Buick’s GL8 Century For China Is A Giant TV With A Side Order Of Minivan

Unless they’re the F1-powered Espace Renault built in the 1990s or the Hellcat powered Pacifica YouTuber Tavarish is building right now, minivans are rarely cool, stylish or desirable. But Buick hopes its new GL8 Century is all of those things, if at a more sedentary pace.

Revealed in full alongside the Wildcat EV concept, the sharp-looking MPV brings back Buick’s storied Century badge to mark out the flagship version of its GL8 series, which will continue to include the older-style GL8 ES and GL8 Legacy. Measuring 205.9 in (5,230 mm) nose-to-tail, the Century is as long as a luxury sedan, and even more imposing thanks to an aggressive new face showcasing Buick’s latest design language.

The bold grille stretches almost up to the hood, and is paired with a set of distinctive arrow-shaped headlights that give the GL8 the kind of dynamic look you don’t associate with MPVs. But the two-tone paint hints that the Century is definitely more focused on delivering luxury than performance, as is clear when you slide open the rear side doors.

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Wraparound seats in the second row are wider and more comfortable than previous chairs, says Buick, and the headrests feature a built-in Bose sound system for an immersive audio experience that the company likens to being in a concert hall. But the Century’s entertainment system won’t only amaze your ears because it also features a colossal screen that entirely separates the first and second row of seats. Described as a foldable smart screen, it can be raised by tapping the center armrest touchscreen.

And if passengers can’t find anything to watch, they can always recline their thrones and relax as they take in the Rolls Royce-style night sky headliner, which the company claims reimagines the romance of travel. And let’s face it, the great thing about vans is there’s plenty of room for romance. But if you’ve fallen in love with the idea of the Century prepare to have your heart broken unless you’re living in China. This is one Buick that definitely won’t be coming to North America.