Tag Archives: Buick

post

Buick Trademarks The Electra Name, Does It Hint At Upcoming Electric Crossover?

Posted on by

Buick’s range in North America comprises exclusively of SUVs including the Envision, Encore and Enclave, but none of them is fully electric. This could change in the near future as the automaker filed a trademark for the Electra name in Canada, a move that could hint at a production version of last years’ fully electric crossover concept bearing the iconic name.

General Motor’s trademark filing from December 20 for the Buick Electra name was posted at the Rivian Owners Forum. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Buick will use the Electra name on a production vehicle, nor that this will be a fully electric crossover, however both of those assumptions sound plausible given the timing.

See Also: 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Electric SUV Unveiled In Production Form

The pictured Buick Electra concept was unveiled last year in Shangai. The prototype brought back an iconic name used in full-size luxury sedans from 1959 to 1990. Unlike its predecessors, the new Electra adopted a sleek crossover-style silhouette previewing Buick’s future design language.

Like the Cadillac Lyric that was unveiled in production form earlier this year, the Buick Electra concept was based on GM’s Ultium architecture with a fully electric powertrain. In the concept, the dual electric motors produced 583 hp (435 kW / 589 PS), while the Ultium battery allowed a range of more than 410 miles (660 km). The production version could use the Lyriq’s 100 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which is good for a more down-to-earth 300 mile (483 km) electric range.

See Also: Buick Smart Pod Is A Futuristic Luxury Minivan Concept

A Buick Electra SUV could be a competitor for the rumored Chrysler Airflow and the Ford Mustang Mach-E, or move upmarket to rival more premium electric SUV proposals from BMW (iX), Audi (e-tron), and Mercedes-Benz (EQE). In any case, the design of the concept would have to be toned down for production, including a more conventional design for the greenhouse and the doors while retaining elements like the overall crossover shape, the Matrix LED lighting units, and the large-diameter wheels.

Buick hasn’t made any announcements for the future product strategy so we don’t know if and when they are planning to introduce their first fully electric SUV. Outside North America, the automaker is steadily increasing its sales in China, where it is also offering a wide range of sedans, SUVs, and luxury MPVs.

post

Buick’s China-Only 2021 GL6 Minivan Gets Mild-Hybrid Powertrain, New Tech

Posted on by

Buick has revamped the GL6 for the 2021 model year and will officially launch it on November 19.

Still a China-only affair, the revised minivan will arrive with a new mild-hybrid powertrain, comprising of a turbocharged 1.3-liter engine mated to a six-speed transmission, a 48V electric motor and battery, as well as a battery management module and hybrid control unit.

Key functions include electric power assist, intelligent charging, energy regeneration and start-stop. The automaker said that, with the new powertrain, the 2021 GL6 offers a 7.6 percent improved fuel consumption, at 6.1 l/100 km (38.6 mpg US). Moreover, the mild-hybrid system has been subjected to over 500,000 hours of testing to ensure its reliability and durability.

Read Also: Facelifted Buick GL8 Avenir Luxury Minivan Debuts In China With Throne-Like Rear Seats

The MPV is also equipped with the eConnect 3.0 system that features a standard 10.25-inch LED instrument cluster display and central console unit that are fully integrated. The system supports over-the-air updates and has voice recognition, cloud-based data sharing, Super ID and smartphone integration, and is highly customizable.

Complementing the upgrades are the air-purifying A/C, Buick Live Sound surround audio, standard panoramic sunroof, rear privacy windows and new three-spoke steering wheel.

Other novelties include the redesigned third-row seats, which are said to offer a more natural seating position. The 2+2+2 seating layout, with first- and second-row armrests, provides segment-leading space, according to Buick. Also, the GL6 has more than 40 storage spaces and a generous cargo area that can be expanded to 1,521 liters (53.7 cu-ft) when folding down the second and third rows.

Standard safety features include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, side blind zone alert and automatic park assist.

PHOTO GALLERY

more photos…

post

Mitsubishi Outlander And Eclipse Cross Are The Slowest-Selling New Vehicles In The U.S.

Posted on by

The two slowest-selling new vehicles in the United States are both Mitsubishis, a new study has found.

During a recent analysis of 4.4 million new and used vehicles sold throughout the United States in the period from March through June 2020, it was discovered that the Mitsubishi Outlander and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross are the slowest-selling new vehicles in the country. On average, it takes 197.7 days for an Outlander and 187.7 days for an Eclipse Cross to sell.

It is hardly a surprise that the Mitsubishi Outlander is so difficult to shift as it has been in production in third-generation guise, with minimal changes, since 2014 and there are many newer and more modern alternatives on the market.

Speaking about it, iSeeCars chief executive Phong Ly said: “The Mitsubishi Outlander compact SUV saw a 76 percent decrease in sales in the second quarter of 2020 compared to 2019, which shows that there isn’t high demand for the vehicle, despite its affordability and unique features like a third-row seat.”

Read Also: Next-Gen Mitsubishi Outlander Will Debut In Early 2021, Go On Sale Shortly Thereafter

It is somewhat of a surprise to see the Eclipse Cross so high up on the list, though, as it is still relatively new. However, like other Mitsubishi models, it is extremely basic and clearly failing to cash-in on demand for SUVs and crossovers in the United States.

The third slowest-selling new vehicle is the Buick Encore with an average sale time of 170 days. It was followed by the Nissan Frontier (158.3 days), Chevrolet Impala (153.1 days), Nissan Altima (151.9 days), Nissan Armada (151.2 days), Cadillac Escalade ESV (151.1 days), Range Rover Velar (150.4 days), and the Infiniti QX60 (149.9 days.)

It sure is not good for car manufacturers to have their new vehicles sitting around for so long. On the flip side, shoppers may find some good savings with such vehicles as dealerships should be eager to get them off their lots.