SAIC-GM's Buick releases all-new GL8 Lu Zun onto market

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On August 26, SAIC-GM's Buick brand officially put the all-new GL8 Lu Zun, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle edition of the GL8 Lu Zun lineup, onto the market ("Lu Zun" is dubbed in Chinese Pinyin, written in "陆尊" in Chinese characters) .

The vehicle is offered in three trims—Premium, Exclusive, and Luxury—priced between 339,900 yuan and 399,900 yuan.

Photo credit: Buick

All variants are based on the top-tier Avenir version and are available in three exterior colors—Purple Dawn, Aurora Silver, and Pearl White—and two interior schemes, Purple Dawn with Moonlight White and Mist Gray with Deep Indigo.

The all-new GL8 Lu Zun maintains the same dimensions as its predecessor, measuring 5,219 mm in length, 1,878 mm in width, and 1,807 mm in height. Standard equipment across the lineup includes more than 20 premium features spanning comfort, technology, and convenience. Highlights include three rows of Nappa leather seating, a 2.8-meter "silver-wing" courtesy light carpet, a 30-inch 6K curved EYEMAX display, and 180-degree power-adjustable third-row seats. Newly added functions such as heated steering, a rear multifunction dock, and one-touch seat adjustment for the second and third rows further enhance usability.

The interior upgrades feature Nappa leather seating in all three rows as standard. The second-row seats now add heated armrests and leg rests in addition to the existing cushion and backrest heating. According to SAIC-GM, the seats undergo 101 quality tests and use an anti-motion-sickness frame designed to avoid vibration frequencies that commonly cause discomfort, thereby reducing fatigue during long journeys.

Photo credit: Buick

Powering the vehicle is Buick's upgraded "Zhenlong (in Chinese Pinyin) Pro" plug-in hybrid system, pairing a 1.5T four-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection engine with a self-developed P1+P3 dual-motor setup. The system delivers a combined output of 292 kW and 580 N·m of torque, enabling 0–100 km/h acceleration in 7.8 seconds.

The model achieves a combined CLTC range of 1,450 km and a battery-powered range of of 202 km. Notably, it is the first PHEV MPV in the industry to support 5C ultra-fast charging, replenishing the battery from 30% to 80% in just 15 minutes, with total charging time reduced by 60% compared with the outgoing model.

On safety, the new GL8 Lu Zun adopts a six-longitudinal, ten-horizontal cage-style body structure, while the third-row layout avoids a recessed design to preserve rigidity. The PHEV has undergone testing across more than 120 driving conditions prior to launch. Its Ultium 2.0 ternary lithium battery has been upgraded in terms of materials, structure, and thermal management, including the use of inorganic nano insulation panels capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1,100°C, as well as multi-surface liquid cooling technology that improves cooling efficiency by more than 60%.

According to Buick, the GL8 family's new energy vehicle models have delivered strong sales this year, ranking first in China's MPV segment from January to July, with NEV accounting for more than half of total deliveries. Explaining the decision to drop the "PHEV" suffix from the model name, SAIC-GM President Lu Xiao noted that the GL8 Lu Zun PHEV has already become the centerpiece of the GL8 lineup in the new energy vehicle era.