The Buick Avista Concept is Half Camaro, Half ATS and Completely Stunning
The stunning Buick Avista concept made a surprising debut on the eve of the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.
According to Buick, the Avista concept is “a 2+2 coupe that pushes the brand’s contemporary design ethos and rekindles its historic performance roots.”
With a sleek, sweeping proportion for the contemporary grand tourer, one could argue that it’s a modern-day Grand National, especially since it’s powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 400 horsepower. Its attractive style resembles the Avenir concept that introduced the American automaker’s new design language, which has been carried into production on the 2017 Buick LaCrosse. Helping give the concept a flowing profile, Buick removed the conventional B-pillars between the doors and rear side windows.
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The wheelbase of the concept measures 110.7 inches with 63-inch front tracks and 62.9-inch rear tracks, giving it sporty proportions and an aggressive stance. It rolls on 21-inch aluminum wheels that have been finished with color-matched accents with the car’s Dark Sapphire Jewel exterior. Further evolving Buick’s signature fender ports are front fender vents featuring chrome accents.
SEE ALSO: 2016 Detroit Auto Show Coverage
The exterior’s attractive styling continues into the cabin with flowing, uninterrupted lines that convey “elegance through simplicity,” as Buick would say. The center console incorporates touchscreen controls that extends to the rear seating area, while open side storage compartments are built into the front of the console, enabled by the new Electronic Precision Shift, just like the 2017 LaCrosse.
Mist Gray leather seating inserts, console trim and door trim are contrasted by a Superior Blue foundation that echoes the exterior finish. Highlights include exposed carbon fiber and aluminum accents throughout while the fading pattern on the seats, console and doors were inspired by waves receding at a beach’s edge.
“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.”
Discuss this story on our Buick Avista Forum
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Build it or don't waste our time.
Unbelievable; Ford was so successful with their gutless FWD T-bird that Buick decided to follow the same template minus the appealing retro styling of the period and build the Cascada; I'll go on record saying this car will be a flop. Like the Solstice, less so the Fiero, or Buick's own Reatta. Let's hope they don't use that inevitable flop as a reason not to do this beautiful car with quality underpinnings. I'd be perfectly happy if the Avista had the best of the powerful LS series V8's instead of a V6 and believe a lot of other people would be too. That car would SELL.