Buick’s China-Sourced Crossover Due in U.S. Next Summer

General Motors Co. plans to begin selling its Chinese-made Buick Envision midsize crossover in the U.S. in summer 2016. The vehicle went on sale in China more than a year ago.

Buick benchmarked the Audi Q5 crossover when it developed the Envision, brand chief Duncan Aldred tells Automotive News. The vehicle will fit into Buick’s lineup between the subcompact Encore and large Enclave crossovers.

The model, which is built by GM’s venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., is off to a strong sales start in China. Sales are expected to reach 140,000 units this year, making it Buick’s most important model in China, according to Aldred.

The new model will debut in the U.S. with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that delivers 252 hp through a 6-speed automatic transmission. An automatic engine stop-start system will be standard. Aldred tells AN the model will include plenty of electronic features, including a surround-view camera and automatic park assist.

Buick plans to debut the Envision with all-wheel drive but may later introduce a front-drive-only model with a different engine, Aldred says.