Auto China 2008: Buick unveils the Invicta concept car

General Motors Corporation has unveiled its new Buick Invicta concept car at Auto China 2008 in Beijing. GM design teams in North America and Shanghai developed the Invicta jointly.

The four-door, mid size sedan with a coupe-style roof line represents a significant design milestone in Buick's history, with designers from the virtual reality centers in Warren, United States and Shanghai fused the best ideas from both cultures to develop the Invicta for the Chinese market, the company stated.

Invicta is powered by Buick's first direct injection turbocharged engine, a four-cylinder powerplant, which produces 250 horsepower (186 kW) and 220 lb-ft (298 Nm) of torque. The engine is powered by a six-speed automatic transmission for maximum fuel efficiency.

Buick, one of the oldest brand names in the world, is sold in China under Shanghai GM and is one of the most popular selling vehicles in China. The North American brand , which started its Chinese operations in 1999 offers 8 models, which has sold 332,115 cars in 2007. However, Buick sales in the United States have been shrinking, with only 185,792 cars sold in 2007, which is less than China.

This is the second consecutive year that GM's China operations have unveiled a Buick for Auto China. The automaker unveiled the updated Buick Riviera coupe at Auto China in Shanghai last year.

The annual Auto China show, which is the biggest auto expo in Asia alternates between Beijing and Shanghai.

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