The Buick Proxima is a concept for an EV flagship created in the recently renovated GM China Advanced Design Center in Shanghai. The model is not destined for production but serves as a preview for the styling language of future Buick EVs in China and potentially other markets. Interestingly, the Proxima doesn’t share styling features with the 2022 Buick Wildcat concept which has already influenced several production models.
Proxima means “next” in Portuguese, highlighting the fact it was designed for the next generation. According to GM, the concept “reimagines flagship sedan proportions”. Indeed, its low-slung silhouette is characterized by a short bonnet, an aerodynamic roofline, and a generously sized passenger compartment. The front adopts a grille-less look with slim LEDs and futuristic patterns on the faux intakes. The sculpted profile is dominated by the massive gullwing doors and the pronounced rear shoulders leading to the compact trunk.
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The doors open upwards with a portion of the roof, allowing easy access to the four-seater cabin. The automaker talks about a “residential-like experience” bragging about the “spaciousness” and “travel comfort” of the concept. Features include four individual seats, sophisticated ambient lighting, a widescreen on the bottom of the windshield, a yoke-style steering wheel, and a floating center console with a touch-sensitive surface and storage compartments.
GM didn’t go into specifics for the specifications of the EV-dedicated underpinnings but this is most likely an Ultium-based concept. As for the dimensions, the flagship term suggests it has a generous footprint.
An Advanced Design Center In China For China
The Shanghai-based studio is one of the automaker’s four advanced design centers worldwide. It recently got renovated, expanded, and updated with new technology, while doubling the size of the team since 2021. The premises include digital and clay modeling, paint shop, and CMF (color, material, and finish) departments.
According to the GM, the goal of “EV designs developed for internal research” like the Buick Proxima is to “predict, demonstrate, and pulse check design trends and synthesize market-facing insights that may inspire GM’s portfolio over the next five to ten years”. In that context, Michael Simcoe, senior vice president of GM Global Design described the Advanced Design Center in Shanghai as “a leading tastemaker for GM’s future products”.
The studio is currently working on “multiple projects for GM’s global brands”, with the portfolio including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun, and Wuling. On the official video tour uploaded on Instagram, we can see a few interesting sketches, 3D and clay models scattered around in a high-tech environment.