Buick->ke17 may only sell sedans->ke142 and crossovers->ke288 nowadays, but the GM-owned brand is no stranger to performance vehicles. A quick look into the history books brings amazing performance coupes such as the Riviera->ke2493 and the GSX into focus, while the GNX version of the second-gen Regal->ke3574 is nothing to sneeze at either. Someone at Buick must have taken a good look at these cars recently, because the company just came out of its shell with a 2+2 coupe->ke141 at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show.->ke222

Dubbed Avista, Buick's latest show car is the sleekest, most aggressive design since the Riviera concept we saw at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show.->ke2470 But, unlike the Shanghai study, the Avista concept is less futuristic and sports an actual engine under its hood. I would even go as far as to say that this vehicle looks ready to go into production, but you shouldn't get too excited about that as Buick has yet to say anything about the Avista's future.

On the other hand, company vice president Duncan Aldred did say that "the Avista embodies the dynamic soul of Buick" and that it's "a modern expression of the brand’s heritage of sophisticated performance, communicated with beautiful elegance." This doesn't say much about whether Buick is planning to build it, but the Avista is confirmation that the brand still knows how to build performance cars. Hopefully, it will be more than just a reminder of the past, but until we find out more about that, make sure you have a closer look at this concept->ke169 in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Buick Avista.

Exterior

The Avista's design is based on Buick's latest styling language, which was previewed by the Avenir concept and debuted on a production car with the 2017 LaCrosse. The concept features the same prominent grille with the company's new tri-shield and a pair of muscular rear fenders as seen on the Avenir. However, it features a plethora of unique features not seen on previous concepts and it's arguably the most aggressive looking vehicle Buick has built in decades.

The engine grille is wider and flatter than usual, the headlamps are slim and edgy, while the bumper has vertical intakes toward the edges and a horizontal air dam just above the splitter-like element. The front fascia is flanked by beefy fenders with chrome vents and a sculpted hood that suggests there's a lot horsepower and torque underneath.

The rear end is equally aggressive, with sharp taillights, a protruding trunk-lid spoiler, and massive exhaust pipes in the apron. Although clean, the rear fascia design exudes elegance and sportiness at the same time, a characteristic you don't see on today's production Buicks. The concept is even more impressive when seen from the sides thanks to its long doors, small quarter windows, massive rear haunches, and 20-inch wheels with split-spoke designs.

According to Buick, the 110.7-inch wheelbase and 63-inch tracks help with the sporty proportions and aggressive stance. By the way, the Avista's wheelbase is identical to the Chevy Camaro's. Just in case you were wondering what GM vehicle this concept is based on.

Interior

The Avista's interior is definitely a lot more futuristic than its exterior. Defined by flowing, uninterrupted lines, most of the cockpit looks like something that could be put in production if Buick would want to launch a premium coupe. On the other hand, the massive touchscreen that stretches from the instrument panel all the way to the center stack and the additional touchscreen that replaces the center console won't make it on a production car anytime soon. The design is really cool though, as it eliminates buttons from the dash and console, which goes well with the simple yet elegant lines of the cabin.

Buick does say that the touchscreens preview a "future vision" of its IntelliLink system, so there is hope to see such a feature in production cars by the end of the decade.

Other highlights include 3D-printed door and seat trim, Mist Gray leather, exposed carbon-fiber and aluminum accents, and the fading pattern on the seats, console and doors, which is inspired "by waves receding at a beach’s edge." Buick says the concept also features its next-generation QuietTuning and air-quality control systems, as well as advanced noise cancellation technology, ionic air purifiers, and aromatherapy. How fancy!

Overall, the Avista's interior seems like a nice place to spend time in, and even though we won't see it in showrooms in this form anytime soon, I bet some of these features will become available in production cars in a few years.

Drivetrain

Motivation for the Avista concept comes from a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V-6 that cranks out 400 horsepower. The "concept" powerplant features fuel-saving Active Fuel Management (GM talk for cylinder deactivation) and Stop-Start technology. The engine mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission and GM's Magnetic Ride Control. The good news is that the power is routed to the rear wheels, but it's a bit disappointing that Buick decided to go with an automatic gearbox. There's no word on performance figures, but the Avista should be at least as quick as the V-6-powered Chevrolet Camaro.

Conclusion

The Avista concept has to be one of the biggest surprises of this year's Detroit Auto Show. It's been nearly three years since Buick last showcased a coupe concept and the Avista is significantly closer to a production car compared to the Riviera study we saw in 2013. This could mean that Buick finally wants a two-door in its lineup, which would be more than welcome given that its last coupe was discontinued some 17 years ago. Also, the brand hasn't offered a rear-wheel-drive vehicle since 2007. A new coupe would definitely help GM relaunch the Buick brand here in the U.S., while a RWD could also bring muscle car enthusiasts to the brand. The production car would look great with minor adjustments and I'm sure there would be a market for a rebodied, luxury Camaro. The fact that the concept is based on the same platform as the current Camaro and Cadillac ATS only makes it that much easier to develop as a production model. Buick, the ball is in your court!