"The only one that can surpass GL8 is the GL8 with a green card. On April 24, at the Buick brand day, Zhuang Jingxiong, general manager of SAIC-GM, shouted to the outside world. This time, the GL8 Luzun PHEV brought by Buick has launched a total of six and seven seats, with a total of 3 configurations and 4 models, all of which are Avia versions, with prices ranging from 359,900 yuan to 419,900 yuan.
In the Chinese MPV market, Buick GL8 has an irreplaceable position. The Buick GL8 was first launched in China in 2000, filling the gap in the domestic MPV market in one fell swoop. In the following 24 years, Buick GL8 was the annual sales champion in China's MPV market. Even if it is as strong as the Toyota Sena, it has not been able to shake the status of the Buick GL8. However, with the entry of independent new energy brands such as Denza D9, VOYAH Dreamer, Zeekr 009, Xpeng X9 and Li MEGA into the MPV market, the position of Buick GL8 has been challenged, especially the rapid increase of Denza D9.
According to the query of passenger car sales data, for the whole year of 2023, GL8 sales will be 118,668 units, a year-on-year increase of 0.29%. During the same period, the sales volume of the Denza D9 was 106,567 units, a year-on-year increase of 1696.78%, of which the sales of plug-in hybrid models accounted for the majority of absolute sales. As a model that has been on the market for less than two years, the Denza D9 has narrowed the annual sales gap with the GL8 to 12,000 units. In this case, a change in GL8 is imminent.
"Although we arrived a little late in the plug-in hybrid market, the late-mover advantage allows us to better understand the pain points of the current plug-in hybrid models. Zhuang Jingxiong said that the new GL8 Luzun PHEV launched this time is equipped with SAIC-GM's new generation PHEV intelligent plug-in hybrid system. This system is self-developed by SAIC-GM and Pan Asia Automotive Technology Center, and directly addresses the user pain points of current plug-in hybrid products such as "deterioration of feed-in performance, inconsistent driving quality, and battery safety risks".
The all-new GL8 Luzun PHEV is equipped with a 1.5T turbocharged engine and a plug-in hybrid system, mated to a 2-speed DHT gearbox, with a combined maximum system power of 292 kW, a combined maximum torque of 580 Nm, and a 0-100 acceleration time of 7.8 seconds. It is equipped with a 24.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and has an all-electric range of 138 km and a CLTC combined range of up to 1,370 km. In addition, the new car also provides a 3.3kW external discharge function, which is compatible with common electrical appliances and tools, further enriching the user's outdoor travel scenarios.
As a comparison, the single-motor version of the Denza D9 DM-i (priced at 339,800 yuan to 359,800 yuan) has a comprehensive total system power of 221W, a maximum torque of 571N·m, and an acceleration of 9.5S from 000 km/h. In terms of range, the DENZA D9 DM-i is available with 20kWh and 40kWh lithium iron phosphate batteries, with a CLTC pure electric range of 103km and 200km respectively, and a combined range of 970km and 1050km.
From the perspective of power and range, in the GL8 Luzun PHEV Premium Edition and D9 DM-i 1050 Premium Edition, which are basically the same price, the former has the advantage of power, and the latter has the advantage of range. Although the price of the D9 DM-i is a four-wheel drive model, and the GL8 Luzun PHEV is still a rear-wheel drive model, the parameter performance of the GL8 Luzun PHEV is not inferior to the four-wheel drive version of the D9 DM-i. The D9 DM-i all-wheel drive system has a maximum power of 299kW, a maximum torque of 681Nm, and an acceleration time of 7.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.
Another key change in the GL8 Luzun PHEV is in intelligent performance. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AN EYEMAX 30-INCH CENTRAL DISPLAY AND A FULL-COLOR HEAD-UP DISPLAY WITH A SNAPDRAGON 8155 CHIP. And that's not all. GL8 Luzun PHEV is also equipped with an intelligent voice assistant supported by the Wenxin Yiyan model, which can accurately respond to user needs, coupled with a large number of digital ecological content covering music, video, games, and Weibo, bringing a comprehensive and advanced intelligent interactive experience.
The GL8 Luzun PHEV has been hardware pre-embedded with the NOP intelligent navigation function, which will be gradually opened in the future to achieve L2+ intelligent assisted driving. Relying on high-precision maps, this function can realize cruising, following driving, and lane centering on high-speed, elevated, and urban expressways, and provides advanced assisted driving functions such as automatic on-ramp and off-ramp, switching driving roads, identifying and handling forks, and avoiding according to the navigation path. Like 360° high-definition panoramic image, transparent chassis, high-definition streaming media interior rearview mirror, etc., all GL8 Luzun PHEV models are standard.
In addition, while inheriting the safety performance of the GL8, the GL8 Luzun PHEV has been further improved in terms of interior comfort. All models are equipped with Nappa leather seats as standard, and the second row of new Feather Sense airline seats. In terms of function, it supports six-way aviation headrest, four-way electric lumbar support, electric leg rest, three-speed heating & ventilation, and three-level adjustable 8-point massage. In the middle of the seats, a set of moving islands is also made, and a built-in thermostatic refrigerator can realize the sliding of the first and second rows of seats.
At the same time, the GL8 Luzun PHEV improves the air tightness of the vehicle and reduces and isolates wind noise by optimizing the exterior styling and applying acoustic glass of 5mm or more, reducing road noise by means of low flow resistance and high sound absorption headliner, and adopting hydraulic damping mounts and exhaust active silencer valves to further improve the NVH performance of the system and bring a quieter cabin riding experience.
In the past year, despite the fierce offensive of new energy MPV models such as the Denza D9, the GL8 still maintained a monthly sales level of nearly 10,000 units. With nearly 24 years of historical endorsement and word-of-mouth accumulation, the GL8 "electrocution" is new, which will effectively attract a wave of customers to return. With the GL8 plug-in hybrid as the starting point, SAIC-GM will accelerate the transformation of new energy sources. At the same time as the release of the all-new GL8 Luzun PHEV, the GL8 pure electric concept car was also unveiled.
Zhuang Jingxiong said that this pure electric GL8 will bring users a full-scene MPV experience in the near future, together with the Century CENTURY, GL8 Luzun PHEV, GL8 ES Luzun, and GL8 Land Business Class. At the technical level, Buick will also bring CTP battery architecture, quasi-900V high-voltage platform, 5C rate battery cells, solid-state batteries, silicon carbide electric drive and other brand technologies.
At the Beijing Auto Show, Buick also brought two pure electric concept cars, ELECTRA-L and ELECTRA-LT, Cadillac launched its second pure electric model, Aoge, priced at 239,700 yuan-269,700 yuan, and Chevrolet launched the Explorer Plus, which is also equipped with SAIC-GM's new-generation PHEV intelligent electric plug-in hybrid system, priced at 149,900 yuan-179,900 yuan.
According to the plan, from this brand day to 2025, SAIC-GM will launch 12 new energy models. Zhuang Jingxiong believes that the second half of the competition in the auto market is intelligent transformation. At the same time, SAIC-GM will cooperate with local Chinese technology companies, aiming to be "a joint venture smart electric brand that best understands Chinese users".