[Introduction: At present, new energy MPV has become a hot spot in the auto market, and a number of independent brands have knocked on the door of the high-end MPV market with new energy, high configuration and intelligence, and the share of joint venture brands that dominate the fuel vehicle market has been continuously eroded. Although the brand image of Buick GL8 in the commercial MPV market is still deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, it still responds decisively in the face of the future-determining competition of new energy. On the eve of the Beijing Auto Show, at the Buick Brand Day, SAIC-GM unveiled the all-new GL8 Luzun PHEV. Will GL8 be able to maintain its former status as the king this time?
Written by Guo Zi, edited by He Zi
In the wave of Chinese brands relying on new energy to hit the high-end market, the business MPV market has flooded into a large number of players in a short period of time. A number of models such as the VOYAH Dreamer, Denza D9 DM-i, and ZEEKR 009 have had a huge impact on the business MPV market with their new product forms of high-end new energy MPV models. Compared with traditional fuel MPV models, new energy MPVs have attracted a large number of users by virtue of their smoother, higher performance, more economical and other advantages that are more suitable for the needs of high-end MPV users.
If Buick GL8 wants to continue to have the right to speak in the market, it must keep up with the pace of MPV new energy. On April 24, on the Buick brand day of SAIC-GM, Buick brought a new luxury business class with a long range of plug-in hybrids - the new GL8 Luzun PHHV, with a price range of 359,900-419,900 yuan.
The all-new GL8 Luzun PHEV not only has a hybrid powertrain, but also refreshes the luxury and intelligent ceiling of the GL8 family, and strives to prove that only the green GL8 can beat the GL8.
At the same time, Buick announced the plan of pure electric MPV, which will use the most cutting-edge new energy technologies such as quasi-900V high-voltage platform, 5C rate battery, solid-state battery, silicon carbide electric drive, etc., to bring a comprehensive evolution experience to the pure electric MPV market. It is expected that by 2025, SAIC-GM will bring 12 new energy models.
In the face of sudden changes in the MPV market
As the pioneer of domestic business MPV, Buick GL8 has always been the vane of China's business MPV since its launch in 2000. Despite the continuous competition of similar products of joint venture brands or benchmark products of Chinese brands, it still cannot shake its position, and has been the top MPV sales champion for more than 20 consecutive years, and has been recognized by more than 1.7 million users.
However, the electrification of China's auto market is accelerating, and with the share of gasoline-powered vehicles falling below 50% in March, China has officially entered a new normal dominated by new energy. Although the GL8 brand power is still strong, the market shift has also increased the pressure on the GL8 sharply.
At the same time, the new energy MPV market continues to be hot. In 2023, domestic NEV sales will increase by 177.3% year-on-year to 240,000 units, of which plug-in hybrid MPVs will become the main force of growth, with sales reaching 164,000 units, a year-on-year increase of more than 430%. In 2024, the strong growth of new energy MPVs will continue, with new energy MPVs accounting for 2.3% of new energy vehicle sales in the first two months, exceeding the 2.1% share in the whole of last year.
Relevant data shows that the sales of GL8 in the first quarter of this year have lagged behind the direct competitor Denza D9 DM-i, and many models such as Xpeng X9 and VOYAH Dreamer have continued to perform strongly. This has completely disrupted the competitive landscape of the commercial MPV market.
Therefore, Buick launched the GL8 Luzun PHEV, which can be said to be burdened with the continuation of the family's glory.
Break into the era of new energy MPV and look for a sense of calm
Relying on a deep understanding of the business MPV market, the GL8 has been closely following the changes in market demand. Today's GL8 Luzun PHEV is upgraded with a new technical system, which is expected to break through in the new energy MPV market.
The hybrid system equipped with the GL8 Luzun PHEV is SAIC-GM's new-generation PHEV intelligent plug-in hybrid system, which adopts a 1.5T hybrid engine with a deep Miller cycle high-efficiency combustion system, which can achieve an 11% improvement in fuel economy, and a new generation of plug-in hybrid battery that can quickly charge the battery without lithium separation and have a cycle life of 3,300 cycles in the whole life cycle.
This power system makes the GL8 Luzun PHEV have a smoother and more comfortable driving control, and the performance has been comprehensively improved to 292kW comprehensive power and 580N·m comprehensive torque, which can complete 000 acceleration in 7.8s, and overtaking acceleration of 80-120km/h can also be completed in 5.2s, which is more suitable for the use of business MPV. At the same time, the excellent economy also allows it to achieve an ultra-long range of 1370km, which meets the needs of low car costs and long-distance business travel.
In addition to excellence in hardware, SAIC-GM has applied AI intelligent control algorithms to the power system for the first time to ensure that the acceleration performance, driving quality and battery safety are consistent throughout the vehicle's use scenarios and life cycle. Such product characteristics play a very important role in the special use requirements of high-strength and long-mileage business MPVs, which fully demonstrates SAIC-GM's deep understanding of business MPVs.
The GL8 Luzun PHEV takes the comfort that GL8 is best at, and the luxury configuration of the cockpit has been comprehensively improved.
The GL8 Luzun PHEV has not been left behind, equipped with an L2+ level assisted driving system, and the NOP intelligent navigation function can be used in 347 cities across the country after OTA in the future.
Nappa leather seats are fully standard and are just a basic operation. The new feather sense aviation seats in the second row have been comprehensively upgraded to the skeleton, material and function, with a fit of nearly 90% for the human body, and the six-way aviation headrest, four-way electric lumbar support, electric leg rest, three-speed adjustable 8-point massage and other functions are readily available. The six-seater model is equipped with electrically controlled ventilation and heating in all three rows of seats, hoping to meet the needs of consumers in all aspects.
At the same time, in response to the needs of everyone's refrigerator color TV, it is equipped with a ceiling-mounted 15.6-inch smart screen in the second row, which supports Android ecosystem and wireless screen projection. The new Concierge Leader Island can be moved in the front and rear rows, ensuring space flexibility and allowing second-row passengers to use equipment such as air conditioning and heating boxes, wireless charging and more.
The greatest luxury is undoubtedly safety, for which the GL8 Luzun PHEV adopts a ten-horizontal and six-vertical cage armor body structure, the body of key areas such as A-pillar, B-pillar, front door hinge column, and sill plate is made of 1700MPa height steel, and the main and co-pilot are equipped with double knee airbags and front and rear integrated side curtains that protect more than 50% of the area.
The GL8 Luzun PHEV is not only a power-up version of the GL8 built by SAIC-GM to keep up with the new energy trend, but also a new attempt by SAIC-GM for the high-end MPV market with increasingly high requirements, based on SAIC-GM's more than 24 years of experience in developing GL8 and its in-depth insight into business MPVs, as well as the technical strength of SAIC-GM's new generation of new energy platform, it has achieved a comprehensive upgrade of product strength.
Comments
For more than 20 years, the GL8 has continued to evolve. Now, the GL8 Luzun PHEV breaks into the new energy source. With the appeal of the GL8 family in the MPV field, the GL8 Luzun PHEV will expand the plug-in hybrid market segment and bring new increments. In addition to the GL8 Luzun PHEV, SAIC-GM also successively released the Cadillac IQ Aoge, Buick ELECTRA-L Pilot Concept Edition, ELECTRA-LT Hunting Coupe, as well as Chevrolet Explorer Plus, Explorer EV and other new energy models, which were fully "electrocuted", announcing that SAIC-GM accelerated the transformation and upgrading towards electrification and intelligence. With its unique American genes and China's new energy supply chain system, SAIC-GM hopes to continue the glory of the era of fuel vehicles to the new era of intelligent electricity.
(This article is the original of "Heyan Reading Cars", and may not be reproduced without authorization)