Buick is reviving the Riviera badge - first used in 1943 for its luxury-spec coupes - for this concept, said to preview the style of future production Buicks. Developed in partnership with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, GM's partners in China at its Pan Asia Technical Automotive Centre, it also previews a hybrid powertrain which will go into production in 2008.
Considerably more eye-catching than the last Riviera (killed off in 1999), this 2+2 has 21-inch polished, satin-finish wheels, carbonfibre panels and gull-wing doors, as well as a new interpretation of the Buick 'waterfall' grille and porthole air intakes. A reflective strip on the bonnet, the side mirrors, rocker covers, the LED headlamps and Buick logo are all backlit in an 'icy green', with similar illumination at the rear. When the doors open - outwards and upwards - the 'Buick' name is projected onto the ground.
The designers have aimed to create a relaxing, tranquil cabin; finished off in a blue/cream alcantara/leather colourway ('representing earth and water themes', apparently) this has leather bucket-type seats, plush carpets and a padded steering wheel, with a wraparound, soft-edged dash and facia, a multi-way rear armrest and shaded glass roof panels. Green LED lighting features again, with luminescent strips across the console and door liners to the front seats. The control system is kept simple, with a mouse-like touchpad centre console and LCD display screen, 3D speedo and touchpads in place of a gearshift.
Buick Riviera concept gallery
The Riviera was conceived as a 'world car' or globally-appealing design, rather than as a model specifically developed to appeal to Chinese show-goers, but its designers point to a few subtle Chinese touches: the wooden floor mat in the rear, for example, or a motif inspired by ancient Chinese coins. However, the design team also looked at the original Buick Y-Job concept of 1938, the 1960s Le Sabre, Electra 225 and the Riviera coupes of the 60s and 70s to make sure they created a representative Buick.
|