Hey Gang,

Is it me, or does the Buick Avista concept car look like it has some lines borrowed from our beloved AM's? I really like the looks of it.

Thoughts?

 

The side windows like my 2015 mustang is identical, fender strake similar.

 

Front looks like amg gt.

Rear does resemble AM

 

By far the best looking modern Buick I've ever seen.

 

Many are claiming it's a Bentley ripoff. While I like the Bentley cars; I would not agree with those claims...and yes, I believe that is a gorgeous Buick. If they produced it as-is, at least the sheet metal and drivetrain, I wouldn't think twice of acquring one...stunningly impressive, IMO.

 

I attended the NAIAS on Wednesday and this Buick in my opinion was the Best Vehicle in the show. Really well done. The design did not really speak Aston Martin to me though. Perhaps that was due to its American size.

 

YESSSS! I love hearing that. I'm tired of the US Auto industry being driven to comply with Euro-sized cars, parking spaces, gas prices and what not. ie "Well, its what we have here and you Americans should feel ashamed"...No shame at all here. Even today's Full-size US trucks are, by and large, about the size of mid-sizes pickups 20 years ago. Full size cars? pfft. go find one...I like hearing this, AXARUNNER!

 

Grand National? Give me a break. Who gives two ****s about some ancient straight line car from whenever. Go back to NASCAR...🙄

 

XJRS Owner... Respect other folks opinions and be nice. While I agree that the Grand National name is dated, next time soften your response.

 

Sure...��

 

Personally I would have been happier with a name with which I can relate. Like Wildcat, Skylark, Riviera, even Special or Super. Buick's history is full of them...but Roadmaster would be hard to stomach.

With an airy nonentity label like Avista this beauty could easily drop from public view (and production potential). What happened to last years block buster concept, the Avenir luxury sedan? The marketing hype was over the top for that one as well.

Avista's more pressing problem is GM internal politics. Chevrolet Division, profit delivery and volume (accomplished via pyramids of employees who design, engineer, develop, produce and market Camaro through thousands of dealers across North America), will be threatened. They will view this handsome coupe as a problem, a competitor to their now successful, recently returned sporty/performance entry.

I would bet Camaro supporters are already refining their strategy.

Did the Avenir sedan run afoul of Cadillac Division?

A supporting counter view for Avista, inside the GM decision making hierarchy, will be the almost unbelievable acceptance (means profit and volume) the Buick brand is achieving in China. "We have to fill out their showroom alternatives, Chinese Buick customers need more choices, we can not let this acceptance get away." Such will be a powerful argument...I can foresee a mainland China market research clinic to study the alternatives.

 

A sharp looking car for sure. I was at NAIAS last weekend and snapped a picture of it

 

Townshend, The man in your well staged photo, the guy with the scarf around his neck, is Chris Theodore, the leader of the 2005-06 Ford GT program. He had been hired from Chrysler bringing his Viper and other experiences, think minivan. He retired from Ford but runs his own consultancy. He is a real 'car guy', still interested, still participating.

 

Went to the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) yesterday and eyeballed the Buick Avista Concept Car. The pictures (above) are excellent, however, the car is even better in person. Very classy, refined, luxurious...all good descriptors. Wheels were particularly well done.

Surprise to me was the scale of the vehicle...larger than I thought it would be, maybe an illusion caused by its elevated stance on the turntable? I was not able to climb up and engage a blond in conversation, like Chris.

The power assumed for this concept was a smallish 3L twin turbo V6. Of course this is easily modified with the stroke of a pen when vehicles are still in a 'concept' phase.

Model was a 2 door hardtop, no 'B' pillar, also assumed as a rear wheel drive Camaro derivative with an 8 speed automatic transmission.

One GM exec thought 'Wildcat ' a better name, 'performance' history. I think 'Riviera', 'luxury' a better choice.

 

I think it looks fantastic!