Buick Gl8 2000–present

Gl8 2000–present Featured Image
Buick GL8
Buick GL8 facelift China 2012-04-22.JPG
Buick GL8 First Land
Buick GL8 II 3 China 2012-04-28.JPG
Buick GL8
Overview
Manufacturer Shanghai GM
Production 2000–present
Body and chassis
Class Minivan
Layout Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive
Platform GM U platform

The Buick GL8 is a minivan produced and sold in China under the Buick brand name by Shanghai GM (SGM), the joint-venture of SAIC Motor with the US-American company General Motors.

The car is manufactured by Shanghai GM Norsom Motors, which is a manufacturing three-side joint venture of Shanghai GM holding 50% and overseeing management, SAIC Motor and GM China both holding 25% of its capital.

Introduced in 2000, the first generation GL8 is similar to the Pontiac Montana. Unlike other GM minivans, a roof rack was never offered. It was redesigned for 2005; however, it has a more aerodynamic look than its American and Canadian counterparts, the Buick Terraza, the Chevrolet Uplander, the Pontiac Montana, and the Saturn Relay.

A revamped edition was released in late 2010/early 2011, featuring 2.4 L and V6 3.0 L engines. It is based on an old minivan platform from the U.S., but it would likely require costly upgrade to meet current U.S. safety and requirements. Sales amounted to 52,127 units in 2010, and it was relatively stable over past few years. The previous generation is still available as GL8 First Land.

First generation (2000–2016)

First generation
Buick GL8 China 2012-04-04 2.JPG
Buick GL8 (facelift)
Overview
Production 1999–2016
Model years 2000–2016
Body and chassis
Body style 5-door minivan
Platform GMT200 platform (2000–2005)
GMT201 platform (2005–present)
Related Chevrolet Venture
Oldsmobile Silhouette
Pontiac Montana
Pontiac Trans Sport
Opel Sintra
Vauxhall Sintra
Powertrain
Engine 2.4 L LE5 I4
2.5 L LB8 V6
3.0 L LW9 V6
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,845 mm (112 in) (2.5)
3,099 mm (122 in) (First Land)
Length 4,757 mm (187.3 in) (2.5)
5,113 mm (201.3 in) (First Land)
Width 1,847 mm (72.7 in)
Height 1,712 mm (67.4 in) (2.5)
1,730 mm (68.1 in) (First Land)
Curb weight 1,692 kg (3,730 lb) (2.5)
1,788 kg (3,942 lb) (First Land)
 
Buick GL8 (pre-facelift)

The GL8 first entered production in China in 1999.

The regular wheelbase GL8 is known as the GL8 2.5 while the extended wheelbase variant is called the GL8 First Land. There are four trim levels available, called the LT, CT1, CT2, and GT (which is only available on the Firstland). In October 2001, the first bunch of Buick GL10s (10 passenger versions of the 1st-generation GL8) were exported to the Philippines where it was rebadged as the Chevrolet Venture.[citation needed] The GL8 underwent a facelift in 2005, receiving a redesigned front end and new clear taillights. While the first generation has been superseded by the new one, as introduced in late 2010, it is still on sale and in production as the "Business Edition" GL8, now only with a 2.4-litre Ecotec four-cylinder engine.

Engines:

  • GL8 Business Edition: LE5 2.4 L I4
  • GL8 2.5: LB8 2.5 L V6
  • GL8 Firstland: LW9 3.0 L V6

Hybrid Prototype

In 2001, the Buick GL8 XEA1 or Phoenix was developed as a collaboration between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). The Buick GL8 XAE1 is a hybrid vehicle that uses a 35 kW fuel cell and compressed hydrogen gas to deliver its power. The General Motors Phoenix was officially unveiled at the Pan Asia Automotive Technology Center in China in the year 2001.

Second generation (2010–present)

Second generation
Buick GL8 II China 2012-05-01.JPG
Buick GL8 II
Overview
Production 2010–
Model years 2011–
Body and chassis
Body style 5-door minivan
Platform SGM258 platform
Powertrain
Engine 2.5 L LCV I4
2.4 L LE5 I4
3.0 L LFW V6
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 3,088 mm (121.6 in)
 
GL8 II facelift (2017- )

Introduced in late 2010 for the 2011 model year, the GL8 II has an all-new appearance inspired by the Buick Business concept car shown in 2009, with a drastic dip in the beltline. The wheelbase is the same as for the GL8 First Land, 3,099 mm (122 in). Developed by the Pan-Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), another joint venture of SAIC Motors with General Motors, the vehicle is based on a vehicle architecture of over a decade old.

Engines include a 2.4-litre DVVT Ecotec four-cylinder and a 3.0-liter V6, with an available six-speed automatic gearbox for the V6. To differentiate the new GL8 from its predecessor which remains on sale as a "Business Edition", the new one is sold as the "Luxury Business Edition".

After the 3rd Generation GL8 on sale,To differentiate the new GL8 (3rd generation GL8) from its predecessor which remains on sale as a "Business Edition", the new one is sold as the "Luxury Business Edition". And It have a new engine called LCV,a 2.5-litre DVVT Ecotec.But the old 3.0-liter V6 was canceled.

 
Buick GL8 II (rear)
 

Third generation (2017–present)

Third generation
Buick GL8 III 3 China 2017-04-06.jpg
Buick GL8 III
Overview
Also called Chevrolet Venture (Philippines)
Production 2016–present
Model years 2017–present
Body and chassis
Body style 5-door minivan
Platform SGM258 platform
Powertrain
Engine 2.0 L LTG I4
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 3,088 mm (121.6 in)

The third generation Buick GL8 is set to debut in China around late 2016. It will receive a complete exterior overhaul and feature new design elements, such as the newly introduced winged Buick grille treatment, as well as a redesigned roofline. The entire existing engine lineup will be eliminated, to be replaced by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 253 horsepower, as well as a 2.5-liter I4 in the new base 25S model. The car will be based on an updated version of the same platform, abandoning the current torsion beam rear suspension in favor of a new independent setup. The entry-level price is lowered to RMB 229,000 for the GL8 25S, while a luxury version, the GL8 Avenir, starts at RMB 449,000.

Chevrolet Venture

The next generation Chevrolet Venture will go on sale in the Philippines in late 2017. It will be built in China, with some customized additions exclusive to Chevrolet. The new Venture will go up against the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Alphard, as the top selling luxury MPV in the Philippine market.