Automotive

Buick points to luxury future with gorgeous Avenir concept

Buick points to luxury future with gorgeous Avenir concept
Buick's Avenir is designed to show the brand's design direction (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
Buick's Avenir is designed to show the brand's design direction (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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The Avenir sits on 21-inch wheels
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The Avenir sits on 21-inch wheels
LED headlamps contribute to the concept's distinctive face
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LED headlamps contribute to the concept's distinctive face
At the rear, the taillights help accentuate the Avenir's width
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At the rear, the taillights help accentuate the Avenir's width
The Avenir's interior is full of flowing shapes and surfaces
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The Avenir's interior is full of flowing shapes and surfaces
The concept is strictly a four-seater
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The concept is strictly a four-seater
Driver recognition means the car should always be tailored to your preferences
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Driver recognition means the car should always be tailored to your preferences
A fully-electronic instrument binnacle is one of Buick's nods to the future with the Avenir
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A fully-electronic instrument binnacle is one of Buick's nods to the future with the Avenir
Each passenger has the opportunity to enjoy their own in-seat entertainment
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Each passenger has the opportunity to enjoy their own in-seat entertainment
Rear seating in the Avenir
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Rear seating in the Avenir
The concept's proportions harken back to those of classic Buicks
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The concept's proportions harken back to those of classic Buicks
The Avenir is long and wide, granting it a distinctive presence
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The Avenir is long and wide, granting it a distinctive presence
The Avenir Concept is powered by a direct-injection V6
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The Avenir Concept is powered by a direct-injection V6
Buick's new grille design debuts on the Avenir
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Buick's new grille design debuts on the Avenir
LED headlights stand out as a modern detail among a classically-inspired design
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LED headlights stand out as a modern detail among a classically-inspired design
The Avenir's V6 is connected to a 9-speed automatic gearbox
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The Avenir's V6 is connected to a 9-speed automatic gearbox
The Buick badge is red, silver and blue
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The Buick badge is red, silver and blue
The detailing on Buick's concept is exceptional
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The detailing on Buick's concept is exceptional
The Avenir was launched with very little fanfare (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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The Avenir was launched with very little fanfare (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
A GM Global design team took care of the car's design (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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A GM Global design team took care of the car's design (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
Chrome detailing makes the car's detailing stand out under motor show lights (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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Chrome detailing makes the car's detailing stand out under motor show lights (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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Avenir is French for "future" (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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Avenir is French for "future" (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
Long, flowing lines are central to Buick's design (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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Long, flowing lines are central to Buick's design (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
Massive 21-inch wheels are needed to fill the Avenir's arches (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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Massive 21-inch wheels are needed to fill the Avenir's arches (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
Inside, the Avenir's interior is designed to make smartphone integration easy (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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Inside, the Avenir's interior is designed to make smartphone integration easy (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
The dash is all-electric (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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The dash is all-electric (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
Buick's attention to detail is impeccable in the Avenir (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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Buick's attention to detail is impeccable in the Avenir (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
All controls are handled by touchscreens (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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All controls are handled by touchscreens (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
Drivers are meant to arrive at their destination relaxed and refreshed (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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Drivers are meant to arrive at their destination relaxed and refreshed (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
Loz had a field day taking pictures of the Avenir's curves (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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Loz had a field day taking pictures of the Avenir's curves (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
Buick's Avenir is designed to show the brand's design direction (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
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Buick's Avenir is designed to show the brand's design direction (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
View gallery - 31 images

Alongside the multitude of expensive, extravagant product launches for high-performance hypercars (we're looking at youFord GT), Buick has used the 2015 North American International Auto Show to quietly launch a beautiful design concept that points to where the brand is headed. Launched with no big press conference or fanfare, the Avenir's classic proportions and carefully-sculpted details have it sitting near the top of Gizmag's list for best-looking car of Detroit 2015.

Designed by a global GM team, the Avenir's long bonnet line and sloping rear deck hark back to Buicks of old – albeit with a modern twist. Like plenty of classic American luxury cars, the Avenir is huge, measuring in at 5.19 meters long (204.5 inches) and 1.93 meters (76 inches) wide. Unlike a lot of old American "luxury" cars, however, the devil is in the details with the Avenir. Up front, the concept's grille debuts a new face for Buick, with a prominent chrome shield that surrounds Buick's badge, which finished in red, silver and blue – a touch not present on the brand's current models.

A GM Global design team took care of the car's design (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
A GM Global design team took care of the car's design (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)

While the Avenir's exterior might contain hints of the past, inside Buick has focused firmly on the future. The focus on flowing shapes and surfaces from the concept's exterior detailing carries over, with an all-electric instrument binnacle and 12-inch center console screen nestled within the dashboard's curves.

These screens are powered by the latest iteration of Buick's IntelliLink infotainment setup that couples with "driver recognition" software designed to automatically set up the car's infotainment system and dashboard to individual driver preferences when they get in the car. Wireless phone charging and a 4G OnStar Wi-Fi hotspot also make an appearance in the Avenir's cabin, mirroring the increased focus on in-car connectivity that GM has recently displayed through the rollout of OnStar across its range.

Inside, the Avenir's interior is designed to make smartphone integration easy (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)
Inside, the Avenir's interior is designed to make smartphone integration easy (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag)

Under the Avenir's hood is a direct-injection V6 engine fitted with cylinder deactivation and automatic start/stop for improved fuel economy – something the car's 9-speed automatic gearbox should also help with. Power is sent to all four of the concept's 21-inch wheels, for secure handling regardless of the weather.

So far, there has been no word about whether the concept will make it to production.

Source: Buick

View gallery - 31 images
8 comments
8 comments
johnflood
For me really great style, if that was a Merc/Jag/ Bmw or even Bentley they wouldn't the be able to build them fast enough, best looking US car for Generations, but alas it's just a concept!
P17
Looks great on the inside, side view doesn't really do much for me. It's too heavy looking. As the inside is full of sweeping curves that work well, it would have made sense to have sweeping curves outside. The interior is almost a shock after such a sedate outside. Also, knowing what American build quality is like, will this car be up to the build quality of European cars? They also need to get the pricing right otherwise it'll only be a niche vehicle, though it could conceivably take sales from the fake brands of Lexus, Infiniti and Acura.
hdm
Thank goodness for the 21" rims for the best handling in all weather lol. Luckily I don't take any auto "journalist" advice on such matters. Buick caters to China's preferences only. US market is done. And 21's are for style conscious fools.
Koolski
This is a gorgeous car. Buick, go into production now! Just keep the build quality high and you have a winner.
rubley
Buick is great a building concept cars - and they never, ever follow through with them. Just ignore this one.
Martin Hone
Bloody hell Loz, you should be shot ! This GM concept car was not simply a 'global GM team' - it was almost completely done in Port Melbourne, Australia !!
Gargamoth
When will Buick build the Rivera EV or RWD coupe?
Germano Pecoraro Designer
Are we sure That the future is this? The instrument panel it's still traditional. The future will be next to tablets, smartphones and wearable electronics