Buick was once GM’s forgotten brand, but those days are long over. Here at the 2015 Detroit auto show, Buick showed off what might be its sexiest concept in a generation—the Avenir.
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Buick says the Avenir suggests how a new flagship Buick could look. It’s a big, gorgeous, all-wheel-drive sedan with real stance and presence.
Avenir, by the way, is French for “future," and that's exactly what this concept points to according to Buick executives.
Designers wove some classic Buick styling cues into the Avenir—a waterfall grille, a sweeping shoulder crease, and a wide boat tail. Even the tricolor Buick badge is back.
The cabin’s a beautiful mix of leather, buffed wood, and satin chrome accents. Functionally, it's a four-seat layout that puts a big emphasis on connected technology. Once started, the Avenir connects and syncs with the driver's connected devices, and the gauges and infotainment system adapt to linked user profiles. Buick's IntelliLink infotainment system is displayed on a 12-inch color touchscreen.
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Connectivity extends to the back seat, too. There are two USB ports and two displays, which means back-seat gaming is totally on.
The Avenir rides on the new large, rear-wheel-drive Omega platform. That will underpin the upcoming Cadillac CT6, and an even larger Cadillac flagship now being engineered. Power comes from a new direct-injected V-6 engine with cylinder deactivation and start-stop technology. Power is sent to the all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and a twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system.
There’s no word on how much of the Avenir’s shape and technology might make its way into future Buicks—but a replacement for the LaCrosse sedan is due in the next two years.
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