2016 Detroit Auto Show: More Buick Envision Updates

A few days ago we reported that the 2016 Buick Envision would be sold in All-Wheel drive format only. This was both true and false.

After the reveal of the 2016 Buick Avista concept, I sat down with a Buick representative to discuss the Envision for a bit. It is true that the 2016 model year of the Buick Envision will only be available in all-wheel drive, 2.0T engines, and premium group packages. However, it will be a short model run. The 2017 updates will follow a few months after launch when an additional engine, front wheel drive, and additional packages will be made available. Even after those updates, the 2.0T will still only be available with all-wheel drive.

In China, the Envision offered with a 1.6 liter turbo and front-wheel drive. The rep from Buick indicated that it was unlikely that this powertrain combination is going to make the swim across the Pacific, so expect something in between the 200 hp 1.6T and the 260hp 2.0T offerings. We'll note that GM currently does not have any 4-cylinder offering in between those two powerplants in terms of power, so it could end up being an engine that is not yet released.

We will have more details for the 2016 and 2017 Envision closer to launch time.

You can follow all of our 2016 Detroit Auto Show Reports here.

Buick Press Release from November 18 is on Page 2

• Clean-sheet approach yields luxury compact crossover designed for confident ride-and-handling performance
• Dynamic interior with high level of standard content, great attention to detail and latest technologies
• Strong, efficient performance includes stop/start feature on 2.0L turbo engine
  

LOS ANGELES – Buick today introduced the 2016 Envision – an all-new, technology-infused luxury compact crossover that expands the brand’s portfolio with segment-challenging driving dynamics, advanced technology, connectivity and Buick’s trademark interior acoustics.

It is a global vehicle, designed from the ground up as a Buick luxury compact crossover. It goes on sale in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2016.

“The all-new Buick Envision is a modern, confident and responsive luxury compact crossover that combines the brand’s core characteristics with performance features never seen on a crossover,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick. “That dynamic experience behind the wheel is complemented by Buick’s signature luxury, whisper-quiet cabin and connectivity features that make it a crossover that customers are going to love as drivers and passengers.”

Vehicle highlights include:

• LED daytime running lamps and rear LED accent lights
• Efficiency-enhancing features including upper grille shutters that open and close to enhance aerodynamics on the highway and a body structure incorporating mass-reducing high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels – and a lightweight aluminum hood
• Standard heated front seats and standard heated rear seat
• Sliding, 60/40-split rear seat, offering the flexibility of more legroom for second-row passengers
• Kneeling cushions in the second-row seat enable a flatter load floor when the seat is folded
• 252-horsepower (186 kW) 2.0L turbo engine with stop/start technology, matched with Buick’s first crossover vehicle application of HiPer Strut front suspension and Buick’s first active Twin Clutch AWD system
• Standard Safety Alert Seat and Lane Keep Assist, as well as available Advanced Active Park Assist, and Surround Vision 360-degree camera system
• IntelliLink with 8-inch color touch screen, Text Messaging Alerts and Siri Eyes Free
• Available OnStar with 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot
• Programmable power liftgate with hands-free operation
• Active noise cancelation.
  

· Nineteen-inch aluminum wheels are standard.

The Envision is also designed to carry more than its competitors, with more rear cargo space than the Acura RDX and the Lincoln MKC. It’s also roomier for passengers, with more rear legroom, front and rear shoulder room, and overall Environmental Protection Agency-rated passenger volume than the MKC.

“The Envision rounds out a lineup of crossovers that has helped change customer opinions about the brand,” said Aldred. “Enclave was the cornerstone of the brand’s renaissance, while the Encore was an early entry among small luxury crossovers and has been an unqualified hit for Buick since its introduction.”

Design rewards with attention to detail
Designers and engineers were given a clean slate to develop the Envision and they employed supercomputer technologies to help make the most of the architecture for strength, stiffness and quietness. Every aspect of the vehicle’s design and its effect on refinement was taken into consideration – even the available panoramic moonroof was designed for lower wind noise when open.

“The Envision represents a compromise-free design that enabled the development team to do the things luxury customers appreciate,” said Judy Brennan, chief engineer. “Our attention to detail yielded tremendous strength and stiffness of the platform, which is evident in exceptional ride and handling characteristics.”

The clean-sheet design and stiff structure helped eliminate an estimated 22 pounds (10 kg) of add-on material to create whisper-quiet interior acoustics.

And while those attributes lie beneath the Envision’s skin, the skin itself is instantly recognizable as a Buick crossover with contemporary proportions, flowing lines and detailed surface features.

“There is tension in the Envision’s design that reflects elegant athleticism, rendering a planted stance that enhances driver confidence,” says Bryan Nesbitt, global executive director, Buick design. “It’s dynamic and youthful, with features that support the vehicle’s technologically advanced ambience.”

Those features include Buick’s signature winged headlamps and standard heated outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators. Articulating Xenon high-intensity discharge headlamps are available. There’s also a rear spoiler atop the liftgate designed to improve aerodynamic performance.

The liftgate features standard programmable power assist and touchless activation. The user simply waves his or her foot near a sensor beneath the fascia to activate the power-assisted liftgate.

Dynamic passenger environment
The Envision’s interior features a “floating,” wraparound instrument panel sweeps into the door panels, for a flowing, organic and inviting appearance that complements the exterior. It houses a bold gauge cluster featuring two large binnacles with analog instruments and a central digital display for the speedometer and readouts of additional information.

“To put it simply, the Envision’s cabin combines beauty with innovation,” said Nesbitt. “It telegraphs dynamism like nothing else in the segment. Everywhere you touch is a stitched, soft surface,” said Nesbitt. “And everything you touch is designed for intuitive, effortless functionality.”

The large center console storage bin features damped dual wing-type doors that provide easier, less-obstructed access and allow the driver or passengers – even those in the rear – to access the storage bin without disturbing the other. Also, the heating and air conditioning vents are positioned at the bottom of the center stack, moving the climate and infotainment controls – as well as the eight-inch diagonal color touch screen – higher for easier, more intuitive operation.

Additional interior features include:

• Passive entry and push-button start with standard remote start
• Standard eight-way power-adjustable front seats and four-way-adjustable lumbar – including available adjustable thigh support on some models that enhances comfort for taller passengers
• Standard heated front seats and standard heated rear seat
• Available cooled front seats and standard heated steering wheel
• Standard eight-inch-diagonal, reconfigurable color driver information center and available full color head-up display
• Dual-zone climate control with console-mounted rear-seat vents; and standard tri-zone climate control with rear-seat controls
• Standard Bose premium sound system
• Available panoramic moonroof.
  

Technology and connectivity
The new Envision offers Buick IntelliLink with Text Messaging Alerts and Siri Eyes Free, as well as available OnStar with 4G LTE with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.
Text Messaging Alerts for smartphone users with compatible Bluetooth technology reads incoming texts through the vehicle’s speakers, and Siri Eyes Free for iPhones running iOS6 or higher gives users enhanced connectivity and convenience. Each enables voice-controlled connectivity, to help keep phones in pockets and hands on the wheel.

An eight-inch-diagonal IntelliLink color touch screen is the contact point for much of the Envision’s technology and connectivity. Itprovides intuitive operation of basic functions, yet is capable of linking up to 10 Bluetooth devices such as smartphones, as well as SD cards and MP3 players. Four USB ports, four 12-volt outlets and a 120-volt outlet are included.

A new steering wheel for Buick debuts in the Envision, featuring thumb-operated toggle switches that make it easy to scroll through the IntelliLink menus and vehicle features in the driver information center.

Powertrain and performance
The 2016 Envision features a standard 2.0L turbo engine SAE certified at 252 horsepower (186 kW) and 260 lb-ft of torque (353 Nm), which is more standard horsepower and torque than an Audi Q5. It is paired with a third-generation six-speed automatic transmission with TAPShift revised to deliver more refined shift performance.

Performance and efficiency is enhanced with Stop/Start technology – Buick’s first application on the 2.0L turbo engine. It seamlessly shuts down the engine when the Envision comes to a stop under certain driving conditions, such as a stoplight. The engine automatically restarts when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake.

The 2.0L turbo engine is offered exclusively with AWD, giving the Envision performance consistent with vehicle’s ride and handling capabilities. The turbocharger features a twin-scroll design that helps the engine deliver a broad torque band, for a greater feeling of power on demand. Ninety percent of peak torque is available from 1,800 rpm to 5,500 rpm and the full 260 lb-ft of peak torque from 3,000 to 4,000 rpm.

The engine is designed with refinement-enhancing features such as balance shafts and sound-attenuating components; and is isolated on a hydraulically damped substructure that helps quell noise and vibration. Four powertrain mounts are used rather than the conventional three.

Ride and handling
The Envision’s robust structure is the foundation for a balanced and confident driving experience. Buick’s HiPer Strut front suspension provides more linear and communicative steering through improved camber control and improved impact isolation on bumps and rough surfaces. It’s a feature inspired by the athletic Regal GS sedan and that is not currently offered on any crossover vehicle, including competitors such as the Audi Q5.

A standard four-link independent rear suspension is designed to minimize unwanted toe and camber effects during spirited driving maneuvers, enhancing stability. Isolating hydraulic mounts are used front and rear to further reduce noise and vibration that could reach the passenger compartment.

The Envision features Buick’s first active Twin Clutch AWD system designed to make the most of handling and stability in all driving conditions. It is a fully automatic, on-demand system engineered to deliver sure-footed handling in low-grip conditions, while also contributing to a quieter and smoother ride with minimal torque transferred to the rear wheels when all-wheel-drive traction isn’t needed.

It uses a hydraulically actuated, pump-based system that provides clutch-clamping forces before the vehicle even begins to move. For example, on wet surfaces when the vehicle pulls away from a stop, the system will have already engaged the clutches by looking at torque to analyze the driver’s intentions. The technology allows the vehicle to respond before a slip occurs, rather than just reacting to slip.

Additionally, a premium, variable-effort electric power rack-and-pinion steering gear from Bosch Automotive Steering Systems enables effortless low-speed maneuvers and a higher degree of steering feel at higher speeds. The system also includes crosswind stabilization road-shake compensation that enhances smoothness.

Safety features
The Envision offers 360 degrees of available passive and active safety technology, including 10 standard air bags, available Automatic Park Assist, available Surround Vision camera system and Buick’s first use of Lane Keep Assist, which is standard. They complement a body structure composed of 63 percent high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels, which forms a protective cage around the passenger compartment.

Automatic Park Assist measures a suitable parallel or perpendicular parking spot and steers the vehicle into it, while Lane Keep Assist helps the driver keep the vehicle in the lane with an automatic steering adjustment when an inadvertent lane departure is detected.

A rearview camera is standard, while the available Surround Vision provides an overhead view of the Envision that enhances the driver’s vision at low speeds, such as parking and reversing.

Additional 2016 model year standard and available safety features include:

• Standard Side-curtain and knee air bags
• Standard Safety Alert Seat, which pulses to alert the driver about a possible crash
• Standard Front Park Assist, Lane Change Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Standard Following Distance Indicator
• Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control
• Standard Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution
• Standard Cornering brake control and brake assist.
• Available Full Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control
• Available Collision Mitigation Braking
  

Safety and security features also include OnStar technology with Advanced Crash Response System, emergency assistance and more.

2016 BUICK ENVISION PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

Overview
Model:
2016 Buick Envision
Body style / driveline:
four-door, five-passenger compact crossover; front engine transaxle, all-wheel drive
Construction:
steel body frame integral (unibody) with front and rear crumple zones; galvanized steel front fenders, roof, door panels, one-piece bodyside outer panel, aluminum hood, thermal plastic olefin (TPO) bumper fascias
EPA vehicle class:
SUV
Manufacturing location:
Yantai, China
Key competitors:
Acura RDX, Audi Q5, Lincoln MKC

Engines
Type:
Ecotec 2.0L DOHC I-4 VVT DI Turbocharged
Displacement (cu. in. / cc):
122 / 1998
Bore & stroke (in. / mm):
3.39 x 3.39 / 86 x 86
Block material:
cast aluminum
Cylinder head material:
cast aluminum
Valvetrain:
DOHC, four-valves per
cylinder, continuously variable valve timing
Valve lifters:
hydraulic roller finger follower
Ignition system:
coil-on-plug
Fuel delivery:
high-pressure direct injection and electronic throttle control
Compression ratio:
9.5:1
Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm):
252 / 186 (est.)
Torque (lb.-ft. / Nm @ rpm):
260 / 353 (est.)
Recommended fuel:
premium recommended but not required
Max. engine speed
(fuel cut-off):
6800 rpm
Emissions controls:
close-coupled, catalytic converter, positive crankcase ventilation; evaporative system
Additional features:
extended-life spark plugs; extended-life coolant
EPA-estimated fuel economy (city / hwy)
TBD

Transmissions

Hydra-Matic 6T70
Type:
six-speed transverse, electronically controlled, automatic overdrive
Application:
standard
Gear ratios (:1):

First
4.48
Second
2.87
Third
1.84
Fourth
1.41
Fifth
1.00
Sixth
0.74
Reverse
2.88
Final Drive
3.17

Chassis / Suspension
Front:
Specifically tuned coil springs, direct-acting stabilizer bar (hollow); hydraulic ride bushings; HiPer Strut suspension
Rear:
Four-link independent rear with hollow stabilizer bar
Traction control:
all-speed using engine torque reduction and brake intervention
Steering type:
electric rack-and-pinion power-assisted with cross-wind stabilization and road-shake stabilization
Steering wheel turns lock-to-lock:
2.67

Turning circle, curb-to-curb
(ft / m):
39.5 / 12
Steering ratio:
15.6 to 1

Brakes
Type:
four-wheel disc w/ABS and electronic stability control
Brake rotor diameter – front
(in / mm):
12.6 /321
Brake rotor diameter – rear
(in / mm):
12.4 / 315

Wheels / Tires
Wheel size and type:
19-inch aluminum
Tires:
235/50R19 AL3

Dimensions
Exterior
Wheelbase (in / mm) :
107.9 / 2740
Overall length (in / mm):
183.7 / 4666
Overall width (in / mm):
72.4 / 1839
Overall height (in / mm):
66.8 / 1697
Front track (in / mm):
1575 / 62
Rear track (in / mm):
1575 / 62

Interior
Seating capacity (front / rear):
2 / 3
Headroom (in / mm):
39.96 / 1015 (front)
38.5 / 977 (rear)
Legroom (in / mm):
40.9 / 1040 (front)
37.5 / 952 (rear)
Shoulder room (in / mm):
57.0 / 1448 (front)
55.8 / 1417 (rear)
Hip room (in / mm):
54.4 / 1381 (front)
53.1 / 1348 (rear)
EPA passenger volume
(cu ft / L) :
100.6 / 2849
EPA interior volume (cu ft / L):
127.5 / 3610.6
Cargo volume (cu ft / L):
26.9 / 761 (behind rear seat)
57.3 / 1622 (rear seat folded)

Capacities
Fuel tank (gal / L):
17.3 / 65.5
Engine oil (qt / L):
6.0 / 5.7
Curb weight (lb / kg):
4047 / 183
Trailering rating (lb / kg):
1500 / 680

Note: Information shown is current at time of publication. Please visit http://media.gm.com for updates.