The Buick Electra GS concept, unveiled at the Shanghai auto show, showcases the future design direction of the U.S. brand tailored for the Chinese market. The Electra GS is 208.7 inches long, and its cab-forward body and long, sloping roof make it longer. Buick is showing off a new minivan, SUV, and car. The sedan looks like it’s based on last year’s Electra-L concept. In China, Electra will become a subbrand. From 1959 to 1990, the Buick Electra nameplate was on a number of boxy, stereotypically American cars and coupes. These days, you don’t often see an Electra on American roads. But the name was brought back to life in China for a pair of electric SUVs. One of them was supposed to be the brand’s first EV in the US, but taxes on Chinese-made EVs almost ruined those plans. The Electra nameplate is still very popular in China, even though Buick showed off the beautiful Electra GS concept at the Shanghai auto show to demonstrate its plans to create future electric cars. After this year’s Beijing auto show, which also had the Electra-L concept and the beautiful Electra-LT wagon, Buick had sedans under the Electra name before the Electra GS. The Electra GS looks faster and more dynamic than the more refined Electra-L. The two-letter suffix “GS” is a nod to the Gran Sport and GSX high-performance cars produced by Skylark in the 1960s, making this reference fitting. Later, the emblem was added to a number of high-performance Regal GS cars made between 1990 and 2010. The Electra GS concept’s powertrain details are still unknown, but the car’s form is definitely appealing for a sporty sedan. Buick stated that the inspiration originated from the “mythical centaur.” The design doesn’t quite capture that, but it does have an interesting look. The Electra GS is a few inches shorter than a BMW i7, but their wheelbases are almost the same length (126.0 inches vs. 208.7 inches). The relatively short hood and long, gentle curve to the roofline of the cab-forward design should make the inside of the truck feel bigger. Above the thin headlights up front are complex LEDs that make them stand out. The taillights do the same thing. It has 23-inch wheels, a glass roof that flows into a clean rear spoiler, and clean lines that break up the stylish body. The Electra GS gives off an air of purpose. The inside is lined with brown and black leather, and the dashboard is well-thought-out. It features a 16.3-inch screen designed for use by the front passenger. Situated behind the yoke-style steering wheel are the augmented reality head-up display and the digital instrument panel. The center console still has a row of climate system buttons, even though it has many screens. I’m not sure. We will never see a car with the Electra name in the United States. The Electra E5 SUV, which is already available in China, was supposed to be Buick’s first electric vehicle (EV) for the US. It was supposed to be shown off in 2024 and come out this year. What about Buick? They said last year that the EV was delayed, but they still haven’t given us any new information. The electric SUV won’t be available in the US any time soon unless taxes on EVs made in China are taken off. The Electra GS could serve as a model for manufacturing cars in China. At the Shanghai show, Buick unveiled the concept, revealing that Electra would be established as a new subbrand offering six new plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles. We’ll have to admire Buick’s latest electric cars from a distance, however, as a glimpse revealed three of the new Electras: the Encasa minivan, an SUV, and a sedan that closely resembles last year’s Electra-L concept.
