The Buick Avista is a stunning 2016 concept car that debuted at the North American International Auto Show to help Buick erase its stodgy image.

The Buick Avista drew attention as a sleek sports coupe with 400 horsepower under the hood. It represented luxury and performance for the future. Will the Avista ever appear at your Buick dealer?

Signature Styling Cues

The Buick Avista wowed auto showgoers in 2016 with its sleek style. Featuring an aggressive grille, wing-shaped lights, and lithe body lines, the Avista offered unique design cues for future cars. Some couldn’t help wondering why Buick didn’t attach the Riviera name to this concept as that has always been the nameplate for Buick two-door cars.

But the Buick Avista was meant to look to the future, not to the past. The Avista featured a 110.7 wheelbase and a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 under the hood. Combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission, this engine is capable of 400 horsepower. The exhaust note of the Buick Avista was also notable for its throaty growl.

Riding on 20-inch wheels that don’t look too big or too small for the car, the Avista has many other sporty touches, like massive brake discs and sharp exhaust outlets. In fact, the Buick Avista bears some resemblance to the new Camaro at the time with the exact same wheelbase.

Buick Innovation Stands Out

Where the Buick Avista really stands out is the grille. The Buick brand for the last several decades has used a waterfall-style grille with vertical slats. It’s one of the most recognizable styling cues for the brand. However, the Avista features a chain-mesh grille that looks more like a Cadillac V-car.

With the bold grille choice leading the way, the rest of the Avista is striking as well. Most notably, the vents ahead of each door that remind one of an Aston Martin car. The Avista also sports an incredible metallic blue paint called Superior Blue.

Inside, the Buick Avista offers an airy cabin that seats four passengers. Buick chose some lighter colors and modern materials to provide a futuristic luxury experience. Some details include carbon fiber and hide stitching.

Will the Buick Avista Happen?

The Buick Avista was an incredible concept car that looked ready to be built as soon as possible. However, eight years later, the Avista remains a concept. Buick has often worked its best concept designs into other cars in pieces, but we can’t help hoping that the entire Avista will someday be part of the Buick lineup.

Rumors still abound that Buick will release the Avista at some point. However, 2016 is pretty far in the rearview mirror at this point, so it’s likely that the Avista car of the future will trend in a different direction. For example, it might be a hybrid or it might be a fully electric model.

Currently, Buick’s lineup consists of SUVs, so any news that the brand might be bringing back a sporty coupe or sedan would be welcome.