Buick Reveals Two New Design Studies From GM’s China Studio

Buick’s design team in China has been busy, and two of their latest ideas just popped up on GM Design’s Instagram. One is a family-friendly compact SUV; the other is a sleeker crossover-estate that leans more toward fun. What makes them interesting is how close both look to actual production cars rather than wild sketches.

Both studies were created at GM’s Advanced Design studio in Shanghai. The first one comes from designer Sangmin Kim and is pitched as a “premium family” take on the Buick look.

For starters, it has split LED headlights, chunky wheel arches, big two-tone wheels, and a clean side profile with gloss-black trim. Around the back, the taillights sit neatly under the rear glass, and the spoiler wraps around the window. There’s also a wide tailgate and a bumper that almost looks ready for crash testing. Even with the modest ride height, it has that small-SUV vibe you’ll recognize from cars like the Kia Niro.

The second study is by designer Yixuan Feng, and it takes a sportier direction. Think of it as a compact crossover mixed with a shooting brake. It gets suicide doors, a split tailgate, slim LED lights, and a grille that lights up. The wheels are forged aluminum with shiny chrome details, and the roofline sweeps into flying buttresses over the rear glass. The whole thing looks slick without trying too hard.

Both concepts fit perfectly into Buick’s shift toward electric and hybrid models. Nothing here screams “impossible prototype,” which is probably the point. Buick is already working on a new electric subcompact crossover, expected before 2029, as well as the next-generation Encore GX.