Buick LaCrosse rebranded as Daewoo Alpheon in South Korea
Fri, 30 Apr 2010
General Motors may be shying away from badge engineering here in the United States, but that doesn't mean the company is giving up its old ways in other parts of the world. Daewoo recently unveiled its new Alpheon sedan at the Busan International Motor Show in Korea, and the car is as identical as identical gets to the 2010 Buick LaCrosse we all know and love. The Korean automaker says that its newest luxury cruiser is "based on the same architecture" as the mid-size Buick, though we would be more inclined to say Xerox couldn't come up with a better copy.
Under the hood, Korean buyers will find the same mid-range 3.0-liter gasoline V6 that American buyers enjoy. As near as we can tell, the only significant difference is that the Tri-Crest badge has been ditched in favor of a Daewoo piece. At least they went that far.
The Alpheon/LaCrosse joined the debut of the Orlando MPV on stage at Busan. According to Daewoo, the sedan will hit dealers mid-way through this year. Hit the jump for the full press-release.
Related Gallery2011 Daewoo Alpheon
[Source: Daewoo]
GM Daewoo's All-New Luxury Sedan Debuts at 2010 Busan International Motor Show
Alpheon is GM Daewoo's entry into the upper-midsize segment
2010-04-29
Busan, Korea – GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo) unveiled its much-anticipated luxury sedan, the Alpheon, at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show today.
"With the introduction of the all-new Alpheon luxury sedan, we have added another attractive model to our product portfolio and our first entry in the fast-growing upper-midsize segment in Korea," said GM Daewoo President and CEO Mike Arcamone. "I am confident that the Alpheon will surpass the demands of the most sophisticated luxury sedan buyers in Korea."
Another highlight of the GM Daewoo stand is a seven-seat compact multi-purpose vehicle, the Orlando show car, which is making its first appearance at an international motor show in Asia.
In addition, GM Daewoo has on display the Lacetti Premiere and GentraX race cars, and a Matiz mini-car artistically wrapped in pink.
With "Advancing Style" as its theme for this year's Busan International Motor Show, GM Daewoo has 18 vehicles on display that showcase its automotive industry design expertise.
Alpheon - Stylish Luxury Sedan
The Alpheon is based on the same GM global architecture as the Buick LaCrosse, one of the three finalists for 2010 North American Car of the Year.
GM designers and engineers from Asia, Europe and North America targeted the luxury sedan as a global product that would meet the highest quality and performance standards in the most sophisticated markets.
At first glance, the Alpheon's sculpting design flows in all directions, giving the vehicle a tightly wrapped appearance and a fast, coupe-like profile. Its dynamic and elegant body styling is highlighted by sharp side lines, short overhangs and fenders wrapped precisely around large wheel housings, giving it the presence of an upscale large sedan (2,837-mm wheelbase and 4,995mm body length).
With a unique emblem on its front "waterfall" grille, the Alpheon becomes a stand-alone luxury product brand in GM Daewoo's product portfolio.
The innovative design philosophy continues in the Alpheon's interior. The flowing shape of its instrument panel design offers a distinct, confident and upscale impression. The refined look is an integrated center stack design that incorporates ice-blue light-emitting diode (LED) ambient lighting along with premium infotainment features. Adding to the use of soft-touch materials and low-gloss trim panels rather than traditional wood applications is indicative of exceptional and luxurious craftsmanship.
Powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 engine combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Alpheon will ensure responsive performance when it is launched in the second half of this year in Korea.
Orlando - Versatile Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle
The Orlando show car combines the versatility of a sport utility, a family van and a wagon body style in a single execution. Based on the architecture of the Lacetti Premiere, the Orlando show car signals GM Daewoo's entry into the multi-purpose vehicle segment and is slated for sale next year.
This distinctive look is complemented by flared fender lines, which define a "wheels-out/body-in" stance that visually lowers the higher roof line. A muscular look gives it the activity-oriented appearance of an SUV, yet it offers dynamic ride and handling, easy entry and great fuel efficiency thanks to its car-based architecture. A generous 2,760-mm wheelbase and a wide front and rear track provide interior roominess that is best in class for a compact family van.
With adaptable, theater-style seating in three rows for up to seven occupants, the five-door Orlando is designed to meet the needs of family users. Whenever load carrying becomes a priority, the spacious cabin can be quickly transformed into a large flat-bed cargo area.
The Orlando show car is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine that generates powerful output of 150 horsepower and offers outstanding fuel economy.
GM Daewoo Stand Activities
During the Busan International Motor Show's public days, GM Daewoo will host various entertainment activities on its stand. They include concerts and a Children's Day celebration. In addition, photo sessions with racing models and customer consultation services will be provided on a daily basis.
GM Daewoo Auto & Technology was established on October 17, 2002. It has five manufacturing facilities in Korea as well as an assembly facility in Vietnam. In addition, GM Daewoo provides market and brand-specific vehicle kits for assembly at GM facilities in China, Thailand, India, Colombia and Venezuela. In 2009, GM Daewoo sold in Korea and exported more than 1.5 million units, including CKD products. GM Daewoo now produces vehicles and kits that are offered in more than 150 markets on six continents. More information on GM Daewoo and its products can be found on the company's website at http://media.gmdaewoo.co.kr/.
By Zach Bowman