General Motors just provided a sneak peek of the refreshed 2022 Buick Enclave a few days ago, giving us an eyeful of the brand’s new seven-seater crossover SUV and what it had to offer in terms of exterior styling. Around back, we noticed that the new Enclave incorporates a styling element we’ve seen on a few other Buick models before, namely fake exhaust tips integrated with the rear bumper.
Looking closely at the rear end of the refreshed 2022 Buick Enclave, we find that the rear bumper comes with curves and angles that cut into the bumper just above the lower aero treatment. Outlined by prominent styling lines, the faux exhaust treatment is blocked off by black plastic, but the visual effect looks to mimic a set of exhaust tips integrated with the rear bumper.
Buick Encore GX
Buick Envision
Interestingly, we see a similar setup offered by the Buick Encore GX and 2021 Buick Envision, as GM Authority covered previously. Although both crossovers carry their own design cues, the rear bumpers on both models clearly have some form of fake exhaust treatments. While the look isn’t a perfect facsimile of what real integrated exhaust tips would look like, the design trend across the Buick brand is more or less clear.
With the actual exhaust tips tucked up underneath the vehicle, this design direction is likely more cost-effective than real integrated exhaust tips. It also works well with all-electric vehicles, although it’s debatable if it’s equally as appealing when used on an ICE-powered vehicle, although that’s really a matter of opinion.
With that in mind, the question is this – does the new faux exhaust design trend look good to your eye? We want to know what you think, so let us know by voting in the poll below, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Buick Enclave news, Buick Envision news, Buick Encore news, Buick news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
IMO, what Buick is doing is much more tasteful than what Audi and other brands are doing. As opposed to very obviously fake exhaust outlets intended to trick people, the Buicks’ are more of a styling suggestion…some chrome embellishment where exhaust used to be. I believe many people won’t even assume them to be exhaust. Again, much respect for the way Buick is approaching this. It seems much less disingenuous.
Exactly! Germans started and still maintain this fake exhaust disgrace like their many other useless gimmicks they brought to the market and yet nobody complains but the moment an American brand does the same everybody goes crazy, all the german cars come with very small four cylinder engines if you lucky their way overpriced “sports” models with six cylinder yet people go mad if an American model doesn’t offer V8.
One more time for the American manufacturer critics and hypocrites that can’t hear you in the back, Slider!
Bro. This is being done to start to let people believe?think there is no ICE motor in there.
Plain and simple. It is called “design language” for a reason.
Bona Fortuna
Buick has been doing fake exhaust outlets in the rear bumper for a decade, so I wouldnt say the trend is emerging.
There are two types of fake exhaust. One where the exhaust exit surround is not connected to the actually exhaust pipe, e.g. a chrome rectangular opening in the rear bumper with a round unfinished exhaust pipe visible within. Buick has been doing this for a while. The second type, which I think the article is about, is where there is no opening in the rear number at all. Just some chrome trim surrounding a flat black piece of plastic. This type is new for Buick.
An opening with an unattached pipe within is not a “fake”. Many cars,beginning in the 50’s, beautifully.
I agree. “Fake” is probably too strong of a word for most of those cases. There are some exceptions though; Lexus IS-F comes to mind.
This reminds me of the fake side vent ports on the Enclave a few years ago as you’ve got to wonder why Buick does this.
Lexus does it and most others are doing it. I’m glad my 2019 Terrain has real ones. Bet its a trend thats going to grow with EV’s coming out
The Fakes at least don’t stain the bumpers with light color paint. So many white cars have black soot stains on the bumpers front the DI fuel Injection.
I’m not sure how this and pumping fake engine noise into the cabin became a trend.
Fake exhaust tips. Wow, talk about advanced (and newsworthy) technology. Puts them head and shoulders above the competition. Not.
It’s like plastic surgery. Looks good until you actually touch it.
Charging more getting less. What else is new? Anyone remember those days when you could get a Pontiac Grand Prix with a big V8 and of course 2 real exhaust. And all this for $5000
Could care less about most the gingerbread on the rear of a vehicle with one exception. Most manufacturers don’t give any consideration for integrating a trailer hitch cover during design. It seems that GM is now at least showing some thought about not only doing that on more models, they are also making the hitch a standard item. There is nothing worse than dropping a load of cash on a vehicle and having some goober take a razor blade to the back fascia to get the access hole. Then be reminded about how that saving a couple bucks looks like heck while you own the vehicle.
Our last two GMC Yukons have had a plastic hitch cover tastefully integrated into the bumper fascia. As for fake exhaust outlets, I se no problem with this. I have seen aftermarket chrome exhaust tips curved down at 90 degrees on older performance cars. How many polished aluminum exhaust outlets were corroded within several months, like we had on a 2001 Pontiac Firebird. We eventually replaced those with heavy polished stainless steel but we were still constantly wiping off carbon deposits from the exhaust gases (read: daily).
Maravilhoso!!
It’s really all about better design elements than than a fake exhaust. When EVs start coming out it will certainly carry this design element too. I like it much better than trying to keep a slim chrome exhaust pipe exit clean all the time.
Whatever, I have an Envision and I hate it. I guess I really got fooled when I bought the car.