In the domestic MPV market, SAIC-GM Buick GL8 is the benchmark for all MPV value. All the latecomers, without exception, are following this value benchmark. In a sense, SAIC-GM Buick GL8 also defines the pattern of Chinese MPV in global MPV products.
That's right, Chinese-style MPV. This MPV concept, which is completely based on the use needs of China's local market, is also gradually extended from the pattern of American MPV. In previous articles, I have said more than once that the commonality of the vast wealth of the Chinese and North American markets makes the product values of these two market segments very similar. So how did this similarity evolve?
The first generation buick GL8: a typical representative of the American MPV concept
In general, our conceptual understanding of MPV can be divided into two types: Multi Purpose Vehicle and Mini Passenger Van. The former is the European MPV of the Volkswagen Sharon, which emphasizes the multi-functional attributes of a "Vehicle" family car, while the latter is the concept of GL8, a typical American MPV, which is based on a "Van" to expand the multi-functional attributes. Different starting points naturally bring about differences in the final product force.
Mini Passenger Van's MPV concept originated from Lesler's Grand Jaylon. As a benchmark, GM also launched a series of models such as the Ozmobil Sihouette and the Chevrolet Lumina APV in the early 1990s, and the Chevrolet Lumina APV should not be unfamiliar to people before the nineties, in China, this car is the famous Chevrolet bullet.
So, what does this have to do with the Buick GL8? Yes, and there is a lot to do with it.
The first generation of OzMobil Sihouette is the rebranding model of Chevrolet Lumina APV, and the second generation of OzMobil Sihouette is the prototype of SAIC-GM BUICK GL8 - in 1997, the second generation of OzMobil Sihouette officially debuted in the North American market, which is also the last wave of new products of the OzMobile brand before it was shut down. Under GM's multi-brand strategy, the Chevrolet version of the second-generation OzMobil Sihouette is called Venture. Yes, the first-generation Buick GL8 is indeed a direct descendant of the Chevrolet Bullet.
In December 1999, SAIC-GM, which was also known as Hai GM at that time, officially released the new Buick GL8 in the domestic market after completing the launch of the Buick New Century. Different from the North American version of the OzMobil Sihouette, after hanging the Buick logo, the first generation of Buick GL8 was based on the family design language of the Buick new century at that time, readjusting the design of the exterior details, modifying the grille to the characteristics of the straight waterfall type, while weakening the aggressiveness of the body kit, so that the whole vehicle presented a standard commercial vehicle atmosphere.
In the domestic market at that time, the impact brought by the Buick GL8 was undoubtedly huge. Slender body and seven-seat layout, completely broke the previous official car field in the "van" inherent image, yes, before the Buick GL8, the domestic official car market is based on Van's light passengers, representative models earlier including FAW Small Liberation, Mitsubishi Delica, Jinbei Haishi and so on. Compared with these products, the comfort and luxury of the Buick GL8 must be a cliff-like generation advantage. The cruise comfort of long-distance driving emphasized by the American MPV, the riding comfort of the MPV and the ease of use under full load conditions have made the Buick GL8 define a new standard for the domestic official car market.
The market is like this, the first comers, will inevitably enjoy the dividends of the first to eat crabs. In 2000, when the 21st century officially arrived, the Buick GL8 was officially launched. With this unique American MPV positioning, it quickly filled the huge gap in the domestic commercial vehicle market. It was also from this time that saicel-GM-Buick GL8 began to establish an unshakable position in the MPV market. It has to be said that the high premium image of the Buick brand has also played an extremely important role in laying the market for high-end business MPV for the Buick GL8. This is why, the first generation of Kia Jawa folding market with the same positioning in the future.
After gaining a foothold in the domestic market, with the shutdown of OzMobil, Buick GL8 officially began the localization of the research and development process. This is due to SAIC-GM's forward-looking establishment of the Pan-Asia Technology Center, making it one of the first joint ventures in China with independent research and development capabilities. In 2003, the Buick GL8 ushered in the first redesign, and the newly redesigned model once again pushed the marketing of official cars to the peak with the positioning of onshore business class. In 2005, buick GL8 Luzun was officially released, this time, SAIC-GM will be a new generation of family front face, in the new car fully landed. The new Buick GL8 Luzun, together with the old Buick GL8, has formed a high-low market pattern. This pattern is the prelude to the current Buick GL8 up and down.
Then, there's the story of the second-generation Buick GL8.
The second generation of Buick GL8: Chinese MPV officially launched
In 2010, the second generation of Buick GL8 officially listed, at this time, from the first generation of Buick GL8 has passed the listing of ten years, do not be too surprised by this time, business use of product replacement cycle is a normal rhythm. In this decade, the first generation of Buick GL8 has been led by the Pan-Asian Technology Center, a large number of localization improvements, forming a self-contained product sequence. This basically already has the prerequisites for the birth of Chinese MPV.
So, the second generation of the Buick GL8, dubbed the "Fathead Fish," debuted a decade later.
Compared with the first generation of Buick GL8, it has completely realized localization research and development, so aside from the Buick logo, the second generation Buick GL8 can be regarded as an autonomous model. In the matter of catering to the needs of the localized market, it is really Chinese the most Chinese.
The positioning of the second-generation Buick GL8 has begun to get rid of the overly rugged positioning of the American MPV, and on the basis of the problems reflected in the first generation of models, more different styles of MPV design concepts have been drawn to create a fusion MPV design. For example, in the definition of the shape of the vehicle, the second-generation Buick GL8 began to absorb more of the Japanese MPV's large-space utilization design of the van. This gives it a physical profile that is closer to that of a sedan. Although a large front end is still retained, the silhouette of this front end has been perfectly integrated into the side visual form dominated by the A-pillar. The nickname of the fathead fish, which is also derived from this.
On the second generation buick GL8, there are several details that can be said to have influenced the design of mpVs in the coming years.
One of them is the design of spatial permeability, the fusion front design mentioned earlier, the shape of the A-pillar and the front line of the car, in the interior of the second generation GL8, forming an atmosphere that keeps the A-pillar away from the driver. The depth of the dashboard has also been greatly increased. In this way, the driving experience of the second generation GL8 has become particularly pleasant.
The second detail of the design is the sinking of the window frame lines in the middle door position. This design is the opposite, on the one hand, the visual focus is guided backwards in the construction of the visual center of gravity of the whole vehicle, and on the other hand, the sense of riding space in the third row is greatly improved. The MPV focuses on this point of the third row of seating space, and on the second generation of the Buick GL8, it is refined by such a clever design.
Stage Summary:
For reasons of length, the story about GL8 ends here first. Speaking of this, we can actually see that the success of SAIC-GM-Buick GL8 is actually the success of localization research and development and the integration of international advanced technology resources. With the successful localization design of the second generation of Buick GL8, the appearance of the third generation of Buick GL8 and the family development of Buick GL8 have become logical. We will make this clear in the next issue.