We’re fairly certain we know the answer to this question from you, but here it goes.
The Buick Avista is a follow-up surprise after last year’s splash found in the Buick Avenir. The Avista concept rolled onto the stage wearing a deep blurple hue, and housing decidedly sports car proportions.
It’s a 2+2 with rear-wheel drive, and a proper sports car width, a description that really shouldn’t be followed by “that’s a Buick.” But it is. Up front, a conceptual take on the Buick grille is present, but the current winged chrome strip remains from the latest Buick-production design.
In the rear, the style lines come to a lovely integrated rear lip and a rounded rear-end. Overall, we quite like the design as a whole. It has presence.
But, here’s where we will divert. Although the Avista is a looker, our staff, and collected media, has noted so many different design influences, the Avista begins to look a tad, dare we say it, generic.
The list includes, Jaguar F-Type, Hyundai Genesis, Aston Martin DB9, Opel Monza, Nissan 350Z and more. Granted, each of those vehicles are handsome in their own ways, but nothing really stands out as a Buick trademark here.
But, we digress. This is certainly a handsome vehicle, and the fact it’s a Buick excites us even more.
So, it’s your turn to sound off. Are you digging the Avista? Or, is this design falling short? Let us know in our poll, and certainly talk to us in the comment section below.
Comments
Gorgeous, but if doesn’t make into production looking very close to concept it will be a disappointment! Utilizing some of the styling cues probably won’t cut it.
I’m not sure about the size. If it’s the size of the Camaro/ATS there will be no rear seat. I’m not sure about that. If the rear seat is usable (closer in size to the current Regal or something), than I am 100% on board with this!
Looks hot except for the name. Avista does not evoke excitement, luxury, or passion for a sport coupe such as this. Riviera, Invicta, GSX, Wildcat, all names car people remember or at least sound exciting. If Buick does build this car, it has to be as close to the concept as possible much like the the Gen 5 Camaro was. Well done Buick and GM, but this is a car that cannot remain a turntable fantasy. Build it now.
Agree about the name Avista has no sex appeal.
This car certainly shares the best elements of vehicles coming from Jaguar, Aston, Bentley, and Mazda and even, yes, Hyundai: All coupes today have certsin things in common but Buick assembled these elements into a unique package topped off with a modern sweep spear, trademark head lights and almost Chevrolet-like character ligament lines.
The styling on Avista surpasses that of Aveair and should be the dedign language going forward right down to the tail lamps for the brand.
If this just isn’t possible, pass this over to Cadillac and drop Art and Science.
Would be a great and fitting continuation of the Riviera, always one of Detroit’s finest styles! I can well imagine this Buick becoming the best selling car in the U.S. and China!
It’s awesome.
I agree with MRB about the name, and we should rest easy that the name will not carry forward. I hadn’t thought about Invicta until I read MRB’s post – and I like it!!
I’ve already send Buick a message this morning promising to buy one – now, I’m going to call my Buick dealer locally and tell them that I want one. The car show opens here in about two weeks, and I’m going to badger the Buick booth dolls about this car.
This car really reminds me of the Jaguar F-Type. That’s certainly not a bad thing. General Motors doesn’t currently sell a Grand Tourer under any of it’s brands so a production version would really plug a hole in GM’s lineup. I do think it should be a bit larger, something about the size of the Maserati GranTurismo would be more appealing to me. Nevertheless I love how this car looks and I really hope it makes production.
This ‘Hot or Not’ Poll is the most obvious in a long while.
The Avista is clearly a ‘hot’ concept.
Only question is whether they will build or if in fact it is only a design study?
There is just one problem with this thing – it will likely stay just a concept, pretty much like the previous Buick coupe concept, Riviera from 2013.
If I’m not mistaken, last time when Buick performance coupe was a production car (not counting for the recent Cascada cabrio aka convertible) was in 1999, when 1995-1999 Riviera halted its production. I still see one of these last gen 90’s Supercharged 3.8 V6 Rivieras driving around these days – being at least 16 years old, it’s a nice car, I should say, despite its Tauris-like ovalish used-piece-of-soap design, which was popular in 90’s.
I think it won’t happen as a production car specifically in US and Canada, because, unfortunately, people still use to think about Buick there pretty much as a boaty sedan car for elderly people, like LeSabre and Century, so, presumably, this kind of performance coupe just does not have a market there.
It may work in China, though, because in China Buick is not equal to “elderly” – there is no such a superstition there, If I’m not mistaken.
@TiGr1982: I agree with you — GM won’t make it.
All of us are salivating over it, much like we did for the Cadillac Ciel and El Miraj and neither of those are coming to production.
Buick had the Reatta two-seater back in the late 1990s and that didn’t sell well at all.
I remember the Reatta and you are right it did not sell well but it wasn’t a very good car. The design was not attractive, even by 1988 standards.
It was FWD and although it came with the bulletproof 3.8V6 it did not have good performance.
There is no comparison between the Avista and the Reatta.
I too see some Jaguar and Tesla design elements, but beautifully integrated into this gorgeous concept! If Buick is serious about garnering a younger audience, then the Avista is precisely what the brand needs to accomplish this! It’s obvious Buick’s primary focus is on the highly successful crossover segment as of now, but there’s absolutely no reason for these current Buick executives to ignore injecting some serious performance models into the brand! The new LaCrosse is a nice sedan, nicely showcasing the Avenir’s greatest design attributes. Sadly, however, it still evokes the image of a vehicle a 55-60+ year old would be interested in driving! The appeal value that the Avenir has is simply not present! And that’s the same fate I predict with this stunning Avista concept! Sure we may see the upcoming Regal feature some of these design cues, but I’d bet it’s still gonna fall short of the attention-grabbing Avista concept!
Forget Buick, This should be the next Chevrolet Monte Carlo!!
Why would you want the Camaro and a Monte Carlo with the same dimensions, stance and powertrain?
Boner Time!
This could be the breakthrough Auto that Buick has lacked for 25 years. It needs the port holes on the sides to be a REAL Buick.
General Motors needs to approach the Avista the same way they do with CUVs where Buick, Chevrolet and GMC have all share the same platform; further, there’s enough design difference between Cadillac’s ATS and Chevy’s Camaro to differentiate the 3 cars. Something else that GM needs to consider is that while the Camaro might not be a big seller in places like China and Europe; Buick’s Avista would fit in better given it’s sleek design.
It is a sensational looking 2-door coupe and needs a great name to fit the design. It should be called by a name that comes from from the past …. RIVIERA! I love it and hope that GM will bring it to production soon.
Someone should start a petition to Buick to build this car!
Is this what Opel considers the new GT? Well be see a production ready variety in Geneva?
I hope Insignia looks this good.
Jesung Ahn and company know just what updated classic American automotive sculpture should look like. Thumbs up, it’s a bold, beautiful car.
Like the Avenir this is just a concept possibly giving us a hint at what we may see in future vehicles . I think Buick would do well in building this car . If built on Camaros chassis , think of it as a luxury Camaro . I don’t believe that anyone looking at this is going to think of it as an ” old persons Buick ” for the 55+ year olds . That is what the LaCrosse is for . If its not badge engineered Buick should go for it . Bringing in a younger customer to Buicks showroom is a definite plus . There are other manufacturers that have their luxury 2+2’s . Mercedes comes to mind .
Just keep it RWD , and an engine and suspension that makes it fun to drive . Not another Reatta !
Gorgeous, if you can create a new direction like this… New customers will follow
I’m not getting my hopes up. This is gorgeous, but so was the Avenir concept. Then the LaCrosse came out and wow, talk about a watered down look that completely misunderstands the concept.
The design of a car is about cohesion. If the LaCrosse only kind of references the Avenir, then it winds up becoming yet another forgettable Buick. Look at the profile of the Avenir and then look at the profile of the LaCrosse. The LaCrosse softens nearly every single line and, as such, completely destroys all of the ever important detail that made the concept so sharp and fresh.
http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2015/05/2015-Buick-Avenir-Concept-side-1.jpg
http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2015/11/2017-Buick-LaCrosse-side-profile-01.jpg
If they bring this new Avista to market, they will no doubt F* it up in the same way such that it no longer has any relation to the concept. It will be another timid offering by Buick when they clear can and should be bold.
Wildcat …………floats my boat……and an engine with a minimum of 300hp with Turbo…RWD…reasonably priced…….. and I’ll probably buy one.
Don’t change a thing, RWD, 400hp ( 3.0 V6 bi turbo … ), call it Avista if you will. Next, paint it all black, give it 500hp ( 3.6 bi-turbo … ) or more with AWD, drop brakes and a suspension to go with it and call it GNX ! Count on Chinese market to buy the Avista enough to make a business case for the Avista, and North America would get back its legendary GNX… Oops, what a dream… Seriously, an entry level luxury version of the Camaro ( not an ATS 2 door ) might just work ! Just an opinion…
It’s boneriffic.
It would look fabulous in the garage parked beside my 1971 Buick GS Stage 1!!! A powerful good looking car without the stereotypes that go with a lot of the coupes currently on the market. .. Build it!!
I think it’s hot but it don’t mean a thing if they don’t’ build the thing. They should bring it to market just like it is with the engine it has with no option engine to start. It should keep the name and not be considered a substitute for the Rivera.
This cars a looker for sure, it reminds me of the Ford Evos concept a few years ago. Almost like a couped Fusion. I think it would sell good, but it’s nicer looking then anything cadilac offers.
The General needs to build this one! This will prove Buick is no longer Grandpa’s car. This could give the General a great market over some of the import performance cars. However the Name has got to go. How about Wildcat GT that sounds like performance. Also it needs to be powered like a Camaro with V8 power and rear wheel drive.
It’s a stunning beauty! Actually, the Panamera is what comes to mind when I see this Avista concept in photos and videos. I totally agree with all who urge the GM brass to get the Avista into production if it truly wants to appeal to the younger demographic, too, and lower its average ownership age. This is the car that will do it. This car will shatter the brand image as a baby boomer nameplate and nothing more. This car can really ignite passion in Buick and will prove that GM brass is serious about taking on German and Japanese automakers and truly become a world class brand. It’s nearing time to trade in my CTS and this is the car I want next.
BUICK NEEDS TO BUILD THE AVISTA IN A NEW YORK MINUTE TO COMPETE WITH THE INFINITI Q60 AND OTHER GERMAN AND JAPANESE CARS IN THIS SEGMENT! THE AVISTA IS A GAME CHANGER!!!!