DETROIT – General Motors (GM) plans to start selling a Chinese-manufactured Buick SUV in the U.S. starting next year. The company said Friday the Envision midsize SUV will be built at a factory in Yantai, China, that’s part of Shanghai-GM, a Chinese joint venture.
The Buick Envision was designed, engineered and tested in Michigan as a world-class luxury crossover to challenge the world’s best competition. It was awarded Motor Trend SUV of the Year in China and has 127,085 sales so far this year. When it goes on sale in 2016, it will play an important role in a crossover lineup that currently represents 60 percent of Buick sales in North America. It targets customers shopping between the Encore, the best-selling Buick in eight years, and the Enclave, which has continued to grow its customer base since its 2007 introduction.
Envision highlights include:
- 252-horsepower (186 kW) 2.0L turbo engine with stop/start technology, matched with Buick’s first crossover vehicle application of HiPer Strut front suspension and Buick’s first Active Twin Clutch all-wheel-drive system
- Efficiency-enhancing features including upper grille shutters that open and close to enhance aerodynamics on the highway and a body structure incorporating mass-reducing high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels – and a lightweight aluminum hood
- LED daytime running lamps and rear LED accent lights
- Sliding, 60/40-split rear seat, offering the flexibility of more legroom for second-row passengers
- Kneeling cushions in the second-row seat enable a flatter load floor when the seat is folded
- Standard Safety Alert Seat and Lane Keep Assist, as well as available Automatic Park Assist, and Surround Vision 360-degree camera system
- IntelliLink with 8-inch color touch screen
- Available OnStar with 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot
- Programmable power liftgate with hands-free operation
- Active noise cancelation
- Standard 19-inch aluminum wheels
- Passive entry and push-button start with standard remote start
- Standard eight-way power-adjustable front seats and four-way-adjustable lumbar – including available adjustable thigh support on some models that enhances comfort for taller passengers
- Standard heated front seats, heated rear seat and heated steering wheel
- Available cooled front seats
- Standard tri-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and console-mounted rear vents
- Standard Bose premium sound system
- Available panoramic moonroof
Overview
| Model: | 2016 Buick Envision |
| Body style / driveline: | four-door, five-passenger compact crossover; front engine transaxle, all-wheel drive |
| Construction: | steel body frame integral (unibody) with front and rear crumple zones; galvanized steel front fenders, roof, door panels, one-piece bodyside outer panel, aluminum hood, thermal plastic olefin (TPO) bumper fascias |
| EPA vehicle class: | SUV |
| Manufacturing location: | Yantai, China |
| Key competitors: | Acura RDX, Audi Q5, Lincoln MKC |
Engine
| Type: | Ecotec 2.0L DOHC I-4 VVT DI Turbocharged |
| Displacement (cu. in. / cc): | 122 / 1998 |
| Bore & stroke (in. / mm): | 3.39 x 3.39 / 86 x 86 |
| Block material: | cast aluminum |
| Cylinder head material: | cast aluminum |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC, four-valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing |
| Valve lifters: | hydraulic roller finger follower |
| Ignition system: | coil-on-plug |
| Fuel delivery: | high-pressure direct injection and electronic throttle control |
| Compression ratio: | 9.5:1 |
| Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm): |
252 / 186 (est.) |
| Torque (lb.-ft. / Nm @ rpm): |
260 / 353 (est.) |
| Recommended fuel: | premium recommended but not required |
| Max. engine speed (fuel cut-off): |
6800 rpm |
| Emissions controls: | close-coupled, catalytic converter, positive crankcase ventilation; evaporative system |
| Additional features: | extended-life spark plugs; extended-life coolant |
| EPA-estimated fuel economy (city / hwy) | TBD |
Transmission
| Hydra-Matic 6T70 | |
| Type: | six-speed transverse, electronically controlled, automatic overdrive |
| Application: | standard |
| Gear ratios (:1): | |
| First | 4.48 |
| Second | 2.87 |
| Third | 1.84 |
| Fourth | 1.41 |
| Fifth | 1.00 |
| Sixth | 0.74 |
| Reverse | 2.88 |
| Final Drive | 3.17 |
Chassis/Suspension
| Front: | Specifically tuned coil springs, direct-acting stabilizer bar (hollow); hydraulic ride bushings; HiPer Strut suspension |
| Rear: | Four-link independent rear with hollow stabilizer bar |
| Traction control: | all-speed using engine torque reduction and brake intervention |
| Steering type: | electric rack-and-pinion power-assisted with cross-wind stabilization and road-shake stabilization |
| Steering wheel turns lock-to-lock: | 2.67 |
| Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft / m): |
39.5 / 12 |
| Steering ratio: | 15.6 to 1 |
Brakes
| Type: | four-wheel disc w/ABS and electronic stability control |
| Brake rotor diameter – front (in / mm): | 12.6 /321 |
| Brake rotor diameter – rear (in / mm): | 12.4 / 315 |
Wheels/Tires
| Wheel size and type: | 19-inch aluminum |
| Tires: | 235/50R19 AL3 |
Dimensions
Exterior
| Wheelbase (in / mm) : | 107.9 / 2740 |
| Overall length (in / mm): | 183.7 / 4666 |
| Overall width (in / mm): | 72.4 / 1839 |
| Overall height (in / mm): | 66.8 / 1697 |
| Front track (in / mm): | 1575 / 62 |
| Rear track (in / mm): | 1575 / 62 |
Interior
| Seating capacity (front / rear): | 2 / 3 |
| Headroom (in / mm): | 39.96 / 1015 (front) 38.5 / 977 (rear) |
| Legroom (in / mm): | 40.9 / 1040 (front) 37.5 / 952 (rear) |
| Shoulder room (in / mm): | 57.0 / 1448 (front) 55.8 / 1417 (rear) |
| Hip room (in / mm): | 54.4 / 1381 (front) 53.1 / 1348 (rear) |
| EPA passenger volume (cu ft / L) : |
100.6 / 2849 |
| EPA interior volume (cu ft / L): |
127.5 / 3610.6 |
| Cargo volume (cu ft / L): | 26.9 / 761 (behind rear seat) 57.3 / 1622 (rear seat folded) |
Capacities
| Fuel tank (gal / L): | 17.3 / 65.5 |
| Engine oil (qt / L): | 6.0 / 5.7 |
| Curb weight (lb / kg): | 4047 / 183 |
| Trailering rating (lb / kg): | 1500 / 680 |
Note: Information shown is current at time of publication.