New Compact Crossover Revealed, the 2015 Buick Envision

Usually a car reveal in China isn’t a huge deal in North America, but times are changing and this time it is. That’s because the car in question will likely make its way to the United States market, plus it’s a compact crossover and those are incredibly hot in the market right now.

The new model is the 2015 Buick Envision and it was unveiled at the Chengdu Auto Show. The vehicle will likely slot in right between the Encore, which is a subcompact crossover, and the Enclave, which is much larger and has three rows of seats. In other words, the Envision would be going toe-to-toe with the Acura RDX, Mercedes GLK, and the like.

Since nothing official for North America has been announced, the specs for the car in China could be different from what shows up here. That being said, the vehicle that was revealed has a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that uses direct injection for a peak output of 260 horsepower and 247 lb.-ft. of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, as is all-wheel drive.

The inclusion of the all-wheel drive system is big, partly because it’s a standard feature and partly because it features a unique layout for General Motors. The rear axle houses two multi-plate clutches that are controlled electronically, distributing torque as the vehicle deems necessary. Even more interesting is the fact that all of the torque produced by the engine ca be sent to the front or rear axle.

With no official announcement having been made for the Buick Envision to launch in the United States, it seems likely the vehicle will be a 2016 model. Exactly what it will come with as far as the powertrain and other features is at the moment up to pure speculation.