Buick is one automaker that’s been working hard over the last couple of years to reinvent itself. That work continues here at NAIAS 2016.
You’ve seen the ads on TV. Young, trendy folks wander around streets and parking lots looking for their friend’s new Buick, never realizing that the make’s 21st Century aesthetic is cooler than they ever expected. Then, it’s up to you as the actual buyer to visit a showroom and decide if that new design is enough to take one home.
To continue that evolution, Buick used NAIAS 2016 to unveil the closest thing to a performance car that it’s built in a while. The Avista concept car is a sporty coupe, intended to introduce the idea of “fun” to driving the modern Buick. Of course, this is a concept car that arrives without any guarantee it’ll ever be built. We end up taking it as an indication of where Buick wants to go with its future rides.
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As presented at NAIAS 2016, the Avista is a coupe — a two-door wth some guts meant to compete against the entry level Mustang or Camaro. The concept uses a 3.0 liter Twin Turbo v6 and an eight speed automatic transmission with Electronic Precision Shift Technology and rear wheel drive. Twin exhaust outlets promise an aggressive exhaust note if the car should ever see the street.
In addition to an interior dominated by digital technology and touch screens, the Avista would also pack 20-inch aluminum wheels, color-toned accents inside and out and front fender vents with chrome.
There are no numbers released on possible horsepower, 0-60 times, top speeds or mpg. It’s interesting to note Buick didn’t announce anything here in Detroit about offering a hybrid version or alternative fuel line. This would arrive in the market as a gasoline-only ride, helping to keep its price in the range of more buyers.
In this age of silly little electric vehicles, ever-present crossovers and rapidly fading V8s, it’s always nice to welcome a performance-themed car back into the market — if Buick does in fact decide to build it over the next couple of years.
