Buick Channels Electra-X Idea For Stretched And Facelifted Encore GX In China

Buick may not be cool in North America, but it surely’s a giant hit in China, the place the manufacturers design’s are sometimes a lot bolder. A few of Buick’s Asian-market choices, just like the placing Century minivan, can be completely alien to American consumers, however others, just like the Encore GX are in-built South Korea and China, and bought each there and within the U.S, the place the mannequin was launched for the 2020 mannequin yr.

Chinese language Buick followers know the Encore GX because the Encora GX, and judging by these pictures and accompanying knowledge from China’s Ministry of Business and Data Expertise, it’s getting a facelift and a wheelbase stretch on the similar time.

The sharp new face doesn’t look very similar to something you’ll see in a present U.S. dealership, however that can change quickly. The super-slim DRLS and broad grille aren’t a direct raise from this yr’s Electra X EV idea, however they’re clearly impressed by that automotive, which we’ve since caught testing on U.S. roads final week. And it seems to be like Buick has gone for the split-headlamp therapy judging by what seems to be a set of lamps mounted within the bumper’s vertical dummy intakes.

Associated: New Buick Electra 5 EV Breaks Cowl Utterly Undisguised In China

However whereas the brand new nostril could be very prone to discover its means onto U.S.-market GXs, we are able to’t be so certain concerning the longer physique, which has been crated to fulfill the Chinese language love of rear legroom. As a substitute of the usual automotive’s 102.2-in (2,595 mm) wheelbase, the brand new Encora Plus will get 104-in (2,640) of sheetmetal between its axles to enhance rear area.

That inevitably means a much bigger curb weight, so the Plus mannequin junks the usual automotive’s 1.2-liter and 1.3-liter gasoline triples for a 1.5-liter motor that needs to be extra able to dealing with its girth. Lifted from the Envista crossover additionally noticed on China’s authorities web site earlier this yr, the motor is rated at 177 hp (180 PS) and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) and sends its energy to the street by means of a CVT transmission.

Do you just like the Encore’s new look? Go away a remark and tell us.