Photo: Buick
2004 was a great year, make no mistake about that. It was then that Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook, Google released Gmail, and the world’s most subscribed MMORPG was released (i.e. World of Warcraft). In the auto industry, 2004 is the year Buick gifted the world with the Velite Concept at the NY Auto Show.
As we near the end of 2016, the premium-ish brand unveiled a concept vehicle that’s also called Velite. The differences between the two are indeed striking. While the original Velite was a roadster based on the Pontiac Solstice’s and Saturn Sky’s platform, the current-day Velite looks like it’s a more futuristic, slightly edgier take on the Chevrolet Volt sold in America.
And it is, so to speak, even if Buick will tell try to smooth-talk you into believing otherwise. Presented today at the Guangzhou Auto Show, the Velite rides on the GM D2XX/D2UX platform. Buick doesn’t share anything remotely palpable such as output figures, though it does mention that the one-off machine pictured here boasts “high-performance plug-in hybrid” innards.
Developed by the General Motors’ engineering and design joint venture with SAIC Motor in Shanghai, the Velite Concept draws its electric juice from a “high-performance modular lithium-ion battery pack.” To be frank, however, there won’t be anything remotely high-performance about the Velite Concept-based production model confirmed for the near future.
Slated to be sold only in China, the production-ready Buick Velite will be followed by additional eco-friendly models. According to GM-SAIC, the Chinese public is in for “HEV, PHEV, extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), and all-electric powertrains.” Reading between the lines, that choice of words might mean that the Chevrolet Bolt might also be adapted for China.
The real question is, why is Buick pushing for electrification in China? As per numbers the Ministry of Transport, China just can’t get enough of EVs and pluggable hybrids. A testament to that is Tesla, which is the leading foreign brand for EVs with more than 2 percent of the electric vehicle market.
And it is, so to speak, even if Buick will tell try to smooth-talk you into believing otherwise. Presented today at the Guangzhou Auto Show, the Velite rides on the GM D2XX/D2UX platform. Buick doesn’t share anything remotely palpable such as output figures, though it does mention that the one-off machine pictured here boasts “high-performance plug-in hybrid” innards.
Developed by the General Motors’ engineering and design joint venture with SAIC Motor in Shanghai, the Velite Concept draws its electric juice from a “high-performance modular lithium-ion battery pack.” To be frank, however, there won’t be anything remotely high-performance about the Velite Concept-based production model confirmed for the near future.
Slated to be sold only in China, the production-ready Buick Velite will be followed by additional eco-friendly models. According to GM-SAIC, the Chinese public is in for “HEV, PHEV, extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), and all-electric powertrains.” Reading between the lines, that choice of words might mean that the Chevrolet Bolt might also be adapted for China.
The real question is, why is Buick pushing for electrification in China? As per numbers the Ministry of Transport, China just can’t get enough of EVs and pluggable hybrids. A testament to that is Tesla, which is the leading foreign brand for EVs with more than 2 percent of the electric vehicle market.
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