GM China reveals EV concept designed to evoke retro rocket ships

The Chinese division of General Motors has unveiled its Buick Electra Orbit concept car, which combines 20th-century space-age references with the latest electric vehicle technologies.

The futuristic proposal was developed by GM China's Advanced Design Center to showcase the Buick brand's creativity and technological ambition.

The designers chose to incorporate nods to spacecraft, jet aeroplanes and Buick concepts from the 1950s to give the concept car a retro feel.

These details combine with futuristic technologies such as a wormhole-inspired interface and ball-shaped controller that hint at the future of autonomous, electric vehicles.

"Electra Orbit is a bold exploration of what Buick can be when we blend heritage inspiration with visionary innovation," said Stuart Norris, vice president of design for GM China and GM International and chief of design at SAIC-GM.

"By reinterpreting space-age motifs and pushing electric-architecture freedoms, we wanted to create a concept that feels both familiar in its Buick DNA and thrillingly new."

The car features what its makers described as "flagship proportions", with a length of nearly six metres and a width of over two metres.

Electra Orbit's lowered front gives the vehicle a sporty feel, while its elongated, streamlined rear evokes the spaciousness and comfort of luxury sedan cars.

The external panelling incorporates deployable aerodynamic flaps that open to optimise drag and downforce at higher speeds. Scissor doors that open upwards rather than outwards reveal the interior as they pivot open, while compartments in the bonnet provide storage space for luggage.

The project seeks to reinforce the Buick brand's comfort-centric philosophy and the car's capacious cabin is therefore designed as an inviting and dynamic space based on a 2+2 layout.

The interior continues the retro-futurism theme, featuring a design language based on the concept of orbit and outer space.

A full-width instrument panel incorporates an arch-shaped display called the Ring that aims to provide an immersive digital experience.

According to GM, the "instrument panel and steering wheel reconfigure across driving modes, shifting between driver-centric focus and autonomous comfort".

At the centre of the instrument panel is the wormhole-inspired holographic interface, which is linked to the car's AI assistant. This combines with a globe-shaped controller designed to offer intuitive command of the vehicle functions.

The colour and material palette chosen for the cabin is based on a ground theme, which the designers claimed aims to "contrast earthly textures with cosmic inspiration".

A naturally inspired red-clay tone is applied throughout the interior, including on the custom brocade-patterned upholstery that introduces a traditionally crafted detail.

The fabrics combine with crystal accents and sweeping built-in lighting that emphasises the cabin's curves. These shimmering and glowing features aim to evoke celestial elements, reinforcing the design's connection to astronomy.

"The Electra Orbit concept highlights the creativity and distinctive perspective of GM China's design team," Norris added.

"Rooted in local insights and driven by inventive exploration, the project demonstrates how bold forms, materials and technologies can be executed in an authentic context."

General Motors is one of the world's largest automotive manufacturers, with brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC all owned by the corporation.

The company is based in Detroit, Michigan, where it has a technical centre featuring buildings designed in the International Style by mid-century architect Eero Saarinen. As part of its pivot towards electric vehicles, GM unveiled an updated lowercase logo in 2021.

GM is one of several car brands to have recently unveiled an EV concept. Others include Bentley's futuristic EXP 15 sedan car and Jaguar's controversial Type 00 concept.

The visualisations of the Electra Orbit concept were developed by GM Technical Center Korea.

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