General Motors' premium brand Buick is entering the Korean market, led by the Electra E7, a midsize plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV.
GM Korea officially announced Buick's launch in Korea at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul on Sep. 30 and unveiled the Electra E7. The SUV will be offered in four trims and is scheduled to go on sale in November.
With Buick's arrival, GM Korea now has a four-brand lineup, joining Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC. Korea also becomes the first market outside North America where all four GM brands are available.
“The Electra E7 builds on Buick's 120-year heritage while offering a new premium choice through modern technology and design innovation,” said Hector Villarreal, president of GM Korea.
The Electra E7 is designed as a modern premium SUV. It uses GM's intelligent plug-in hybrid (i-PHEV) system, which combines a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with a 165-kilowatt (kW) electric drive motor.
Using the electric motor and engine together, the SUV offers a combined driving range of more than 1,000 kilometers. It is equipped with a 31.7-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery and can travel up to 126 kilometers on electric power alone. It supports DC fast charging, which can charge the battery to 80% in 20 minutes. It also features vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, which lets drivers use the battery to power external devices. The OnStar app, GM's global connected-car service, provides remote vehicle control and other features.
The Electra E7 measures 4,850 millimeters long, 1,910 millimeters wide and 1,675 millimeters tall, with a 2,850-millimeter wheelbase. That makes it larger than typical compact SUVs, which are usually about 4,500 to 4,600 millimeters long and have wheelbases of about 2,700 to 2,800 millimeters. The wheelbase largely determines interior space. Inside, a 15.6-inch central display and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster are expected to support a range of advanced driver-assistance features, including intelligent cruise control.
Despite its premium positioning, the Electra E7 has a competitive price range from KRW43 million to the KRW54 million range. GM Korea began accepting preorders on the same day.
