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Buick Re-Launches Park Avenue Name with RWD Zeta Sedan in China

As we've reported on several occasions, General Motors' biggest brand in therapidly growing Chinese auto market isn't Cadillac or Chevrolet, but rather it's Buick. Across the Pacific, Buick's lineup is significantly different than what it sells here; many of its products are re-badged GM-Daewoos or Holdens. What's interesting is that despite this, Buick's sales are actually stronger than its North American division, and the brand has a good, up-market image to the point where GM's Chinese arm is starting to have an effect on what all the vehicles will look like, not to mention the future image of the brand.

Buick of China is trying to restore some of the brand's heritage to its new products. No, you won't be seeing any Chinese-built Buicks on this side of the Pacific anytime soon,

The rear quarters appear extremely comfortable; each of the four main seats features a massage function. (Photo: Buick)

but the names are going to be familiar. For instance, at Shanghai Buick showed off its brand new 2+2, gullwing sports car concept dubbed the Riviera. Although, for a car that consumers will be able to purchase in Chinese dealerships, Buick will be building the new Park Avenue, its flagship sedan.

The Park Avenue also marks the spread of General Motor's Zeta chassisinto Europe. Essentially, this full-size sedan is a slightly restyled version of the long-wheelbase Holden Statesman (a relative of the Pontiac G8), and a carbon copy of the Daewoo L4X Concept, which

The interior looks impressive too... all that wood and leather. (Photo: Buick)

was shown a few weeks ago at the Seoul Motor Show. Where the previous Park Avenue sedan that was sold in North America was considered on the large side of midsize, at 203.7 inches in length with a 118.4 inch wheelbase, the new car is nearly as large as a long wheelbase Audi A8.

Like Cadillac's China-only SLS sedan, the Park Avenue has an interior that would shame our North American market products. The interior design is sleeker than any existing Buick, and looks to be more elegantly finished with top quality leather and wood. The list of luxury features for this car includes massaging seats for all four passengers, a rear-seat entertainment system, a navigation system and Bluetooth cellphone connectivity.

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