Sleek Buick Sports Car Sketch Unveiled By GM Design Team
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With the departure of the Buick Regal this year, the age-old American brand’s portfolio now consists of crossovers only. It’s set to stay that way for the foreseeable future, too, as the brand is busy developing its new battery-electric crossover models and has no plans to introduce new sedans or coupes in the U.S. Despite this, the GM Design team still decided that fans would be interested in seeing their sketch of a sleek Buick sports car.
Details on this unnamed Buick sports car sketch are slim. GM Design says it was originally penned by Geoffrey Richmond, who has served as the Senior Exterior Designer at Buick Advanced Design since February 2017. The coupe has a svelte shape with smoothed-over body lines, giving it a streamlined appearance that would be fitting for a battery-electric vehicle, in our opinion. The tiny front “grille” opening and futuristic-looking LED headlights would also be appropriate touches for an EV, but it’s hard to say if Richmond actually envisioned this design exercise as being electric.
Buick Avista Concept
Keen Buick fans may look at this sketch and be reminded of the Buick Avista concept that debuted at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Avista was a 2+2 coupe with a fastback shape that was powered by a 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing roughly 400 horsepower. The Avista received industry-wide praise for its handsome styling, rear-wheel-drive layout and powerful engine, which almost convinced GM to give it the green light. The handsome coupe was only ever intended to be a design exercise, though, so a production version never came to fruition.
We’re eager to see how Richmond and his team integrate modern-day Buick styling cues into its future battery-electric crossover models. If this Buick sports car sketch is anything to go by, these future electric crossovers may have more exciting exterior styling than previously thought.
Two Buick electric crossovers models are set to launch between now and 2025. One of these vehicles is described as “more conventional crossover proportions that maximizes interior space and cargo,” while the second “will feature more expressive proportions with a greater emphasis on form and athletic fashion.” These crossovers will tap GM’s Ultium modular battery system and Ultium drive family of electric motors.
Let us know if this unnamed Buick sports car sketch is a hit or a miss by voting below.
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One has to imagine if there’s a lot of positive feedback from buyers in China, this sporty Buick coupe may see production especially if the exterior body panels are printed from rapid prototyping equipment and the chassis is shared with another upcoming GM vehicle.
“But Buick is set to remain a crossover brand only.”
Buick sells a lot of sedans in China you know…..
This isn’t China, you know
I wonder if they’ll ever stop putting big long hoods on EVs?
It isn’t like there is a longitudinal V8 or V10 under them.
No, but it mainly for looks, plus you can still put stuff under there, there is still a practicality advantage.
The thing is now moving forward a car like an Avista would be much easier and cheaper to approve a business case on vs a ICE platform.
Doing the body and interior on a platform that is tweaked to work on a number of different platforms would bring the cost down fast once the battery cost are under control.
That could make automakers able to do more lower volume models like a Coupe again.
As for long hoods Styling will depend on the public. Long hoods play well with the public as a dramatic visual thing.
Also it may be kept also for crush space and we still do have EV motors to house. They may be smaller but they still take up space.
What will be interesting is how automakers will deal with grills. That is the face of a car and brand. Tesla has not done well here as they are pretty face less and really have no real style up front. The Buick here has a interesting take. Also the Cadillac with the lighted grill adds impact or a face to the vehicle.
Ford on the Mach E had a start but that solid panel in the center really just did not finish it.
I also would not be surprised to see chevy and a buick coupe in EV form in the future. Once you have the battery platform figured out you just have to change the upper panels. I remember years ago this was something GM had a vision about in the future. Basically you want a new car you just buy a new body style but the electric components stay the same.
GM called it the Hy-Wire originally, but yes, the skateboard chassis is pretty much what everyone is talking about now.
Well it is not the skate board as each chassis may be a little different.
It is more like an old slot car. Some of the older cars had chassis that were adjustable to other bodies in length. They would just engineer the platform for with length and add the proper suspension.
I haven’t seen a Buick on the streets in along time I wonder where they selling so good, China? My father was a big Buick customer he bought 2 LeSabre and a Riviera model which is hard to find today. The rendering above would make a great flagship for the brand, it looks like Buick and Lincoln are direct competition now, my how the automotive landscape has changed Not For the Better
I would put Buick right up there with Chrysler, at least in our market.
Buick has always been just under Cadillac.
Chrysler has always been just above Kia when you’re talking quality of build and Luxury. Chrysler never made anything good except an above average minivan.
In this century anyway, but chrysler had some of the finest cars back in the day. Imperials were even higher class than cadillacs
Buick generally does the best concept cars; in fact, so good, these kids belong working for Cadillac if Buick refuses to take risks.
I like the concept accept for the face which reminds me of a dolphin or some other oceanic life form. Avista was nearly flawless and could, as a four door coupe, aided in an upmarket Buick reinvention.
GM managment has little use for Buick NA, doesn’t seem to understand that the brand needs a halo and should be tackling projects GMC.
Make this on the new Ultium platform about the same size as the Regal on the exterior but as spacious inside as the LaCrosse. Make it in Coupe, convertible, sedan and wagon body styles with Rear/AWD. Give It performance that maxes out in the 4.5-5 second range.
This would give buick a family of cars that are unique and gets in buyers that have refused to look at buick recently.
Completely agree. Not everyone likes boring SUV´s or Crossovers or is willing to buy one, no matter what.
It’s a little irritating how Buick designs amazing, Peugot-esque concepts then just says “No, lmao; we aren’t making this beauty.”
I was thinking about how amazing the Envision concept and the CUV electric coupe shown above were.
Was also thinking how this latest coupe slightly resembles Opel’s Monza concept in updated form.
Americans seem to reject beautiful cars, look at Mazda, in favor of boxy Toyota, Subaru, Ford. Nonetheless it seems Buick needs a bold auto in the US
ve.
Looks good . BUT as we all know Looks Can be deceiving . Time will tell .
Looks like a camaro EV to me
With those beautiful high door sills
i’m looking forward to the day when a 2dr EV sports car comes out. it is a small market but if gm came out with something absolutely gorgeous, i think that would turn a lot of heads and elevate their brand perception.
So sad to see Buick discontinue sedans as Foreign makers continue to improve theirs and bring new models to light… Just says to their former loyal buyers that profits are their priority; not those who purchased Buick sedans for so many years… Good bye Buick!
Completely agree.
I personally think the car is exquisite! Lovely lines and the lighting quite unique. So glad to see Buick reaching beyond its usual somewhat boring lines.
Looks like the Buick Bengal concept from the late 90’s
The Buick Avista looks like what a next generation Chevrolet Camaro should look like. It’s a sleek sporty looking car and I’d be happy to be seen in one.
That’s exactly what I thought . I would also buy one.
GM would strike Gold by marketing the old nameplates built in one factory. Oldsmobile,Buick, Pontiac , with smart sedan and small car products. But they have no promo people on board. Got to lose money to make money. Trucks will fade away as time passes. Quick electric hot looking cars with old names .
Build it ! Make it electric with all wheel drive . GM needs to step their game . Compete and lead in the coming big years . The new Hummer is step in the right direction as well as this Buick if it’s built . Same with the new Corvette and hopefully an electric version of it .
Be progressive and not a follower.
Aaand thats why Buick is in the crapper. Both those cars they showed in the article are absolutely gorgeous, but where are they. Why design something that everyone agrees is beautiful and then not make it. And then make a ridiculously tiny SUV that looks like it only fits elves inside? They took the beautiful ass kicking Turbo Regal and turned it into a front wheel drive grocery getter that was so ugly they couldn’t give it away. They could’ve crammed a Cadillac CTS-V engine into a new Regal, made it rear wheel drive, badged it as the new Grand National dressed in only black and people would’ve lined up. But no, they keep on with the lame, soul-less front wheel drive cars that nobody wants until they have to give up on passenger cars altogether. Ridiculous.
And thats why Buick is in the crapper. Both those cars they showed in the article are absolutely gorgeous, but where are they. Why design something that everyone agrees is beautiful and then not make it. And then make a ridiculously tiny SUV that looks like it only fits elves inside? They took the beautiful ass kicking Turbo Regal and turned it into a front wheel drive grocery getter that was so ugly they couldn’t give it away. They could’ve crammed a Cadillac CTS-V engine into a new Regal, made it rear wheel drive, badged it as the new Grand National dressed in only black and people would’ve lined up. But no, they keep on with the lame, soul-less front wheel drive cars that nobody wants until they have to give up on passenger cars altogether. Ridiculous.
Please build the avista! pretty please. I WILL BUY one. It would make such an awesome GT car. like a luxury camaro.
But you know they will mess up and put a 1.3L engine in it. It will be only slightly faster than the Buick chrome potato.