Buick Electra Orbit concept unveiled, marrying "space-age romance" with "cutting-edge EV design"

GM China has unveiled the Buick Electra Orbit concept, following the launch of the Electra L7 last month. The Electra Orbit is billed as "a design exploration that marries the romance of the 1950s with futuristic technology and pure-electric architecture".

It does look stunning, if we dare say so ourselves, but of course it's just a concept - so while it offers a glimpse into future Electra designs, and will definitely serve, at least in part, as inspiration for those, it won't ever make it to production itself.

The concept was developed by the GM China Advanced Design Center, and the idea was to create something "that feels both familiar in its Buick DNA and thrillingly new", according to Stuart Norris, Vice President of Design for GM China and GM International and Chief of Design at SAIC-GM.

The Electra Orbit draws inspiration from "space-age spacecraft, jets, and iconic Buick concepts of the 1950s". It's nearly 236 inches long, and over 79 inches wide, with a low front, "expansive body", and an extended, streamlined rear end. It rides on 24" wheels framed by "sculptural fenders", and has scissor doors like any luxurious concept should.

The dual, center-pivoting frunk has a storage area with custom luggage in an ode "to the glamor and romance of travel". The metallic color shown is called Space, and it's named that "for reflecting the hues of the universe" and "the vastness and mystery of outer space".

Inside there's an "orbit-inspired design language" with only four seats. The arch-shaped display is the centerpiece in the front, aiming for an immersive experience, while the instrument panel and steering wheel "reconfigure across driving modes, shifting between driver-centric focus and autonomous comfort".

A bell-shaped controller in the center console offers intuitive physical commands for the car's functions, and there is of course a digital assistant too, in a wormhole-inspired interface. The rich red clay inspired hue drawn from natural earth tones is paired with custom brocade patterns that "fuse tradition and innovation". Of course there are "opulent fabrics" and "crystal accents" too.