As a preview of future Buick styling and technology, the luxury brand has created the Wildcat EV concept. It came about in part because one of Buick's designers had put together a sketch of a coupe that grabbed the department's attention. The team kept working on it, and the brand eventually gave the go-ahead to turn it into a full-size model. But it also showcases design cues and branding that you'll see on upcoming Buicks. The shape of the headlights, the low, wide grille, the organic sheetmetal, airy cabin and striking rear taillights are all things that will be adapted to production Buicks. As for the coupe itself, Buick hasn't committed to a production version, and we wouldn't get our hopes up. Besides the styling, the Wildcat EV also showcases the new Buick logo and typography, and its EV nature is a nod toward Buick's electric plans. The brand will be fully electric by 2030, and the first Buick EV will launch in 2024 as a 2025 model.
TranscriptJOEL STOCKSDALE: We're here at the General Motors Research and Development Center with the Buick Wildcat EV. This is a new concept that gives a look at the future of Buick. Now, when we say future of Buick, we should point out that this is the future of the design language, and the badging, and the fact that Buick will be going all electric.
And so what you're going to want to look at on this car is key design details as opposed to the entire car because what you're going to see is a lot of these cues translating to production vehicles. Probably, a lot of them will be crossovers and SUVs due to the fact that that's what Buick specializes in right now. Now, up front, we've got a very aggressive nose with a low grille, wide headlights, and also the new Buick badge.
The badge is moved up out of the grille and onto the bumper. It loses the circle around it and has a very kind of minimalist, modern look to it. The typography for the Buick brand name has changed also, and it's on display in this really cool air vent kind of decor on the windshield. The whole car has a very organic look to it. It's very simple shapes with subtle, but distinct creases and curves. And that carries all through the car.
It has a wraparound windshield, or at least a wraparound design, and it all flows into a sleek, almost, but not quite, boat tail back end. It's got really wide, flared fenders and a really cool glass hatchback with tail lights that blend right into it. Now the coupe design was chosen because, basically, a Buick designer had a really cool sketch, and everybody really liked it. And that sketch kept getting developed, and it went to higher-ups. They liked it, too. And it's progressed into a full-size model that you see here.
One of the neat things about it, the wheels are very obviously turbine-shaped. And that's an homage to '50s Buick design. Kind of the jet age, the rocket age. And each one of these took two months to fabricate and to get the polish and finish just right.
Other cool features about this particular Wildcat concept are the doors. And if we go ahead and open these up, you'll see that the lower door panel opens out just like normal, but it also has a roof panel that opens up as well to make it a little easier to get in and out of this really low coupe. This interior is also very minimalist. It's got a fantastic green and white color scheme that, again, feels very kind of mid-century.
And everything is kind of floating. The center console is floating. There's open spaces in the dashboard. Some of the thinking from the designers is that you could have airflow coming through these vents and such. Obviously, you've got lots of ambient lighting. We've got simple screens that are really nicely integrated into the design. It's really a gorgeous car inside and out.
There are also a couple of neat Easter eggs. It is named Wildcat, which is another throwback to old Buick show cars. And you'll find a couple of wildcats around the vehicle. One of them is down here in the tail light etched into the lens. And then there's another one up here near the ceiling.
Now this concept, it's very much a design, well, concept. And so it doesn't really have any kind of production-type powertrain. There's not really slated production. However, it is designed to be an electric car.
That's where a lot of the proportions come from. The wheels are pushed out to the ends. There's lots of space in the interior that has been opened up because you don't necessarily have an engine that's taking up space. All of that can be stowed in the hood, and that opens up interior area.
But the electric part is important because Buick is heading to fully electric. It will be fully electric by 2030. And the brand's first fully electric model, which will feature Altium battery technology and motors, will be launching in 2024 as a 2025 model.
When Buick starts introducing electric cars, they will also be reviving the Electra name. And the Electra name will be applied to all electric Buicks. It will appear on all Buicks globally. And the Electra name will be accompanied with some type of number, alphanumeric type name.
So we're big fans of the Wildcat EV concept. And we would love to see it come to production. Buick hasn't made any kind of commitment to making this coupe a reality, but you will be able to see a lot of these styling cues on some models being introduced this year.
And Buick hasn't said no to making the coupe either. We wouldn't necessarily get your hopes up, but there is a chance, albeit small. We hope it happens, but we're also looking forward to future Buicks that adopt some of the styling language here.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander adds another three-row SUV to its line-up that fits between the smaller Highlander and the larger truck-based Sequoia. It features styling closely related to the RAV4, with a wide stance and crisp lines. Three powertrains are available including a non-hybrid turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a hybrid …
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is a big, lovable luxury beast. Under the hood, it’s packing a biturbocharged 4.0-liter V8 making 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, propelling this three-row SUV from 0-60 miles per hour in a swift 4.1 seconds. But it’s not all about speed. With an …
The winner of Autoblog’s 2023 Technology of the Year competition is Mercedes-Benz’s Dolby Atmos audio system. It defeated a number of impressive other new technologies like BMW’s Theater Screen, Ford’s Remote Rev and more. Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio has been present in theaters and home theater setups for quite some …
The 2023 Lotus Emira is finally here! Arriving now in limited quantities after multiple supply-chain delays, this V6-powered First Edition gets 400 horsepower out of its supercharged Toyota engine, which is mated to an old-fashioned, six-speed manual transmission. The engine's mounted in the middle -- right where you want it …
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is getting the TrailSport treatment along with a number of key interior updates for the entire lineup. The big news is obviously the new Ridgeline Trailsport, which adapts many of the same elements of the all-new Pilot TrailSport and the recently revealed updated Passport TrailSport. That …
The Maserati MC20 represents a rebirth of the Maserati brand. It’s the Italian marque’s supercar and represents a true flagship product that will get folks excited about every other new Maserati on its way. Everything about the two-door coupe, from how it looks, to how it drives, passes the supercar …
For 2024, the Honda Passport picks up some improvements for the off-road focused TrailSport trim, as well as a style-focused Black Edition. The TrailSport's upgrades include all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels as well as retuned shocks, springs and anti-roll bars for better off-pavement performance. The Black Edition is the new …
The 2024 Honda Prologue will be Honda's first widely-available electric car available in the U.S. While it is based on the Chevy Blazer EV, it has a number of unique qualities, starting with its unique exterior and interior styling that are much cleaner and more reserved than the Chevy. Honda …
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S is the Acura branded variant of the Honda Civic Type R. It gets the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and six-speed manual transmission with 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It does have a number of differences, though. The design is different with a …
The F150 is a significant refresh for 2024 and features a new tailgate, bed dividers and an updated design. The tailgate can now swing out -- Ford joins the tailgate wars with Ram and GM -- and the headlights give the F150 a fresh look. The Tremor and Raptor are …
Ford brought three trims of its refreshed 2024 F-150 to the Detroit Auto Show, including the Tremor, Raptor R and Platinum. The Tremor shows off Ford’s fancy, new Pro Access Tailgate and a new modular bumper with a Ford Performance winch kit on it. Meanwhile, the Raptor R showcases Ford’s …
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is the most extreme Mustang and also one of the most extreme road cars ever made. Its body is largely made out of carbon fiber, and it's rocking a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 under its hood that is promised to make over 800 horsepower. Ford created …
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic SUV is a very pleasant luxury EV to pop around in, and while it isn’t particularly sporty to drive, it sure is a relaxing space to spend time in. The EQE SUV is a similar size and class as the gas-powered GLE, though its …
