General Motors (GM) has set out to amaze the world with its futuristic vehicle designs and is succeeding. On August 5th, it unveiled the Buick Electra Orbit Concept in Shanghai, a vehicle that features an artificial intelligence assistant with a live hologram. This feature makes it unique and represents what luxury transportation of the future could be. Additionally, it combines design with the space-age aesthetics of the 1950s, achieving a balance between past and future design.
The function of the AI hologram is to attend to the needs of the driver beyond the voice commands or touchscreens we are used to. A minimalist and futuristic design that inherits Buick’s design lines but merges electric power and artificial intelligence, proposing a possible model for car design in the future.
Car of the future
When we talk about vehicles of the future, we think of electric vehicles or modern hydrogen-powered ones. However, General Motors (GM) has proposed a completely different scenario in which it has presented its own model of the car of the future. This took place on August 5, 2025, in Shanghai, during the unveiling of the Buick Electra Orbit Concept. It is an electric vehicle that features artificial intelligence in a completely unique way: its interior includes an AI assistant with a live hologram. Its design clearly inherits elements from Buick and EV architecture, combining the space-age aesthetics of the 1950s with the features of a modern electric vehicle.
Living hologram inside the car
The presence of artificial intelligence in modern vehicles has so far been found in touchscreens or voice command assistants. However, the AI assistant with a living hologram is something completely new and never seen before. It is described as a floating crystal ball that offers a wide range of functions. It appears on the dashboard, which has center consoles similar to an orb, creating a digital environment. Its functions include acting as a virtual co-pilot, offering entertainment system options, and controlling the vehicle’s climate. Unlike other types of AI models, this one is not static but interacts with passengers in real time.
Buick Electra Orbit Concept Design
According to Stuart Norris, VP of Design at GM China, ‘We wanted to reinterpret motifs from the space age and take advantage of the freedoms of electrification to create something with Buick DNA, yet radically new”. In terms of its exterior design, it has inherited characteristics from 20th-century Buick vehicles, featuring a 20-foot-long body. It has 24-inch wheels, a wide stance, and sculpted fenders. Its separate rear and side skirts ensure the vehicle performs well. This translates into several key details:
- “Space” paint: Silver metallic finish that changes with the light, inspired by classic airplanes.
- Scissor doors: Four gull-wing style openings for a spectacular entry.
- Active spoilers: They deploy automatically to improve aerodynamics.
Its appeal is not limited to its exterior features; the interior aims to provide an immersive experience. It achieves this through the aforementioned living hologram, as well as ambient lighting, high-end materials, and electric vehicle-specific technology. Moreover, Tthe car has a dual personality depending on the mode selected:
- Manual mode: Controlled via a spherical joystick and a wrap-around curved screen.
- Autonomous mode: Swivel seats and an interface inspired by ‘wormholes’.
While Buick is associated with designs more rooted in the past, this model has demonstrated the ability to combine technology, design, sustainability and artificial intelligence.