- Buick just unveiled the all-new Electra-GS concept for the Shanghai Auto Show.
- It’s all-electric, has four doors, and was created by GM’s China design team.
- It’s the latest in a series of Electra concepts, offering a glimpse into Buick’s future.
Buick has just unveiled a glimpse of what might shape its design direction for the next few years. Named the Electra-GS, it’s a four-door electric sedan that, according to Buick, “draws inspiration from the mythical centaur”, which was a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse. Designed in China, it’s still unclear whether Buick is considering any kind of production run.
“The ELECTRA GS is more than a concept. It’s a design manifesto,” said Stuart Norris, Chief Design Officer at SAIC-GM and Vice President of GM China Design. “It’s a bold statement that Buick will continue its success in the electric era with sculptural dynamism, cutting-edge technology, and uncompromised sophistication.”
More: Buick Regal Gets An Update In China, Adds Sporty GS
What does that look like in practical terms? Mostly a sleek sedan featuring a heavily slanted rear window with design elements that seem to blend influences from the BYD Seal and Han. That makes sense, given that China is a major market for Buick. The automaker doesn’t provide any specifics about the powertrain, only noting that it’s electric.
Really, though, the focus here is on styling. Buick says it measures 208.7 inches (5,300 mm) long with a 126-inch (3,200 mm) wheelbase. That’s not only longer than both the Tesla Model S and the Lucid Air, but also the long-wheelbase version of the current Mercedes S-Class. Again, that makes sense, as Chinese customers often prefer long-wheelbase cars. The cabin is full of luxury appointments, too.
Inside, It’s All About the Details
Visibility inside? No problem. Buick says the low dash makes sure you won’t be doing any acrobatics to see through the windshield. The seats, meanwhile, are heavily contoured to hug your body. It also gets two separate screens: one for the driver, serving as the instrument panel, and another that doubles as the infotainment system for both the driver and front passenger.
It’s all very stylish, but whether it’s too subdued for anyone’s tastes is open to debate. At the very least, it’s not screaming “look at me!” but more like, “I know I’m classy, but I’m too cool to show off.”
This concept comes after what appeared to be a great start to the year for Buick. It was finally selling cars in North America, where it desperately wants to regain market share. Of course, President Trump’s tariffs hurt the American automaker since it imports many of its cars from Korea and China before selling them in the States.
Interestingly, this is only the latest of several Buick Electra concept cars. Last year, it introduced the Electra-L and Electra-LT concepts, and in 2022, it announced the Electra-X concept. It’s unclear if the automaker will build another 20+ Electra concepts to fill out the rest of the alphabet or if Buick will build a genuine smashing success in the USA first.
