For Buick, the Avista Concept is clearly all about capturing imagination with subtle innovation, gorgeous design and sleek appearance. The “contemporary grand tourer,” by some media reports, was unveiled Sunday night ahead of the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The rear-wheel drive concept serves effectively as General Motors move to showcase the brand’s “future direction,” according to a report on The Detroit News quoting Buick and GM management, including GM chairman and CEO Mary Barra.
The newspaper also described the luxury point being the key for the 400-horsepower coupe, which GM hopes will continue to help build its momentum in China and translate to other markets. Buick sold north of 1 million vehicles in that country, its best-performing tally in any market globally.
For all its sleek curves, Buick is still all about the good-ol’ American “turbocharged performance,” however. The 3.0-liter twin turbo V-6 and twin exhaust outlets are on the “nimble driving dynamics” powertrain, Buick’s press release said.
Sitting on 20” aluminum wheels with color-toned accents, the Avista’s highlights also include touch-pad door handles and new electronic precision shift technology – which we are guessing may be the most low-key but interesting piece of technology featured in this concept.
With writers such as The Verge’s Chris Ziegler all but demanding for the “swoopy 2+2 coupe” to be put in production tomorrow, it will be interesting to see whether this Buick will continue the subtle innovation push that Detroit automakers have been on as of late.
Interestingly enough, the Buick Avista Concept is being teased just a month after General Motors incited controversy over its plans to import the Chinese-built Envision into the U.S.
For all of it’s tongue-in-cheek automotive glory, Jalopnik calls the Avista a “luxury Camaro” while concurrently lavishing praise on the “sportscar concept” that shares powertrain DNA with the Chevrolet and Cadillac ATS and CTS.
The Buick Avista concept is also equipped with “noise insulation, aromatherapy, and the next generation of Buick’s IntelliLink infotainment system,” according to Jalopnik, which sums it like this: “It’s essentially an ATS-V but with less power, because Buick and Cadillac have to play nice.”
Photo Credit: Buick
