The Impressive New Buick ELECTRA GS EV Concept

The return of General Motors’ Buick Electra nameplate in the form of the Electra GS concept is honestly one of the coolest throwbacks wrapped in a forward-looking package we’ve seen in a while. Buick really leaned into both heritage and electric-powered futuristic design here—and the fact that they unveiled it in Shanghai makes perfect sense given the brand’s huge success in China.

While GM didn’t drop any hard specs, the Electra GS looks like it could be hiding some serious GM Ultium firepower under that slick skin—especially if it shares any DNA with the monstrous GMC Hummer EV. That thing defies physics, and dropping a performance-focused GNX variant? Come on, that’s electric car nerd fantasy fuel.

Design inspired by a mythical centaur is wild. The idea of combining “raw power and intelligence” paints a pretty bold picture. It kind of makes you think of the ELECTRA GS as both a beast on the road and a tech sanctuary inside. That duality seems very intentional—muscle car presence with the brain of a luxury EV.

“The ELECTRA GS is more than a concept. It’s a design manifesto,” said Stuart Norris, Chief Design Officer at SAIC-GM and Vice President of GM China Design. “It’s a bold statement that Buick will continue its success in the electric era with sculptural dynamism, cutting-edge technology, and uncompromised sophistication.”

This concept is tailor-made for Chinese tastes, where premium interiors and tech-savvy luxury are king. Buick has deep roots in China—over 10 million cars sold—and this is a play to keep that momentum going amidst rising local competition.

The cabin is doing what EVs do best—using the flat skateboard chassis to full advantage. Four captain’s chairs, luxe materials, and a minimalist layout with a 16.3-inch display and a big HUD? It screams first-class lounge on wheels. No word on Apple CarPlay, but with GM’s push away from it, that tracks.

At 5,300 mm (~17.4 feet), this thing is absolutely massive—Tahoe-sized with a sleek, space-cruiser body. Those 23-inch wheels don’t even make it look oversized. It’s that big. You can definitely imagine it turning heads in city centers or silently gliding down highways.

Reviving the Electra name is a smart move. That car was a flagship for Buick for decades—from 1959 to 1990—and had serious cachet. Whether it was a two-door, four-door, convertible, or station wagon, the Electra always stood for presence and prestige. It’s fitting that its spiritual successor carries that name into the electric future.

If Buick drops this electric monster in the U.S. (especially in a wild GNX trim), it could actually punch through the EV noise. What do you think—does the ELECTRA GS feel like a genuine halo car move, or just concept-car vapor?