Just the Facts:
- GM Daewoo unveiled the Alpheon at the 2010 Busan Auto Show.
- The Alpheon is a rebadged version of the Buick LaCrosse.
- GM Daewoo said the car will go on sale in the second half of the year.
BUSAN, Korea — GM Daewoo, the Korean subsidiary of General Motors, has unveiled a new midsize sedan, the Alpheon, here at the 2010 Busan Auto Show. It is a virtual clone of the North American Buick LaCrosse.
The Alpheon is being positioned in the Korea market as a luxury model at the top of the Daewoo range. It is fitted with a 3.0-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. GM Daewoo said the car will go on sale in the second half of the year.
Daewoo's current flagship model is the Veritas, a rebadged version of the Holden Statesman from Australia.
The LaCrosse went on sale last year in China, where it is badged as a Buick.
Inside Line says: GM continues its bizarre and confusing global branding scheme. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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koushiro_izumi says:
04:42 PM, 05/01/2010
"Alpheon" may become a brand of it's own. If you look closely on the picture showing the side of the car, you can see something that says "CL 300" on the back of it.
wwss56 says:
01:01 PM, 04/30/2010
dear mediabias.... I VERY seldom "Blog"... I just couldn't take any more comments from Paul and Anita... I had to sign up and go to bat for GM... you hit the nail on the head.. bias... GM "especially" can't do anything right ...even when they write reports on ANY of GM current catagory leading products... the NEGATIVE tone just always comes through.... bizarre... but not really...
Owner Camaro SS ... TrailBlazer SS...
Burning Fossil Fuel For Fun!!
scottyscooter says:
09:06 AM, 04/30/2010
Man, the interior of the LaCross looks soo nice.
This car is a home run and I think that it makes a lot of sense to try and sell it everywhere because when you get an excellent product out there, I think it goes a long way to building up your customer base.
crazyb02 says:
05:29 AM, 04/30/2010
When will GM learn that rebadging is the cancer that nearly lead to its demise? When will they learn? It is ashame that they have yet to learn from their mistakes.
lifebylight says:
04:21 AM, 04/30/2010
haha, that's one helluva Daewoo
mediabias says:
11:39 PM, 04/29/2010
The reason the reporter calls GM's branding strategy "bizarre and confusing", is because he hates Big 3 vehicles. Him and his wife Anita (who also writes for IL) both used to write for the Detroit News. They both got ran out of town because readers got sick of their constant Big 3 bashing and orgasmic love for Asian makes.
mirde98 says:
05:57 PM, 04/29/2010
A rebadge Daewoo sold as a Buick here in the US? A rebadge Buick sold as a Daewoo in Korea? The other way around? Huh?
jscion says:
05:44 PM, 04/29/2010
OK and....???
wwss56 says:
04:23 PM, 04/29/2010
Interesting... for years now... the cry has been... "GM needs to change, GM needs to change"... Sales are off the charts in China, doing well in South America and North America ... again for years the cry has been... why don't they bring the "great vehicles" from Europe to North America... well things are changing and NOW its bizzare... whats bizzare is GM can't seem to get a fair shake in some columns... bizzare
autojunkie2 says:
01:13 PM, 04/29/2010
Nope! This IS the LaCrosse and not the Insignia. The Insignia has different body lines running on the side of the car. Kind of a reverse-scoop. LaCrosse has the elongated checkmark body line.