While the American media heightens calls for the Buick Avista to see production, the Australian media has a different take. Many outlets have dubbed the Avista a reborn Holden Monaro.
But, this is not a new Holden Monaro. As much as yours truly would love to report, this will likely not become anything for our friend down under. In fact, the more General Motors executives comment on the vehicle, the more it seems Avista really is just a design study.
The Holden Monaro, last seen in VZ Commodore guise, and rumored to return with a sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro introduction, will likely stay a thing of the past for the near future.
It does seem plausible, however. The Buick Avista is a sleek coupe with very transformation design. As we called it in one of our first looks at the vehicle, the design is a tad generic. But, as we’ve discussed, that pays dividends when a vehicle is require to look the part for a few different brands. In this case, a Holden lion wouldn’t look too shabby on the Avista. Neither would an Opel blitz.
The second fact of the matter is its platform. Right-hand drive is a no show for GM rear-wheel drive platforms at the time being, something the automaker has promised to remedy. But it’s not an across-the-board measure, according to Motoring.
So, no, this is not the supposed Holden sports car. In fact, it’s looking dimmer than ever that there may actually be a program lurking in the shadows to satisfy the Australian enthusiast.
Comments
This is where GM Really Pisses me off. They create these design studies and when consumers and the media actually fall in love with it they moth ball it, only to one day bring out a watered down design later for production. BUICK has a real chance here to be a game changer here for GM and have sales rocket once and for all. GM needs to bite the bullet. While every manufacturer out there is hitting out home runs, Gm flounders with excuse after excuse. Truly sad. Lexus just showed a production car that they said couldn’t be built, but they did and did it in way that the original design was not watered down. GM get with it and produce the Avenir and Avista as is..
Unless Avista, like Avenir, goes FWD and on D2XX.
Avenir debuted on Omega, became the 2nd Gen LaCrosse on E2XX.
Avista debuted on Avenir, becomes production car under D2XX.
D2XX, unlike Alpha, can do RHD. And it supports the same Haldex AWD arrangement that Focus RS uses, sending more power to the rear wheels in sport mode.
I’m not sure D2XX can support a NA V8, but it might if it can hold a TTV6. Swap the intercoolers with the larger V8, and you have a Monaro.
As I said (with tongue firmly planted in cheek) – “Monza V8, God help us all”. It seems GM is following that logic, but may be going down to Delta, rather than Epsilon, to make it in production.
GM certainly has not been ignoring Focus RS, and seems to be aligning Buick/Opel/Holden to deliver.
The Avenir did not become the Lacrosse on E2XX, they merely slapped an Avenir inspired grille on the new Lacrosse. The real Avenir is still out there, begging to be built.
I get that the point of these cars is to build brand awareness, and get people talking, but GM can only tease so much without following through to production. If the Avenir was never intended for production, and they were caught with their pants down by the response, then the Avista should have been ready to release, pending the positive response that it has now gotten.
Avenir was the design concept for LaCrosse. There’s no question to that. They designed the two in concert, with one clearly headed for production – and one clearly not. That became crystal-clear when the new LaCrosse debuted, and even GM brass admitted it in interviews that Avenir was unlikely to ever be built – I would infer, from the get-go.
Typo: “Avista debuted on Avenir”
I meant to say Avista debuted on Alpha – but I had to teach Android the word “Avista” and it got all auto-correct happy from there. We’re not out of words in the dictionary GM… like, say, Firebird.
What is wrong with bringing the Avista as the new RIVIERA? was always the best halo car Buick ever had.
The Avista made me realize just how much the ATS Coupe fails to deliver on style against coupes like Q60, A5, and even F-type. Cadillac seems to be tied down to the art and science v2 theme, where Buick has the freedom to deliver with class
this car cant chea. now is perhaps a little early this car could not be in a form to be cheap. GM products at today’s prices. GM will rise again but it will take more time
This car needs to be in production yesterday!
Well here is the dilemma. The next RHD will appear when the Alpha update or replacement arrives. Cadillac is working on it.
We know they will make it RHD. If they do then it has only three real markets to go to and down under is one. So I would say that OZ will get something once the new platform arrives in RWD.
I understand design studies but GM needs to be careful here as the success of these show cars are going to create more issues than they solve if they do not make at least come of them.
The market got used to more production like show cars that made it to the market over the last 20 years and now people expect at least some of them to make it.
To me the Avenir did more harm to the Lacrosse as it left many disappointed.
I hope holden doesn’t get anything kool like this, they don’t like GM and have made it so that GM had to pull production out of their country. If they do get a car as kool as this then they need to get the car as you see it here in Buick form.
The problem with the lacrosse is not the avenir, is that Buick has gotten to far down the price spectrum and does not want to do true luxury. Avenir and Avista show us a buick that is true luxury and they are not really going there except in their CUVs. Lacrosse is just to simple to be the top of the line buick.
sorry for Buick but must be sold or suppressed for the sake of Cadillac, as the only global brand premium, then restore the Hummer brand, while Chevrolet and Opel \ Vauxhall \ Holden will be global brands generalists, this is my opinion.