Did you know Buick still makes a minivan?

Well, they do!

I bet you’re wondering why you haven’t seen one on the road or at a dealership in years. It’s because they’re currently only being offered in China. And what is the name of this successful and attractive cousin of the discontinued Terraza? It is none other than the Buick GL8.

Forget the stereotypical family minivan image. Imagine a business executive, a government official, and a wealthy retiree. What are they driving? In China, they’re driving the Buick GL8. The GL8 is hugely popular in China as well as Buick as a whole. The Buick brand is synonymous with luxury and status.

As well as being comfortable and spacious, the GL8 interior is classy and functional. The interior amenities include two-tone genuine leather seats, premium 10 speaker Bose sound system, electric sliding door and rear door, panoramic sunroof, 7 inch touchscreen in dash, 10.2 inch HD display in all headrests with DVD, and 220-volt electric socket for laptops just to name a few. Options under the hood include either a 2.4 liter four cylinder or a 3.0 liter V6 SIDI with a six speed automatic transmission. The exterior has a fresh, modern look with sculpted lines and sharp edges running the length of the body while maintaining the Buick standard with the classic waterfall grille. The GL8 has LED headlamps and has LEDs integrated into the tail lamps and along the rear bumper.

With all of that said, I believe the most important question to ask is, “Would Americans buy the GL8?” Is it a viable move for Buick to bring it?s minivan sensation into the U.S. market? We know tales of Buick’s minivan past and needless to say, they are all out of production. The marketing strategy on the GL8 would need to showcase the metamorphosis from past minivan models. Another issue would be the target demographic. With the high price point of the GL8 could it be successful outside of the upper-middle class? Buick might have to offer a not so luxurious base model with a lower price point to reach more buyers. The U.S. minivan market has dwindled over the past 10 years. The Town and Country/Caravan would be the only U.S. made competitors for the GL8. Who’s to blame for the drop in minivan popularity? Why SUV’s of course. Could the GL8 hold it’s own against America’s beloved SUVs?

We know minivans have been identified with family life in the U.S. for almost as long as they?ve been around. Is it possible for that image to change? Could the GL8 be the next Town Car chauffeuring executives?