Buick kicked off the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) tonight with the introduction of its new 2+2 sports coupe concept. Known as the “Avista,” the low-slung GT boasts a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 pumping out 400 horsepower to the rear wheels. We new Buick had a surprise in store for tonight, we just didn’t know how happy it would make us.
The Avista utilizes GM’s Alpha Platform, which can also be found underneath the Chevy Camaro and the Cadillac ATS and CTS. The concept shown here comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission and uses cylinder deactivation to improve fuel economy, along with start-stop mode.
What will strike people most is the car’s design. Not completely unlike something that might have come out of silicon valley, the look of Buick’s new coupe is perfectly aligned with the company’s goal of achieving a more youthful image. Bryan Nesbitt, executive director of Global Buick Design said in a press release,
“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… It was designed to capture the spirit of the perfect drive.”
The Avista, shown here in Dark Sapphire Jewel paint, rides on a 110.7-inch wheelbase with 63-inch front and 62.9-inch rear tracks. Completing the sporty look are the 20-inch color-accented aluminum wheels. Stay tuned for more coverage of the 2016 NAIAS from Detroit. If Buick’s event tonight was any indication, it promises to be an exciting one.
