A roar from behind the curtain stirred the crowd as Buick unveiled its Avista Concept ahead of its public debut at the North American International Auto Show.

Taking the “that’s not a Buick” look to heart, the 2+2 coupe is the brand’s vision of a grand touring vehicle featuring a 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0L V-6 driving the rear wheels and a driver-focused cockpit offering a comfortable, connected center of control. According to the manufacturer, “The engine is backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission and Magnetic Ride Control delivers more precise body motion control.”

“The Avista embodies the dynamic soul of Buick,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. “It is a modern expression of the brand’s heritage of sophisticated performance, communicated with beautiful elegance.”

The suggestion of motion in the Avista’s design places its look squarely between the 2017 LaCrosse and the Avenir concept, which debuted at this time last year. Wing-shaped rear lighting and sculpted headlamps give the coupe an aggressive look while still maintaining the brand’s new identity.

Additional exterior features include:

• A 110.7-inch (2,811 mm) wheelbase and 63-inch (1,601 mm) front/62.9-inch (1,598 mm) rear tracks for sporty proportions and an aggressive stance
• Twenty-inch aluminum wheels with color-toned accents match the car’s Dark Sapphire Jewel exterior
• Front fender vents with chrome accents evolve Buick’s signature fender ports.

While the interior of the car looks more concept-like than the exterior, it does give the viewer an idea of where Buick sees the brand evolving to- technology enhanced experiences. Touchscreen controls abound while modern carbon fiber and aluminum accents are prevalent in the driver-centric coupe.

image courtesy of Buick