There’s a design cue that’s been spreading across the whole GM family in recent years that’s hard to ignore. Although each brand still has a unique aesthetic, one thing that all four North American retail GM brands have in common in many of their latest designs is a two-tier headlight treatment.
GM Authority sat down with Buick Design Manager Kevin Nougarede at the 2024 Montreal Auto Show to ask him about this now-established design theme in GM vehicles, including the latest Buick lineup. Is this a new way of designing cars?
“I think it’s tied to the aesthetic that we all—maybe unconsciously—pursue by playing with the DRL signature regulations,” Nougarede told us. “A lot of us are looking for a tech feel for the car. And we still deal with the technology of high-beams and low-beams that’s sometimes big for us from a design point of view.”
So, how exactly do you design a car’s exterior to look high-tech? “We end up having to split [the high-beams and low-beams] because we want that sneaky eye look that looks very tech and very precise and very thin. Having to try to position the lamp below into something a little bit more subdued, a little bit more hidden, and the main ‘eyes’ are the DRLs because that’s something that’s lit the whole day. When you see the whole car at night, you can probably switch.”
As for whether it’s intentional to adopt such a design across the board at GM, Nougarede thinks it’s not exactly a conscious effort. “I think it’s not something that we commonly—all of us—talk about. It’s just something that happens because we try to emphasize the face and DRL signature. They look all different, but there’s more of a trick, a design treatment that we use.”
Buick’s revamped lineup has some of the more dramatic interpretations of two-tier headlight treatments we’ve seen. The latest Buick design language started when the Buick Envista was unveiled for the 2024 model year, and a similar front-end design quickly spread to the rest of the Buick crossover lineup. The Encore GX and Envision were both refreshed with new faces for 2024, and the flagship Enclave is all-new for 2025, adopting a new face that’s unmistakably Buick.
What do you think of the two-tier headlight treatments we’ve been seeing in recent GM designs? Do they make them all look too similar, or do they look high-tech? Let us know in the comments.
Comments
Yes, the two-tier lighting is cutting edge modern and quite attractive. I think it gives designers lots of opportunities for originality and a sleek fashionable appearance. I’m a big fan of GM’s current design language, especially Buick, even on the Enclave. I was in a Buick/GMC dealership yesterday (great combo of brands to sell together, fantastically conceived and executed reorganization IMO) and was walking around and around a black Avenir Envista and Encore GX….they look great!
GM is actually making this trend look good. I remember hating the look in the Cherokee and the previous gen Hyundai Santa Fe finding it awkward. But on the GM cars it doesn’t look bad. I always thought it actually had a functional reason for putting them lower (maybe to reduce the increased glare of brighter LEDs or better positioning to spread the light beam more effectively).
The only thing I don’t like about it is the increased risk of breaking the headlamps should anyone swipe the corner of the car in the parking lot or hit it with a shopping cart. Unfortunately I have to think of this possibility because in my state of NJ, nobody has a basic understanding of the concept of respecting others personal property. You will actually come out to your car to find a new big gash or scrape on it and no one will have the courtesy to leave you an “I’m sorry” note. Happened to me thrice on my Rav4. Pretty much all of the scrapes and scars she has is due to a parking lot incident I came out to discover with the perpetrator leaving the scene without a trace before I can catch them.
But man. One time I caught a lady allowing her shopping cart to roll into my XT5 (didn’t leave a scratch fortunately but I didn’t even make the first payment and already somebody had to try and vandalize it) and man I let her have it.
Why is simply because of The Lemming Effect. One does it and all must follow. I’ve hated it since it started.
Then just go buy a beautiful Honda HRV. Should be simple enough design. Looks like a grade-schooler drew it in MS paint but clearly there are people who love the look of ovals upon ovals. If you need something more budget friendly I recommend a 1996 Ford Taurus.
Honda HRV have no style. Blah
I like mounting the main headlights lower to avoid blinding oncoming traffic with today’s ridiculously too bright lights. But mounting them lower exposes them to more damage from rocks and becoming covered with slush and snow from the pavement.
Could not agree more.
I believe the look is called “Ripping off Hyundai”…..
Pontiac did it first with Aztec, which is the crossover/suv that started all the treads of today
Glad you pointed this out.
i had a 2003 Aztec AWD from new, the car was simply ahead of its time
The styling would not be an issue today especially when you compare to Mitsubishi or some of the cross over coupes. i actually liked it especially with the optional large alloy wheels and the body colored lower cladding.
Functionally the Aztec was ahead with cargo space , the roll out cargo drawer, the center console that doubled as a portable cooler and the flip and fold second row seats.
Mine was a base trim level , but it was a very comfortable vehicle as a daily driver or a road tripper.
The AWD versa track was unmatched then and was one of the best GM ever offered, even by todays standards
The media killed this car , too bad i would have gotten a second new one but GM discontinued the Aztec so i moved to a first gen Equinox
I think they all resemble Iron Man
The Aztek was so ahead of its time.
I think it shows that the designers no longer know how to design. Just copy other designs. I do not like the look.
GM has been doing this look for a long time and I feel that they finally got it right. It gives a cohesive look throughout the brand lineup. I can once again tell when a GM vehicle is coming down the road and when one is behind me. They have a look and identity now where they were once losing it.
I want to believe the first generation Chevy Colorado & GMC Canyon started the trend at GM….along with the big GM pickups of that time frame (2004)…..
Buick and Chevy have done a nice job in their current front end designs
Let’s remember that there is NO US government requirement for DRLs. They add cost, require electricity (consume fuel), cause daytime glare for many drivers, and now the industry has gone nuts with designing all the wild combinations you see.
Look great, futuristic and sinister. Hope they filter down to the Corvette. The other lighting is barely visible in daylight. Take it from a design critic.
Physical appearance is strictly subjective to one’s own opinion. What you may like may not be what I may prefer. With this disclaimer I liked the appearance of my 2019 & 2023 Chevy Bolt, and I also really like the appearance of my 2024 Equinox EV. However with the exception of the 1500 series of pickups I’m afraid that Chevrolet is drifting away from their classic design elements. As mentioned, my opinion.
I loved the former Buick face. The Opel inspired wing lighting elements were stand alone beautiful especially on 2024 Envision and 2020 Enclave.
Mark Adams at Opel, post sale, opted for a more geometric look. 2025 Encore GX and Envision look ackward with a stubby grill. This new design does work well on Chinese LaCrosse and the new Envlave.
It’s definitely an ugly design feature. It makes them look too Hyundai. It isn’t original, nor attractive. Mix in the lack of fog lamps and no amber rear signals, and it’s time for a better design language.