Category: Buick Concepts

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Velite Concept by Buick is Re-Introduced

buick velite concept

buick velite concept

Velite by Buick gets a second chance at life with a brand new electric concept vehicle

  • The Velite was designed by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center
  • The joint-venture is commanded by Buick parent organization General Motors and China-based industrial partner SAIC.

The Buick Velite two door convertible made its first appearance a little over twelve years ago. If memory serves me it was the 2004 New York auto show. That concept never went anywhere, but now the multinational company has taken the wraps off another show car bearing the name Velite. Unveiled at the Guangzhou auto show in China, the latest Buick Velite is a four-door crossover. The new concept calls a theme for future alternative-energy automobiles it plans to produce.

Although the Velite’s name may ring a bell for those with a strong remembrance of Buick show cars, the styling is definitely 2016. It’s more of an instantly familiar collection of design cues from today’s crossover SUVs. At the front is a consolidated version of Buick’s traditional waterfall-like fascia. Beyond the winged grille – which is obviously spreading throughout the Buick lineup – there isn’t a single flat detail to the Velite Concept’s bodysides. To some degree it resembles recent concepts from Infiniti. The final bit of styling enhancements are deep recesses just before the back wheels. This is a look that shares of few similarities with BMW’s i-Series cars.

Buick assures the Velite’s cabin is elegant, well-lit, and built using recycled materials. We’ll have to take their word for it because pictures of what the concept looks like within haven’t been published. Fully connected, the Velite provides cloud-based connection and storage as well as a long array of electronic driving aids. Some of which includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and fully automated driving at low speeds.

Regarding the Velite’s powertrain, Buick isn’t offering much. They tell us the Velite is powered by a high-performance plug-in hybrid drivetrain. It’s built around GM’s modular electric drive system and a lithium-ion battery pack. Could it be a variant of the Chevy Volt? Perhaps. Or maybe its a different system completely.

The Velite signals the beginning of a green car initiative that’ll largely be aimed at the Chinese market place, according to Buick. With both China and the United States displaying an insatiable hunger for crossovers – the Velite could potentially be a big hit. And while it’s touted simply as a concept, industry rumors indicate it’ll bring forth a production model. If it does come to fruition, it’ll share its underpinnings and most primary mechanical components with the second generation Chevrolet Volt. Keep your eyes opened for the electrified hatchback to make its first appearance during next year’s Shanghai Auto Show.

All that being said, it’s kind of strange how Buick wouldn’t use the Electra name/brand for it’s electric vehicle. Perhaps Velite sounds more luxurious. After all, Buick is an entry-level luxury automobile company. But that name – Electra – it would just make so much sense.

General Motors filed for a trademark for the name Electra on June 5, 2012. The word mark is for goods and services, including “Motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles, sport utility vehicles, trucks, vans, engines therefor and structural parts thereof” and reveals an existing and initial filing status of 1B. GM used the Electra brand on a variety of full-size premium Buick cars between 1959 and 1990; the name was then replaced by Park Avenue.

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Avenir’s Advanced Lighting Illuminates Future Buick Design

buick avenir concept lighting

New methods give designers more freedom to craft unique visual identity

DETROIT – 03.30.2015 – To the designers of the Buick Avenir concept, light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are more than just an energy-efficient method of illuminating the road ahead – they are an advanced way to accentuate an already striking design as it rolls down the road.

“We worked hard to not only make Avenir distinctive from across the room, but draw you closer with its detail work,” said Michael Simcoe, vice president of design, GM International Operations, “and that certainly includes its dramatic lighting. The head and taillamps are the result of our lighting designers in North America working hand-in-hand with our exterior designers and fabrication craftsmen in our Australia Advanced Studio.

“Like the rest of the Avenir, they are a dramatic expression of modern Buick design.”

Distinctive headlamp and taillamp shapes have always been a part of Buick’s visual identity, but new technologies – especially the use LEDs, now allow designers to further hone the look of lighting elements and the light they emit.

“Technology will always be a major contributing factor to future Buick lighting designs as it allows for more flexibility with the aesthetics and performance of the light, but also how the light is integrated into the vehicle,” said Martin Davis, design manager for exterior lighting. “Thanks to LEDs, we are now at the point where designers can break free of many of the constrictions previously placed on lighting design.”

“Compared to conventional lighting sources, LEDs are smaller and more flexible in how they can be packaged into a headlamp or assembly,” Davis said. “We have dedicated teams of designers working closely with engineers to not only create smaller light clusters or place intricate patterns within lamps, but we can uniformly light complex shapes, thanks to diffuser screens like those used in commercial building signage.”

Like its interior, Avenir’s headlamps incorporate a mixture of subtle yet technical details that reveal themselves upon closer inspection. A triad of jewel-like LED assemblies provide most forward lighting, and they are shaped in a way that echoes the wave-like forms found within its cabin.

Avenir’s headlamps and taillamps also incorporate diffused light elements, which form “wings” that stretch across the top of the lamp assembly replicating the fender forms. Each wing subtly incorporates the signature Buick tri-shield logo, and continues the layered pattern found on the decorative trim and seating surfaces.

LEDs also allow designers to have more control over how light actually behaves within the lamp assemblies. For instance, the wing accents in Avenir’s lamps cleanly and uniformly illuminate when the lamps are switched on, providing a distinctive visual accent in both daylight and at night. Also, when the turn signals are activated on Avenir, an LED in the headlamps and taillamps illuminates sequentially, lending the impression of waves upon a shoreline.

“Signature lighting is often the first design element people notice on a vehicle, even if it happens to be hundreds of feet away,” said Davis. “A distinctive illuminated graphic is incredibly important – it is an opportunity to visually communicate the design aesthetic of the brand. The wing signature lighting is a Buick design hallmark that will help you identify a Buick product on the road.”

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Inside Avenir, Materials Make The Difference

2015 Buick Avenir Concept

Tailored leather surfaces, unique acrylic trim elevate concept car’s interior

DETROIT – The Buick Avenir’s sculpted exterior and dramatic proportions aren’t the only attributes turning heads and winning awards. The design and materials within the concept car’s interior continue to earn accolades.

“The attention to detail within Avenir is outstanding,” said Charles Allen, a retired automotive designer who served as a chief judge for the 2015 EyesOn Design Awards. “What stands out to me is how well everything is integrated – all of the materials and elements work together seamlessly to provide a sensation of understated elegance that fits the Buick brand perfectly.”

While designers drew inspiration from nature – specifically water washing upon a shoreline – when shaping the graceful lines within Avenir’s interior, the color and trim team worked to find the right materials to add a dynamic flair.

“With Avenir’s interior, we really wanted to select materials that would complement the surfaces within,” said Rebecca Waldmeir, Buick Color and Trim design manager. “Using a distinctive combination of premium leather, suede, wood, chrome and acrylic, we were able to design elements that flow seamlessly throughout the interior.”

Avenir’s designers even put a new twist on wood trim, a traditional Buick element. Not only are wood accents featured on the door panels, but the wood itself provides a more luxurious and natural appearance that adds to the airiness of the interior.

“We’ve used open-pore wood in a modern way, much like what you’ll find in high-end furniture. It’s an oiled, low-gloss execution that contrasts beautifully with other interior décor,” said Waldmeir.

Avenir’s sculptural instrument panel incorporates an acrylate panel, carved to replicate three-dimensional wave-like patterns but layered beneath a smooth, high-gloss outer layer.

“As you look at the transparent surface from different angles, you will notice that it has a lot of visual depth and movement. It’s a motif we carried to other areas of Avenir, including the seat design, and to the head- and tailamps,” Waldmeir said.

While Avenir’s exterior color is a cooler tone, designers wanted to provide a warm, inviting sensation within. The lighter “Lyric” hue, found on most interior surfaces, helps achieve that feeling, while restrained use of a darker tone – “Coastal Myst” – on the instrument panel and arm rests provides a natural transition to the exterior.  To further create a tailored feel, most surfaces within the Avenir are wrapped in leather or suede and accentuated with stitching.

All-in-all, Avenir’s interior materials were designed to work in harmony and provide an upscale environment that feels natural and holistic to all passengers.

“The first thing you’ll notice when you open Avenir’s doors is just how clean and pure its interior design is,” said Liz Wetzel, Buick interior design director. “We’ve stripped it of superfluous, fussy details in order to rely on sculptural forms and harmonious surfaces. The result is a refreshing environment that provides a sense of well-being to anyone seated within.”

Comprised of prominent members of the automotive design community, the EyesOn Design jury also praised Avenir’s overall design with a Best Concept Vehicle trophy. “Avenir’s global design team set out to make a striking design statement, said Holt Ware, Buick exterior design director. “The Avenir embraces Buick’s rich design heritage of creating exquisite sculptures, precise in their design and beautifully proportioned.”

Discuss the Buick Avenir in our discussion area dedicated to Buick Concept Vehicles.