Buick Velite Plug-in Hybrid Concept Unveiled in China

A day after the end of the Los Angeles auto show press days, GM and partner SAIC unveiled the Buick Velite plug-in hybrid concept at the Guangzhou auto show. The creation, led by GM’s Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, supposedly “drew inspiration from water and traditional Chinese culture to create a vehicle that is efficient, intelligent and green.”

The exterior of the compact crossover blends GM’s current sporty styling aesthetic and Buick’s new design language with the goal of improving aerodynamics, thus lowering drag coefficient to improve fuel economy. Additionally, the high-performance plug-in hybrid electric vehicle’s powertrain uses a new generation of GM’s modular intelligent electric drive system and a high-performance modular lithium-ion battery pack, likely similar to the powertrain in the upcoming Chevrolet Bolt.

According to Buick, the Velite contains an elegant interior with recycled materials, a panoramic roof, induction lighting, and can serve as a mobile network that syncs with your phone to help owners keep everything together. It also features a 360-degree intelligent traffic induction system similar to Tesla’s radar-based system. The Velite uses its sensors to provide hazard warnings, lane and safety distance assists, adaptive cruise control, and night vision like you’d get on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The Velite also features the company’s new intelligent matrix LED headlights that will likely appear on new Buicks very soon. Buick also debuted a new-generation GL8 and GL8 Avenir, a minivan that “goes beyond the classics” and helps further cement Buick’s footprint in the Chinese market.

As of now, the Velite remains a concept. However, the technology that lives under its skin is part of the company’s Buick Blue initiative that aims to implement the brand’s new energy strategy including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles.

Source: Buick

 

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