2008 Beijing Auto Show: Buick Resurrects an Invicta That Straddles Two Worlds

STORY TOOLS
Print this	Save this	Digg this
Email this	Most popular	del.icio.us

BEIJING — The Buick Invicta, a new concept luxury vehicle that draws heavily on the Buick Riviera and Velite concept cars, appears destined to be one of the showstoppers at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

Its significance extends far beyond its silhouette, however. General Motors makes a major point of saying that the Invicta — the resurrection of a storied Buick nameplate that goes back 45 years — was jointly developed in China and Michigan. This pattern could mark the future design direction of the Buick brand, which is expected to share more models between those two powerhouse global markets.

The five-passenger Invicta, which means "invincible" in Latin, is powered by Buick's first direct-injection turbocharged engine. The 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder power plant produces 250 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Buick says its designers drew inspiration from the Riviera concept, as evidenced by the Invicta's short overhangs and sleek lines. The chrome vertical waterfall grille is borrowed from the Buick Velite concept. Buick's signature portholes are located on the hood of the Invicta. Other exterior cues include 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, a full glass roof and a striking "AluStone" paint job. Buick says this "warm beige tone contains wafer-thin flakes of aluminum that reflect light to emit a liquid gold appearance."

The Invicta rides on a 114.5-inch wheelbase and has an overall length of 194.2 inches.

The cabin has wood and polished aluminum touches and Ice Blue ambient LED lighting on the instrument panel.

What this means to you: The Invicta looks to be an image enhancer for the Buick brand, as well as a product with lots of cross-cultural appeal. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent