The SAIC-GM joint venture is preparing to launch the second model from the new Electra electric line – a mid-size coupe SUV with the E4 index. In technical terms, it will completely repeat the Buick Electra E5 crossover that debuted in April.
In the past century, the Electra name has been carried by large and well-equipped Buick gasoline models for America, and now it is given to a new generation of electric vehicles for China. The Celestial market is the main market for Buick today: in 2015, sales of the American brand here confidently crossed the barrier of a million cars a year, but after 2018, the demand curve went down. In January-April 2023, according to CAAM (China Association of Automobile Manufacturers), 150,479 Buick cars were sold in China, which is 15.1% less than in the same period last year, but it is still many times more than any other market, including the US.
New electric vehicles from the Electra family should strengthen Buick's position in China. In April, the mid-size crossover Buick Electra E5 entered the market, in the coming months it will be accompanied by the related Buick Electra E4 – both models are built on the global modular GM platform Ultium. It is curious that the American models made on this platform have a rear-wheel drive, while the Chinese Buicks have a front-wheel drive. The front suspension of the Electra E4 is of the McPherson type, the rear is an independent multi-link.
The overall length of the Buick Electra E4 is 4818 mm, the width is 1912 mm, the height is 1581 mm, the wheelbase is 2954 mm. Electra E5 with the same wheelbase is slightly longer (4892 mm), higher (1655 mm) and narrower (1905 mm). In addition, the Electra E4 has a larger windshield angle and overall more dynamic proportions, the closest analogue to this Buick model is the Polestar 4 Swedish-Chinese coupe crossover.
The Buick Electra E4 has the same powertrain as the Electra E5. The basic version of the Standard Range has a 68 kWh battery and a single electric motor located on the front axle, its maximum output is 180 kW (245 hp) and 330 Nm.
Long version The Range is equipped with a 79.7 kWh battery and a front electric motor with a maximum output of 150 kW (204 hp) and 330 Nm.
The 4WD version has a large battery (79.7 kWh) and two electric motors: front 143 kW (194, 5 hp) and 305 Nm, rear 68 kW (92.5 hp) and 160 Nm, maximum combined output – 211 kW (287 hp) and 465 Nm.
The range per charge and dynamic characteristics of the Buick Electra E4 have not yet been published. Electra E5 can travel 545-620 km on a CLTC cycle on a single charge, depending on the modification, Electra E4 will be a little longer due to better aerodynamics, the cx coefficient of the “four” is only 0.287.
The interior of the Buick Electra E4 is almost the same as that of the Electra E5, the difference comes down to small design details, the controls of the two models are completely identical, including dual-screen 30-inch display with a total resolution of 6K (6008 x 934 dots). The washer on the central tunnel is the volume control of the audio system, the role of the mode selector of the power plant is performed by the right stalk lever.
The Buick Electra E4 will cost about the same as the Electra E5, with an expected price range of 200,000 to 300,000 yuan. Whether Chinese electric Buicks will appear in the US is still unknown – there have been no official statements on this topic, but Chinese-assembled gasoline crossovers in the US have been on sale for a long time.
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