Tag: Buick

Buick Trademarks The Electra Name, Does It Hint At Upcoming Electric Crossover?

Buick’s range in North America comprises exclusively of SUVs including the Envision, Encore and Enclave, but none of them is fully electric. This could change in the near future as the automaker filed a trademark for the Electra name in Canada, a move that could hint at a production version of last years’ fully electric crossover concept bearing the iconic name.

General Motor’s trademark filing from December 20 for the Buick Electra name was posted at the Rivian Owners Forum. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Buick will use the Electra name on a production vehicle, nor that this will be a fully electric crossover, however both of those assumptions sound plausible given the timing.

See Also: 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Electric SUV Unveiled In Production Form

The pictured Buick Electra concept was unveiled last year in Shangai. The prototype brought back an iconic name used in full-size luxury sedans from 1959 to 1990. Unlike its predecessors, the new Electra adopted a sleek crossover-style silhouette previewing Buick’s future design language.

Like the Cadillac Lyric that was unveiled in production form earlier this year, the Buick Electra concept was based on GM’s Ultium architecture with a fully electric powertrain. In the concept, the dual electric motors produced 583 hp (435 kW / 589 PS), while the Ultium battery allowed a range of more than 410 miles (660 km). The production version could use the Lyriq’s 100 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which is good for a more down-to-earth 300 mile (483 km) electric range.

See Also: Buick Smart Pod Is A Futuristic Luxury Minivan Concept

A Buick Electra SUV could be a competitor for the rumored Chrysler Airflow and the Ford Mustang Mach-E, or move upmarket to rival more premium electric SUV proposals from BMW (iX), Audi (e-tron), and Mercedes-Benz (EQE). In any case, the design of the concept would have to be toned down for production, including a more conventional design for the greenhouse and the doors while retaining elements like the overall crossover shape, the Matrix LED lighting units, and the large-diameter wheels.

Buick hasn’t made any announcements for the future product strategy so we don’t know if and when they are planning to introduce their first fully electric SUV. Outside North America, the automaker is steadily increasing its sales in China, where it is also offering a wide range of sedans, SUVs, and luxury MPVs.

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This Rare Vixen 21 SE RV Has The Supercharged V6 Of A Buick Riviera

A few weeks ago, we shared the intriguing Vixen 21 TD RV after one example appeared for sale on eBay. Fast forward to the end of July and another RV from Vixen has hit the market, although this one is a little different.

The Vixen 21 RV was designed as an RV unlike any other and came from the mind of Bill Collins, the same man that designed the original DeLorean DMC-12. It was much more streamlined and aerodynamic than traditional RVs while also being lighter and much faster.

This particular Vixen 21 is an SE model, meaning it features the supercharged V6 of a 1997 Buick Riviera, as opposed to the BMW turbodiesel inline-six that TD models had. For those seeking power, the SE is the one to buy as the Buick engine was good for 240 hp from the factory while the BMW turbodiesel only had 115 hp. Mated to the V6 is an automatic transmission.

Read Also: The 2022 Airstream Interstate 24X Is An Adventure-Ready Mercedes Motorhome For The Wilderness

The RV was listed up for sale on Craigslist in Queen Creek, Arizona, although the page was recently removed, which could indicate that the car was sold. Thought to be just one of 170 SE models ever built, it has been driven 130,000 miles (209,000 km) and is apparently the only Vixen 21 that was painted red from the factory, giving it a key point of difference from most others that were either white or silver.

The interior of the RV is exactly what you’d expect from something built in the late 1980s and is dominated by lots of wood, vinyl, and carpet. The condition of the cabin isn’t perfect, but looks reasonable given its age. The seller notes that the front and rear air suspension need some work.

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