Last week, we brought you exclusive new spy shots of the 2020 Buick Encore while a prototype of the vehicle was undergoing testing in South Korea. Today, we bring you a new and exclusive photo of the interior of the future Buick Encore.
Though most of the prototype’s cabin is under wraps, the spy photo shows a partial view of the crossover’s center stack and gauges.
The cluster seems to be similar to the current model, with a digital Driver Information Center (DIC) separating the tachometer on the left and speedometer on the right.
The center stack is where the changes start getting rather interesting: the air vents have been moved to above the infotainment screen, resulting in a new horizontal shape for the vents.
The new HVAC vents in the 2020 Buick Encore interior are followed by the infotainment screen, which is clearly running the next-generation (version 3) of the Buick IntelliLink infotainment system, as evidenced by the row of icons on the bottom of the screen. The five physical controls below the screen (home, previous, next, back, power/volume dial) appear identical to those of the current model.
Hat tip to GM Authority reader Wu for the picture.
The GM Authority Take
Though that is all we can see from this particular spy photo, we must admit that we like what we see thus far. The repositioning of the AC vents and their new shape gives the center stack a feeling of increased width and better proportions. Additionally, it would appear that the infotainment screen is now slightly lower than before, which should make it easier to interact with the touchscreen.
The biggest question for us is whether the 2020 Buick Encore interior will finally gain a true armrest for the driver and passenger, or continue with the current model’s foldable units attached to the seat, which have been criticized for being uncomfortable.
About 2020 Buick Encore
We expect the 2020 Buick Encore to launch in the second half of the 2019 calendar year, likely in the fourth quarter. It will be one of the first (if not the first) GM vehicle to adopt the new GM vehicle set strategy, riding either on VSS-F or VSS-S.
It’s currently unclear where the vehicle will be made. The current model is assembled at the GM Bupyeong Plant in South Korea, but given the growing popularity of crossover SUVs and political uncertainty related to international trade, GM might decide to produce the subcompact crossover in North America, potentially in the United States.
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Comments
The reason they only offer half an armrest is that a full one would make moving items to and from the backseat next to impossible. It’s trickier to fix when you get this.
Being a new platform and possible trade issues could make a UAW bid by the Lordstown plant appealing if time lines match up with a new Cruze.
A lot of things need to line up as GM just can’t plop a line on just any production line with ou5 planning
Did someone suggest that GM can simply “plop a line on just any production line without planning”?
From what we understand, the Encore will be the first vehicle to introduce GM’s VSS efforts, with either VSS-S or VSS-F. A new Cruze is not on the radar yet… which is rather concerning. If it will be, it won’t come for another 3 years after the second-gen Encore.
Some folks here on this site post at times that changes like this can happen in short order. Well they don’t. My comment has nothing to do with your story. I know you know better.
As for the Cruze a number of things could happen in 3 years. It could move to the hatch line in Mex. it could be canceled etc.
As for the Encore it could remain in China. It could start production there for a year or so and then move here as the last gen Regal etc.
There are many options but it will take time was my only point.
We are in agreement here so no need to be defensive.
GM may not even have anything locked down here on the plant or this model yet.
Far from “getting defensive”, I was simply questioning your statement to receive greater clarity. It was necessary in order to understand whether there was something that you inferred from the story, or otherwise. Let’s not make judgement calls based on limited/inferred information 😉
A few other notes: the Encore is built in South Korea (Bupyeong plant):
http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-facilities/gm-korea-facilities/gm-bupyeong-plant/
I suspect that the second-gen Encore will remain there for the initial year or two… and that additional capacity will be added in the U.S. thereafter (Lordstown is a big opportunity for the reasons you mentioned). Once all has been said and done, the model will be sourced from both plants, as demand continues to expand in this segment (forecast to be the biggest opportunity by segment in the CUV space).
Please do not read more into a statement than needed. You read the post here from some of the regulars on the Lordstown situation.
As for the model GM has a track record of introducing models overseas first then here a year or two later. I suspect it is to work out first year bugs in less forgiving markets.
The Cruze is one of those models that was seen in Asia and even Europe first.
As for timing the. Cruze and Lordstown will be facing change as GM will not let this continue as it is.
The plant work force holds favor with GM so they it is likely things could ramp down with a pause but they will be awarded a much higher volume model.
One needs to remember the Cruze was a highly sought after product before it came out as small high volume cars were all the rage and the new Cruze was expected to build on that. But now the market has changed in ways few anticipated.
While Lordstown is old and large it is new enough to be flexible to do many things.
Also with a Transmisdion plant in Toledo and major stamping in Parma it is in a prime location for future use and planning.
Right now I am not sure GM has fully decided what they will do yet. Odds are great the lower volume lower profit cars may not get cut like Ford but they may be moved to smaller and cheaper plants that can make better profits yes be it MEX.
But higher volume CUV models that do not go to central and South America could move into these plants and expand profit more.
Right now most plants physically can build any model. The questions are is it in a prime market where most of them sell and would it maximize profits with a cooperative UAW local.
Note the plants with the best UAW relationships get the prime work.
Dude Alex, slow down. You and Sean are a sensitive bunch but need to respect your readers. And you dont totally know who is writing, let that be a warning.
And if we can skip the annoying political crap Sean writes pretending to be a story this site could pull more readers not alienate. We get it, Sean is butthurt that his lady lost the election. But no amount of whining and crying, and making excuses, is going to change that. Time for Sean to move on, put his big boy pants on, and focus on CARS!
No way in 2020 this is built at Lordstown. As Alex Luft says Lordstown has the Cruze build until 2023, promised by management and the UAW. My bets are on Korea or Mexico producing this. When a vehicle is this far into development the shop that will build it already knows and is prepping to build pilot models. As for Lordstown, if you worked there you would see that any vehicle taller than the Cruze will take major investment and expansion to build there. With recent comments between Senator Brown and Mary Barra I doubt Lordstown will see any product larger than a compact or midsized car. I’m anticipating a BEV Model 3 type sized. GM keeps saying they will release 20 BEV or hybrid vehicles by 2023…where?
As for Lordstown a number of things could happen.
The plant really is oversized and could have been closed long ago. Mr Broen is not going to have much to say on the future here.
But the ace in the hole is the local union. They have an excellent relationship with GM and worked with them well.it this continues they will be rewarded.
The Cruze at the time was a 4 Star reward to the plant and workers but unforeseen market changes made it a liability now.
As for the plant was the largest in the US and I believe that still holds true. It was opened in the Mid 60’s and when I was young it first built a Impalas. Over the years it has built a number of models including Monzas and vans at the same time so it is flexible.
If the could survive the Vega they can survive this if the GM and UAW relationship survive as it is now. This opens many possibilities.
Also GM is not killing the car in the near term it may be tough on the workers for a while but I expect them to survive.
What ever goes here will be a volume model as the plant needs volume due to size,
Would wish that General Motors designed their center stack to feature a LARGER display console as trying to look for instructions on the small display is difficult, it would also make changing radio stations easier as with a bigger display comes larger buttons on the touch sensitive display panel.
In this case, bigger is not better.
There have been many UX and UI experiments done to see what impact a larger touch display in a vehicle has… and even with modified interface components to be larger, most people don’t have a better experience on a bigger display. Ram, Volvo and Tesla should start seeing this as part of the JD Power APEAL study/rankings… as these vehicles have larger displays (as you recommend), but people aren’t seeing a tangible benefit from them – outside of looking mighty impressive.
Besides, the steering wheel controls is what’s used by the driver most often (about 60 percent of the time). 30 percent of the time, the tactile “hard” buttons are used (the ones below the screen)… and the remaining 10 percent goes to the on-screen controls “soft button” usage.
I hope the infotainment screen is large enough.
The Volvo XC40 has a nice setup. It also has LED headlights and tail lights standard. Hope Buick is doing that with the new Encore, as the Envision is kind of a cheaper feeling product.
I hope it gets a real armrest that can be used by both driver and passenger and a real console with lid.