2016 Detroit Auto Show: 2016 Buick Avista Concept: Comments

[Drew Dowdell]

---

At a preview event ahead of the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Buick brought out a svelte concept coupe called the Buick Avista.

 

The concept is powered by a 400 horsepower 3.0 liter, twin-turbo V6 that sends power to the rear wheels. The engine features stop-start technology and GM's cylinder deactivation to improve fuel economy. This engine may sound familiar to you as it is one of the engines that will be available on the 2016 Cadillac CT6. No transmission is mentioned.

 

In styling, Buick went with classic flowing lines and left the B-pillar, the post at the rear of the front door, at home. The overall effect is sleek and sexy.

 

While Buick would not disclose the platform the Avista is built on, the fact that the wheelbase is identical to Camaro (110.70") while front and rear tracks are nearly the same tells us that this is almost certainly an Alpha platform car.

 

No word on official production possibilities, however both Holden and Opel are expected to get a similar vehicle in the mid-term future, so the chances of a production version of this car coming to pass are good.

 

 

 

Source and Official Photos: General Motors
Live Reveal Photos: William Maley

 

You can follow all of our reports from the 2016 Detroit Auto Show here.

 

Buick Press Release on Page 2

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For Release: Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, 7 p.m. EST

 

Buick Introduces Avista Concept

Design elegance, performance heritage conveyed in turbocharged 2+2 coupe

 

DETROIT – Ahead of its public debut at the North American International Auto Show, Buick today revealed the Avista concept – a 2+2 coupe that pushes the brand’s contemporary design ethos and rekindles its historic performance roots.

 

A sleek, sweeping proportion is the foundation for this vision of a contemporary grand tourer, with a 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 driving the rear wheels and a driver-focused cockpit offering a comfortable, connected center of control.

 

“The Avista embodies the dynamic soul of Buick,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. “It is a modern expression of the brand’s heritage of sophisticated performance, communicated with beautiful elegance.”

 

The Avista’s uninterrupted body lines stretch front to rear, suggesting motion – resembling Buick’s design language introduced on the Avenir concept and carried into production on the 2017 LaCrosse. The absence of conventional B-pillars between the doors and rear side windows enhances the flowing profile.

 

“There is elegant simplicity in the Avista’s surfaces, which speak to the purity of the car’s performance, and a timeless beauty that’s a hallmark of Buick design,” said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director Global Buick Design. “It was designed to capture the spirit of the perfect drive.”

 

Marking the front and rear, Buick evolves its signature wing-shaped lighting with “soft curtain” elements that create illuminated “halos” around lamps’ edges, suggesting a three-dimensional shape and sculpture. Their design forecasts the evolution of Buick’s production lighting features, while the Avista’s grille features the brand’s new winged tri-shield insignia set against a three-dimensional mesh background.

 

Additional exterior features include:

• A 110.7-inch (2,811 mm) wheelbase and 63-inch (1,601 mm) front/62.9-inch (1,598 mm) rear tracks for sporty proportions and an aggressive stance
• Twenty-inch aluminum wheels with color-toned accents match the car’s Dark Sapphire Jewel exterior
• Front fender vents with chrome accents evolve Buick’s signature fender ports.
  

 

Performance-oriented, modern cockpit
Like the exterior, the Avista’s 2+2 interior is defined by flowing, uninterrupted lines conveying elegance through simplicity – with intense technical and surfaces details, in everything from 3D-printed door and seat trim to a future vision of Buick’s IntelliLink, with touchscreen controls on a widescreen instrument panel display.

 

The center console also incorporates touchscreen controls and extends to the rear seating area. Open side storage compartments built into the front of the console are enabled by the new Electronic Precision Shift, similar to the 2017 LaCrosse.

 

A Superior Blue foundation color echoes the exterior and is complemented with Mist Gray leather seating inserts, console trim and door trim. Exposed carbon fiber and aluminum accents throughout reinforce the precision of the performance-oriented driving experience. The fading pattern on the seats, console and doors were inspired by waves receding at a beach’s edge.

 

“Waves, whether from the sea or in the sand, are all about motion and flow,” said Nesbitt. “That’s exactly what this concept is all about – flowing design and the purity of the driving experience.”

 

Buick designers enhanced the passengers’ sensory experiences with next-generation QuietTuning and air-quality control, including advanced noise cancellation technology, ionic air purifiers and aromatherapy.

 

The Avista also advances Buick’s legacy of turbocharged performance, which carries forward in the 2016 Regal GS and other models. Similar to the 2017 LaCrosse, the concept twin-turbocharged 3.0L V-6 features fuel-saving Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and Stop/Start technology to complement its power with efficiency. The engine is backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission and Magnetic Ride Control delivers more precise body motion control.

 

FAST FACT: The Buick Y-Job, introduced in 1938, is widely recognized as the auto industry’s first concept vehicle.

View full article

[loki]

is the v8 part a typo?

[William Maley]

is the v8 part a typo?

 

Yes. It has been fixed

[ocnblu]

The quickest Buick ever built (I forget the name, sadly) was a turbo V6.  This is MORE than a worthy successor to that illustrious history that keeps haunting/carrying Buick's performance fans.

[Robert Hall]

Looks sweet...

[ccap41]

It's "okay" looking to me. 400hp, yes please. There is just something that isn't "killin' it" for me and I'm not sure what it is. Maybe it's that it still just looks too concept-like to me and not like something that we would actually see on the roads. 

[Cmicasa the Great]

Knocked outta the park again.. My only issue is that this needs to show up sooner rather than later. I have been told that the Avenir is going to production. It obviously will get some slight tweaks, but Omega needs volume. I would think that from a business stand-point Alpha could use this Camaro redo as a Buick. Pontiac and the Firebird no longer exist... Camaro needs a production mate. Obviously so do the ATS and CTS if GM is not gonna variant the hell out of it over at Cadillac. It is still my belief that base don what JDN has said that the CTS is going to Omega come 2018 and the redo to the "CTx" changeover. 

 

What the hell does this have to do with Buick??? GM's desire to twindle down platforms with essentially TWO RWD and TWO FWD for all cars and CUVs

 

 

Like the 5series which shares a platform with the BMW 7 Series and is essentially a downsized 7 Series, the CTS will most likely be getting Omega as its bones, and be the same as the 5series in terms of sharing a larger platform. Basically the (current CTS)CT5 or 4 will be a "SWB CT6" still with the same body length as the current CTS, just larger inside via a wider and more space efficient platform called Omega. Count the need for Buick to chime in and get a flagship larger than the LAX for China and U.S (possibly). The "Avista" goes to Buick because they are continuing the trend down the age demographic.. and a sporty coupe could be the fix and seriously help Alpha along with the Camaro. 

 

 

 

Again... and based on what JDN said a few months ago about the next "CTS" and next "ATS" we should be seeing a simple change of size formula for the sake of these issues that critics have brought up about the legroom etc. I'm thinking for the most part the Alpha based ATS replacement will essentially get the Chinese ATS-L Wheelbase of 112.6 inch vs what it has right now of 109.3. This would dwarf the current 3series' 110.6 in WB by a few inches. I think that the ATS replacement will be, along with the Sub-ATS, the only Cadillacs on the Alpha platform, with the Camaro, and this Avista helping out with the numbers a bit more. 

 

The CTS replacement will probably go to Omega. I could see it staying at 196 inchs.. and getting a bump in Wheelbase (currently at 114.6 inches) too coming in at around 117 in N.Amer, like the 5Series. It has been said that the CT6 handles as well as the current CTS.. so certainly I would think that an OMega based... smaller than CT6... CTS would handle as well or better, not losing any of its agility, and losing a few hundred lbs in the change over. This would be beneficial in amortizing the Omega platform even quicker.. (altho I would still push it out to an Impala at Chevy and a Park Ave or Avenir at Buick) along with the CT7 and CT8

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Several things:

Holden is supposed to get something rear drive when Commodore moves to front wheel drive or dies.  Holden Monaro is what you may be looking at. They are not sending Camaro to Australia.
Do not put the "Riviera" name on this car.  We had a Riviera that was this small from 1986-1988 and it was a disaster and a joke. Riviera is a name reserved for a larger personal luxury coupe.
If this goes into production in the United States, it is essentially  is filling that space left by Pontiac Firebird.
Cadillac has to push up market too. They are doing this with Cadillac.
 

[Cmicasa the Great]

Several things:

Holden is supposed to get something rear drive when Commodore moves to front wheel drive or dies.  Holden Monaro is what you may be looking at. They are not sending Camaro to Australia.

Do not put the "Riviera" name on this car.  We had a Riviera that was this small from 1986-1988 and it was a disaster and a joke. Riviera is a name reserved for a larger personal luxury coupe.

If this goes into production in the United States, it is essentially  is filling that space left by Pontiac Firebird.

Cadillac has to push up market too. They are doing this with Cadillac.

 

 

 

Precisely what I said above your post. This Avista is and could be the PROPER way to present the "Firebird" which was supposed to be a more upscale take on the Camaro from git. The only issue I have is that its look is so radical for the brand.. so luxurious that it begs the question of WHAT THE EFF is Cadillac gonna do to one up it? The Avenir, as nice as the concept was.. still, IMO, cannot touch the El Miraj. Cadillac needs a radical coupe to one-up this and be ready for production starting n 2018 with the new Caddy take of the CTS.. probably on Omega... or the El Miraj.. CT7, better be ready to go. Because the El Miraj.. still makes this gorgeous rich Buick coupe look plebeian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and yes.. I can definitely see this as a new Holden Commodore coupe, as well as an Opel. Of course Opel is getting the Monza, which shares a few bits with this Buick as U can see by the face

 

 

[Frisky Dingo]

Absolutely stunning.

 

I would buy this over any comparably priced sport/lux coupe by an avalanche. The 4 Series, RC, and C Coupe look down right dowdy and cheap compared to this.

 

I hope it makes it to production, and does so largely intact. 

[G. David Felt]

Home Run Hit, the exterior is as sexy as the interior.

[Stew]

Dear Buick and Cadillac,

 

Quit showing us gorgeous concepts and then not build them. Really, this would be FANTASTIC for Buick.  I wouldn't call the whole line he Grand national, but a limited all black tweaked to at least 450 HP would make a great return for the GN/GNX.

[FAPTurbo]

Can't wait for them to not build it!

[Cmicasa the Great]

Dear Buick and Cadillac,

 

Quit showing us gorgeous coupe concepts and then not building hem. 

 

 

This. I agree wholeheartedly. Now.. if they built these concepts.. would U buy? They built the Converj concept.. they built the Provoq (SRX) concept.. the XTS-Concept.. CTS-Coupe concept.. they even built the Camaro5 concept.. The Beat even came out as a the Spark almost all completely intact. DID U BUY?

 

I look around daily and I see a lot of nameplates running round from companies that built concepts that never saw the day of light. Hell. Have U seen what6 is gonna go in production as the Continental? All that Hoopla over whether it was soooooooo revolutionary over the CT6 and what we seem to be getting is a different take on an upgraded Taurus

 

 

 

 

 

vs 

 

 

[Stew]

If I had the funds, i would buy either in a heartbeat.  The Buick would probably be much more likely for me.  I LOVE he look.  It has a sculpted swoopiness and sporty look while the El Mirag is all upstanding luxury and simply sculpted beauty. 

[Cmicasa the Great]

If I had the funds, i would buy either in a heartbeat.  The Buick would probably be much more likely for me.  I LOVE he look.  It has a sculpted swoopiness and sporty look while the El Mirag is all upstanding luxury and simply sculpted beauty. 

 

 

BTW... this thing has the same wheelbase as the Camaro.. I am thinking that despite its perceived look.. it is in no way the same size as the El Miraj.. more like the size of the Camaro. . The El Miraj is about the size of the CT6.. or 204inches long. The Camaros are in the 188 inch size

[surreal1272]

Note to GM: Build it now! Gorgeous concept!

[Stew]

 

If I had the funds, i would buy either in a heartbeat.  The Buick would probably be much more likely for me.  I LOVE he look.  It has a sculpted swoopiness and sporty look while the El Mirag is all upstanding luxury and simply sculpted beauty. 

 

 

BTW... this thing has the same wheelbase as the Camaro.. I am thinking that despite its perceived look.. it is in no way the same size as the El Miraj.. more like the size of the Camaro. . The El Miraj is about the size of the CT6.. or 204inches long. The Camaros are in the 188 inch size

 

Oh yes, this is rue so 2 totally different markets in any case.  Just another reason they should build both (without straying further away from the concepts than necessary. 

[oldshurst442]

I had to think long and hard....not about  this Buick..I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS THING!

 

For posting in here...

Anyhoo, life continues and I understand reasons.

 

 

This thing is GREAT.

 

This makes the ATS coupe (and it dont matter if V Series is included) OBSOLETE!

This makes ANY BMW coupe in 2 and 4 Series trim OBSOLETE!

The Audi A5, which was a beauty itself, has made the A5 look like an average joe.

 

Yes Casa, how does Cadillac top this???!!!

Well...this is definitely a good thing for Cadillac as good 'ol fashioned INTERNAL competition is a good thing! Just as how it was in the "good 'ol days".

Both brands could feed off each other.

 

As for naming this car goes.

 

1. I DON'T want Grand National or GN or GNX or GS or GSX...the Avista is PONY CAR sized, not MIDSIZED muscle

 

2. This is NOT a Riviera. Someone else pointed out that a Riviera was a PERSONAL LUXURY COUPE....that suggests a BIGGER car.

 

3. I dont even want Wildcat, although Wildcat might fot this car perfectly.

Why I dont want Wildcat?

Because Buick has revived itself quite successfully in North America with new nameplates.

Enclave, Verano, Encore are all new names that enjoy HUUUUGE success.

 

Lacrosse is a luke warm success as Lacrosse debuted during the "old GM" era. So has Enclave, but the Enclave was part of the "new GM" before going bankrupt while the Lacrosse was a W-Body...

 

Regal...not quite successful...

 

So...I see a pattern. An old name glorifying the past may not be the answer. A new name BLASTING TOWARDS the FUTURE making a FUTURE legend in my opinion is the way to go.  Wildcat was a GREAT car...back in the 1960s...I think its time for Buick to recreate a new legend.

 

With the exception of Riviera...the name Riviera should be kept...because the name also oozes cool and ritziness and...European...notice how Verano also has an air of Euroness to it?...

 

Come to think of it, Avenir is a French word for future...

I dont like the name Avista though.

[cp-the-nerd]

To be perfectly honest, I don't get this concept car at all. I don't see any Buick family resemblance, I don't see any significant throwback design cues, I see a great looking sports car that could wear any one of 10 different brand badges on the grille and get away with it.

 

Beyond design, where does this fit in Buick's (or GM's) product line? Between the Camaro SS and ATS-V Coupe while using Cadillac's brand new 3.0T? GM wants three compact sports coupes? IMO Buick needs the gorgeous full size omega-based Avenir FAR more than a redundant alpha-based small coupe.

Edited January 11, 2016 by cp-the-nerd

[hyperv6]

Well lets get one thing straight. THIS IS NOT A FIREBIRD!

The fact is this is the kind of car Pontiac always wanted but was left wanting to have. For way too many years the Firebird was a Camaro with better styling but it was always a car for the

show off in all of us.

The Buick we have here is a car that is more upscale and refined from the Camaro. It is a car that will be able to better go head to head with an Audi A5 than a Mustang. This is a global GT for not just Buick but Opel, Vauxhall and Holden.

As for Buick Resemblance there is a really good reason for that. You want people to think you have changed and you are a new and improved brand you have to let go of the past. Lets face it the Buick line has had few bright spots since the 60's. While not offensive they really have not stood out and shined much since the 65 Riv GS.

The key here is to make a car sans the old thinking of waterfalls, Portholes and old names Grand Pa's car had. While many fans may wax sentimental too often the real target group that you want to consider the car gets old vibes that really have no hold of their heart. It is time to step out with new styling, New models and new names to take Buick into the future to be the company they can be and not what they have been.

As for this car for production. The exterior is pretty close to production sans the lack of the B pillar. The Camaro has one for a reason so I would expect one added here. Hidden under glass but added. The interior is no where near production here.

I would like to know what we don't know yet. This would be a 2018 at the earliest and if Holden is included would this be a Alpha II? We know Cadillac is working on one but we have yet to learn when it would be ready. I would assume the updated platform is where the RHD would appear.

This is a really global car and a refined GT coupe. It will really give GM a car like they have not really have had outside the CTS coupe.

So please treat this car as it's own deal and stop putting labels on it. Let it roll out and become it's own model and do the kind of work Buick needs to change minds.

This is a White Space car that the globalization of Buick is permitting. A business case like this may not have passes with out the ability to sell this globally. While we must take in some Chinese SUV modes this car is one of the positive things that we will see and get because of the global reach of Buick. There is so much more of this to come if we just let them get the work done. We got delayed a bit but now that Opel is fully on board as well Holden joining in this three way may just be one of the best thing GM has put together in a long time.

[smk4565]

It looks pretty similar to the Infiniti Q60.

 

Buick has said there are no plans to build it as of yet.  I don't get why they drag their feet on stuff like this, Avenir, El Mirag, Ciel, etc.  Take a chance and build a halo car.   Not everything has to be a crossover on a platform shared with 4 other products. 

[hyperv6]

It looks pretty similar to the Infiniti Q60.

 

Buick has said there are no plans to build it as of yet.  I don't get why they drag their feet on stuff like this, Avenir, El Mirag, Ciel, etc.  Take a chance and build a halo car.   Not everything has to be a crossover on a platform shared with 4 other products.

What is not to get?

It takes 5 years to bring a car to market. The Cadillacs were not based on the omega and from what I had been told would not shrink down to the size of a Coupe.

In the case of this car the Alpha is not RHD able as of this point. That tells us that for it to be come the Holden it may become that there is an updated or replacement platform for this car. Cadillac is working on a Alpha update or replacement depending on what they want to call it.

Come on you have been around the number of people here that know how things work, something has had to rub off someplace.

[smk4565]

Not making Alpha RHD compatible when they wanted to make Cadillac a global brand makes no sense from the start.

 

However, they make a Camaro, they make an ATS.  It wouldn't take that much to make a Buick coupe on the same chassis, same wheel base as Camaro, same 3.6 V6 and transmission as Camaro.  You put a new body on it, put the LaCrosse dashboard in it, soften the suspension from the Camaro and you are done.  GM knows badge engineering better than anyone else.  They could have this car on sale in 2 years if they wanted to.

 

As far as Cadillac goes, the CT6 is coming out this year, they could have made it a bolder, more luxurious car, but they played it safe.  They could have co-developed a coupe to launch with it, but they didn't.  Adding a body style to an existing vehicle isn't that hard.  And GM has proved they can do it, the Camaro and Corvette convertibles were on sale within months of the coupe.

[Suaviloquent]

I love it, but I see no future for that kind of car in Buick's lineup for the medium term. 5-6 years.

 

Cadillac needs the kind of car that this concept represents.

 

And they needed it ages ago. Now the opportunity has passed. GM can't have the fortune of learning after the moment passes that it would have been right to take a concept and bring it to production.

 

They've learned from being too trigger-ready since the Converj/ELR results.

[regfootball]

To be perfectly honest, I don't get this concept car at all. I don't see any Buick family resemblance, I don't see any significant throwback design cues, I see a great looking sports car that could wear any one of 10 different brand badges on the grille and get away with it.

 

Beyond design, where does this fit in Buick's (or GM's) product line? Between the Camaro SS and ATS-V Coupe while using Cadillac's brand new 3.0T? GM wants three compact sports coupes? IMO Buick needs the gorgeous full size omega-based Avenir FAR more than a redundant alpha-based small coupe.

this ^^^^^

 

thanks for saving me a bunch of typing

 

which Buick style is this now, btw, is it the let's make our best Asian car the chinese will like, or the best knockoff Opel, or ????

[regfootball]

Well lets get one thing straight. THIS IS NOT A FIREBIRD!

The fact is this is the kind of car Pontiac always wanted but was left wanting to have. For way too many years the Firebird was a Camaro with better styling but it was always a car for the

show off in all of us.

The Buick we have here is a car that is more upscale and refined from the Camaro. It is a car that will be able to better go head to head with an Audi A5 than a Mustang. This is a global GT for not just Buick but Opel, Vauxhall and Holden.

As for Buick Resemblance there is a really good reason for that. You want people to think you have changed and you are a new and improved brand you have to let go of the past. Lets face it the Buick line has had few bright spots since the 60's. While not offensive they really have not stood out and shined much since the 65 Riv GS.

The key here is to make a car sans the old thinking of waterfalls, Portholes and old names Grand Pa's car had. While many fans may wax sentimental too often the real target group that you want to consider the car gets old vibes that really have no hold of their heart. It is time to step out with new styling, New models and new names to take Buick into the future to be the company they can be and not what they have been.

As for this car for production. The exterior is pretty close to production sans the lack of the B pillar. The Camaro has one for a reason so I would expect one added here. Hidden under glass but added. The interior is no where near production here.

I would like to know what we don't know yet. This would be a 2018 at the earliest and if Holden is included would this be a Alpha II? We know Cadillac is working on one but we have yet to learn when it would be ready. I would assume the updated platform is where the RHD would appear.

This is a really global car and a refined GT coupe. It will really give GM a car like they have not really have had outside the CTS coupe.

So please treat this car as it's own deal and stop putting labels on it. Let it roll out and become it's own model and do the kind of work Buick needs to change minds.

This is a White Space car that the globalization of Buick is permitting. A business case like this may not have passes with out the ability to sell this globally. While we must take in some Chinese SUV modes this car is one of the positive things that we will see and get because of the global reach of Buick. There is so much more of this to come if we just let them get the work done. We got delayed a bit but now that Opel is fully on board as well Holden joining in this three way may just be one of the best thing GM has put together in a long time.

coupes don't sell (aside from pony cars) anymore,

 

globalization or not, hard to make a case to sell it (with an ATS coupe out there at least)

 

nice way to rile up the masses i guess

[hyperv6]

Not making Alpha RHD compatible when they wanted to make Cadillac a global brand makes no sense from the start.

 

However, they make a Camaro, they make an ATS.  It wouldn't take that much to make a Buick coupe on the same chassis, same wheel base as Camaro, same 3.6 V6 and transmission as Camaro.  You put a new body on it, put the LaCrosse dashboard in it, soften the suspension from the Camaro and you are done.  GM knows badge engineering better than anyone else.  They could have this car on sale in 2 years if they wanted to.

 

As far as Cadillac goes, the CT6 is coming out this year, they could have made it a bolder, more luxurious car, but they played it safe.  They could have co-developed a coupe to launch with it, but they didn't.  Adding a body style to an existing vehicle isn't that hard.  And GM has proved they can do it, the Camaro and Corvette convertibles were on sale within months of the coupe.

At the time Cadillac started on the Alpha they really were just worried about North America and GM surviving. The Global outlook came later. Cadillac's outlook has changed almost every time someone took over.

This is big picture stuff and you have to take all the info on what is and was going on to really understand not just what is in front of you.

[hyperv6]

Well lets get one thing straight. THIS IS NOT A FIREBIRD!

The fact is this is the kind of car Pontiac always wanted but was left wanting to have. For way too many years the Firebird was a Camaro with better styling but it was always a car for the

show off in all of us.

The Buick we have here is a car that is more upscale and refined from the Camaro. It is a car that will be able to better go head to head with an Audi A5 than a Mustang. This is a global GT for not just Buick but Opel, Vauxhall and Holden.

As for Buick Resemblance there is a really good reason for that. You want people to think you have changed and you are a new and improved brand you have to let go of the past. Lets face it the Buick line has had few bright spots since the 60's. While not offensive they really have not stood out and shined much since the 65 Riv GS.

The key here is to make a car sans the old thinking of waterfalls, Portholes and old names Grand Pa's car had. While many fans may wax sentimental too often the real target group that you want to consider the car gets old vibes that really have no hold of their heart. It is time to step out with new styling, New models and new names to take Buick into the future to be the company they can be and not what they have been.

As for this car for production. The exterior is pretty close to production sans the lack of the B pillar. The Camaro has one for a reason so I would expect one added here. Hidden under glass but added. The interior is no where near production here.

I would like to know what we don't know yet. This would be a 2018 at the earliest and if Holden is included would this be a Alpha II? We know Cadillac is working on one but we have yet to learn when it would be ready. I would assume the updated platform is where the RHD would appear.

This is a really global car and a refined GT coupe. It will really give GM a car like they have not really have had outside the CTS coupe.

So please treat this car as it's own deal and stop putting labels on it. Let it roll out and become it's own model and do the kind of work Buick needs to change minds.

This is a White Space car that the globalization of Buick is permitting. A business case like this may not have passes with out the ability to sell this globally. While we must take in some Chinese SUV modes this car is one of the positive things that we will see and get because of the global reach of Buick. There is so much more of this to come if we just let them get the work done. We got delayed a bit but now that Opel is fully on board as well Holden joining in this three way may just be one of the best thing GM has put together in a long time.

coupes don't sell (aside from pony cars) anymore,

 

globalization or not, hard to make a case to sell it (with an ATS coupe out there at least)

 

nice way to rile up the masses i guess

No coupes are a tough sell but with the global out reach of this model it could be made competitive. Also it is not going to be cheap so the higher the price the easier it is to make a business case.

by the time this car arrives the ATS could be very well on a updated platform and evolved to a different model. The ATS issue is it is a nice car but not a great car. It is in a tough segment and even the leadership of Cadillac is not satisfied with it. It was not their car and they plan to make it their car so lets just wait to see what they offer.

Edited January 12, 2016 by hyperv6

[Frisky Dingo]

To be perfectly honest, I don't get this concept car at all. I don't see any Buick family resemblance, I don't see any significant throwback design cues, I see a great looking sports car that could wear any one of 10 different brand badges on the grille and get away with it.

 

Beyond design, where does this fit in Buick's (or GM's) product line? Between the Camaro SS and ATS-V Coupe while using Cadillac's brand new 3.0T? GM wants three compact sports coupes? IMO Buick needs the gorgeous full size omega-based Avenir FAR more than a redundant alpha-based small coupe.

 

Well aren't you a party pooper.

[hyperv6]

To be perfectly honest, I don't get this concept car at all. I don't see any Buick family resemblance, I don't see any significant throwback design cues, I see a great looking sports car that could wear any one of 10 different brand badges on the grille and get away with it.

 

Beyond design, where does this fit in Buick's (or GM's) product line? Between the Camaro SS and ATS-V Coupe while using Cadillac's brand new 3.0T? GM wants three compact sports coupes? IMO Buick needs the gorgeous full size omega-based Avenir FAR more than a redundant alpha-based small coupe.

this ^^^^^

 

thanks for saving me a bunch of typing

 

which Buick style is this now, btw, is it the let's make our best Asian car the chinese will like, or the best knockoff Opel, or ????

Like what Buick was doing was saving GM?

I anticipate the future of Buick will make your statement look a little silly in a few years. You really have to let go of the past. Those who do not learn from it tend to repeat it and fail.

You may have liked a blanket as a small child and if you had not moved on you would look silly today. The same with automakers they have to mature.

Edited January 12, 2016 by hyperv6

[Drew Dowdell]

3 out of every 4 Buicks sold globally are sold in China..... of course if the Chinese don't like it, they won't build it.  Buick sells 30,000 Excelles a month in China,  if they sold 30,000 of their entire lineup in the US in a month, that would be a 50% sales increase.

[regfootball]

it will be interesting to see how many ATS coupes sold in 2015, divide that in two and that's about how many 'Avistas' (nice Spanish sounding name) will sell in the US......but we can't sell any all wheel drive midsize sedans..........

 

coupes are not just a 'tough sell'...they are almost an impossibility in the age of crossovers and sport sedans that are called coupes.  If they sell 15,000 globally, fine, a liftback Insignia makes far more sense here.

 

Need proof, the new Cruze is coming as a hatchback instead of a coupe.

Edited January 12, 2016 by regfootball

[cp-the-nerd]

Buick's true calling is right here. This concept oozes class and heritage and panache.

 

 

 

To be perfectly honest, I don't get this concept car at all. I don't see any Buick family resemblance, I don't see any significant throwback design cues, I see a great looking sports car that could wear any one of 10 different brand badges on the grille and get away with it.

 

Beyond design, where does this fit in Buick's (or GM's) product line? Between the Camaro SS and ATS-V Coupe while using Cadillac's brand new 3.0T? GM wants three compact sports coupes? IMO Buick needs the gorgeous full size omega-based Avenir FAR more than a redundant alpha-based small coupe.

 

Well aren't you a party pooper.

 

 

If the Avista is the party, then consider it pooped on.

Edited January 12, 2016 by cp-the-nerd

[G. David Felt]

Pontiac is dead, so lets leave that in the history books.

 

The Avista is a luxury step up for those wanting more than the Camaro offers.

 

I can totally see a luxury version of the Camero in the Buick Lineup as well as the Avenir as their modern take on a Park Avenue but 21st century sexiness.

[Cmicasa the Great]

3 out of every 4 Buicks sold globally are sold in China..... of course if the Chinese don't like it, they won't build it.  Buick sells 30,000 Excelles a month in China,  if they sold 30,000 of their entire lineup in the US in a month, that would be a 50% sales increase.

 

 

People can't seem to get this as they ride around in their Toyotas, Hondas, Hyundais, VWs and BMWs. Funny part is 90% of them wouldn't have bought a Buick riding on GM newly acquired bones of Rolls Royce simply because of the "old people" stigma.. now they are hurt because someone else loves their American born brand. 230K Buick sales in U.S. vs 1.1 Million China sales.. I think even I would be playing to Chinese tastes.