GM's SUV vision

If you want a hint of the styling direction General Motors is considering for its next generation of light-duty SUVs such as the Captiva here it is; the Buick Envision.
Developed by GM's Chinese design office, the concept made its global debut at the Shanghai motor show.
While the concept won't make it into production in its current quite outlandish form, GM global head of design Ed Welburn says Envision is "a vision for mid-to-small SUVs for GM".
"The Envision has inherited Buick design DNA and taken the Buick global design language to a new height," Welburn says. "It makes a significant statement for Buick styling and technology, and will influence upcoming models from the brand."

Click for more photos

Buick Envision concept

General Motor's new Envision concept, unveiled at the 2011 Shanghai motor show, hints at the design direction for future SUVs.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Using China as the design centre for the Envision and applying Buick's flowing design to its exterior makes sense. SUV sales are booming in China and Buick is also performing exceptionally well, although it has only one SUV model, the Enclave.
There's no doubting Envision's concept excesses; it rolls on massive 22-inch rubber and has two scissor doors that open vertically. Underneath the coupe-like skin is a futuristic interior that includes a floating centre console, spiral instruments and an intelligent Bluetooth internet system that uses cloud servers to enable virtual community interaction and the sharing of information with other vehicles.
Driving all this along is GM's PHEV plug-in hybrid system, including a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, two electric motors and lithium batteries.
The Envision utilises MRC electromagnetic suspension - just like HSV - and its chassis is constructed in a combination of carbon-fibre, aluminium and magnesium.