DETROIT – The Buick Avista concept today won The Detroit News’ Reader’s Choice award for “Best Future Concept,” just days after it received the EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence – Concept Car at the North American International Auto Show.
Bryan Nesbitt, executive director of global Buick design; Elizabeth Wetzel, director of Buick interior design; and Holt Ware, director of Buick exterior design, accepted the award from Nolan Finley, the paper’s editorial page editor. The Detroit News panel comprised about 100 readers who attended the auto show.
“This award is special because this is the Motor City and it was decided by people who reside here – alongside many of the men and women who poured their hearts and souls into this concept,” said Nesbitt. “Because Avista represents the future essence of Buick design, an award decided by consumers is a great vote of confidence.”
The ceremony, held at the Detroit Athletic Club, was part of the annual meeting of the Big Four, featuring the heads of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties; and the mayor of Detroit.
Last week, the Avista concept won the EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence – Concept Car – the second consecutive year Buick received the award, which was bestowed on the Avenir concept in 2015.
The Design team poses with the Buick Avista Concept after winning the EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence Ð Concept Car, Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. It was the second consecutive year Buick received the award, which was bestowed on the Avenir concept in 2015. (Photo by John F. Martin for Buick)
DETROIT – The Buick Avista concept received the EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence – Concept Car at a ceremony today at the North American International Auto Show.
It was the second consecutive year Buick received the award, which was bestowed on the Avenir concept in 2015. EyesOn Design – a benefit for Henry Ford Health System’s Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology – recognizes the best production and concept vehicle designs making their worldwide debut in Detroit.
“Design has always played a large role in Buick’s rich history and recent success,” said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director, Buick Global Design. “The Avista concept has been a labor of love by the team of designers, sculptors, engineers and talented craftspeople, including our UAW partners, who created this beautiful statement of Buick design. Avista represents the future essence of Buick design.”
A sleek, sweeping proportion is the foundation for this vision of a contemporary grand tourer, with a 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 driving the rear wheels. The Avista’s uninterrupted body lines stretch front to rear, suggesting motion – resembling Buick’s design language introduced on the Avenir concept and carried into production on the 2017 LaCrosse.
Like the exterior, the Avista’s 2+2 interior is defined by flowing, uninterrupted lines conveying elegance through simplicity – with intense technical and surfaces details, in everything from 3D-printed door and seat trim to a future vision of Buick’s IntelliLink, with touchscreen controls on a widescreen instrument panel display.
Design elegance, performance heritage conveyed in turbocharged 2+2 coupe
DETROIT – Ahead of its public debut at the North American International Auto Show, Buick today revealed the Avista concept – a 2+2 coupe that pushes the brand’s contemporary design ethos and rekindles its historic performance roots.
A sleek, sweeping proportion is the foundation for this vision of a contemporary grand tourer, with a 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 driving the rear wheels and a driver-focused cockpit offering a comfortable, connected center of control.
“The Avista embodies the dynamic soul of Buick,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. “It is a modern expression of the brand’s heritage of sophisticated performance, communicated with beautiful elegance.”
The Avista’s uninterrupted body lines stretch front to rear, suggesting motion – resembling Buick’s design language introduced on the Avenir concept and carried into production on the 2017 LaCrosse. The absence of conventional B-pillars between the doors and rear side windows enhances the flowing profile.
“There is elegant simplicity in the Avista’s surfaces, which speak to the purity of the car’s performance, and a timeless beauty that’s a hallmark of Buick design,” said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director Global Buick Design. “It was designed to capture the spirit of the perfect drive.”
Marking the front and rear, Buick evolves its signature wing-shaped lighting with “soft curtain” elements that create illuminated “halos” around lamps’ edges, suggesting a three-dimensional shape and sculpture. Their design forecasts the evolution of Buick’s production lighting features, while the Avista’s grille features the brand’s new winged tri-shield insignia set against a three-dimensional mesh background.
Additional exterior features include:
A 110.7-inch (2,811 mm) wheelbase and 63-inch (1,601 mm) front/62.9-inch (1,598 mm) rear tracks for sporty proportions and an aggressive stance
Twenty-inch aluminum wheels with color-toned accents match the car’s Dark Sapphire Jewel exterior
Front fender vents with chrome accents evolve Buick’s signature fender ports.
Milestone vehicles that established and advanced the brand’s performance heritage
DETROIT – Performance has been part of Buick’s DNA since its earliest days, when stripped-down chassis and powerful Buick engines pushed the pioneers of motorsports to victory. Racing success helped forge the brand’s reputation for durability. Now, more than a century later, that legacy of performance complements the refinement for which Buick has always been known.
Here’s a look at 10 milestone models that helped establish and advance Buick’s performance heritage:
1. 1909 Buick racecar In 1909 – two years before the first Indianapolis 500 – the 2.5-mile-long oval at Indy was inaugurated with the Prest-O-Lite Trophy. The 250-mile race was won by Bob Burman, driving a Buick and averaging more than 53 mph. Of the nine cars that finished the race, three of them were Buick models.
2. 1910 Buick 60 Special “Bug” The 60 Special, or “Bug,” was built by the Buick racing team and had a unique nosecone – a feature designed more for aesthetics than aerodynamics. A huge, 10.2L (622 cubic inches) four-cylinder engine propelled the Bug to 110 mph. Buick built two 60 Special racecars, one for Prest-O-Lite Trophy winner Bob Burman, and a second for another racer of note: Louis Chevrolet.
3. 1938 Buick Century Buick introduced straight-eight engines in 1931, but it was the 1938 Century model that established a new performance benchmark. Dubbed Dynaflash 8, the 5.2L (320 cubic inches) inline engine featured new, domed pistons that contributed to an 11-hp increase over the 1937 engine. It was enough power to pass the “century mark” at 103 mph, making the Century one of the fastest cars of its day.
4. 1954 Buick Wildcat II concept The Buick V-8 engine – nicknamed Nailhead for its unique valve arrangement – was introduced in 1953 and powered the Wildcat II concept vehicle a year later. Using a quartet of sidedraft carburetors, engineers coaxed 10 percent more horsepower from the engine than regular-production models, giving the Wildcat II the power to back up its sporty styling.
DETROIT – The 2016 Envision is an all-new luxury compact crossover with segment-challenging driving dynamics, advanced technology, connectivity and Buick’s trademark interior acoustics. It is a global vehicle, designed from the ground up as a Buick luxury compact crossover. It goes on sale in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2016.
“The all-new Buick Envision is a modern, confident and responsive luxury compact crossover that combines the brand’s core characteristics with great performance features like our HiPer strut suspension,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick. “That dynamic experience behind the wheel is complemented by Buick’s signature luxury, whisper-quiet cabin and connectivity features to benefit drivers and passengers alike.”
Vehicle highlights include:
252-horsepower (186 kW) 2.0L turbo engine with stop/start technology, Buick’s first crossover vehicle application of HiPer Strut front suspension and Buick’s first active Twin Clutch AWD system
LED daytime running lamps and rear LED accent lights
Efficiency-enhancing features including active grille shutters and a structure incorporating mass-reducing high-strength steel, and an aluminum hood
Standard heated front seats, rear seats, and steering wheel; available cooled front seats
Sliding, 60/40-split rear seat, offering the flexibility of more legroom for second-row passengers
Standard eight-way power-adjustable front seats and four-way-adjustable lumbar
Kneeling cushions in the second-row seat enable a flatter load floor when the seat is folded
Standard tri-zone climate control with rear-seat controls
Programmable power liftgate with hands-free operation
Active noise cancelation
· Standard nineteen-inch aluminum wheels
Passive entry and push-button start with standard remote start
Standard Bose premium sound system
Available panoramic moonroof.
The Envision is also designed to carry more than its competitors, with more rear cargo space than the Acura RDX and the Lincoln MKC. It’s also roomier for passengers, with more rear legroom, front and rear shoulder room, and overall Environmental Protection Agency-rated passenger volume than the MKC.
Program offers $25,000 renewable scholarships for STEM students
DETROIT – The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program today opened the application period for 2016 scholarships. Applications are accepted now through 5 p.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 29.
This is the sixth year Buick Achievers scholarships will be awarded to students who have an interest in studying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), excel in the classroom and give back to their communities. Special consideration is given to students who are female, minorities, first-generation college students, military veterans and military dependents.
“This scholarship has increased access and affordability of a college degree for thousands of students,” said Jackie Parker, president of the GM Foundation and director of GM Global Philanthropy and Corporate Giving. “And our country’s workforce is gaining qualified applicants who are prepared for the jobs of the future.”
For Adriann Wilson, Buick Achiever and 2015 mechanical engineering graduate from Tennessee State University, the scholarship has afforded opportunities like internships abroad in Germany and South Korea.
“I am honored to have been selected for the Buick Achievers Scholarship,” said Wilson. “Being a first-generation college student, earning this degree is not only an achievement for me, but also my entire family.”
Wilson now works as an engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center and is studying for her master’s in electrical engineering at Tuskegee University.
“Core to the Buick brand is a sense of well-being, and that includes a strong belief in the virtues of higher education,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. “Between the Buick Achievers Scholarship Program and our support of NCAA athletics, Buick is devoted to supporting students and colleges across the nation.”
Momentum continues in advance of new product infusion
DETROIT –Buick will set a global sales record for the third consecutive year in 2015.
In mid-December, annual sales surpassed last year’s record 1,170,115 vehicles driven by record sales in China and record crossover deliveries in the United States. Yearend sales for Buick are expected to surpass 1.2 million vehicles.
“Buick’s momentum is undeniable as new customers worldwide discover Buick’s lineup of beautiful, approachable premium vehicles,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick.
“We think 2016 will be another watershed year for the brand with the global launch of the new 2017 LaCrosse, the North American launch of the Envision, the U.S. launch of the Cascada, and the Chinese launch of a new Verano hatchback. Our products and our customer service have never been better.”
In China, Buick sales have surpassed 100,000 units for two consecutive months and annual sales are expected to reach 1 million units for the first time. The all-new Excelle GT launched this year is the country’s bestselling model.
The popularity of crossovers has significantly contributed to brand growth in all markets. In the U.S., Encore small crossover sales have grown for 23 consecutive months and are on track to become the best sales in eight years for a single Buick model. Combined with China, Encore sales will top 140,000 vehicles globally.
Crossover sales industrywide have increased 3 percentage points in the U.S. this year, accounting for 40 percent of all new vehicles sold. At Buick, Encore and Enclave crossover sales account for 60 percent of U.S. Buick sales so far this year.
The Buick Envision was designed, engineered and tested in Michigan as a world-class luxury crossover to challenge the world’s best competition. It was awarded Motor Trend SUV of the Year in China and has 127,085 sales so far this year. When it goes on sale in 2016, it will play an important role in a crossover lineup that currently represents 60 percent of Buick sales in North America. It targets customers shopping between the Encore, the best-selling Buick in eight years, and the Enclave, which has continued to grow its customer base since its 2007 introduction.
Envision highlights include:
252-horsepower (186 kW) 2.0L turbo engine with stop/start technology, matched with Buick’s first crossover vehicle application of HiPer Strut front suspension and Buick’s first Active Twin Clutch all-wheel-drive system
Efficiency-enhancing features including upper grille shutters that open and close to enhance aerodynamics on the highway and a body structure incorporating mass-reducing high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels – and a lightweight aluminum hood
LED daytime running lamps and rear LED accent lights
Sliding, 60/40-split rear seat, offering the flexibility of more legroom for second-row passengers
Kneeling cushions in the second-row seat enable a flatter load floor when the seat is folded
Standard Safety Alert Seat and Lane Keep Assist, as well as available Automatic Park Assist, and Surround Vision 360-degree camera system
IntelliLink with 8-inch color touch screen
Available OnStar with 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot
Programmable power liftgate with hands-free operation
Active noise cancelation
Standard 19-inch aluminum wheels
Passive entry and push-button start with standard remote start
Standard eight-way power-adjustable front seats and four-way-adjustable lumbar – including available adjustable thigh support on some models that enhances comfort for taller passengers
Standard heated front seats, heated rear seat and heated steering wheel
Available cooled front seats
Standard tri-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and console-mounted rear vents
Automotive logo builds on more than 55 years of history and a family legacy
LOS ANGELES – Buick’s tri-shield insignia, one of the most recognizable in the global auto industry, is receiving a makeover that advances the brand’s identity while retaining Buick’s instantly identifiable symbol.
Featuring wing-shaped elements and the return of three-color shields – red, silver and blue – the new insignia debuts on the 2017 LaCrosse. It is part of an all-new grille design inspired by the award-winning Avenir concept, which sets the new, chrome insignia against darkened waterfall grille bars.
All Buick models will adopt the new insignia by 2018.
“The new tri-shield insignia represents the next chapter in Buick’s storied design history and introduces a new face for the brand,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick. “It’s a progressive, contemporary design reflective of Buick’s newest vehicles and cognitive of the brand’s heritage.”
Introduced more than 55 years ago, the tri-shield design has its roots in company founder David Dunbar Buick’s ancestral heraldry. It has evolved over the decades, but honors the proportions and historical origins of the original.
When Buick was formed in 1903, the company didn’t incorporate a shield logo for about the first 35 years. Instead, the earliest models featured a bold Buick script on the grille. Later, a number of stylized emblems featuring Buick on the prominent radiator grille shrouds that characterized practically all motorcars of the time.
As legend has it, a designer researching the Buick family history at the Detroit Public Library in the 1930s found a description of the ancestral coat of arms in an approximately 80-year-old book of heraldry. Buick’s familial roots were in Scotland and while the book didn’t have an illustration of the crest, it described a red shield with a contrasting, checkered line bisecting it from the upper-left to the lower-right corners. The description also included a stag’s head in the upper right of the shield and a gold cross in the lower left.
The crest’s description was interpreted for a new, single-shield insignia that debuted on 1937 Buick models. It evolved over the next couple of decades, growing wider and, at times, taking on additional flourishes, but the shield crest adorned and identified Buick models through 1959 – although its prominence admittedly diminished during the 1950s.
LOS ANGELES – The all-new 2017 Buick LaCrosse introduces the new face of Buick, influenced by the dramatic cues of the award-winning Avenir concept unveiled at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and inspired by a Buick concept from the mid-20th century.
The LaCrosse, which goes on sale in early summer 2016, features a new grille design with a large opening distinguished by the return of a three-color – red, silver and blue – Buick tri-shield insignia, accented by wing-shaped elements set against darkened waterfall grille bars inspired by the 1954 Wildcat II concept.
Buick revealed the 2017 LaCrosse today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
“The new LaCrosse is drop-dead gorgeous and signals the next phase of Buick’s international momentum,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick. “Its quietness, comfort and connectivity were developed to set new standards in the segment, supported by technologies not offered on competitors such as the Lexus ES.”
Longer, lower and wider than the current model, the 2017 LaCrosse is built on a stronger yet lighter structure. It is about 300 pounds lighter than the current LaCrosse – largely due to the use of press-hardened, high-strength steels – which contribute to greater efficiency and more responsive handling.
The new LaCrosse’s lower weight is also due in part to new lower mass sound-absorbing materials including a lightweight dissipative dash mat in place of heavier noise-blocking pads that result in a new threshold for Buick’s signature QuietTuning.
The balance of the efficiency equation comes from a technologically advanced, second-generation 3.6L V-6 engine paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard Stop/Start technology improves efficiency in stop-and-go driving.
Additional new and enhanced features include:
New five-link rear suspension and available HiPer Strut front suspension
Available electronically controlled Continuous Damping Control active suspension with selectable Touring and Sport modes
Driver-selectable Electronic Precision Shift
An available advanced, all-new dual-clutch all-wheel drive system
Efficiency-enhancing low-drag disc brakes with Duralife rotors
Electric power steering system with Lead/Pull Compensation
Easier rear-seat entry/egress
More usable storage space
Technologies including available wireless charging, available Teen Driver and configurable, LED driver information center with 8-inch-diagonal color display
Perforated leather-appointed front seats with new lumbar massaging feature
IntelliLink with frameless 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot integration.
The 2017 LaCrosse also features extensive active and passive safety including:
Ten standard air bags – including two knee air bags for front passengers
Front Pedestrian Braking, which alerts drivers to and can automatically apply the brakes for pedestrians detected directly ahead in some driving conditions
Lane Keep Assist, which provides gentle steering wheel turns – and Lane Departure Warning alerts, if necessary – to help drivers avoid crashes due to unintentionally drifting out of their lane
Automatic Park Assist, which helps the driver parallel park/perpendicular park by automatically steering the vehicle into a detected parking space while the driver applies the brakes
Adaptive Cruise Control
Forward Automatic Braking
Forward Collision Alert
Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
Rear Vision Camera
Safety Alert Seat.
“We’ve blended sophisticated technologies and advanced safety systems to offer a more enjoyable and engaging driving experience,” said Aldred. “It’s a rewarding sedan for those who seek luxurious appointments, style and quality.”
New face of Buick
The new LaCrosse’s expressive exterior design creates a new proportion for a more dramatic road presence. The front wheels have been pulled forward and the wheelbase stretched 2.7 inches (65 mm), while the overall length is only 0.6-inch longer (15 mm). The dynamic proportion is further enhanced by a roofline that’s 1.6 inches (40 mm) lower than the current model.
The longer wheelbase is matched by wheels pushed outward 1.3 inches (33 mm) in the front and 1.1 inches (28 mm) in the rear, while the car’s width has grown only 0.4-inch (10 mm), creating a wheels-at-corners stance intended to convey road confidence.
You must be logged in to post a comment.