Last year, a prototype of a midsize GM crossover fooled us into thinking that it’s a three-row Chevy Blazer. Luckily, we caught on and figured out that the model in question is actually a future Buick crossover. As such, we initially referred to the vehicle as a “baby Enclave“. A few months thereafter, we opined that the vehicle in question will be called Buick Envoy. We’ve seen mules of this so-called Buick Envoy undergoing testing on various occasions wrapped in heavy camo, but today we captured it wearing production headlights.
Buick Envoy spy photos
As you can see, the LED headlight signature of this future Buick CUV looks quite similar to that of the Buick Enclave, while being right at home with other Buick models that feature the “wing” signature. And though the rest of the front end remains under heavy camo, the design lurking underneath appears to be quite different from what we see on the current Enclave.
2019 Buick Enclave
About Buick Envoy
The Buick Envoy is believed to be an upcoming midsize Buick crossover SUV based on GM’s C1 platform. The vehicle is assigned program code C1UB, which denotes:
- C1 – C1 platform (pronounced “Chi”)
- U – Utility (for utility vehicle)
- B – Buick
The Buick Envoy is expected to be of “midsize plus” proportions with three rows of seating for six or seven passengers. As such, it should have similar dimensions as the new Cadillac XT6 and upcoming three-row Blazer XL. The future Buick Envoy is expected to be offered in China in place of the Buick Enclave, which is too large for that market. It’s unclear whether the new CUV will be offered in the Americas.
Supporting the notion that the model will be called Buick Envoy is that GM filed to trademark Envoy with the U.S. trademark office in December 2018, but there is zero evidence of a future GMC crossover above the Acadia.
Stay tuned to GM Authority as we bring you the latest Buick news.
Comments
If its unclear whether the Buick Envoy will be sold in the Americas, does the fact that GM filed the trademark “Envoy” with the U.S. Patent Office mean anything? (As opposed to a Chinese or overseas office?) In what country were the spyshots taken? (Does that mean anything?)
Both very good questions. We explored both signals and the answer remains unclear still.
Shots were taken in the US, by the way… but that’s not an indicator of availability due to GM’s global vehicle development ops.
So both Buick and Chevrolet are getting 7 seat crossovers on short wheelbase Chi . . . Is it possible that LWB Chi will be discontinued?
Buick’s version of the Blazer as it makes you wonder whether GMC will get one also in a couple of years.. and whether any of these new CUV will get a Ecotec L83 5.3L V8.
You shouldn’t be wondering if they will get a V8. That answer is a pretty solid “no.”
1. GMC DOES has a version of this platform and it’s called the Acadia
2. It is physically impossible to mate a platforms front wheel drive architecture to a longitudinal engine such as the Ecotech 3 V8’s. They would have to develop a FWD varient like they did with the LS4 in the Impala of years past. Assuming GM will be putting a V8 in a car developed to have a 4cyl or 6cyl, transverse mounted Powertrain is not resonable!
“2. It is physically impossible to mate a platforms front wheel drive architecture to a longitudinal engine such as the Ecotech 3 V8’s.”
It’s not physically impossible. It’s just seldom done. I point to the Chrysler LH platform, the Acura/Honda Vigor, Acura Legend, Acura 3.5RL, and the Renault 21, 18, 16, and 12.
But while those weren’t available with a V8 engine, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation Oldsmobile Toronado was. Lets not forget the GMC Motorhome that essentially shared the same drivetrain as the Olds.
But it is not physically impossible to mount a longitudinal engine in a FWD car.
Gotcha, however I was getting at the point that it makes little to no sense for GM to engineer an all new platform for this. And it is impossible to do so on current, already existing platforms without heavy r&d and reworking. Financially it’s a waste, and based on current trends, a V8 CUV would flop in comparison to turbo 4’s and 300+hp 6’s
And as a lover of displacement with a 17’ Silverado and 17’ Camaro SS, it makes me sad but V8’s don’t make sense in this application.
Just what Cadillac needs: another competitor from Buick.
This is why GM’s CUV strategy, especially with Cadillac, continues to frustrate me.
How, other than name, will this be differentiated from the other midsize C1XX CUVs?
The CUV market is beginning to get saturated, and one only needs to look at the Infiniti QX30 or Jaguar’s F-Pace and E-Pace to see that every CUV won’t sell, or bring in a decent margin.
I’m thinking the Envoy may be the vehicle to replace the Envision in the U.S. market. We know how those unions dislike an import from China, and maybe the Envoy would be of a more meaningful size to better match up with a potential Buick crossover buyer, wanting something more like an Acadia?
We do know that many Buick dealerships share the GMC line as well. With this, looking at the new front end of the 2020 Acadia, notice how they gave it a more rigid front grill treatment. Maybe this was done to make the Acadia and Envoy have more of their own identities, less likely to compete against each other?
I’m just guessing.
Replacing the Envision is my thought, too. Buick needs a bigger, better 2 row the size of the XT5. The C1’s may be better, but the Lambda’s 3rd row ruined the comfort of the 2nd for adult legs because the seat mechanism raised the floor.
It’s difficult to tell from the photos how long the rear end extends past the wheel. The apparently squared off roofline suggests 3 rows.
But cancelling Envision leaves an even bigger gap above Encore except for the polarizingly-styled Terrain at Buick/GMC dealers.
*Buick Envision selling like crap*
Buick: “LeTs InTrOdUcE AnOtHeR CUV”
not to mention; this one looks even more like the XT6 than the rest of the Buick lineup! HOW STUPID!!!!!
Badge engineering in full effect. Everyone gets a 3 row SUV with marginal differences between it and Chevy. Plus a premium price tag.
Axing cars, everyone getting the same platform, it’s 2008 all over again. Now we just need $4 buck gas again and we’ll have come full circle for another bail out.
I was at the Cleveland Auto show this weekend and every GM stage was a ghost town. The imports though (and surprisingly CDJR) there were lines to sit in cars…yes..cars.
GM goofed up. They were pushing popular products in the early 2010s and well, here we are now.
Oh goody another CUV in an over saturated climate of them. All gas has to do is go back up to 4-5 bucks per gallon and GM’s next request for a bailout won’t be far behind.
So Buick, GMC, and Chevy will all have short and long versions of the same CUV platform.
On one hand, talk about saturation.
On the other hand, the development costs are 95% sunk, so I kind of understand why GM is doing this.
We wanted a short version of the Enclave, but since that didn’t exist, we bought a 2018 Acadia Denali. GM would have had higher customer satisfaction and probably higher ATP had they sold us that Enclave-Light instead.
It would be great if the Envoy was more an upscale design of the Blazer which would allow the Acadia for those who want something that is designed for off road. This would give GM 4 midsize models for all levels of buyers and to compete with German, Japanese, and Korean automakers. Do you think the Envoy could be debuted at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show during Thanksgiving week and for sale around the second quarter, 2020?