Buick has launched a brand new variant of its best-selling electrical car in China, the Velite 6 compact wagon, giving it a brand new powertrain, a simplified vary construction, and decrease pricing.

Whereas the present PHEV and BEV variants of the Velite 6 stay out there, the brand new one will get a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack with a capability of fifty.3 kilowatt-hours, which permits a variety of as much as 267 miles (430 kilometers) on China’s CLTC check cycle.

The brand new battery powers an front-mounted electrical motor that delivers 174 horsepower (130 kilowatts) and 195 pound-feet (265 Newton-meters) of torque. There are not any additional particulars in regards to the motor or different drive parts.

The brand new Buick Velite 6 begins at $15,500 (112,800 yuan), which makes it actually good worth for a car that measures 184 inches (4,673 millimeters) in size and gives a roomy five-passenger cabin and 16.1 cubic toes of trunk capability. There’s additionally a costlier variant that begins at $15,900 (115,800 yuan) and provides a glass sunroof and backup digital camera.

New LFP battery apart, the low costs are additionally made potential by a simplified vary construction. For instance, the Velite 6 is just out there in three physique colours – silver, blue, and white – to simplify manufacturing.

As well as, the inside carries over virtually unchanged from the prevailing Velite 6 Plus EV, that includes a 10-inch digital cockpit and a 10-inch central touchscreen incorporating Buick’s eConnect expertise. The Velite 6 additionally encompasses a nano-level anti-PM2.5 filter component and automated air-con.

Whereas US clients are nonetheless ready for Buick’s first EV, the GM model gives no fewer than 4 battery-electric fashions in China: the Velite 6, the Velite 7 (basically a rebadged Chevrolet Bolt EUV), the Electra E4, and the Electra E5. The Electra-badged fashions make the most of GM’s Ultium structure.

The Buick Velite 6 stays the model’s best-selling EV in China, with the present mannequin racking up 16,705 gross sales within the first seven months of 2023 – 61 % of all Buick EVs offered. The Velite 6 competes with phase chief BYD Qin Plus EV, which posted over 66,000 gross sales in the identical interval, in accordance with CarNewsChina.