I thought GM said they were going to become global in their approach.

That is a car that is "worthy" of the Park Avenue name.

All I can say is wow.. At least they are not holding up some Oldsmobile over my head I would want I could not have....

Edited April 10, 2007 by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY

[Paolino]

Okay, this needs to be the 2010 Lucerne replacement.

[loki]

Okay, this needs to be the 2010 Lucerne replacement.

with the 3.6 and n* engines with some 6speeds, YES!

[Northstar]

What's wrong with this being the 2008 Lucerne replacement?

[CSpec]

The features sound like this is an Eclass-level car for the US. I say, take out some features and bring it over!

[Z-06]

What's wrong with this being the 2008 Lucerne replacement?

Heads of the US executives of Buick.

[thegriffon]

The $50K+ price tag on the 3.6 L V6. Seriously. If CAFE doesn't kill it, the same vehicle will replace both this and the Lucerne, but don't expect all these goodies in the US model. It will have to be stripped down just to meet US price expecations. First to go—those massage seats.

[thegriffon]

Follow-up release from Holden (it's already the 11th here):

Holden Expands Its Global Role

GM Holden today announced plans to export Global V6 engines to China. Two versions of the Global V6 engines will be fitted in the new Buick Park Avenue being built by Shanghai General Motors.

The new engine export program is expected to be worth several hundred million dollars to GM Holden over the next few years.

The Buick Park Avenue, unveiled to media in Shanghai last night, will utilise both the 3.6 L V6 engine and a unique 2.8 L V6, both being built at the GM Holden's state-of-the-art Engine Operations plant in Victoria.

The new Buick — which will be built at Shanghai GM's Jinqiao plant — is the first vehicle to go into production outside Australia utilizing the global rear-wheel drive architecture developed by GM Holden. The vehicle will have an exterior based on the Holden Statesman with the interior completely redesigned by GM China to suit the local market.

GM Holden's specialist rear wheel drive engineering expertise has also been called upon to engineer the car to serve as a luxury limousine for rear seat passengers as distinct from the sports luxury, driver-orientated vehicle produced in Australia for domestic and export markets.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, said, “The Buick Park Avenue is another exciting step in the worldwide adoption of the global rear-wheel drive architecture developed here in Australia and is a valuable export program for GM Holden in the world's fastest growing auto market.

“Our engine export program generated over $570 million in revenue in 2006 alone and this will be a further boost to this key area of our business.

“With today's announcement of these engine exports to Shanghai GM, our engine production plant in Victoria is supplying customers in markets as diverse as Italy, South Korea, Germany, Thailand, South Africa, Sweden and China.

“Australia's role in the forthcoming Chevrolet Camaro for the US market, and now the Buick Park Avenue for China, underlines how Australian design and engineering expertise is playing a lead role in General Motor's worldwide vehicle production.”

Edited April 11, 2007 by thegriffon

[titan]

It's a beautiful car. I'd love to have it here. my only concern though, would be that it's design and styling a still somewhat related to the G8, with which it'd share showroom space. It could possibly hurt sales, if comparisons are closely drawn, IMO. Ofcourse, in China, this car is alone, and therefore totally unique. That said, I'd have absolutely no problems driving this Park Avenue. And I love that they brought back this name. It's fitting for a flagship. The pics of it are awesome. I especially like it in black in the first pic of the gallery, and the wheels are SICK. The interior is where this car truly stands out, and it's amazing to see what Buick is capable of. This car needs to come here. With an interior like that, this car could truly claim to be a value alternative to the LS460, without sacrificing luxury, quiet ride, or performance.

[thegriffon]

It's a beautiful car. I'd love to have it here. my only concern though, would be that it's design and styling a still somewhat related to the G8, with which it'd share showroom space. It could possibly hurt sales, if comparisons are closely drawn, IMO. Ofcourse, in China, this car is alone, and therefore totally unique. That said, I'd have absolutely no problems driving this Park Avenue. And I love that they brought back this name. It's fitting for a flagship. The pics of it are awesome. I especially like it in black in the first pic of the gallery, and the wheels are SICK. The interior is where this car truly stands out, and it's amazing to see what Buick is capable of. This car needs to come here. With an interior like that, this car could truly claim to be a value alternative to the LS460, without sacrificing luxury, quiet ride, or performance.

Shanghai GM is quite happy to trace its lineage back to the Electra of the '60s (http://www.buick.com.cn/parkavenue/evolution.aspx), complete with photos at http://www.buick.com.cn/parkavenue/downloads_photos.aspx

[Robert Hall]

The $50K+ price tag on the 3.6 L V6. Seriously. If CAFE doesn't kill it, the same vehicle will replace both this and the Lucerne, but don't expect all these goodies in the US model. It will have to be stripped down just to meet US price expecations. First to go—those massage seats.

I'm hoping they don't dumb it down for the US, though...no Rubbermaid interior plastics, 4spd auto, 3800 v6, etc...

[Oracle of Delphi]

"Our engine export program generated over $570 million in revenue in 2006 alone and this will be a further boost to this key area of our business."

Our? He means GM's, right?

[thegriffon]

GM's program, Holden's revenue. The iron-block Family II is an endangered species however. Even Holden specifies the newer Family 1 1.8 L from GM Europe for the J200 Viva they import from Daewoo. The 2.4 L truck engine will probably be the last hold-out, and GM do Brasil already builds a DOHC aluminum version.

[Dsuupr]

I guess the best we can hope for right now is that the next generation mid-size Buick won't be screwed up when be transformed from China to the US.

[balthazar]

Shanghai GM is quite happy to trace its lineage back to the Electra of the '60s

sputter!-- what ?!? "it's lineage"? There is no lineage.

Gorgeous '59 225, BTW.

[balthazar]

Shanghai GM is quite happy to trace its lineage back to the Electra of the '60s

sputter!-- what ?!? "it's lineage"? There is no lineage.

Gorgeous '59 225, BTW.