Buick has released photos and some of the details concerning the upcoming Velite 7 SUV launch in China. It looks like the next-gen Chevrolet Bolt will be based on the same platform.
The original Bolt debuted in 2016 and sold 23,000 units in the United States in its launch year. The sales have been declining since, and only 16,400 units found their owners in 2019. To put things into perspective, this is about the same as the monthly sales quantity of the Tesla Model 3. This is why General Motors decided to turn the Bolt hatchback into an SUV scheduled to come out in two years’ time. In the meantime, let’s take a took at the technically related Buick Velite 7.
The car is 4,264 mm (14 feet) long and has 2,675 mm (8.78 ft.) separating the axles. This makes it larger than the current Bolt. Inside, the infotainment system boasts a 10-inch display, while the dashboard fits into eight inches. There is a button-based gear selector instead of a joystick, and the trunk expands to 1,331 liters (47 cubic feet) with the rear seats folded down.
The car’s single electric motor produces 177 horsepower (132 kilowatts) and takes it to 145 km/h (90 miles per hour). An LG Chem battery gives it up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) of range, according to NEDC testing protocol.
The Buick Velite 7 will enter production at the SAIC-GM joint enterprise in China late this year.