2011 Buick GL8 Minivan Spied in China

(May 31, 2010 9:12 am )
2011 Buick GL8 Minivan - click image for more photos

New GL8 looks very similar to the Buick Business Concept

By Alex Ricciuti
May 31, 2010 9:12 am
Filed Under: American, Buick, Spy Photos

2011 Buick GL8 Minivan - click image for more photos

In case you haven't heard, Buick is a very successful brand in China. And here we have some spyshots of what will be the replacement for Buick's GL8 minivan there.

This GL8 prototype spotted in China looks very similar to the Buick Business Concept which was introduced at the Auto Shanghai show in April of 2009. That conceptmodel featured curved, low-lying design lines that give the MPV a luxury sedan-like look - think Mercedes S-Class.

The new GL8 will likely be introduced sometime next year, perhaps at the next Auto Shanghai, as it does not seem production-ready quite just yet, given the absence of finished light clusters. But the current model is based on the late-90s Pontiac Trans Sport, so its due for a change rather soon.

The interior of the GL8 is said to be properly outfitted to appeal to the growing upper-class in China, which have taken to Buick as a reliable competitor to the European premium brands such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

As for the GL8 nameplate, we still don't know if Buick will opt to keep it or not.

2011 Buick GL8 Minivan - click image for more photos Source: auto.163.com/ via autoblog