Buick Excelle

Not to be confused with Hyundai Excel or Buick Excelle GT.

Buick Excelle
Overview
Manufacturer	SAIC-GM
Production	2003–2016 2018–2023
Assembly	China: Shanghai
Body and chassis
Class	Compact (China), Subcompact (global) (B)
Chronology
Predecessor	Buick Sail

The Buick Excelle (Chinese: 別克凱越; pinyin: Biékè kǎiyuè) is the common name for the subcompact cars marketed by Shanghai General Motors Company Limited (Chinese: 上海通用汽車有限公司) under GM's Buick brand. It is classified as a compact in China, but by international standards it is a subcompact car.

The original Buick Excelle (Chinese "Kai Yue") is based on the Daewoo Lacetti developed in South Korea by Daewoo Motors. While this car was originally sold worldwide under the Daewoo brand, in 2004, General Motors rebranded all Daewoo products in Europe as Chevrolets.

Parallel to the Lacetti-based Excelle, Shanghai GM introduced a new car called the Buick Excelle GT in China, but called "Ying Lang" in Chinese. It is based on GM's global compact car platform "Delta II" which is developed at Rüsselsheim in Opel's International Technical Development Center (ITDC). The Chevrolet Cruze is based on this same platform.

Since the 2009 economic crises and the subsequent demise of the Saturn brand and reduction of GM's North American brands to four, the Opel models are aligned no longer with the Saturn brand, but the Buick brand. Consequently, the models built and marketed by Buick China are twins of the Opel variants of GM's global platforms while the Lacetti-based Excelle was re-positioned below Buick's newer offerings in the Chinese market.

In China, a hatchback called the Buick Excelle XT debuted in 2009, which is essentially a rebadged Astra J. A sedan debuted in 2010 called the Buick Excelle GT (Chinese: 别克英朗GT). An estate car based on the second generation Buick Excelle GT debuted in 2018 called the Buick Excelle GX.

In August 2016, Buick decided to end Excelle production despite strong sales, with 2.68 million units sold over the course of 13 years. Citing its low price while the brand moves upmarket as a main reason, there will be no direct successor, with Chevrolet and Wuling filling in the low-end market niche left unoccupied by the departure of the Excelle.

In June 2018, Buick launched the second generation of the Buick Excelle. Positioning under the Excelle GT, the second generation Excelle was based on a new platform and stand as a completely new model. The Excelle was discontinued in 2023 with no replacement currently planned.

First generation (J200; 2003)

First generation
Overview
Model code	J200
Also called	Chevrolet Lacetti (Europe & Uzbekistan) Chevrolet Optra (Asia, South America, Canada, Mexico, South Africa) Chevrolet Estate (Indonesia) Chevrolet Nubira (Europe, sedan & wagon) Daewoo Lacetti (Korea, Hatchback in Europe) Daewoo Nubira (Europe, sedan & wagon) Daewoo Gentra (Uzbekistan) Holden Viva (Australia) Ravon Gentra (Russia) Suzuki Reno (United States, hatchback) Suzuki Forenza (United States, sedan)
Production	2003–2016 (Sedan) 2005–2009 (HRV and Wagon)
Assembly	China: Shanghai (SAIC-GM) Taiwan: (Yulon GM)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door hatchback 5-door station wagon
Powertrain
Engine	1.5 L L2B I4 1.6 L F16D3 I4 1.8 L T18SED I4
Transmission	5 speed D16 manual 6 speed automatic 4 speed Step-Gate automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,600 mm (102.4 in)
Length	4,515 mm (177.8 in)
Width	1,725 mm (67.9 in)
Height	1,445 mm (56.9 in)

Main article: Daewoo Lacetti

The first generation was available in a sedan or wagon and Excelle HRV (hatchback) and was a rebadged Daewoo Lacetti. The HRV and wagon were produced from 2005 to 2009 while the sedan continued to be produced locally in Shanghai from April 2003 to August 2016.

The model year 2008 received a facelift consisting of a new front fascia, new rear end design and updated interior. The facelift was partly inspired by the Buick Park Avenue, and the front light units and bumpers were redesigned while the front fenders remain the same units. A second facelift consisting of a new grille was released in 2013. A 1.6 litre engine was standard under the trim level LX until 2013 where a 1.5 litre engine replaced it. The new trim levels were 1.5 MT Classical, 1.5 MT Premium, 1.5 AT Classical and 1.5 AT Premium. Pricing was between 96,900 yuan to 118,900 yuan throughout its production run.

• 
  Buick Excelle front (pre-facelift)
• 
  Buick Excelle rear (pre-facelift)
• 
  Buick Excelle front (facelift)
• 
  Buick Excelle rear (facelift)
• 
  Buick Excelle HRV
• 
  Buick Excelle HRV rear
• 
  Buick Excelle Wagon front
• 
  Buick Excelle Wagon rear

Taiwan

In the Taiwanese market, Yulon Motors, being the manufacturer and distributor of GM products in Taiwan, introduced a redesigned Buick Excelle produced and sold exclusively in Taiwan starting from 2007. As importing from mainland China is impossible due to political issues, the car was imported as a knock-down kit from South Korea and assembled locally in Taiwan. The Taiwanese version consists of a completely different front fascia compared to the version sold in mainland China while the rear is still similar to the Chevrolet Optra, Daewoo Lacetti, and Suzuki Forenza sedans with only the inner taillamp setup being redesigned.

• 
  Taiwanese market Buick Excelle
• 
  Taiwanese market Buick Excelle rear

Second generation (2018)

Second generation
Overview
Production	2018–2023
Assembly	China: Yantai, Shandong (SAIC-GM Dongyue Motors)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Platform	GM GEM platform
Related	Chevrolet Onix
Powertrain
Engine	1.3 L Eighth Generation EcoTec I3
Transmission	6-speed manual CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,611 mm (102.8 in)
Length	4,468 mm (175.9 in)
Width	1,765 mm (69.5 in)
Height	1,469 mm (57.8 in)

Buick Excelle second generation rear

The second generation Buick Excelle was available in the Chinese market on June 22, 2018, based on the cancelled Opel Corsa F (G2J0) which was cancelled due to Opel being sold to the PSA Group. Based on the all new GEM platform, the second generation Buick Excelle is powered by a new 1.3-litre, dual-injection inline-3 engine producing 79 kW (106 hp; 107 PS) and 133 N⋅m (98 lb⋅ft; 14 kg⋅m) torque. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a CVT. As of July 2023, the Excelle is no longer listed on Buick China's website.

External links

• Official website (in Chinese)