Photo: Newspress USA
While their production EVs still looks dorky (as in the Chevy Bolt), American automakers are daring to dream of a bright future for their flagship models. Both Buick and Cadillac brought sleek coupe-like concepts that cut against the grain of the general direction this industry is headed in.
We're glad to see the Buick Avista and Cadillac Escala again, even though they aren't fresh, since the Los Angeles Auto Show would have been boring without them.
Let's start with the Escala first, which strikes us as an Audi A7, but much bigger. Cadillac is well known for making much larger cars than their direct German class rivals. This concept is a sharply defined four-door coupe with a liftback tail, just like Audi's. At the front, the headlights have been condensed into slits, which might be the design direction Cadillac is going for.
The cabin previews the next era of luxury, ignoring the sea of leather you normally get inside a Cadillac for clean design, brushed aluminum and light gray fabric.
As a personal choice, we prefer the Cadillac Escala over the Buick concept. But that could be because the latter has a general look similar to the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Just look at those Korean taillights!
"While you won't see the Avista Concept on the road as a production vehicle, its dynamic and moving blend sculptural beauty and spirited performance will inspire the next generation of Buick vehicles," the automaker boasts.
What are they talking about? Most likely the next generation of the Buick Regal, which means the Opel Insignia will look like that too.
The bit that bothers us is the use of sportscar proportions. The Avista has short overhangs, especially at the front, and wheels that are about half the height of the car. All that would be okay if Buick were chasing the Aston Martin part of the market, but they are actually gunning for Chinese consumers.
Our vote has been cast. But tell us, which is your favorite of the Los Angeles concepts and why?
Let's start with the Escala first, which strikes us as an Audi A7, but much bigger. Cadillac is well known for making much larger cars than their direct German class rivals. This concept is a sharply defined four-door coupe with a liftback tail, just like Audi's. At the front, the headlights have been condensed into slits, which might be the design direction Cadillac is going for.
The cabin previews the next era of luxury, ignoring the sea of leather you normally get inside a Cadillac for clean design, brushed aluminum and light gray fabric.
As a personal choice, we prefer the Cadillac Escala over the Buick concept. But that could be because the latter has a general look similar to the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Just look at those Korean taillights!
"While you won't see the Avista Concept on the road as a production vehicle, its dynamic and moving blend sculptural beauty and spirited performance will inspire the next generation of Buick vehicles," the automaker boasts.
What are they talking about? Most likely the next generation of the Buick Regal, which means the Opel Insignia will look like that too.
The bit that bothers us is the use of sportscar proportions. The Avista has short overhangs, especially at the front, and wheels that are about half the height of the car. All that would be okay if Buick were chasing the Aston Martin part of the market, but they are actually gunning for Chinese consumers.
Our vote has been cast. But tell us, which is your favorite of the Los Angeles concepts and why?
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