The Buick GL8 Avenir Concept Has The Best Interior In Buick’s History
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When we first reported on the debut of the new Buick GL8 Avenir Concept in China, we only had two images of the show car to work with. At that time, we thought that the concept car was a simple preview of an upcoming facelift… and boy were we wrong. Today, we managed to get our hands on a full image gallery of the conceptual van and let us tell you – this thing is truly something to behold. In fact,
On the outside, the biggest change to the exterior of the Buick GL8 Avenir Concept is its redesigned front end. The vehicle adopts Buick’s latest design direction, including a new winged grille that is better integrated with the new headlights, as well as a restyled bumper cover. The rear gets a new liftgate as well as a few minor styling updates. The rest of the exterior remains identical to the current production model. But the concept van’s raison d’etre lies inside.
Unlike the exterior, the interior of the Buick GL8 Avenir Concept has been completely redesigned with a high focus on comfort and technology to satisfy the most demanding customers.
The center stack introduces the Buick brand to the latest trends on automotive interior design and technology as the concept features a new instrumentation panel made. Two 12-inch screens derived from the same display are present, with one displaying the usual operating parameters and another showing the central infotainment system. Additionally, the vehicle has a new 14-inch head-up display (HUD) that – according to Buick – can join information from both of the screens to offer an “intelligent viewing experience”.
With an interior seating configuration of four seats rather than the seven found in the production GL8, the Buick GL8 Avenir Concept offers a more luxurious and intimate experience in the rear that makes it a real land jet. The first-class seats feature a high quality leather upholstery with a cascading pattern.
The chairs are designed to deliver maximum comfort. They include ergonomic headrests perfect for taking naps. There’s also a built-in surround sound system for an ultra-high-quality listening experience.
The rear center armrest features dual built-in touch screens that control various functions. The armrest also has a convenient configuration for things like a secure cup holder, support for wireless charging of mobile devices and controls for adjusting the position of each rear seat.
Two high-definition screens, mounted on the front seat backs, round out the comfort of rear seat occupants by providing a complete entertainment experience. But that’s not all.
The Buick GL8 Avenir Concept also has a wine cabinet in the center console, and its ceiling is decorated with a starry sky design pattern to help some privileged people truly relax. Yes, this is – without question – the best Buick interior in the history of Buick interiors.
The Buick GL8 Avenir Concept exemplifies the Tri shield brand’s understanding of the trends and specific needs of luxury van MPV customers. Although the vehicle is still concept car, Buick has not ruled out bringing this thing to serial production as the highest representation of its luxurious Avenir sub-brand. Too bad that the GL8 is a China-only affair.
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I would kill for a modern day interpretation of a full sized Buick Park Ave with the 3.6 LGX, 10 speed auto and an interior like this with blue and white. Its a shame that Americans have swallowed too many monkey see monkey do pills and can’t get past the massive oversized pick truck and SUV fad
Dannnnnngggggg. That is an interior that I would guess to be from a RR or Bentley. I could see something like that coming to the USA and being offered for high-end livery services. Offer it just like that for the more intimate livery service and offer a similar one with more seating for more people. I bet it would sell well and be popular with the livery service. I see more and more of the big M.B. vans being used around L.A. area.
I like the blue inside. yes I ‘m one of those people who have a CUV, a GMC Terrain Denalik 2019 my seats are same color as this but I would love to have the blue instead of the grayish color it has. I actually needed this vehicle to get my Mom around and pull my toys. Can’t do that with a Camaro…:(
Man I opted for the black on black with my 2019 Denali. After my XT5 having the beige seats, I could not get another vehicle with that color. Any sort of pants I wore would stain the seats, and I did put a lot of miles on the XT5.
Saw it in person at the Shanghai show. Much nicer overall than the Lexus LM 350.
Wow. So GM can actually make amazing interiors but just not for us in N.A. I guess
That is the best GM interior to date!!!
Any automaker can do fabulous interiors in a concept car.
While yes it is a Concept, it is pretty close to Production Form.
Woah! That is a beautiful van. Clearly meant to compete with the new Lexus and the Toyota Alphard its based on.
Good to see the Pontiac Trans Sport platform pick up Global B electricals. Global B all the things.
Interesting how GM respond to the market demanding a fabulous interior in China where as in America all we get is crap… In China the market tells GM what it wants in America GM tells us what we want… crap
Royal!
The only thing I question is the Mercedes-like 3 ft. long Digital Screen!
I’m torn on that in Mercs too. On one hand, I like that its pretty embracing of the digital future, but on the other hand, its a bit lazy; especially since its clearly two panels.
Agree 100%
That screen is similar to what the upcoming Escalade has. But Lade’s OLED screen is longer and wider even though it narrows in the end. Also Cadillac’s screen will be integrated into the dash, unlike this one.
Good to hear. Being integrated should help take care of the sun glare that affects the, “just sitting there”, flaw of the Mercedes screen/screens. Tesla’s big tablet is also prone to sun glare, obviously making it difficult to see.
There’s a reason cars have had the gauge cluster, tucked away, for some time now.
I’m looking forward to seeing the Slade. Completion is getting fierce. I’ve read rumors about it being awesome. Let’s hope so!
Buick is doing what Cadillac should be
@Everyone:
Again, this is a concept car, not production.
@eoc63:
Almost unbelievable, but I have finally lived long enough to read a post castigating Cadillac for NOT building a Mini Van !!
I have officially heard EVERYTHING.
Nice but the key here is Concept!
If they put an interior in a Buick like this it would be priced beyond what anyone would pay.
Interiors like this cost money a lot of money.
Pontiac in the 60’s had interiors that were off the charts. Some had door panels with woven peacock feathers. But none were able to go production due to cost.
If not the Buick then how about the Cadillac?
Even at Cadillac at this point there is a limit what people will pay.
Cultivated image is what brings the ability to exceed the lower prices and Cadillac has yet to regain that yet.
Meh. This is certainly not my thing.
The monitors on the seatbacks are weak. They’re too small, too far away and positioned too low–especially if the seats are reclined.
And the arm rests are way too high (they’ll feel worse reclined), plus they don’t look soft
Build this van with this exterior, a regular interior for real people, at a decent price, competitive with the Town and Country, it will sell.
Buick is the new cadillac
Is it asking too much from GM to have an instrument panel and infotainment system like this for US models? The instrument cluster in the US models do not look like luxury and totally ruin the brand perception. I would have bought a Regal, but the instrumentation is really off-putting.
If the Lacrosse had that type of interior it would still be in production in the US. Hope they bring that type of interior to all of the existing top line Buick’s then watch the money roll in.
The LaCrosse with this interior would have been cancelled sooner that it was. Very few would pay the sticker price for one that an interior like this would have necessitated.
Ok but why make a concept with this off the wall interior and be so weak in interior for their production cars?
To me that is like throwing gasoline on the fire, especially to the customers and potential customers who would love to see improvements in the production vehicles.
As I wrote earlier: Any Automaker can do a one off, pie-in-the-sky Concept car with a futuristic, hedonistic interior. Most all of them do in fact, and little of the show car details makes it to production. GM is not alone in this.
Your assertion that GM /Buick production interiors are “weak” shows that you have not actually seen any of them.
So many amazing concepts and production models for all of the rest of the world. What about us?! Didn’t it all start here ? Asia, South America, Australia get all the coolest “American” cars America can’t have….. I’m confused.
What ????
I’m confused too.
GM shows Concept cars in the US all the time!
Just what “American” cars are shown in Australia and South America?
Wow, I bet this minivan concept really takes off in the US. Meanwhile on the music front, have you heard of this band called Nirvana? They have a really unique sound and they have carved out their own unique genre called grunge. My guess is that this type of music will be as hot as this minivan!
@JWL
The Buick GL8 is China only. There’s been a GL8 Mini Van in production there for years.
Buick is all talk and no action. I don’t know why they even waste time creating concepts they know they won’t ever build. Boring, uninspiring and out of touch seem to sum up their designs nowadays. They need to quit pandering to overseas sales and get off their rear ends and build an AMERICAN muscle car!!! Buick you should be ashamed of yourself. You’re an embarrassment. And to think you outlasted Pontiac…
You do know that Buick has been building a GL 8 Luxury Mini Van in China for years now, don’t you?
And is Buick the only automaker that shows pie-in-the-sky concept cars?
American style muscle cars are dead. Get over it.