Buick is going under the knife to become an all-electric manufacturer by the end of the decade under the Electra sub-brand, following designs led by the Wildcat EV concept revealed earlier in the week.
Normally we’d file this in the “Cool Things We Won’t Get” folder, but there’s a slim chance Buick could see the light of day in New Zealand.
The Wildcat itself won’t go into production, at least in its current form, considering it wasn’t designed for any existing battery architecture. Buick’s execs told Car & Driver at a private viewing that the 2030 line-up will compose entirely of SUVs. Instead, the concept will act as a guide for the design of future Buicks.
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This is the Buick Wildcat EV, which will sadly forever remain a concept.
“This was a tremendous opportunity to come up with what a new design language and aesthetic for Buick will feel like,” Sharon Gauci, executive director of global Buick-GMC design, said.
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The Wildcat doesn’t quite follow the typical electric vehicle cues in its looks, maintaining a massive grille with tightly spaced horizontal bars.
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As cool as that little bit of roof that raises to let taller people in is, it almost certainly won’t make it to production.
It has flared haunches over the rear wheels, raised front arches that give the bonnet a pointed look, big wheels befitting a concept car, and some wild L-shaped rear lights that push right up the sides of the rear window.
Some of these will be seen on future Buick SUVs, some won’t – the part of the roof that pops up to allow easier entry, for example – but you’ll be able to trace the production vehicles back to the Wildcat in other ways.
And better yet, you might be able to do that in person. There’s a chance that Buick will arrive in Australia (and, by extension, New Zealand) as part of the GMSV range.
It’s not concrete by any means, but Buick’s new badge has been trademarked over the ditch, which indicates that GM is, at the very least, considering selling Buicks over here. Factor in the fact that EVs are typically much easier to convert from left- to right-hand drive than petrol-fed vehicles.
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Buick Wildcat EV Concept
The first Electra EV SUV will launch sometime in 2024, riding on the bones of the upcoming Cadillac Lyriq. That means around a battery of around 100kWh in size, single and dual-motor options, and a driving range of close to 500km.
Mention of which, GM has also trademarked the Cadillac badge and name in Australia back in 2020, but nothing has come of that just yet. So, maybe the Buick trademark is a red herring and our “Cool Things We Won’t Get” folder will get fatter after all.
A local GMSV spokesperson simply said “we are not announcing anything right now” when asked about the company’s plans for Buick in New Zealand.
