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Buick Envision To Feature New-Gen Six-Speed Transmission, Unique All Wheel Drive System

By now, you may already know that the upcoming 2016 Buick Envision crossover will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 Ecotec engine with auto Stop-Start technology making 256 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. But the drivetrain of the new compact CUV will also deliver two notable new features: a new transmission and a unique all-wheel drive system.

The Envision will feature a new-generation six-speed “DSS” transmission that, according to Buick, “offers smooth gear shifting while significantly reducing fuel consumption in city driving.” That’s all we know about the gearbox at this point.

Meanwhile, the Envision’s AWD setup is rather uncommon. Not only will it be able to distribute power appropriately after detecting tire slippage, but will also be able to automatically distribute power between the front and rear wheels as well as between the two rear wheels “in a faster manner”, thereby helping “significantly enhance steering stability and driving capability”. The system’s capabilities sound similar to those of Audi’s high-performance quattro system with torque vectoring, which modulates torque front-back and left-right.

Keep your eyes peeled to GM Authority as we learn more about the Buick Envision and the D2XX platform on which it is based.

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Comments

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  3. The more advance AWD was needed as the present model was way out of date to many other systems. Torque Vectoring is the way to go.

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  4. Outstanding design and features , this division has a strong business plan and is the benchmark for GM . They pick their models carefully and are hitting the market in the right market segments . I’m not sure who the lead managers are , but you and the rest of the employees are to be congratulated !

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  5. GM has done a decent job, and the last one of the best AWD system is still very fast and gearboxes .This awd system, and it is now one of the best in independent tests. and not that much compared to someone else if only Qattro and Qattro is the new GM AWD ​​system outperformed ..
    The AWD system is the best and quickest transmission is one of lack of success. GM has all the chances to make the market more pareimaid places where the entire team will continue the good work, and cooperation among all entities.
    GM US-EU-CHINA .US- England-Germany it is unique in the engineering industry.
    I hope that GM keeps getting better and better

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  6. meanwhile, have had difficult times in the economy, and also a difficult time for GM’s management. However, major changes have taken place recently, and it seems that things are going to get better again.

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  7. I assume this is a very good 6-speed transmission, but really? A 6-speed new in 2015 in something bigger than a subcompact car?? This seems really backwards. No matter how good it is, it will be a really tough sell for the marketing guys. With the Jeep ads boasting 9gears, GM’s marketing team will have to convince the buying public that theirs is not inferior when it has THREE fewer gears.

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    1. The GM loyalists will still buy it. Its amazing how GM can bring debut a new model ( like the Holden styled vehicles which are poor in itself) and it doesn’t matter the stale style the loyalist line up to buy them. The GTO and the current SS are styling cues from the 20th century and the GTO is gone and the SS will also be gone. GM knows the loyal GM buyer will buy one but then the well dries out and the model is history. Check out pricing on the new SS and its $50k, are you kidding me.?

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      1. “Check out pricing on the new SS and its $50k, are you kidding me.?”

        If the price of something scares you, you were never in the market for it.

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        1. You guys crack me up. Why do these 9 speed Jeeps/Chrylsers get no better gas mileage than the 6 speed GM counterparts? Perhaps it’s diminishing returns…? You simply do not need a 9 speed transmission for maximum efficiency, it’s marketing gimmicks at best…some people get this, some don’t. Don’t get me wrong, there are gains to be had in improving transmissions, but more gears isn’t what they need.

          Also, the SS is 45k and the best sport sedan you can get at that price. If you don’t like its styling you won’t want the car, but get past yourself and understand that your opinion on styling is not a fact, it’s an opinion. The world does not infact revolve around you and other people do think differently. Another car that competes in the SS’s performance/dollar category is the Charger SRT8 which is 50k and doesn’t handle / ride nearly as well…it’s straight up archaic as its chassis was designed for a almost 20 year old Mercedes…but it has 8 gears as of this year, so you probably think its cutting edge. While I think it looks and feels extremely cheap, especially on the inside, your opinion might be different. The SS shines in its interior, chassis and suspension.

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          1. Also, I did not say that a 6-speed IS inferior to a 9-speed. The idea is that the buying public will SEE it as being inferior. That is a much worse problem than it actually being the case.

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          2. I hate to say it, but as of now, I would much rather have a Charger SRT8 in my driveway. The SS is a great start, but it is still lacking in power and gets horrid fuel economy for daily driving use. If GM decides to make a 2016 SS, I hope they plop in an LT1 as then I would buy it in a heartbeat. The SRT8 also looks like no other and is clearly a performance-aimed design whereas the SS looks a lot like a 5-Series and that it would only offer a 3.6 under the hood (not hating, just stating the truth).

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  8. Don’t get me wrong here, though. The styling is really good. The size is right. The engine is right. The interior looks fantastic. There just seems to be that one thing that will let them down here and cost some sales. As a GM fan, it’s frustrating.

    Reply

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