Our intrepid spy shooters are at it again, this time in Sweden where they've staked out this heavily camouflaged vehicle testing near a GM facility. It seems clear to us that the sedan is based on the Chevrolet Cruze, but a close look at the semi-covered, slatted grille has us thinking that this could be a prototype of a Buick version. If this vehicle is indeed a Cruze-based baby Buick built GM's Delta II architecture, it will likely be targeted at the Chinese market, where Buick is a top-selling brand.
Before it makes it way to our shores in 2010, the Chevrolet Cruze (check out our first drive of the European Cruze here) is slated to begin hitting showrooms in the UK and mainland Europe later this year and is being billed as a Ford Focus fighter. The Cruze is expected to undercut a comparably-equipped Focus by some 4000 pounds in England.
If this is indeed a Cruze-based Buick, it could be built at GM's plant in Russelsheim, Germany for world markets, while U.S.-spec versions could be built alongside the Cruze at the automaker's Lordstown, Ohio facility. It all adds up to potential GM badge engineering that's too strong to ignore. Dare we speculate that a Buick Cruze could see Voltec internals down the line as well?
An outside guess leaves the possibility of the prototype also being a Cruze-based Daewoo (after all, GM Daewoo is in the family). Possibly a new Tosca sedan?
What's your guess? Is this a Cruze-based baby Buick? And if so, give us your thoughts on its viability for the U.S. market. Could this be the car to help turn around Buick's image in the U.S.? Or is it too late for the struggling automaker on its home turf?
What's your guess? Is this a Cruze-based baby Buick? And if so, give us your thoughts on its viability for the U.S. market. Could this be the car to help turn around Buick's image in the U.S.? Or is it too late for the struggling automaker on its home turf?