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Future Buick Enspire SUV Breaks Cover In New Spy Pictures

Last November, GM Authority exclusively reported that GM is working on an all-new compact Buick crossover. Based on the same E2 platform as the Cadillac XT4 and assigned program code E2UB, the future Buick crossover in question will bring the 2018 Buick Enspire concept to life. And today, we have the very first spy pictures of the vehicle.

2018 Buick Enspire Concept exterior 001

2018 Buick Enspire Concept

The Buick Enspire prototypes are wearing tight-fitting body wrap rather than black cladding, telling us that the model is reaching the latter part of the development process. The camouflage makes it rather difficult to see exactly what’s going on under the camo, but the overall proportions are very similar to those of the Cadillac XT4.

2021 Buick Enspire Spy Shots Exterior - April 2019 004

The front grille seems to show the outline of the round Buick Tri-Shield logo with “wings” extending from either side of the badge. There are also rather strange cutouts in the lower portion of the front bumper cover that could be carry-overs from the XT4’s signature front vertical lighting elements.

2021 Buick Enspire Spy Shots Exterior - April 2019 007

The side profile shows a rather long overhang, along with pedestal-style mirrors. Also take note of the window trim, which begins to slope upward aft of the B-pillar. There are also a few character lines on the doors that run the entire length of the vehicle. Both sets of wheels seen on these Buick Enspire testers are straight off the Cadillac XT4.

2021 Buick Enspire Spy Shots Exterior - April 2019 009

Out back, there is a roof-mounted spoiler and a bumper cover treatment that sits almost flush with the hatch, which takes on a rather traditional form. Also take note of the exposed rear windshield wiper (the XT4 features a hidden wiper beneath the roof-mounted spoiler) and the tucked-under dual exhaust outlets (you really have to look closely to see it) – which is becoming a Buick design trait of sorts.

2021 Buick Enspire Spy Shots Exterior - April 2019 014

All prototypes of the Buick Enspire seen here are wearing placeholder taillights, rather than production units. However, that red tape placed on the liftgate between the lights might suggest that the production version will get the unique horizontal lighting setup of the Enspire concept.

2018 Buick Enspire Concept Exterior - Rear Taillights

As we mentioned, the future Buick Enspire is assigned program code E2UB, which deciphers as follows:

  • E2: E2 platform
  • U: crossover utility vehicle body style
  • B: Buick brand

From what we know, the Enspire is one of five new Buick crossovers planned for the near future. It will slot above the subcompact Buick Encore (soon to be renamed to Encore GX) but under the upcoming midsize-plus Buick Envoy (which might be a China-only affair), itself slotting under the full-size Buick Enclave. In fact, the Enspire will be roughly the same size as the Buick Envision, but is expected to be offered as a more premium offering. By introducing the Enspire, Buick could make the Envision a China-only offering.

Vehicle: Encore Encore GX Envision Enspire Envoy* Enclave
Size: Sub-Compact Sub-Compact Compact Compact Plus Mid-Size Plus Full-Size
Positioning: Basic Premium Basic Premium Premium Premium
Market: China only Global Global Global China only America only
  • * – Expected name

GM 2.0L I4 LSY Engine for Cadillac - Exterior View

We expect the Enspire to be powered by GM’s new, turbocharged 2.0L I-4 LSY TriPower gasoline engine mated to the GM 9-speed automatic transmission. The duo makes 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque in the Cadillac XT4. An electrified or full-electric variant is likely part of the planned powertrain lineup.

Expect a 2020 calendar year launch as a 2021 model year vehicle.

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GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

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Comments

  1. Alex, thank you for GMAuthority scooping everyone yet again with the first real-world spyshots of the Buick Enspire! Did the Enspire Concept have such a long hood, too?

    Reply
    1. My pleasure, Christopher!

      I just added photos of the Enspire Concept in the article (at the very end). It had somewhat of a long hood, though it wasn’t based on a production architecture, but was rather a one-off creation.

      The production model is more restricted to the hard points of the crossover variant of the E2 architecture introduced by the XT4, which has a rather long hood. To me, that’s a good thing – since a long hood goes a long way toward masking some of the awkward design points introduced by a front-drive platform in a premium/luxury-level vehicle.

      Reply
      1. It looks very Mazda. This was especially true of the concept but I notice that both Chevy and Buick seem to occasionally borrow from the Kodo toolbox.
        The concept is beautiful and would sell very well. I suspect from the photo that this version will be dulled down.

        Reply
    2. A long hood is usually good except in this case when it’s all grafted on in front of the front wheels so it still looks silly and awkward.

      As far as the vehicle goes, when are we going to be at the saturation point for these things. Every carmaker has eight sizes of SUVs/CUVs and they all look alike and they are all painted white or silver. It used to halfway enjoyable sitting in traffic admiring all the beautiful cars. Now I might as well be surrounded with U-Haul trucks as they are all boring boxes with only a logo to designate the brand. I’m not sure Buick needs another one. They have small, medium, and large . If they are all just utilitarian boxes, small, medium and large would seem to be all that’s needed; nobody needs a medium minus sized box.

      Reply
  2. Could GMC be next in the not to distant future , making four suv’s ?

    Reply
    1. No, GMC will continue with Terrain on D2, which will later be replaced by a VSS-F-based model. There are currently no plans for an E2-based GMC, from what we know.

      Reply
  3. I certainly wish it looked more like the concept than the XT4.

    Reply
    1. How can you say this? These pilot vehicles are completely covered in tape.

      Reply
      1. I’ve zoomed in and out every which way on the original high-red shots, and I still can’t tell how the final design will look. Suffice it to say that any conclusion for or against the design are severely premature.

        Reply
  4. Although it may be a boring badge engineered derivative of the XT4, I hope they build this in Fairfax Kansas. Just say no to Mexico and China!

    Reply
    1. How do you know it’s “boring”?

      Reply
      1. Decades of experience, and it’s another CUV.

        Reply
    2. Jim obviously u don’t know what badge engineering is. Badge engineering is the exact same vehicle with a different grill and basically the same taillights. The XT4 will look totally different than the Buick. It’s called platform sharing. Almost all manufacturers do this. Hondas and Acuras don’t look alike but they share the same platforms.

      Reply
      1. I hired into GM in 2000. I am very aware of what badge engineering looks like. The Key to badge engineering is platform sharing, and that includes all of the parts bin swapping across luxury and non lux brands. This allows manufactures to more easily build multiple vehicles in one shop. There was one shop that built multiple platforms, Hamtramick, last word on that shop was not very good. I am very hopeful GM doesn’t allow the bean counters to slip back into power in Detroit and we end up building boring mid pack vehicles. Sales numbers are leading me to believe that is where we are going. I hope I’m very wrong.

        Reply
  5. Alex, how can you tell this is a Buick (or the Enspire) in general?

    Reply
  6. Another badge engineered vehicle off an existing platform….do they expect to light a new chapter with this? YAWN…..zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    Reply
  7. thank you so much for this article

    Reply
  8. Christ almighty damn! How many f**king CUV’s are we going to squeeze out of one platform?! Whens the GMC coming? and the Chevy too? Lets put the 2.0 in all of em!

    Watch…just watch! this will end up affecting XT4 sales in some way! same powertrain, similar design, with a somewhat luxurious brand image with a cheaper price. NOT GOING TO END WELL!

    Reply
    1. How do you know the design is “similar”?

      And i believe that the Enspire will be the second product on the platform. The XT 4 being first.

      Reply

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