Buick Wildcat EV Concept Debuts As Future Design Showcase
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GM just introduced the Buick Wildcat EV Concept, a design study that shows off the brand’s new styling language intended for use in future all-electric Buick vehicles.
The Buick Wildcat name was plucked from the brand’s history. The first Buick Wildcat was introduced in 1953 as a showcase of the brand’s styling chops, with follow-up Wildcat concepts introduced in 1954 and 1955. Legendary car designer Harley Earl oversaw the development of these earlier vehicles, while a later Buick Wildcat debuted in 1985 as a mid-engine supercar concept.
Now, the Buick Wildcat name is back with this fresh all-electric design study. The exterior of the new EV is characterized by a low, wide stance, cab-back proportions, and a coupe-like silhouette. The front grille incorporates wide, horizontally oriented grille bars, while the sharp, high-mounted headlamps are equipped with micro-LED lighting technology and thin-beam projector lenses.
In the corners, the new Buick Wildcat EV concept rolls on Jet Age-inspired 18-spoke “turbine” wheels, while the greenhouse is characterized by wraparound glass that connects the windshield with the side windows.
Inside, the Buick Wildcat EV is laid out in a 2+2 seating arrangement, with Legato Green coloring applied to the footwells, dash, and door panels. White upholstery is added to the seats, steering wheel, and dash. Aluminum trim bits abound. The infotainment spec includes a wide, horizontally oriented screen that stretches from behind the flat-bottom steering wheel into the dash.
The Buick Wildcat EV also debuts new forward-thinking technology concepts that integrate artificial intelligence, biometrics, and aromatherapy. For example, the onboard systems will detect when the driver’s heart rate is elevated and will activate “Zen Mode,” dimming the cabin lights while activating the massage seats and dispersing a calming aromatherapy scent.
“The Wildcat EV concept represents the real design future for the brand,” said executive director, Global Buick and GMC Design, Sharon Gauci. “Buick has always been forward looking and this expression is a glimpse of where we’re going, and the optimism we have for the limitless possibilities of an electric future.”
The debut of the Buick Wildcat EV concept coincides with the reveal of a new Buick tri-shield logo, and the announcement that Buick will bring its first all-electric vehicle to market in North America by 2024.
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It is a new era and a new direction for Buick! I have always loved the name Buick Wildcat.
… sorry to say, it wont be, they stay with SUVs
No, Buick must replace Regal for China so this is for real but will be a sedan. I assume we will get the car via import only so GM can brag about the number of EVs it has for same.
Not sure how I feel. Certainly more premium which is good for Buick so that CR stops comparing the brand to Ford . Not crazy over profile, was more a fan of the previous EV concept released. They called it an SUV but it looked like a sedan to me. Wheel rims are beautiful and should become a tradition standard for n all future Buick models.
New logo is an improvement but I wish Buick font had been updated for a new generation of buyers. Buick is a blank slate with Millennials having few opinions on the brand. Also, they need to drop that silly jingle from future adverts and look at how Lexus promotes it’s cars
Paint it black with a hybrid ttv6 and assume rwd/awd = Grand National!
I love the design, too bad it’s an EV.
It looks great, now put a big fat ICE under the hood and a soft top on it for cruising and we are good to go!
Yes please. A coupe. Bold. But will never see production unfortunately. How many have they teased us with now?
Good but will never be built. Typical gm. Instead we will have some fwd la me bs lol
Italian:
So what? It’s a concept design. Such things are never meant to be built as is.
Keep the faith! EVs are another ball game, with so many possibilities.
gorgeous. gives me hope for the celestiq.
EVs is a fail for us poors… only few rich people can buy, put in house many cables installation etc.
MK, If you start saving now, you can buy a used EV in less than five years when gasoline will cost over $10 a gallon. Or travel on foot forever.
Once upon a time, there weren’t enough gas stations. Houses rarely had garages (though the rich could convert horse barns). Things changed. They will again.
I must admit that I hated the spy shots of the new logo. But seeing it fleshed out in the real materials make it look infinitely better. This concept is stunning and I sure hope they actually make it a reality this time around!
Awesome, awesome…..awesome!
Looks extremely cheap.
… no this not, cheap are the black cars with black wheels you bought out there .. full in plastic
You’re confusing this car with your wife.
Not my cup of tea. Some of the design elements are not bad but I don’t like the greenhouse nor the nose. The Avista was a much better looking vehicle. If they came up with an Electra Avista, that would be something!
agree only one part, those 2 boomerangs complicated in front, it could be easier connected and more elegant, but the rest is ok
Wow, not only a car but an actual full-size coupe, bring it Buick!..
take down the enthusiasmus, it wont happen
Why not?, You have actual info rather than “enthusiasmus” ?…
I’d say that years of experience is enough to go off of.
This isn’t going to happen. It looks nice though.
They will eventually, in their home market (China).
NOW MAKE A WAGON BUICK
. … hahaha …
Very cool. The exterior kind of looks like a cross between a Saab roofline, a Solstice coupe rear end, and a Toyota Mirai grille. I love the wheels and the taillights. I hope they build an electric coupe for the American market. I’m sick of everyone driving generic little vans (i.e., crossovers). I don’t think they needed to revise the classic Buick logo, but if it communicates a complete rebirth of the brand (especially to the designers and engineers), I guess it’s okay. At least they kept the classic colors.
… yeah the wheels those SLR Mercedes of 20 years ago… francis turbines,,,, increased shells’ quantity… never in market, pity, all chrome, no guys prefer all black, funny
saw something old >GM Saab on it also…
I see absolutely no Buick DNA in the design. The Avenir concept was stunning and was every inch a Buick but this looks like a bland Asian dream car, which I suppose is what it is. I still like looking at the Avenir and studying it’s gracefully elegant and historically-inspired form. This has none of that.
Being and looking like a Buick has nor worked for 2 decades so it is time for something new.
The grille shape looks like an amalgamation of Kia and Lincoln with its pinched center at the bottom and a Toyota Avalon with its wide opening and horizontal bars. Buick grilles traditionally have vertical bars. Buicks also have wide horizontal tail lamps whereas this design uses a Volvo C30-inspired L-shaped design. Buicks also feature sweeping curves and coke-bottle sculpting at the side but this design has a decidedly flat beltline.
It’s an okay shape but it’s more Asian than American and has none of the design characters of a Buick. Why have a design heritage and not use it? Everyone knows a BMW by the twin kidneys and hofmeister kink or a Cadillac by the vertical tail lamps. Neither brand should give up their iconic forms.
Buick does indeed need a new start after years of rebadged products like the Opel Mokka but there is a way to create a beautiful new form that embraces their past. I always felt the Cadillac Elmiraj was an excellent example. It’s at once both thoroughly modern but every inch a Cadillac. Without a single badge or emblem, every car enthusiast in the world would recognize it as a Caddy. The Avenir concept was like that too. Even though it was beautiful and modern, there were shades of Riviera and classic Buick design in every line so it needed no badging either. Strip the logo off this concept though and nobody would identify it as a Buick. There’s just nothing there from the past.
I’m totally okay with downvotes from those who don’t see eye to eye with me on this but most high-end car brands have distinguishing DNA that unifies their brand and ties the product generations together. I personally think that’s a good thing but not everyone does. Popularly-priced cars like Hondas do not have any design attributes that they continually use and that seems to work for them too.
What design aspect from a Mercedes EQ series ties back to their history?
That L-shaped taillight dates back to the 1967 Catalina/Bonneville. Weird to see it on everything from Hondas to Volvos.
… yeah what is Buick Character those days … !!! all same generic SUVs…
Surprise, your usual hate continues to spew.
An FYI for you. The Wildcat EV was designed in America using past Wildcat concepts for inspiration. Now why don’t you point out in detail what characteristics of the Wildcat EV are Asian inspired?
From my perspective, I think this provides a great starting point for what Buicks will look like in the future. Beautiful curves. Sloping rooflines with a very unique boat tail design that incorporates the taillights. Beautiful interior with numerous floating aspects.
Can’t wait to see the first EV to incorporate many of the elements this Wildcat concept portrays.
Noticed slight influence of ’71 thru ’73 Riviera.
For some reason this picture reminds me of a mini Jan 6th
For some reason these pictures remind me of a mini Jan 6th.
…It would be a GMC pickup…
Naw I see it in this car as well.
I should have known that, no matter what Buick presents, many of you won’t like it or accept it. But then, you never were a Buick fan or would buy a Buick. So please go post about a brand you can support and stop being negative about Buick.
I actually really think this is cool!
First we are told nobody wants coupes/sedans. Now an effort to produce one but if course it is an EV. Probably not for US. Probably over $75k, too.
I’d pay 75 for that. Easily. I’d probably go as high as 100 if it looks as good even softened a bit for production. Problem is there are not enough me’s out there to make it feasible.
When is GM going to get rid of these gunsight windows?