Today’s automotive industry is mostly about electrification and one of the tactics manufacturers use to promote these kinds of cars, which aren’t always very welcomed by the crowd, is to evoke old memories. The best way to do that is to use famous nameplates from the past. Ford has just launched the all-electric Mustang, while GM is bringing back the Hummer nameplate, in the electric form. That’s why we think that rumors about the 2022 Buick Grand National GNX aren’t unlikely at all. We believe we could see it already in the next year, even though the officials are still quiet.
At this point, we know almost nothing about the 2022 Buick Grand National GNX. So, the only thing we could do is to speculate about the possibilities of this comeback. At this point, all cards are in-game, whether it’s about the body style, or any other aspect of the design. This includes the powertrain as well, as we can also hear rumors about internal combustion engines coming from some purists.
2022 Buick Grand National GNX Design
As we’ve just mentioned, there are two possibilities with the comeback of this legendary nameplate. The first and more probable one is to see an all-electric design. If that happens, we presume that the 2022 Buick Grand National GNX would have a lot of things in common with Cadillac’s upcoming electric cars, such as Liryq and Celestiq. The latter is particularly interesting, as it will come in the form of a sedan or liftback, which is the closest thing to the older generations of Grand National.
The body style is another question that comes to mind. In the past, the Grand National and Regal, in general, were offered in various body styles, including sedan, coupe, liftback, station wagon etc. From what we know so far, the new Celestiq is about to come as a liftback, so we may expect something similar from the 2022 Buick Grand National GNX as well.
However, let’s not forget that we live in the era of the automotive industry where bulkier designs dominate. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we see the new model as an SUV or crossover. After all, the Mustang Mach E has just arrived and it features a crossover layout. Simply, those are the requirements of the modern car market.
Platform and Powertrain
Of course, an all-electric layout would mean a little bit different design approach. The platform is one of the basics that come to mind first. As we are talking about a model that will share most parts with Cadillac’s upcoming electric car, it’s quite obvious that the platform will be the same as well. We are talking about the new Ultium platform, which will represent the new GMC Hummer EV as well.
When it comes to base design characteristics, we know that this platform supports various battery and drivetrain configurations. In this case, the 2022 Buick Grand National GNX will probably feature a 100-kWh battery pack. Base models will most likely feature a single electric motor on the rear axle, probably with the max output of 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. An all-wheel-drive version is expected too. A 100-kWh battery pack should provide at least 300 miles of the all-electric range.
What About Traditional Approach
Purists would probably be disappointed with such a design approach. So, they hope there is still a chance to see a more conventional layout, with an internal combustion powertrain. We shouldn’t exclude this possibility, but the fact is that GM doesn’t work too much on the development of new platforms for sedans and passenger cars. The focus is on SUVs and trucks, so some rumors suggest a possibility to see the 2022 Buick Grand National GNX riding on a good-old Omega platform. In such a scenario, we don’t believe that the new model would come as a crossover or SUV. A traditional 4-door sedan or 2-door coupe would be more appropriate.
This is a rear-wheel-drive platform, which leaves a lot of possibilities for different powertrain options, ranging from turbo-four units to turbocharged V8 engines. The latter refers to Cadillac’s familiar 4.2-liter twin-turbo, which offers between 500 and 550 horsepower. We presume that this engine would be reserved for a high-performance version.
A good thing about the Omega platform is that it supports electrifications as well. The CT6 was presented in a PHEV form in 2015, with an 18.4-kWh battery pack and two electric motors. So, we don’t see why the new 2022 Buick Grand National GNX wouldn’t come with something similar on the offer too.
2022 Buick Grand National GNX Release Date
At this point, the 2022 Buick Grand National GNX is just a rumor. Therefore, we suggest you not to take this comeback too seriously. The officials are still quiet and if we consider that the rumors have been circulating around for years, it’s easy to conclude that the chances to see this model on the road are actually pretty small.
