[MTN Ranger]

Buick Riviera PHEV Concept debuts in China

Link


"It's nighttime in China, and Buick has just concluded an evening event the day before the first – and only – press day of the Shanghai Motor Show. The star of this evening's party was the Buick Riviera concept vehicle, a plug-in electric hybrid coupe that the automaker says gives a glimpse at its future design direction."


Notice the center hump that goes from the front to rear seats, just like the Volt and ELR.

 

[Dyohn]

I still think the obvious no-brainer name for the first Buick PEV should be "Electra."

 

[VikAiRious]

Maybe the 'Electra' is being reserved for a 100% EV for the future?

 

[Raymondjram]

This concept design is too abstract to become a practical vehicle. A redesign of the Buick oval nose and the "waterfall grill" is needed, but this one is a trapezoid and changes the Buick shape too much!

 

[jfkirk]

The ELR seems to fill this hole. Where is the crossover SUV?

 

[Motown1999]

Video of the Riviera Concept reveal in Shanghai

Here is what the Detroit Free Press had to say:

http://www.freep.com/article/20130419/BUSINESS01/304190118/Buick-GM-China-auto-show

 

[cadillackid]

why wont a manufacturer ever have the gonads to actually build a car like its concept.. wing doors.. sweeping inside lines.. always end up turning into 4 regular doors and a regular looking dash and regular car seats...

-Christopher

 

[RCB268]

GM reveals Buick Riviera concept in China

From The Freep:

http://www.freep.com/article/20130419/BUSINESS01/304190118/Buick-GM-China-auto-show

Ummm ... well, it's different.

There is a better link about this concept at:

http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?40977-Could-this-be-the-upcoming-Voltec-Buick

Sorry for the dup post. Moderator: please delete!

 

[Steverino]

why wont a manufacturer ever have the gonads to actually build a car like its concept.. wing doors.. sweeping inside lines.. always end up turning into 4 regular doors and a regular looking dash and regular car seats...

-Christopher

It's basically car porn. Sexy, fun to watch, but unattainable, haha.

Concept cars are a sideshow circus to bring in the crowds, get the company name in the news.

 

[pjwood]

If Buick, as part of GM, is calling it a PHEV (not EREV), then it will run its engine regularly, if hard on the throttle. That's the concept being tried on the menu. Maybe someone can explain how PHEV ICE assists under heavy load, when the engine starts off stone cold? Will it cycle in 'Sport' mode, and simply deliver lower EREV performance numbers with an economy setting? The Volt already starts out idling low, to presumably warm up. So, I'm assuming that won't change.

Autoweek specifically spoke of a "50kwh" batteries costing "$40,000", as part of their favoring PHEV, over BEV, in the latest "green" issue. $800 per kwh is grossly out of step, not to mention that the appetizing 20-40kwh market with range extender is completely untested. Get the ICE/Battery ratio wrong, and EREV/BEVs or a smarter ratio will win.

Not looking for any inside info. Just wondering if tech exists to operate an ICE for performance, when cold?