Buick‘s latest surprise in China comes in the shape of the long-awaited Electre E7, a plug-in hybrid crossover that will debut locally later this year. This is the company`s latest flagship that stands taller, longer, and packs technologies inside and under the hood.
On the outside, the E7 goes for a sleek shape that feels clean and fairly restrained. Generic, perhaps — or maybe simply minimalist is the better word here. Up front, there’s a shark nose design with split lighting units, C-shaped daytime running lights positioned high, and L-shaped headlights mounted lower down. A central intake is visible too, along with what appears to be an active shutter grille. From there, the body gets softer in its surfacing, with plastic cladding, pronounced wheel arches, streamlined door handles, metallic accents, “galaxy wing” taillights, and a prominent rear spoiler.
Its footprint places it in an interesting spot within Buick’s own lineup. With a length of 190.9 inches and stretched wheelbase of 11,3 inches, the Electra 7 is 8.2-inch longer than the Envision, however, shorter with 16.7 inches than the Enclave sibling.
On the inside, the cabin is loaded with the newest high-tech accessories: flat-bottom steering wheel and a free-standing digital instrument cluster are directed to the driver, and a mammoth 15.6-inch center infotainment system was installed on the dashboard. Other leading features are Oeko-Tex upholstery and a dual wireless smartphone charger.
Then the second row shifts the whole cabin brief. There is a refrigerator back there, plus a ceiling-mounted 15.6-inch entertainment system. The rear area can be turned into a massive lounge by folding down the front seats, providing passengers with relaxation. There are also dual-glass roofs, reclining second-row backrests, second-row climate controls, rear tray tables, a 20-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system, and heated and ventilated seats.
As for the powertrain under the hood, the details are still scarce; however, sources state that the new Electra E7 will feature a plug-in hybrid system with a combined CLTC range of more than 994 miles, with the electric-only travel exceeding 130 miles. The system will consist of a 1.5-liter engine and an electric motor, producing a total of 221 horsepower. However, there might be several configurations with added power. The whole system will also be paired with an LFP battery pack.
Buick has also confirmed an adaptive damping suspension that adjusts 200 times per second, as well as the Xiao Yao Zhi Xing autonomous driving system for highways and city streets.
Buick Electra E7 – Photo Gallery
