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From 1959 until 1990, the Buick Electra label graced a series of boxy, distinctively American sedans and coupes, and seeing an Electra on American roads now is unusual. However, in China, the name was revived for a pair of electric SUVs, one of which was supposed to be the brand's first EV in the United States until taxes on Chinese-made EVs appeared to spoil those plans.
However, the Electra moniker remains popular in China, with Buick showing the sleek Electra GS concept at the Shanghai auto show to showcase its design language for future electric vehicles.
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The Electra GS is Buick's second Electra-branded sedan concept, after the Electra-L from last year's Beijing auto show. Compared to the beautiful Electra-L, the Electra GS has a sportier, more dynamic appearance. This is appropriate given the two-letter suffix, with GS alluding to the Skylark-based Gran Sport and GSX muscle cars of the 1960s. The insignia was later featured on a number of performance-oriented Regal GS vehicles from the 1990s and 2010s.
While there are no details on the powertrain for the Electra GS concept, the appearance is undoubtedly eye-catching for a sports sedan. Buick claims that the idea was inspired by the "mythical centaur," and while we don't see it in the design, it does look rather good. The Electra GS is 208.7 inches long with a 126.0-inch wheelbase, making it somewhat shorter than a BMW i7 with a nearly same wheelbase.
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The cab-forward design produces a relatively low hood and a long, gentle slope in the roofline, which should result in a more roomy interior. In the front, slender headlights are highlighted by complex LEDs above, with a similar design repeated in the rear lights. The sleek body is broken up by crisp lines, and the glass top flows into a neat rear spoiler, while the Electra GS's 23-inch wheels give it a commanding presence.
The inside is finished in a blend of brown and black leather, and the dashboard is simply structured, with a 16.3-inch screen offering entertainment for the front passenger. Behind the yoke-style steering wheel is a digital instrument cluster and an augmented-reality head-up display, but despite the screen-heavy approach, the center console still has a row of climate system controls.
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The first three automobiles slated for Buick's Electra subbrand in China.
It's uncertain whether we'll ever see an Electra-branded automobile in the United States. Buick's first EV for the United States was planned to be unveiled in 2024 and released this year, and it was slated to be the Electra E5 SUV marketed in China. However, Buick stated last year that the EV was delayed and has not offered any further information since. Unless taxes on Chinese-made EVs are reduced, it is doubtful that the electric SUV will be available in the United States very soon.
In China, the Electra GS may become a production model. Along with the concept display, Buick revealed at the Shanghai show that Electra will become a new subbrand selling six new electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. A teaser revealed three of the forthcoming Electras: the Encasa minivan, an SUV, and a sedan that resembles last year's Electra-L concept, but we'll have to admire Buick's latest EVs from distance.
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