We’ve learned a ton about General Motors‘ electric vehicle programs thanks to its EV Day event this week. From high-end products like the upcoming GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq to more affordable options like the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, the automaker should have an EV for almost everyone by mid-decade.
One brand that has not been overlooked as part of this electric vehicle push is Buick. GM said this week that Buick would debut a new electric vehicle before the end of the year, but we’ve now learned a little bit more about the premium brand’s EV roadmap.
Buick Enspire Concept
According to Autoblog, Buick actually has two electric vehicles in the works, both of which are crossovers. One of these vehicles is an electric compact crossover that looks “suspiciously like the Buick Velite” that recently leaked out of China, Autoblog said. The other will be a larger mid-size model with a similar-sized footprint to the Chevrolet Equinox. Both of these Buick crossovers will also feature a 30-inch wide combination instrument cluster/infotainment display, though it’s not clear if this will be standard or optional equipment. This technology sounds similar to the 38-inch combination display screen found in the 2021 Cadillac Escalade.
The compact crossover will likely have a lot in common with the upcoming 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV– another electric compact crossover GM has in development. For this reason, we believe the compact will utilize GM’s BEV2 platform that currently underpins the Chevrolet Bolt EV, rather than the newer BEV3 platform.
The mid-size crossover may also use the older platform, but we’d expect it to leverage the superior BEV3 platform instead. Autoblog said the mid-size model was similar in stature to the Cadillac Lyriq – a vehicle that we know will use BEV3. For this reason, the compact will likely arrive first, followed by the mid-size at a later date.
As for the styling of the vehicles, The Detroit News claimed the front end of both appears similar to the Lamborghini Urus, featuring slit-like LED headlights and big, open grilles. This will apparently be an all-new design direction for Buick and sounds as though it will result in the vehicles appearing a bit more aggressive than they currently do.
GM also gave us a rough idea of what to expect from future Buick EVs with regard to styling in the way of the Enspire concept – a battery-powered mid-size design study that debuted at the 2018 Beijing Motor Show.
Look for the first electric Buick crossover to debut before the end of the year.
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Source: Autoblog/The Detroit News
Comments
Like the looks of the one in the pictures. Wonder what the real world one will look like?
It looks real nice but I am not to crazy about the oversized tires/wheels.
Agreed on looks of the Enspire, but they’ll ugly it up for the production Enspire. No way will GM produce something with such sumptuous curves.
This is General Motors CEO Mary Barra showing how the company that started the idea of an electric CUV gets rewarded as they’re almost last in getting to possibly bring the Enspire concept vehicle to production.. by 2025 if Barra is being truthful as she said there would be 9 new electric vehicles by 2025 several years ago and the only electric vehicle in current production is the Chevrolet Bolt.
Buick is part of GM, but besides that, the idea of a crossover electric was there long before the Enspire was created.
Originally the Volt was going to have a crossover version. Then some management genius axed it because he didn’t think crossovers would keep growing (this is back while the Volt was still in development).
What could go wrong?
A lot
Relative to its peers:
Mediocre styling
Low range
Poor performance
Overpriced
Let’s hope the General can get it all right the first time
Gotta love this: “GM is building towards an all-electric future because we believe climate change is real,” GM CEO Mary Barra said in a press presentation.
C/C exists ONLY in computer models… So she and the board are betting the farm on a theory… China is moving EV so thats probably the real reason but she is such a pathetic excuse for a CEO… Reuss should be fired too…
I agree
Climate change exists, period. The world’s climate is already warming and becoming more energetic.
complete ev imo is not a good path but if that’s the direction hope their built in America
Just so. EVs excell for some uses but aren’t the right tool for every job.