2024 Buick Electra: Next-Gen Redesign & Release Date – The Electra brand name has been brought back to life by Buick for its lineup of electric cars, and the automaker has a slew of new models in the works for the years to come. Our cameras were able to capture an SUV in prototype form, and the vehicle seems to be production-ready even at this stage.
When Buick resurrected and trademarked the Electra name in both the United States and Canada a year ago, it was the first time the automaker mentioned its intentions to produce electric vehicles.
I have to confess that it left me baffled since there were stories going around about many electric vehicle experiments that had different qualities but were all dubbed Electra. After some time, Buick made it clear that the Electra is not an automobile but rather a subbrand for the company’s upcoming electric cars.
Even further, Buick has registered the designations Electra E1 through E9 as trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in order to utilize them with a variety of all-electric Buick automobiles.
Although it seems to have a more conventional SUV profile, the crossover prototype seen in the photos is clearly inspired by the design of the Buick Electra-X concept vehicle.
Although it is impossible to estimate its size without seeing it next to the Chevrolet Equinox EV or the Chevrolet Blazer EV, it is fair to say that there is not much of a difference between the three. Despite this, it seems to be an exact replica of a different Buick EV prototype that was seen being tested in China around a month ago, indicating that the company has worldwide aspirations.
The images depict what seems to be a highly developed crossover that has all of the hallmarks of a production vehicle. It has only been a year since Buick brought back the Electra moniker, and it has only been two years since GM unveiled its Ultium technology; thus, the only thing we can do is speculate that this unnamed Buick Electra prototype is based on an already existent automobile.
Taking into consideration the body form and the fact that the door handles are flush with the body, I believe the Chevy Equinox EV is the better option.
The front fascia of this prototype displays Buick’s new brand identity, most notably the sleek LED signature, despite the fact that it is largely concealed by camouflage. Thin taillights that wrap all the way over the tailgate decorate the rear of the vehicle. A lovely touch is the high-mounted third brake light, which has a light signature that resembles the new Tri-Shield emblem that Buick has introduced.
Our information suggests that the first Buick electric vehicle (EV) model will make its debut in dealership showrooms as early as 2024; however, there may be more than one variant.
They will be equipped with Ultium technology much like all of GM’s previous electric vehicles, with the exception of the Chevrolet Bolt. Buick has said that it would completely switch over to electric vehicles by the year 2030, and it is not wasting any time in working toward this objective.
Overview
It has been disclosed by Buick that the Electra will not refer to a single vehicle but would instead serve as the brand name for an entire lineup of forthcoming all-electric SUVs. In 2025, we will witness the first vehicle in the Electra line, which will be an SUV built on the same platform as the new Cadillac Lyriq electric vehicle.
The design study of the Wildcat EV Concept that is seen here will have a significant impact on the exterior style of the first Electra. Even though the Wildcat is a sports car, Buick has said that all of its future products, including both electric and traditional gasoline-powered cars, would be sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
We are quite aware of how perplexing it is. It just so happens that it’s a car because the designers liked the way it appeared as a starting point while it was in the early sketch stage. The Wildcat exercise was designed to generate design cues for future Buick vehicles; it just so happens that it was an automobile.
Additionally, Buick has announced that by the year 2030, the whole lineup of the Buick brand would consist only of electric SUVs. The powertrain specifics and estimated driving range for the first Electra EV have not been disclosed; however, based on what we know about the Lyriq, we anticipate that it will feature an Ultium battery pack that is around 100 kWh in capacity and that it will have a range of at least 300 miles.
It is possible that single- and dual-motor propulsion systems, as well as front- and all-wheel drive variants, will be made available to customers. The first generation of the Electra SUV, according to Buick, will debut sometime in 2023. It is scheduled to enter production in 2024 as a model for the following year, 2025.
What It Is
The Buick Wildcat EV concept presents the new face, logo, and design language for the company, which will be used for a future range of electric automobiles. Each one will be referred to by the name Electra, followed by an alphabetic or numeric identifier.
Even though the Wildcat is a coupe, all of the following Electra models will be SUVs (at least initially), starting with a small offering in 2024. This will be in contrast to the current model, which is the Wildcat. By the year 2030, the Electra nameplate will be used to every vehicle in the Buick portfolio.
There will be two tiny variants with two rows of seating planned. The first rides lower, is more athletic and resembles a vehicle more closely; it is designed for couples; the second rides higher and has more space for goods and is intended for families.
Why It Matters
Because of its popularity in China, General Motors was able to preserve the Buick brand; nevertheless, stylish electric SUVs have the potential to make it trendy in North America and regain some of its previous grandeur. In addition, the bigger the number of EVs that share GM’s Ultium system of batteries and platforms, the greater the capacity of the corporation to lower prices and maintain a reasonable price point for its products.
Platform And Powertrain
GM’s BEV3 electric architecture is used in all of these new electric cars, as is the Ultium battery technology that was developed in partnership with LG Chem. It is possible that the engine of the first Electra SUV will be similar to that of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq. The Lyriq will debut with a single motor in the back, and it will be capable of producing 340 horsepower, 325 pound-feet of torque, and around 300 miles of range.
After that, in 2023, an all-wheel-drive performance model is expected to come out. Previous designs shown by Buick included two electric motors and a 12-module 100-kWh battery.
Together, these components delivered 583 horsepower, a 0-60 mph pace of 4.3 seconds, and around 370 miles of range.
Additionally, when the first production Electra SUV hits the market in 2024, it will be equipped with one-pedal driving, on-demand regenerative braking, and the hands-free driver aid technology known as Ultra Cruise from General Motors. A massive screen will cover the majority of the inside of the cockpit.
