Buick Electra GS Concept Takes Aim at BMW i7 with China-Born Luxury EV
By Team Dailyrevs April 22, 2025
Buick unveils a bold, design-led EV concept targeting global luxury markets.
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Electra GS features flagship dimensions and futuristic, lounge-style interior.
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Built on a dedicated EV platform with a focus on form and innovation.
Buick Electra GS Concept Aims Squarely at BMW i7 with Design-First Electric Ambition
Let’s be honest — nobody expected Buick to challenge BMW in the luxury electric space. And yet, with the Electra GS Concept, that’s exactly what’s happening.
Unveiled ahead of the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, the Electra GS isn’t some nostalgic brand reboot. It’s a futuristic, design-led, China-born electric sedan that dares to stand eye-to-eye with the likes of BMW’s i7. On paper, Buick has never swung this high — but with the Electra GS, it's at least stepping into the ring.
Bigger Than the i7 — Literally
At 5,300 mm in length and a 3,200 mm wheelbase, the Electra GS closely rivals BMW’s new 7 Series in scale — including the i7. And that's no accident. Chinese luxury buyers — Buick's biggest market — demand generous proportions, especially for rear-seat passengers. Buick delivers with a sleek four-door coupe profile, 23-inch wheels, and a low-slung, wide stance that screams presence without shouting.
But proportions aren’t the only thing Buick borrows from the luxury EV playbook.
“The Electra GS is more than a concept. It’s a design manifesto,”
said Stuart Norris, Chief Design Officer at SAIC-GM.
That’s bold language — and it’s backed up with even bolder lines.
2024 BMW i7 M70 G70 Liquid Copper Sapphire Black
Designed to Seduce, Styled to Challenge
Inspired by the mythical centaur, the Electra GS blends raw power and intelligent design — at least symbolically. Its surface language, which Buick calls “Kinetic Sculpture”, features flowing bodywork that plays with light and shadow, highlighted by laser-cut geometric details and an aggressive shark-nose front.
Let’s size up the two:
| Feature | Buick Electra GS Concept | BMW i7 (xDrive60) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5,300 mm | 5,391 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,200 mm | 3,215 mm |
| Powertrain | EV (specs TBD — concept only) | Dual-motor EV, 650 hp, AWD |
| Rear Passenger Luxury | Lounge layout, minimalist luxury | Optional 31” Theater Screen, massage |
| Infotainment | 16.3-inch ultrawide screen, AR HUD | BMW Curved Display, iDrive 8.5 |
| Production Status | Concept | In production |
Inside: A Concept Lounge, Not Just a Cabin
While BMW fills the i7 with cinematic theater screens and crystal accents, Buick’s Electra GS goes Scandinavian sleek. Minimalism rules the interior, with four sculpted seats, premium materials, and a distraction-free cockpit. The wide center display, AR-integrated HUD, and smart layout are clearly tuned for a digital-native, design-conscious buyer — and not just those shopping by horsepower alone.
Interestingly, the GS rides on GM’s dedicated EV platform, meaning all the benefits of a flat floor, wide cabin, and custom interior architecture are fully leveraged. No central tunnel, no packaging compromises — just openness and elegance.
Buick’s Real Play? Win China, Then the World
The Electra GS Concept wasn’t designed in Detroit — it’s the work of GM China’s Advanced Design Studio. That’s not a fun fact — that’s the headline.
Buick sells more cars in China than anywhere else. The Electra GS is a statement that Buick sees the Chinese luxury EV market as the new global epicenter of influence. If this car hits production and performs as promised, Western buyers might have to rethink Buick entirely.
But let’s be clear: right now, the GS is only a concept. No motor specs, no range estimates, no production dates.
Meanwhile, the i7 exists. It hauls. It entertains. It wins awards.
Final Verdict
So — is Buick challenging the BMW i7? Not today. But maybe tomorrow.
The Electra GS Concept is Buick’s most confident, stylish, and globally aware move in decades. If it makes it to production with performance and finish to match its design — BMW, Mercedes, Lucid, and even Tesla may need to scoot over.
But until then, it’s a bold blueprint. Not a rival.
For high-resolution images and further details, click here to explore the Electra GS Concept.