Auto Shanghai 2025 kicks off this week, so get ready for an influx of new cars from China. Buick is proving once again that sedans still matter in the world’s largest auto market with the unveiling of the Electra GS. This conceptual EV was designed locally by the GM China Advanced Design Center, one of four global studios under the General Motors umbrella.
Whether a production version will follow remains unclear, but for now, it serves as a “design manifesto,” according to SAIC-GM design boss Stuart Norris. The Electra GS is imposingly large, measuring 208.6 inches (5300 millimeters), which makes it slightly longer than a Mercedes EQS. It rides on massive 23-inch wheels and sits on a generous 126-inch (3200-mm) wheelbase.
Photo by: Buick
Despite the sloping roofline that hints at a five-door liftback, this is still a sedan with a proper trunk. Concept or not, it wouldn’t look out of place at a Buick dealership in China. The profile even evokes a bit of Lamborghini Lanzador, which, for a Buick, I’d say it’s flattering. Some might argue the front end looks vaguely Toyota-esque, while the C-shaped taillights have a whiff of Aston Martin.
Conventional side mirrors have been swapped for side cameras, which have been legal on Chinese production cars for a few years now. There’s also a roof-mounted hump, likely housing a LIDAR sensor. The full-length glass roof helps flood the interior with natural light. Inside, Buick is clearly targeting younger, tech-savvy buyers with a massive 16.3-inch touchscreen.
Photo by: Buick
The driver gets a dedicated digital instrument cluster topped by a head-up display with augmented reality. A long center console extends from front to back, meaning there’s no middle seat in the rear. The two-tone interior mixes leather, woven fabric, and metal accents to spruce up the cabin. Since there aren’t any oily bits underneath the car, the Electra GS has a completely flat floor made possible by its EV platform.
We’ll have to wait and see if Buick follows up with a production model. While this sedan is a definite maybe, we do know a big minivan with plug-in hybrid power will be launched locally later this year as the GL8 Encasa. To date, the company has sold over 10 million vehicles in China since launching there back in 1998. Long gone from the US lineup, sedans like the Verano, Regal, and LaCrosse are still sold by Buick’s Chinese arm, making the local lineup far more diverse than what Buick offers in the US.
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Source: Buick
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