Trade wars and car wars are always dirty. This Enspire concept is clean if misspelled.
Buick will show its Enspire all-electric concept SUV at Auto China 2018 in Beijing from April 25 to May. The car is remarkable because it debuts during a trade war invoked by the Trump Administration and China, the world’s largest car market. The Chinese have expressed the desire to replace the fleet with electrified vehicles, but no standards or rules have thus far been published.
The Enspire itself is a strong design coming from what usually has been a lackluster studio at General Motors if the sleek look survives by the time production begins. Exterior lines are – in keeping with current trends – pronounced and prominent.
Inside a “surround skyline” theme and suspended theater-type seating look good with yet unknown exterior sight lines and posterior plushness. Also note that the center console and armrests are made from natural wood grain and microfiber suede. What’s said to be an “intelligent augmented reality technology-based head-up display system” is included.
Unlike many show cars this one Enspire appears buildable. The electric performance – max power of 410 kW, enables the concept to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds, Buick claims. The Enspire can travel up to 370 miles on a single charge. It supports both fast and wireless charging — the battery can be charged to 80% of capacity within 40 minutes.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
