The 2020 Buick Encore GX made its big North American debut last year at the Los Angeles Auto Show, while the 2021 Buick Envision debuted just last week. Critically, both new Buick models introduce General Motors to an emerging design trend that could very well extend to include future GM vehicles.
2020 Buick Encore GX
The design trend in question is fake exhaust tip styling for the rear fascia. This helps to give the rear end of both new Buick models a more refined and sporty appearance, while the actual exhaust terminates underneath the vehicle.
Currently, the new 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Buick Envision are the only GM models offered in North America that come with this faux exhaust design direction.
It’s worth comparing both Buick models to other GM vehicles riding on the same platform. For example, the Buick Encore GX rides on the VSS-F vehicle set, as does the new 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. However, unlike the Encore GX, the Trailblazer gets a “through-fascia” exhaust treatment that is actually fed by a set of exhaust pipes connected to the engine, unlike the faux exhaust treatment on the Encore. To note, the through-fascia exhaust treatment on Trailblazer is only for Activ and RS trim levels, while the lower trims (L, LS, LT), have the exhaust tucked underneath the body.
2021 Buick Envision
As for the 2021 Buick Envision, it shares the E2 platform with the Cadillac XT4, but the Caddy has also has a real dual exhaust treatment, unlike the faux treatment on the two Buick models.
The fake exhaust design feature is a growing industry trend, and Buick and GM are relatively late to the party. Other notable examples would include the new Audi A8, Volkswagen Jetta, and Mercedes-Benz GLE.
All told, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this design trend continue with further GM models, especially with the proliferation of smaller-displacement engines and all-electric powertrains.
What are your thoughts on this emerging design trend? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Buick Encore news, Buick Envision news, Buick news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Have a Rendezvous, was considering an Encore, not anymore.
Fake vents and exhaust just killed the potential sale.
Back to Toyota to match the Camry in the garage.
Wonder if Ford has fake vents and exhaust?
This is not a fake exhaust. The ports are merely styling cues. You still have an exhaust system!
How many of the present through exhaust tips are actually cleaned by the owners of these cars? I have seen a number of Restomods that still carry the exhaust to the back but have the tips turned down 45 degrees. If you want to see tacked-on styling cues look no further than the Honda Civic, especially the Si. If you really want to see major exhaust action on the rear of your car, take it and have Fat Boys installed!! Or better yet, have some Lake pipes installed.
What’s the point of having fake dual exhaust? I think GM has gone off into the ditch with this idea.
The Encore GX looks like GM was in a contest to see who could use the most individual parts to build a rear end. Insurance paperwork will look like an encyclopedia after a rear ender.
Another useless cost cutting design trend that I don’t care for along with many others. If they actually think this is fooling the far left greenie types into thinking there is no exhaust they are sadly mistaken!
Just wondering … with the “exhaust tucked underneath the body”, what happens when you get stuck in a traffic jam? Isn’t it natural to assume that the exhaust seeps into the cabin from underneath, or if your windows are open you would breath the exhaust much more possible than if it were vented to the rear? Sounds like a possible CO2 problem to me.
1. UNDERBODY SEALS
2. It is not much more likely for you to get co2 poisoning with it underneath than actually coming out.
Just one more inane post by the inept contract writers GM Authority employs. I have yet to see a single one of them who displays any knowledge of automobile technology, styling or marketability.
co2, or “Co2” as anyone remotely familiar with the elemental chart knows it, is not the problem. The threat is Co, or carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide is totally harmless. So much for the idea that a little bit of knowledge is dangerous, and wasted on those who start out knowing nothing.
Of greater concern is getting stuck in a traffic jam and inhaling the exhaust of the other idled cars thru the vehicle’s ventilation system.
A useless exercise. Styling over substance is a slippery slope.
The Buick Envision has some very nice design features, until you look at those tacked-on “things” on either side of the grille. Wonder what the interior looks like.
they are both foreign assembled SO SAD with AMERICAN workers out of work
The Buick TourX sports fake dual exhaust, too. Ya missed that one!
I don’t care for fake exhaust ports. This reminds me of the “dark days” of performance cars in the late ’70’s when engine horsepower was being strangled by exhaust emission requirements and prior to electronic fuel injection. Back then, the “performance” enhancements consisted of tape stripes and decals!
When I was coming up, when a manufacturer chose to put openings on the hood, those hood scoops were the real deal! That only lasted for about 2 model years and fake hood scoops gradually replaced the real deal. I promised myself if I could EVER afford a muscle car, it’d be old enough to have the real deal.
Now, GM is toying with the idea of fake exhaust?! C’mon, designers! You’re paid better than that.
As a retiree of GM I can say with total uncertainty, that anyone that was on the Encore GX project should be fired. We were going to upgrade from our 2018 Encore Premier but not now. Disappointing
They are boring crossovers… they look good and the exhausts are not a blatant fake.
But they ARE a blatant fake!
Why bother with fake vents? Wouldn’t it be cheaper and cleaner looking to NOT put them on the vehicle? They keep decontenting the vehicles yet they add this stuff which adds to the price.
Omg unbelievable, what planet are GM designers living on, at a time when the world is moving away from fossil fuels and wanting cleaner energy etc, I know let’s make some fake exhausts for our cars to make them look like gas guzzlers.
Take heart. The next refresh will have tail fins.
Buick? Its just boring cars to go from point a to b.
i hate the idea of fake anything but that envision looks so good, i don’t care.
lexus and ferrari do it as well.
https://www.carthrottle.com/post/7-fake-exhaust-pipes-that-make-expensive-cars-look-cheap/
Just one more inane post by the inept contract writers GM Authority employs. I have yet to see a single one of them who displays any knowledge of automobile technology, styling or marketability.
Next will be fake v.8 noise like from Ford!! Vroom vroom!!!
Kind of a waste of money, I’m going to say it’s more costly than to just leave it single tailpipe. One thing General Motors has proved since the days of Roger Smith that it’s really good at wasting money, stay away from the fake exhaust and work on better non-cheap looking plastics for your interiors That’s your biggest flaw and every magazine says it, come on can’t you make GM great again?
The trend should be to build them in the USA. At least the Envision. With some retooling, it could easily be assembled at Fairfax along with the XT4. Unfortunately GM/Buick is cutting corners and doing what they want and not what the consumers want.
Typhoid rules > Never offer a job to a U.S. citizen.
The Encore GX honestly looks cheap to me, and the 3 cylinder engines definitely make that a non-starter. If I went that route, I would get the Trailblazer Activ.
The new Envision looks awesome, but I am not buying a Chinese built car. And GM should not be reliant on Chinese supply for Buick inventory in the US. Surely they can see which way the political wind is blowing.
Due to the current political situation with China, I would turn my purchasing attention to the United States.
Come on GM, put the dual exhaust system into the ports,it makes the design style look so much better and balance. You have a beautiful style vehicle and a real dual ports make a vehicle look very strong.