Jump to content
Create New...
  • Drew Dowdell
    Drew Dowdell

    Detroit Preview: 2016 Buick Envision Will Be All-Wheel Drive Only

      No Front Wheel Drive For you! Buick Envision to be All-Wheel Drive only.

    Buick will be unveiling the 2016 Buick Envision on Sunday at a preview event before the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. One piece of information we dug up is on the drive configuration. According to the VIN card for 2017, the U.S. market Envision will only be available in All-Wheel Drive while we already know that Chinese market vehicles can be configured with just front-wheel drive.

     

    Knowing that VIN cards can change as products are finalized, I e-mailed a Buick rep to confirm. He got back to me quickly, confirming that yes, the Envision will be available in only two trim lines, Premium Group 1 and Premium Group 2, both only available in All-Wheel drive.

     

    Looking at other Buick models, the Premium Groups are the top of the line, coming standard with leather and lots of luxury features. The 2015 Buick Lacrosse with the Premium Group 1 package is a $7,134 upgrade over the base model. An Enclave with Premium Group is an $8,450 upgrade over base. While pricing hasn't been announced yet, with only Premium Group models available, expect the Envision entry price to be a significant jump in base price over the smaller base Encore.

     

    Part of the reason for the limited options groups is that Buick is only expecting to import about 60,000 Envisions per year from China. With most other Buick models skewing heavily towards the upper end of their respective ranges, it makes sense for Buick to send only the best equipped models.

     

    Back to the power train, the Envision will be available only with a 2.0 liter, direct injected turbo 4-cylinder which produces 260 lb-ft of torque over a broad RPM range and 252 horsepower fed through GM's standard issue 6-speed auto. The AWD system will be the same as in the coming 2017 Buick LaCrosse. It is a dual-clutch system that can transfer power from side-to-side in the rear wheels and Buick promises to be as fast acting as it is efficient. Also standard GM's HiPer Strut front suspension which when combined with the AWD means there is no torque steer.

     

    We will have more Buick Envision information for you as we get closer to its official unveiling on January 10th. In the meantime, you can follow all 2016 Detroit Auto Show news here.

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Im just copying Drew's opinion. I like the fact that only Premium Group 1& 2 trims are offered for the same reasons Drew states. Pushing Buick higher in the premium luxury market.

    AWD only...

    Its probably how vehicles in this price range are bought across this market range.

    I guess the product planners have done their homework...so who am I to question that move? Which Im not, Im happy they did that.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The fact that AWD is standard isn't mentioned except on one small bullet point on an obscure page. The premium groups as the only option packages available, along with AWD standard, give an indicator of expected price. I think most people assumed it would have a low point of entry with cloth seats and FWD. It is news that it won't be like that.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Yeah, higher price points.

    I wanted to specify that, which I failed to do.

    Higher price points to propel Buick in the higher levels of premium luxury and eliminating the few that cant afford this vehicle and consequently getting a higher status...leaving the few that wanted to own this Envision to drive off either in an Encore or a Chevy...or a Bimmer X1/X3...but its OK...even for Buick, not every garage needs to be filled by a Buick, only the few that want and could afford a luxurious Buick.

     

    PS: I hate this cliché: entry level luxury, its an oxymoron that should NOT exist, but sheeple and badge snobs continue to buy into this mess of marketing BS. 

    Edited by oldshurst442
    • Agree 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    6-speed auto? Wtf.

     

    Malibu gets a 2.0T/8A powertrain, Lacrosse and XT5 get V6/8A, this is a dumb choice.

     

    Remember, this has been out for a year in China and the 8-speed isn't being built there yet. I expect everything in the first two years of this car to be limited to what they are selling in China. The entire move is about capturing market share. I fully expect to see changes to the model when/if production moves here. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Figured they would do this to the vehicle.. and I half expect the next Enclave to take this course as in the U.S.  In reality the only disadvantage of AWD systems coming out of GM these days is typically the added weight. Take the Encore I recently picked up.. according to C&D.. the difference between the weight of the FWD and AWD is  3250 / 3370 lb.. 120lbs. That extra 120 puts fuel economy at 25/33 mpg / 23/30 mpg, but their observations were spot on 24/24mpg for both. Where they observed an actual difference came in with acceleration.. 9.3 sec / 10.0 sec. Thing is that the Envision has incorporated GM's newest weight saving philosophy.. whatever that is. I expect a decent performer in all ways. D2XX/D2UX is 200lbs lighter in all applications thus far including the upcoming Cruze

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Figured they would do this to the vehicle.. and I half expect the next Enclave to take this course as in the U.S.  In reality the only disadvantage of AWD systems coming out of GM these days is typically the added weight. Take the Encore I recently picked up.. according to C&D.. the difference between the weight of the FWD and AWD is  3250 / 3370 lb.. 120lbs. That extra 120 puts fuel economy at 25/33 mpg / 23/30 mpg, but their observations were spot on 24/24mpg for both. Where they observed an actual difference came in with acceleration.. 9.3 sec / 10.0 sec. Thing is that the Envision has incorporated GM's newest weight saving philosophy.. whatever that is. I expect a decent performer in all ways. D2XX/D2UX is 200lbs lighter in all applications thus far including the upcoming Cruze

     

    The new AWD system in this and LaCrosse and XT5 is supposed to be more fuel efficient as well. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • And I've got a good list of what can be wrong with it, too.  Some is funny and some is sort of sad.
    • Have traveled extensively by Amtrak. Sadly, I think it will be cut by the incoming administration. If I had your ability to move to Italy, I would leave before sunset.
    • This cherry one is in "cherry" condition, it seems.  There are some 45 photos.  It's somewhere in Massachusetts.  What a boulevardier.  What a beauty. https://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/caprice/1995/vin/1G1BL52W1SR117012/?radius=6000 It seems like people are taking to these Caprice Classics posthumously, given the prices on cleaner ones with lower miles.   This is a base model, given the upholstery, and 200 hp indicates the 4.3 L V8, which is enough to pull this car around and, in 4th gear, return very good highway mileage.  
    • Amtrak is an interesting beast. I have taken the Coast Starlight once, from Sacramento to Portland.  You sleep on it, in your seat, and the Siskiyou Pass is slow going and I believe you can see Shasta.  Even the cheap seats are extremely roomy. I have taken the Pacific Surfliner once, from L.A. Union Station to San Diego.  It's funny that several subway lines meet at L.A. Union and, even during rush hour, it doesn't feel crowded ... because it's L.A. and not NYC. I have taken the Cascades once from Portland to Seattle.  The price was right, the route is clean and green, and the train cars are not as tall and only 1 level. I have taken the train from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa. I don't remember the route's name. It is said to often run late.  It did.  Lauderdale is next to Metrorail.  A real helpful Cuban guy checked you in and a sassy Black guy was the conductor.  The people were the trippiest of any train ride I've been on.  A little edgier and it could have had some Jerry Springer value. When we were kids, my parents would take us cross-country on the Amtrak Santa Fe to Chicago, followed by another train to New York.  The only part I remembered was the eerieness of the Petrified Forest under thunderstorm skies and all the small bodies of water in Missouri.  I was told that there would be water moccasins in there.  We'd allow for 3 to 4 days in the New York area with relatives as a buffer before sailing from the city to Italy.  It was done in reverse if coming the other way.  My parents were a little weird this way. (The apple didn't fall far from the tree.) Two segments on TWA or Pan Am 747s would have shaved a lot of time off this trip! The U.S. is way behind in good train service.  California High Speed Rail is way behind schedule.  They are still working on the Merced-Fresno-Bakersfield segment. The Republicans hate the plan.  It's always better to build these projects sooner than later.  If anything, this project could further growth in California's interior since its coveted coastal metro areas are not feasible options for most people anymore.  Having people trampling along the route and in those inland areas makes for a "multiplier effect." Don't get me started on topics like this.
    • Hyundai says the WAIT is over for the 2025 IONIQ 5 family of SUVs available now at your local dealership. The question to ask is are the available choices including financial able to drive customers into the dealership? To start with, let's look at what Hyundai is offering from a financial standpoint since the biggest complaint is always the price of an EV. Hyundai Financial is offering two ways to help get you into a new IONIQ 5, Financing as low as 0.99% interest, APR for up to 60 months for qualified buyers or leasing as low as $199 per month for 24 months. $3,999.00 due at lease signing, for qualified lesses, excludes registration, tax, title, and license, 10,000 miles per year including the $7,500 EV lease bonus. All this with a starting price of $42,500, EPA estimated range up to 318 miles, power up to 320 hp / 239 kW and Ultra-Fast Charging from 10-80% in 20 minutes. Let's start with the Ultra-Fast charging of 10% to 80% in 20 minutes. The press release photos show a Tesla supercharger, and yet the Hyundai is an 800V/350kW DC Ultra-Fast charging EV that will come with an adapter so that these NACS ported EVs can charge at the CCS charging stations where one can get this 20 min fast charge. Tesla Superchargers have 350kW charging coming but currently only in a few locations, so most of the time you will be using if you charge at a Tesla Supercharging station, a 400V charger, so expect 30 minutes to charge to 80% at 250kW or if you charge at home from 10% to 100% on a 240V level 2 charger in about 7hrs. This is where Hyundai is pushing to give you the right tools as with the 2025 IONIQ 5, Hyundai is also currently including a Complimentary ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger or you can take a $400 charging credit good at any ChargePoint station that includes EVgo, Shell Recharge or ChargePoint station. The ChargePoint network is 87,000 chargers across the U.S. Hyundai has made it very clear that the ChargePoint charger is free, but installation is not included. The good point is Hyundai has already connected to have available electricians who can do the installation and they walk you through the process via the Hyundai Home Marketplace app. If the buyer / lease chooses to go with the $400 charging credit with ChargePoint, they have two years to use the credit before it expires. Hyundai offers the IONIQ 5 in multiple trims in what they consider a trifecta family.  IONIQ 5 Family core with Key specifications: SE Standard Range Starting MSRP $42,500 RWD: 245-miles all-electric range 125kW (168 hp) SE Starting MSRP $46,550 RWD: 318-mile all-electric range RWD: 168kW (225 hp) AWD: 290-mile all-electric range AWD 74kW + 165kW (320 hp)  SEL Starting MSRP $49,500 RWD: 318-mile all-electric range RWD: 168kW (225 hp) AWD: 290-mile all-electric range AWD 74kW + 165kW (320 hp)  HDA 2: Highway Driving Assist 2 Wireless device charging Limited Starting MSRP $54,200 RWD: 318-mile all-electric range RWD: 168kW (225 hp) AWD: 290-mile all-electric range AWD 74kW + 165kW (320 hp)  Vision roof Premium Head-up display (HUD) V2L Hyundai IONIQ 5 Standard Gallery IONIQ 5 XRT The dark side per Hyundai's own website of off-road rally racing inspiration. XRT  MSRP to be announced early 2025 18-inch XRT wheels with all-terrain tires 23mm or 1-inch lifted and tuned suspension XRT Front and rear bumpers Blacked-out styling accents Exclusive interior details and badging Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT Gallery IONIQ 5 N edition The Bolder world performance car of the year for 2024 N edition Starting MSRP $66,100 0-60 mph in 3.25 seconds with N Grin Boost 162 mph top speed. 478kW (641 hp / 568 lb-ft of torque) Lowered 5.6-inch ground clearance with tuned suspension 221 mile range / 84kW battery pack Performance interior and badging Performance features: N Battery Preconditioning N race mode N Pedal mode or special tuned one pedal drive mode N Brake regeneration N Drift Optimizer mode N Torque Distribution N launch Control Mode N Grin Boost mode N e-shift  N Track SOC N Active Sound + Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Gallery The family of Hyundai IONIQ 5 comes with a three year or 36,000-mile warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile Hybrid/electric battery warranty and 24/7 roadside assistance. With the growing EV charging infrastructure and the addition of the Tesla Supercharging stations network, getting around even on road trips across North America has become so much easier than one would have thought. One can check out more about the Hyundai IONIQ 5 family of autos here: 2025 IONIQ 5 | Electric SUV, Overview | Hyundai USA So this then brings us back to the original question posed, So will the choices and financial incentives drive customers into the dealerships and have them taking home a new EV? Sound off on what you think. View full article
  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search