GM showcased the most luxurious version of the next-generation full-size Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) during the 2022 Buick Brand Day in China, just two weeks after first revealing the all-new Buick GL8 Century in the Asian country. The GL8 Century is the latest top-of-the-line model in Buick's China minivan lineup, which also includes the GL8 Avenir, GL8 ES, and GL8 Legacy.
Minivans are rarely cool, stylish, or desirable, unless they're the F1-powered Espace Renault built in the 1990s or the Hellcat-powered Pacifica YouTuber Tavarish is building right now. The GL8's bold grille extends almost to the hood and is paired with a set of distinctive arrow-shaped headlights, giving it a dynamic look that you don't associate with MPVs. However, the two-tone paint suggests that the Century is more concerned with luxury than performance, as evidenced by the rear side doors.
With ingenious innovations like the huge screen that separates the first and second row of seats, the interior provides a sumptuous and individualized experience. This innovation, according to the firm, produces an exquisite and silent "private space" for passengers in the second row, which comprises first-class-like seats with Bose speaker-integrated headrests and a starry evening sky headliner. Although Buick didn't say much about the engines, however, other GL8 cars use turbocharged inline-4 engines.
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An Overview Of What's To Come: The GL8 Century Concept
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The Buick GL8 Century is the company's new flagship MPV that will compete in China's expanding minivan market, and it reintroduces one of the Tri-Shield brand's most iconic nameplates as a new, more opulent trim level that will put it at the top of the line. "As Buick starts on a global transformation to become a technology-forward brand, we have the same unshakeable dedication to constantly developing in China for China," said Duncan Aldred, Buick's Global Vice President, at a virtual live-streamed event in China.
The all-new Buick GL8 Century will make its debut in China later this year, reaffirming Buick's leadership in the minivan sector, which it pioneered with the first GL8 in 1999. The GL8 Century is based on the Avenir trim, but with a more upmarket finish, according to GM Authority. The current third-generation GL8 and GL8 Classic will join this model. Later this year, the GL8 Century will be available in China. It's one of 12 new Buicks set to debut between now and 2025, five of which will be electric. The Electra will be one of those EVs, with sales beginning in 2024 in North America. Buick also stated last week that by 2030, it will be a fully electric brand.
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The 2022 Buick GL8 Century: An Interior That Exudes Luxury And Comfort
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The GL8 Century is 206 inches long, but it's not about how many seats you can fit inside. Instead, the emphasis is on comfort, hence there are only two rows, with the second row including only two reclining seats. The seats are bigger and more comfy than in prior GL8 models, and the seat headrests now have built-in Bose speakers for the first time.
According to Buick, the second-row wraparound seats are broader and more comfortable than previous models, and the headrests have a built-in Bose sound system for an immersive audio experience comparable to being in a concert hall. The Century's entertainment system, however, will wow your eyes as well as your ears, since it includes a massive screen that completely separates the first and second rows of seats. It may be lifted by tapping the central armrest touchscreen, which is described as a folding smart screen.
Passengers can also recline their thrones and rest while taking in the Rolls Royce-style night sky headliner, which the business claims reimagines the romance of travel. And, let's face it, one of the best things about vans is how much room there is for romance. However, unless you live in China, if you've fallen in love with the idea of the Century, be prepared to get your heart shattered.
The Buick GL8 Century Offers An Alluring Exterior Design
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The sharp-looking MPV, which was revealed in full alongside the Wildcat EV concept, brings back Buick's storied Century badge to distinguish the flagship version of its GL8 series, which will also include the older-style GL8 ES and GL8 Legacy. The GL8 Century has an unusual style that was originally seen in the GL8 Flagship concept, which was presented last year. Buick's current design language for Chinese-market vehicles, which also impacted the previous Electra-X concept, is evident in the smooth surfacing and slit-like headlamps. The Century is as long as a premium sedan, measuring 205.9 inches from nose to tail, and it's even more imposing thanks to an aggressive new face that showcases Buick's newest design language.
The external color scheme, which was basically flipped over several of its surfaces, appears to be the most dramatic departure from the idea at first glance. The concept's glossy silver grille was replaced with a more traditional honeycomb design for the production version, although silver accents are now visible around the hood and roofline, as well as the rising wave that peaks immediately in front of the GL8 Century's C-pillar.
