Buick Avenir Concept – David Booth
What is it? A design study that, in Buick’s own words, “will demonstrate the growing international reach of Buick and offers an exciting vision of where it can go.” In other words, it’s a concept car that almost assuredly won’t be produced but does speak to future Buick designs.
Why does it matter? Avenir is a big luxury car. Indeed, Buick calls it a flagship and that speaks to the bellicosity of the brand’s future ambitions. It also tells you what an important market China is for Buick (they sold 809,000 cars there last year) and that, as a premium brand — yes, in China, Buick is seen as a luxury brand — they need a big, fully-featured (nine-speed automatic, mobile device wireless charging, 4G LTE wi-fi hotspot, etc.) sedan fit for potentates-to-be.
2015 Buick Avenir Concept
Derek McNaughton, Driving
When is it coming? Not soon. Maybe not ever. Perhaps the Chinese will get some variant of the Avenir, but the Buick brand doesn’t yet stretch that far here in North America.
Should you buy it? You can’t and most likely never will be able to. But Buick’s comeback continues apace and this long, low piece of automotive hedonism is how the company struts.
Click here for full coverage of the 2015 Detroit auto show
Hyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept – Lesley Wimbush
What is it? Today in Detroit, Hyundai unveiled its new Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept – an idea that Hyundai says meets the needs of a Millennial lifestyle they’ve dubbed “Urban Adventurers”.
“This new crossover allows them all the expandable utility they need throughout their active week without the typical compromises they have come to expect from the industry’s current product offerings.” said Mark Ditko, Director of Corporate Planning for Hyundai USA.
The bold design features oversized wheels with centre-locking hubs, rear-hinged doors, HTRAC all-wheel-drive, and a cargo bed with retractable tailgate extension.
Why does it matter? The idea behind the concept is to fulfill the needs of young adults who want to project an image of urban adventurer – while facing ever-decreasing parking space and increased traffic congestion. Fuel efficiency is another key requirement – which the Santa Cruz Concept tries to answer by offering a 2.0 litre turbo diesel producing 190 hp and 330 lb.-ft. of torque, yet still averaging 7.8 L/100 km.
Small trucks used to be popular with young drivers – but that market has all but disappeared. This concept is Hyundai’s attempt at blending a traditional truck bed’s flexibility with the comfort of a passenger car.
When is it coming? There’s no definite release date, or even confirmation that the Santa Cruz Concept will ever see production. But Hyundai believes that such a vehicle will fill a niche left by a pickup truck market that’s shrunk more than five per cent in the last decade. And if we don’t see the Santa Cruz Concept reproduced verbatim in a production car – it’s an indication that the something similar may appear in showrooms in future.
Should you buy it? Its unconventional looks certainly aren’t for everyone. But if you’re a younger buyer who in the past might have opted for a Ford Ranger or Chevrolet S10 – or if you just happened to be a Subaru Baja Fan – such a vehicle might be just the thing to fit into your downtown size constraints, yet still have the ability to transport your outdoor gear on the weekends.
2017 Chevrolet Bolt Concept – David Booth
What is it? A fully electric sporty little hatchback that General Motors hopes will steal a bit of Tesla’s thunder. The extended-range Volt has performed below expectations (as have most EVs). GM claims a range in excess of 300 kilometres (thanks to lightweight aluminum, carbon fibre and magnesium construction) and fast DC charging.
Why does it matter? The General took all manner of heat for cancelling the Saturn EV1 — Chris Paine’s Who Killed The Electric Car, for instance — so it’s important to show it’s technological leadership. Also, it helps GM meet future fuel economy and emissions related governmental mandates in the future. And it is cute.
When is it coming? Production won’t even start till the beginning of 2017, so not any time soon.
Should you buy it? Well, if you think cheap gas is just a passing trend, then maybe start saving your dollars (the reputed cost is whatever the equivalent of US$30,000 will be in 2017) now. But EVs are going to have a hard time if gas remains cheap. Much of the success — and the reason you might buy a Bolt — is in OPEC’s hands.
