A New Buick that Could Signal the Future

Buick is one of the most popular brands in China and it’s certainly a brand that we see as a premium brand that has great models to drive.

The 2019 Shanghai Motor Show is where the brand is making a huge statement with new models. One of these new models could signal the future of electric driving from GM. Because of the strict sales requirements in China, every automaker has to create electric models to be offered, and this new Buick might be the one that we see offered in the US in the future.

An Interesting Buick and a Unique Platform

The newest creation that made its way to the stage in China is the Buick Velite 6 MAV. This is the production version of the concept model we saw a year ago and it’s built on a brand new platform that was developed with SAIC to be sold in China. This new platform uses a new generation pure electric drive system and is not the same as the new electric platform that GM is going to use in new electric cars offered in the US starting in 2021.

A City Wagon that We Might See

Just because the Velite 6 MAV is using a different platform doesn’t mean that platform won’t make its way to the US. In fact, if this platform proves to be a success in China, we might see it and new models with names that we can understand offered in the US. Otherwise, we might not see this car arrive at all. This new model is a city wagon that has the power needed to drive around the city for a few days in order to give you the quality ride you’re looking for.

Specifics About this Powertrain

The new Buick Velite 6 MAV is powered by an electric motor that makes 114 horsepower and 188 lb.-ft. of torque. This car has a city electric driving range of 187 miles, which could last several days between charges. While there isn’t much power, when driving around a large city, power isn’t an issue, but range can be and there’s plenty for this car to make it the one that could be right to bring to the US and offer as part of a city fleet, a ride-sharing program, or for consumers who are tiredof using public transportation.

What Does MAV Mean?

I mentioned that this car is a wagon, but it actually has elements from several different types of vehicles. The MAV stands for Multi-Activity Vehicle and it has elements from a wagon, a crossover, and it has a utilitarian build to it. This means you could fill this car with gear and take it where you need to or move a few items from one place in the city to another without the worry of fitting on the road or having enough range to get where you need to go.