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Buick to Unleash Mysterious Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle at Guangzhou Auto Show

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The new Buick Velite Concept will debut at the Guangzhou auto show

The GM design team at least gave the Buick Velite Concept its own unique front fasica
Photo: © General Motors

Back in September, we reported that the new Chevy Volt could soon find its way to the Chinese market after automotive publications Autohome and Car News China revealed photos of the hybrid vehicle wearing Buick badges.

Roughly a month and a half later, General Motors China has finally released a teaser photo of its version of the Volt, which will be called the Buick Velite Concept. This model differentiates itself from the car currently sold in the US thanks to a restyled front bumper and uniquely designed headlights. The Velite Concept is scheduled to debut at the Guangzhou auto show on November 18th.


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The 2017 Chevy Volt is headed to China as a Buick model

2017 Chevy Volt
Photo: © General Motors

GM said the Velite Concept was developed at the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in Shanghai. However, the automaker failed to disclose any information regarding the Velite’s powertrain, except saying it will come equipped with a SIDI engine along with an intelligent electric drive system that’s powered by a lithium-ion battery pack.

The second-generation of the Volt, which is currently sold in the United States as a Chevy model, is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain composed of two electric motors and a gasoline powered 1.5-liter engine that acts as a generator once the 18.4 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack has lost all of its juice. This unique powertrain allows the ‘17 Chevy Volt to travel 53 miles using only electric power and the car also boasts a total driving range of approximately 420 miles.

It could be safety assumed the Buick Velite Concept will at least match those fuel economy figures, which makes it an ideal vehicle to introduce to the Chinese market, especially when you consider GM is currently utilizing the Buick Blue new energy vehicle strategy in the Asian market.

GM China has yet to confirm whether or not the Velite Concept will actually go into production, but most automotive publications around the internet believe it will inevitably happen. If that does transpire, the Buick Velite Concept will join the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid and Buick LaCrosse HEV as hybrid vehicles that GM currently offers in China.


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