Shanghai GM to launch Buick LaCrosse hybrid prior to Olympic Games Hawaii

Shanghai. December 17 (Gasgoo.com) ¨C Shanghai GM will launch its Buick LaCrosse hybrid vehicle in Chinese market prior to the Beijing Olympic Games next year, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"The Buick LaCrosse hybrid will be based on Aura Green Line hybrid engine which has been showcased at the Guangzhou Auto Show,¡± an official from Shanghai GM told reporters.

Equipped with 2.4L Ecotec engine, the Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid is the first hybrid model that General Motors Corporation launched this year. The automaker said the Aura Green Line sedan will deliver at least a 25% fuel economy improvement over the non-hybrid Aura XE for a premium of less than $2,500.

The move will make Shanghai GM the third joint venture automaker to deliver a hybrid vehicle in China following Toyota and Honda. Toyota Motor Corp is currently the only carmaker that builds a hybrid car in China. Honda started to sell imported Civic hybrid in China starting late November.

Last week, China's first local brand hybrid vehicle Jiexun rolled off assembly in Changan Automobile. The hybrid vehicle can save up to 20 percent fuel consumption compared with conventional vehicles and its tailpipe emission can meet EU-IV standards.

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