U.S. Patent Drawings of 2012 Buick Excelle Sedan

If these U.S. patent drawings of Buick's forthcoming entry-level compact sedan are anything to go by, then the North American version of the car will be identical to the China-market 2012 Buick Excelle that was recently caught on film without any camouflage whatsoever.

We don't know if GM will keep the 'Excelle' nameplate for North America, but we do know that the General is planning to bring the car to the States in 2011.

As you may recall, the Excelle or whatever else GM decides to name it, is based on the latest generation of the European market Opel Astra and as such, it adopts the Detroit automaker's Delta II small car platform that also underpins the new Chevy Cruze.

Specific details about the powertrain options remain scarce, however, we reckon that the front-wheel drive saloon will probably be offered with a similar engine range to the Cruze including a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, and quite possibly, the Astra's more powerful 1.6-liter turbo with 180 ponies.

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New Buick Excelle Compact Sedan Scooped Totally Undisguised

New photos of the upcoming Chinese / North American market baby Buick have surfaced in China (courtesy of Autohome), and it doesn't look too bad. The small, 2010 Opel Astra-based sedan will be a fitting bookend to what may become the most attractive Buick lineup ever.

The worst view by far has to be the red profile shot (anyone else think it looks like a Neon?) with the car sporting a very un-sporty wing. Let's hope that doesn't make it over to the states. Same goes for the gaudy chrome eyebrows over the tail lamps.

Being a higher-end Chevy Cruze, expect similar engine/transmission choices but with an "upscale" feel inside. If we're lucky, it may even score the turbocharged 180-horsepower 1.6 liter from the current Astra or whatever the upcoming GSI/OPC model will be packing.

From what we gather, we'll probably see the Chinese version of the car named the Buick Excelle making its world premiere this year, with the North American version to follow sometime in 2011.

By Phil Alex

Via: Autohome.com.cn

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New Buick Excelle for China: Rebadged Opel Astra Debuts at Auto Guangzhou 2009

The 'Opel-azation' of Buick continues in China with the introduction of the all-new Excelle that made its premiere at the Auto Guangzhou 2009 motorshow. In the same way that the domestic market Buick Regal is based on the Insignia, the compact-sized Excelle is a rebadged 2010 Opel Astra with a different grille treatment.

At launch, the five-door model will be offered in China with a choice of three gasoline units, the naturally aspirated 1.6-liter and 1.8-liter D-VVTs and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four.

The hatchback version of the Excelle will most likely be joined later on by a four-door sedan model.

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