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Buick GL8 Flagship Concept Previews Next-Gen MPV For China

General Motors has just unveiled the all-new Buick GL8 Flagship Concept at the 2021 Guangzhou International Motor Show in China, alongside the innovative fully autonomous Buick Smart Pod Concept. After previewing the vehicle as an even more luxurious future version of the model, the automaker debuts the GL8 Flagship Concept as a preview of Buick‘s next-generation full-size MPV.

The new Buick GL8 Flagship Concept made its world debut as a preview of the next evolution of the model that’s currently the benchmark for premium MPVs in China, the only country where the American brand sells the nameplate. As such, the concept vehicle features the format and lines of the upcoming fourth-generation Buick GL8 that will elevate the luxury experience of the brand’s flagship in the Asian country.

“The Buick concepts are pioneering, digitalized and more luxurious than ever,” said General Director of Buick Sales and Marketing at SAIC-GM, Cesar Toledo, in a statement. “They articulate Buick’s ongoing transformation and fulfill our commitment to create intelligent mobility spaces that are sustainable, exclusive and fully connected to elevate every aspect of the customer experience,” he added.

Created by GM’s Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) in Shanghai, the all-new Buick GL8 Flagship Concept introduces the next evolution of the “sculptural beauty” design language and represents a vision of the brand’s first all-electric MPV. Although the manufacturer only limited itself to saying that the concept “integrates global resources,” the GL8 Flagship Concept is the first Buick vehicle developed on the Ultium EV platform.

The body of the Buick GL8 Flagship Concept features organic design lines that evolve the proportions of an MPV, adopting a lower front end and a less raked windshield. Its futuristic styling is highlighted by the massive glazed area from the front Buick logo to the rear spoiler, a rising “wave” waistline that wraps around it, and next-generation Matrix LED headlights that give it a commanding appearance.

Inside, the all-new Buick GL8 Flagship Concept features a modular, first-class four-seat layout that – along with the absence of B-pillars – allows the cabin to serve as a luxurious open space for all occupants. Most striking is the driver-centered 30-inch screen, the steering wheel-mounted touchscreen and the floor rail system that allows both the seats and the floating control module to be moved.

The all-new Buick GL8 Flagship Concept is the first preview of the next-generation full-size MPV, which could arrive in calendar year 2023 to elevate the brand’s luxury experience by introducing an even more equipped version of the range-topping Avenir trim level. It will be the first Buick vehicle to offer the most advanced version of V2X intelligent mobility technology and the Super Cruise autonomous driving system.

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Deivis is an engineer with a passion for cars and the global auto business. He is constantly investigating about GM's future products.

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Comments

  1. oi tudo bem

    Reply
    1. Free pangolins with every purchase!

      Reply
  2. New Buick face? Seems somewhat bland.

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    1. Nothing is more bland than new Encore face!!! China GEM Encore has probably the front fascia but Envision is well done, too.
      Sometimes I like Buick more than Cadillac when it comes to CUV space.

      Reply
  3. Can GM possibly design any uglier vehicles. Go to Europe and learn design and while your at it pick up some engineering tips. Keep listening to Barra, you will be Chinese shortly

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    1. … well … about your phrase “Go to Europe and learn design”

      > I did… In 1995 when was at GM B asked a permission and went to Italy to Study Design
      > After think the contrary… Europe Guys must go to California to learn Design .. indeed wanted at Pasadena
      > Today think all globe must go to China to learn Design… see the elegant interiors ORA cars are…

      Please do not come to Germany, German cars since 2010 have all very bad designs with lot of errors,
      if you come you ‘unlearn’ … but agree ArtCenter College of Design Pasadena is not anymore the same

      Reply
      1. MK
        But in the USA BMWs are flying out of the dealerships. Americans love the pig nose grill and fake tailpipes. Especially on the FWD reworked Mini small crossovers. They are literally flying out of the dealerships

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        1. I know, here too, it is what u only see on roads… this does not means taste of people improved

          whatever BMW does… it sells a lot just because has the BMW helix badge

          from 1998 to 2004 worked intern in several BMW projects at BMW FiZ München, during my time at Rücker AG and MSX, BIW and interior of E46/5 Compact, roof and pillars and airbag systems, E70 X5, E46/2 E63 Series 6 baggage floor area during Bangle designs… and so on, speed concept car, simple motorcycle concept etc but means nothing … after 20 years with another van Hooy.. guys means not many thing are really good, still all the same, but Quandt family has really good luck in doing whatever they do another € 10 000 000 000 into Suzanne Klatten or Stephan Quandtt accounts… they sell like no other do… it is really impressive

          again… one thing is whatever you have today, you sell like water… other thing is good design styling as you had in 1930ies, 1940ies and 1950ies years.. it is why take only pics of those epoques, not cars of today or since 10 years and future will be worse, imagine how a BMW Rolls Royce Spectre will be if you see the trend of Black Bagde ghost, but sells, the narco traffic new riches buy a lot to go in front of disco on ocean drive or in Broadway or in Beverly Hills or in Dubai or Shanghai, Hong Kong… it is how our world is, only money producers

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      2. Stellantis would happily sell Russelheim back to GM along with Mark Adams and his crew.

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        1. ,,, yeah… but no… but do not understand opel either … a car u see nothing in streets as new models … just one here and there but they are still there,,,, maybe live in a parallel world… do not know ,,, my major worries … are the end of road of chrysler and lancia in stellantis hands

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  4. ugly

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  5. So that’s where the Tesla stylists went after they were fired.

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  6. How f**king ugly. Keep it in China. Might as well kill off the line and move everything to China. Seems that’s the only market that matters. I have 3 GM high ticket CARS (2 Cadillacs & a Corvette) and when I replace them, I’ll have to look at CARS other than GM since their only focus is China, SUV’s CUV’s and pickups. The 3 CARS in GM’s lineup (Malibu, CT4 & CT5)

    The Celestiq is going to go belly up for a $200K price.

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    1. … recommend… keep with your nice CT4 for more than 20 years.. all will only be worse .. u will see

      which colour is your CT4 ? if it is green, should be nice with all chromes

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      1. Fortunately, my Cadillacs are both CT6’s. A 2020 loaded Premium Luxury AWD With Super Cruise in Shadow Gray and a 2017 Premium in Phantom Gray AWD with Super Cruise. The Vette is a C5 Quick Silver convertible.

        I have had a CT4 and a CT5 as loaners and they aren’t anything like a real luxury car is. The CT4 will only fit 2 adults, the back seat is worthless. Don’t get me started on the anemic turbo 4 cylinder. The CT5 isn’t much better. Both ride horribly feeling every tar strip in the road. Living in the snow belt, I wouldn’t think of taking them out after a good freeze and thaw cycle when all the potholes come out. My sister has a new Malibu and you couldn’t give me one of them.

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        1. … the CT6 is a good design … probably the last ‘good design’ generation
          ,,, just the chrome frame must have been also in front and rear window,, not only side
          but all cars are so unfortunate sine the 1990ies… if the CT6’s were all paid, would keep them ever

          future designs will be mountain down

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  7. — did you see how small is this tiny steering wheel comparing to the huge seat ?

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  8. So this may be thr Buick version of the Cadillac Lyriq.

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  9. Synthetic oil ,gas hello BMW and Porsche .Maybe Gm has really lost their way.Going all electric isn’t the solution ,it’s alright .But environmentally the acid ,heaven for bind and when a battery explodes. You know what enough said .Gm I love your cars ,do ,did .Look out here comes more Tesla sht .How much more powerful and cleaner can ice. be look how far it’s come 100 years of evolution and it will still put electric cars (booring) to shame. Maybe a electric car can be alright sometimes but not all the time. PEACE LOVE UNDERSTANDING ——

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  10. Give that some sliding doors and the Japanese would love it as a lux mini-van.

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  11. In case a few have yet to figure it out, Buick is primarily a Chinese car brand, that happens to sell some CUV’s here. Go visit the Buick China website and you will see, they have a large range of vehicles in many sizes and price points.

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    1. ,,, have told already, Buick was once USA, but GM once transferred to China… Buick in China has some 30 vehicles offered and Buick America only 6 equal SAVs… it is why GM Advanced Styling Studio in California does all to China like this GL8 and future products…

      Reply
  12. Hideous. Please, keep this one China.

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  13. This product is horrendous but it’s also easy to see it has been designed for Chinese taste and for Buick’s home market. I see absolutely none of Buick’s American DNA in its design; it’s all China. Americans thusly won’t like it but gm doesn’t care much about Americans or the American market except to sell mid-westerners $70,000. pickup trucks and SUVs. Buick left America a long time ago when Buick City closed and the brand left Flint, Michigan. Buick is a Chinese brand. If anyone doubted that, this is proof.

    Reply
    1. ,,, as told above… GM should shut down the lasts models to USA ………………… personally see this van a Padmé Amidala Character but maybe is only me

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  14. The side profile view is very good and it just works. It wouldn’t take much “refinement” before marketing. The rear view looks like the last 12″ of a clay model fell off & no one noticed. 😝

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  15. That car is ugly. Wake up GM

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  16. One knows ugly, then you have uglier, then ugliest, and this is the epitome “f*ugliest”… It’s like one was inventing a design totally aimed at spontaneously triggering a massive vomitory… A total disgrace for Buick.

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  17. This would give Buick showrooms here much needed choice of vehicle for the U.S.A. The back view is very Rivera like look to it.

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  18. We don’t really even need to have an opinion on it. The only thing that matters is “Will it sell in China?”

    Reply
  19. As a minivan fanboy (currently on my 7th), I can assure you that is seriously ugly. Shockingly ugly.

    Reply

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