Buick Electra Sub-Brand Launches in China with the Electra GS Concept

[Drew Dowdell]

At the 2025 Shanghai Mobility Show, Buick unveiled the Buick Electra GS Concept, a large EV sedan that showcases the brand's new Xaio Yao "super architecture".  This concept leads the way for Buick's all-new sub-brand ELECTRA.  Xaio Yao will underpin six new Buick models released over the next two years. 

While Buick says the platform is tailor made for the Chinese market, the technical specs are such that we can't help but hope that it comes to the U.S. as well.  

The key features of the platform are its ability to support multiple body styles, sizes, drive configurations, and propulsion systems. The platform can be configured as a pure electric (BEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), or an extended range electric vehicle (EREV).  Depending on the propulsion plant chosen, it can be configured in front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive formats.

Partnered with CATL, new Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries allow ultra-fast peak charging at 640kW enabling approximately 217 miles of range added in 10 minutes. LFP batteries are compelling because they use neither nickle nor cobalt and instead rely solely on common elements Iron and Phosphate in their construction. LFP batteries also offer around double the number of charge cycles that traditional lithium-ion batteries offer and do not suffer capacity loss to the degree traditional lithium ion-batteries do. Currently, the only EVs available in the United States with LFP batteries are certain base model Tesla Model-3 and Model-Y.

Buick Electra GS

The Buick Electra GS Concept is an imposing vehicle, clocking in at 208.7 inches long with a 126-inch wheelbase. For reference, that's longer than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Lucid Air. Buick calls the design Kinetic Sculpture with a wide stance and flowing surfaces. The dashboard is especially low, giving occupants exceptional views out the front of the vehicle. The driver gets an augmented reality heads-up display while a 16.3-inch widescreen display caters to the infotainment needs of passengers.

Little is said about the likelihood of the Electra GS making it into production, however, Buick did release images of three EVs destine for the market leading off with a new flagship MPV called Encasa.  The Encasa will be offered in both PHEV and EV configurations.

 

 

 

 

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[Paolino]

I guess I wonder where this leaves Buick in the US... I like their products although not a huge fan of the new exterior design language, but I guess for now Buick here will be ICE only? I know they wanted to be all electric by 2030, but I don't see that happening here.

[Drew Dowdell]

15 minutes ago, Paolino said:

I guess I wonder where this leaves Buick in the US... I like their products although not a huge fan of the new exterior design language, but I guess for now Buick here will be ICE only? I know they wanted to be all electric by 2030, but I don't see that happening here.

If all they import is the tech but build it here, it could happen.  GM is putting a lot of money into building battery plants in the US.  They're going to overtake Tesla soon in battery build capacity.

[G. David Felt]

3 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

If all they import is the tech but build it here, it could happen.  GM is putting a lot of money into building battery plants in the US.  They're going to overtake Tesla soon in battery build capacity.

Seems GM has surpassed Tesla in battery cell production according to Bloomberg story and interview with Mary.

GM Produces More Battery Cells In The US Than Tesla

[smk4565]

This thing looks worse than the EQS.  2 things that car companies need to get rid of is the bar of soap design and the yoke steering wheel.  And I just saw Mercedes is going to steer by wire and showed a yoke style steering wheel.  People don't want yokes in a car.  

[ccap41]

Doesn't China already get the Model 3? 

[Drew Dowdell]

On 4/22/2025 at 9:06 PM, smk4565 said:

This thing looks worse than the EQS.  2 things that car companies need to get rid of is the bar of soap design and the yoke steering wheel.  And I just saw Mercedes is going to steer by wire and showed a yoke style steering wheel.  People don't want yokes in a car.  

I actually like it. I think it moves forward with design. We don't need to hold onto portholes and toothy grills anymore. 

I completely agree with you on the yoke. Just give me a normal interior please.  Genesis really gets this right in the G80 EV.

[ccap41]

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I actually like it. I think it moves forward with design. We don't need to hold onto portholes and toothy grills anymore. 

I completely agree with you on the yoke. Just give me a normal interior please.  Genesis really gets this right in the G80 EV.

I think it's funny how half of your comment is "let's move forward in design" while the other half is "keep the design in the past".  🤣

[Drew Dowdell]

1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

I think it's funny how half of your comment is "let's move forward in design" while the other half is "keep the design in the past".  🤣

There's a difference between styling cues and functionality though. I hated the Ford and Mini turn signals that returned to center after activation because it removes a sensory input while driving.  Old folks like me have muscle memory to overcome. 

Same goes for most of the new dumb designs of gear selectors now because they are not intuitive. Tesla puts it in the freakin touchscreen.  The new GM one on the column is quite good because it is an electronic homage to old column shifters. As someone who has two column shift vehicles today, it's a modernization I can support. The new Hyundai column shift is "meh" because it's just the Chrysler dial but on a stick.

[Robert Hall]

9 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

There's a difference between styling queues and functionality though. I hated the Ford and Mini turn signals that returned to center after activation because it removes a sensory input while driving.  Old folks like me have muscle memory to overcome. 

Same goes for most of the new dumb designs of gear selectors now because they are not intuitive. Tesla puts it in the freakin touchscreen.  

I can't stand the stupid doorhandles on Teslas and other EVs..what's wrong with using normal door handle designs?   Too many EVs seem to have to be different to be different...cutesy BS..

Edited Tuesday at 05:26 PM by Robert Hall

[Robert Hall]

For my old guy mumbling at clouds moment, I'd like to have a new Buick that looked as good as this instead of their generic modern appliances...

[ccap41]

39 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

There's a difference between styling queues and functionality though. I hated the Ford and Mini turn signals that returned to center after activation because it removes a sensory input while driving.  Old folks like me have muscle memory to overcome. 

Same goes for most of the new dumb designs of gear selectors now because they are not intuitive. Tesla puts it in the freakin touchscreen.  The new GM one on the column is quite good because it is an electronic homage to old column shifters. As someone who has two column shift vehicles today, it's a modernization I can support. The new Hyundai column shift is "meh" because it's just the Chrysler dial but on a stick.

Oh, I completely understand the interior design stuff. Modern automobiles are slowly moving away from things we actually touch and feel to make changes, which is atrocious. They're making MORE things to look at and they're making us look away from the road even MORE to do the "old things". 

I applaud the companies that went full screens and now backtracking some, because we need buttons and knobs to properly operate certain functions. 

The push buttons in my MKC took a bit to get used to but muscle memory made it simple soon enough. I don't think the buttons looked particularly "pretty", but they functioned pretty well once you got used to it. 

This reminds me of a function I preferred in the MKC to the Navigator. Both vehicles I remote start 99% of the time, whether I'm walking up to it or it's super hot/cold and I actually want the climate adjusted prior to getting in. I prefer the remote start so I feel better about just driving right away as opposed to feeling like I need to wait for the RPM to drop as it's more warmed up.  The MKC I could just hold the brake and press "D" to start driving once I'm in the vehicle. The Navigator I need to press the brake and tap the ignition button prior to being able to move to Drive. It's very minor, but I prefer the way the MKC worked with this process. 

40 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

I can't stand the stupid doorhandles on Teslas and other EVs..what's wrong with using normal door handle designs?   Too many EVs seem to have to be different to be different...cutesy BS..

Wind resistance -> efficiency. I'm sure some are more efficient designs than others but if you can make it flush to the body, that's certainly the most efficient design. When automakers are trying their best to make their vehicles as slippery in the air as possible, this is a pretty easy thing to shed off the outside.  

[Drew Dowdell]

6 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

This reminds me of a function I preferred in the MKC to the Navigator. Both vehicles I remote start 99% of the time, whether I'm walking up to it or it's super hot/cold and I actually want the climate adjusted prior to getting in. I prefer the remote start so I feel better about just driving right away as opposed to feeling like I need to wait for the RPM to drop as it's more warmed up.  The MKC I could just hold the brake and press "D" to start driving once I'm in the vehicle. The Navigator I need to press the brake and tap the ignition button prior to being able to move to Drive. It's very minor, but I prefer the way the MKC worked with this process. 

Lincoln did their pushbuttons right.

Acura did not. WTF is this crap?

Good Idea Honda, let me spill my tea right in there.

GMC managed to screw it up for a few years too.

[Robert Hall]

Haven't encountered the push button transmissions... but do have a couple versions of shifters that rock fore/aft w/ flappy paddles also that I never use.. 

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

I can't stand the stupid doorhandles on Teslas and other EVs..what's wrong with using normal door handle designs?   Too many EVs seem to have to be different to be different...cutesy BS..

That is what I love about the Kia, Hyundai, Genesis EVs is they use traditional door handles on the inside. Makes it a natural nice experience.

[Drew Dowdell]

why do they make them all into rebadges of a 1977 Camaro?

[ccap41]

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Lincoln did their pushbuttons right.

Acura did not. WTF is this crap?

Good Idea Honda, let me spill my tea right in there.

GMC managed to screw it up for a few years too.

Whoa, I didn't realize how many awful ones were out there. I remembered the GMC one, but not the others. 

OMG, does that GMC one have gear selectors about the "L"? That couldn't be a worse spot for that. 

[Drew Dowdell]

Can we make an AI Carspotters thread instead for this stuff?

[G. David Felt]

4 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Can we make an AI Carspotters thread instead for this stuff?

Created here