The Buick Wildcat EV concept made it obvious that Buick is headed in a new direction in terms of not only branding, but also the styling of its vehicles. On the styling end, GM Authority has now learned that future electric Buick vehicles will feature flush-mounted exterior door handles.
This new styling element for future Buick EVs is intended to deliver a small upside to a vehicle’s aerodynamics, while also delivering a high-tech aesthetic and modern feel. For those not aware of the new handles, they sit flush with the body panels when not in use. When the handles are needed, they’re presented (either automatically or via a button push) for either pulling or opening, as needed.
Buick Electra E4 is an upcoming compact Buick EV
These flush-mounted door handles can be seen on the recently-revealed Electra E5 and leaked Electra E4. Other electric Buick models in the marque’s Electra range will follow suit in featuring a flush door handles.
Electric Buick models aren’t the only GM products to get flush-mounted door handles, as the Cadillac Lyriq already has an early version of these. However, the Lyriq has an early version of these. As GM Authority was first to report, the Cadillac Lyriq will get a different set of door handles in the near future that will allow them to “present” themselves to the user.
Cadillac Lyriq with the first iteration of the flush-mounted door handles
Speaking of the Electra E5, this upcoming crossover will be the brand’s first all-electric vehicle to utilize GM Ultium battery and GM Ultium Drive technology, in addition to being the first member of Buick’s upcoming Electra family of zero-emission models. This new lineup with wear Electra badges followed by a numbered from E1 to E9, which suggests that the E5 will be positioned smack-dab in the middle, with the E4 slotting below it.
GM revealed the Buick Electra E5 late last year, after it was leaked in China a month earlier. The model rides on the GM BEV3 platform. Aesthetically, the upcoming Electra E5 adopts many styling cues from Buick’s Pure Design language heralded by the aforementioned Wildcat EV concept.
Buick Electra E5 is an upcoming electric Buick crossover of midsize proportions.
Meanwhile, some details and photos about the Electra E4 leaked earlier this week in China. GM Authority was the first to report that the model was green-lit for production after the Electra-X Concept unveiled back in June. As the leaked photos clearly reveal, the production model will stay true to the concept in terms of overall design, including the model’s general shape, proportions, and body style.
Comments
Hope they are heated as Tesla found out flush door handles don’t always work in cold snowy climates
I can open my door from the App if the Handle freezes. Have never had my Door handle completely frozen as of yet as the Car Preconditions for me prior to needing to use it. It is an easy click on the app to heat everything up that is not a Scheduled Departure during the Day as those are handled automatically.
The app only unlocks the door(s) it doesn’t work the mechanism to open the door
That is not true.
You can unlatch (Open) the Door from the App if the Door Handle is Frozen.
How, if the handle is frozen shut can an app command override a frozen mechanical device, does it disconnect the handle and it’s linkage?
@Ynot
The Doors are electronically operated. From the app you can unlatch the Driver Door (meaning open it) even if the Door Handle is Frozen Solid.
I don’t know why the door handles just stay “out” and only retract when driving. You get the aerodynamic benefits while keeping the practical aspects of a handle that can easily and quickly operated when the car is stopped. That way you also don’t have to worry as much about handles that get stuck closed due to ice – of course that could still be a problem if they are stuck closed while driving.
Or even just an override feature you could hit so they stay in out position if the owner is expecting snow/ice.
Gotta make it like a Tesla.
Tesla?
Just another reason not to get an EV. I want to grab a handle to open with or without gloves. One pull and your open, now it will be two motions, one to push the get the back half out then grab that and pull. As others stated, an ice storm will cover the entire handle and your stuck. It’s when form over function wins.
I like to know how many more miles per charge do flush handles give you?
Yeah it e we oilfield be hard to open that door when coated with ice and snow.
I believe on the Ioniq 5 (Hyundai EV thing) the handles stay out unless the thing is locked, then they retract to flush.
Pass. Just one more thing to worry about and deal with. No need for it as the amount of drag is so little and they could design non-moving ones that will be more reliable and less costly overall. Seems like people are always trying to reinvent the wheel when the wheel is perfectly fine.
If they were smart, they would go back to a handle like the SLS/STS had in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Kind of flush, easy to pull, looked nice and they worked every time.
I’m not impressed. “Pure” doesn’t look premium but does look a lot like recent Volvo design by Geely. Maybe this hits a Chinese automotive sweet spot; however, I much preferred Mark Adams’ design choices and how the Pan Asian Design Center aligned their designs, like Avista, with his vision as head of Opel and Buick design.
Avista lived on as an EV currently being sold by SAIC affiliate MG. They say it’s not the same design but it is ever so slightly tweaked on the front end. Evidently it’s been reviewed by Top Gear and they say it’s a good EV
The 69-72 Pontiac Grand Prixs had a somewhat flush door handle design way back then, and freezing was a known problem on those cars.
Handles that are flush? Or, flush-handles?