Buick is eager to shed its stodgy image. For proof look to its “That’s a buick!?” ad campaign. For even more proof look to the 2016 North American International Auto Show reveal of the Avista, a concept car that confirms the brand’s awareness that yes, car buyers really do like cool cars.
Painted in Dark Sapphire Jewel (think blue-ish purple) the Avista features well-defined haunches, chrome fender vents, a grille pattern reminiscent of Jaguar, 20-inch wheels with color-matched inserts, headlights with angry eyebrows shaped like stretched Starfleet logos, and the sort of low, wide proportions one expects from a proper performance car. Inside the concept car flair heightens with Mist Gray leather surfaces, exposed aluminum and carbon fiber accents, vivid information screens, and, checking the buzzword box, 3D printed door and seat trim.
Buick’s 2+2 Camaro
It’s easy to imagine touring the California coastline in grand Buick fashion from the driver’s seat of this graceful 2 + 2 coupe. That fantasy becomes even more compelling thanks to magnetic ride control, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and a 400-horsepower, twin-turbocharged V6 tucked under the hood. Breaking ranks with Buick’s entire real-world lineup all 400 of those horses are sent to the Avista’s rear wheels. “That’s a Buick!?” indeed.
Given its size and shape a theoretical Avista production based on Chevrolet Camaro underpinnings seems possible. Then again, there were zero promises made at the unveiling event regarding an Avista production car. So, if you’d like to actually buy this gorgeous, powerful coupe one day, be sure to relay your demands via Twitter to @Buick. They’d love to hear from you.
