Buick Envision cabin detailed ahead of reveal later this month

Sun, 17 Aug 2014

Buick teased the arrival of the China-market Envision last month and gave us a few specs, now it's teasing the midsize crossover's interior and features. Having said it will "set a new benchmark in terms of space, safety, performance and specifications," we're told that equipment like the heated leather steering wheel and Bose-sourced active noise cancellation are market firsts in the segment.

Elsewhere, light will shine on occupants through the panoramic roof during the day and via ice blue ambient lighting at night, and seating surfaces are being shown off with dual-stitched leather. Lane departure warning and parking assist help keep the bodywork in order, stop/start ignition fitted to the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 256 horsepower and 260 pound-feet will help keep fuel economy up. One more convenience for the model's core buyers: a tailgate that can be partially opened.

The Normal, Tour, Sport and Off-Road driving modes come courtesy of FlexRide, that last one – meant for extra-light-duty dirt work, naturally – appearing on a Buick for the first time.

The Envision greets the world on August 28 at the Chengdu Motor Show. Word on the Internet streets is that we'll eventually get it as well, slotting between the Encore and Enclave. There's a press release below with more details.

Buick Envision Interior Photos Revealed
New SUV features blend of luxury, refinement and advanced technologies

SHANGHAI, 2014-08-15 – Shanghai GM has published photos of the all-new Buick Envision premium midsize SUV, which will make its premiere in Chengdu on August 28.

The Envision combines Buick's signature 360-degree integrated design with several new interior styling elements, including a driver-friendly left-tilted center console. Black piano trim surrounds the Envision's eight-inch color touchscreen, giving the instrument panel a streamlined, modern feel. Chrome trim clearly delineates various functional areas.

The area beneath the center console is wrapped in burgundy leather accentuated by French-style dual stitching. It includes thoughtfully arranged shift knobs and heating and air conditioning controls. The split center armrest has ample space for personal belongings with a USB port. The refinement extends to the materials used on the door panels and rear passenger space.

The Envision comes with a comfortable leather-wrapped three-spoke sport steering wheel with a segment-first heating element to keep drivers' hands warm on chilly days. Buttons and knobs on both sides of the steering wheel allow the driver to activate cruise control, play music and make Bluetooth phone calls while keeping their hands on the wheel. The light yet rigid seats have an ergonomic design that provides premium support and comfort.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is also a segment-first feature in the Envision. It works with the Bose sound system to cancel out incoming noise and deliver a home-theater-like listening experience. Ice-blue ambient lighting adds to the serene environment.

The FlexRide system in the Envision offers a choice of four driving modes: Normal, Tour, Sport and Off-Road. The Off-Road mode, available for the first time in a Buick model, is ideal for driving on slippery, unstable or bumpy surfaces. The Envision also comes equipped with parking assist, engine start/stop and lane departure warning.

A large panoramic sunroof with a sunshade that shuts electronically to block out light gives the cabin a spacious feel. The rear lift gate can be completely or partially opened to make it more convenient for loading and unloading cargo.

General Motors traces its roots back to 1908. GM has 10 joint ventures, two wholly owned foreign enterprises and more than 58,000 employees in China. GM and its joint ventures offer the broadest lineup of vehicles and brands among automakers in China. Passenger cars and commercial vehicles are sold under the Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jiefang, Opel and Wuling brands. In 2013, GM sold nearly 3.2 million vehicles in China. More information on General Motors in China can be found at GM Media Online.

By Jonathon Ramsey