GM’s Electra E7 hybrid SUV debuts with familiar styling, advanced driver tech, and a destination that leaves US buyers on the outside
Buick’s Electra sub-brand continues to grow as China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has revealed the new E7. It was previewed by a concept last year and will join the Electra L7 and Electra Encasa.
Seemingly designed for the witness protection program, the Electra E7 has a generic exterior that doesn’t look like a Buick. Instead, the model has a hammerhead shark nose front end with C-shaped lighting units that resemble those found on Toyota’s latest vehicles. They’re accompanied by mid-mounted headlights and what appears to be an active shutter lower intake.
More: This Is Buick’s New Electra Sedan And You Can’t Have It
Moving down the sides, we can see streamlined bodywork and plastic body cladding. A closer inspection also reveals a roof-mounted Lidar sensor, which is presumably part of the Xiao Yao Zhi Xing autonomous driving system. It’s essentially Super Duper Cruise that works on highways and city streets.
The model also sports aerodynamically optimized wheels ranging in sizes from 18- to 20-inches. They’re joined by chrome or dark trim as well as an optional sunroof.
The rear end is relatively plain, but we can see a full-width light bar with interesting graphics and integrated “Buick” lettering. Designers also gave the model a liftgate-mounted spoiler and a shapely bumper.
How Big Is It?
In terms of size, the crossover measures 190.9 inches (4850 mm) long, 75.2 inches (1910 mm) wide, and 65.8 inches (1671 mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 112.2 inches (2850 mm).
To put those numbers into perspective, the Electra E7 slots between the Envision and Enclave as its 8.2 inches (208 mm) longer than the compact crossover, but 16.7 inches (424 mm) shorter than its three-row counterpart.
Powertrain details are limited, but the plug-in hybrid crossover has a 1.5-liter engine developing 97 hp (72 kW / 98 PS). It’s paired with an LFP battery pack and an electric motor developing 221 hp (165 kW / 224 PS). We can also expect a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h).
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