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2007 Buick Riviera Concept

It's difficult to believe that Buick, the grand father clock of General Motors'North American division, is one of the most popular brands in ... China. The builder of softly sprung, large sedans with extra comfortable seating may be making headway with new products like the Lucerne, the up and coming Enclave crossover and the return of the “Super” performance-luxury trim level here in North America, but that's nothing in comparison to the ground that has been gained in China. Last year, Buick sold nearly 40,000 more vehicles in China than it did in the United States, making the most populous country the largest purchaser of the classic American brand. The change of purchaser nationality has started a domino effect for Buick. It was announced recently that the next-generation Buick LaCrosse will be designed in China. Buick has also resurrected the Park Avenue nameplate for its rear-wheel

As far as concept cars go, we haven't seen many that light up like this. (Photo: Buick)

drive, Zeta-based flagship vehicle, and now, GM's Chinese design studios have created this, the Riviera Concept.

Before delving into the design of this concept vehicle, it's important tounderstand the growing influence that Chinese purchasers have on the auto industry as a whole. In the same way that North Americans have altered the way Japanese and Korean automakers design and build their products, the Chinese are beginning to sway the way that cars look here at home. For instance, the trapezoidal grille of Audi's flagship A8 was implemented first on the W12 model at the request of Chinese

Lots of Alcantara and cream leather, but you can't see that with all the Ice Green lighting. (Photo: Buick)

buyers who preferred its more imposing look. It just so happens that Audi sells a large number of A8 W12s in China. Another example of China's pull is that Audi, BMW and Volkswagen have long wheelbase versions of their midsize models (A6, 5-Series, Passat) that are exclusive to the Chinese market. Cadillac also has a stretched version of its STS sedan called the SLS, and believe it or not, it's more opulent and stylish than the one on sale here! But for the first time, not just a model, but an entire brand – one that's as American as apple pie - is being shaped by a non-American design team.

The Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) is one of General Motors' newestdesign studios

Gullwing doors on a Buick? You bet. (Photo: Buick)

launched as a joint venture between it and its Chinese production ally, SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation). James Shyr, the Design Director at PATAC chose to interpret the Riviera concept by pairing traditional Buick cues with “earth and water”. Shyr wanted to connect the newest Riviera with its long line of great Buicks, such as the classic Rivieras of the '60s and '70s, as well as the Electra 225 and the Le Sabre from that era, while embracing Buick's history of concept car development. After all, the 1938 Buick Y-Job is regarded as the world's first concept car. The end effect of blending various chapters in Buick's history book is a sports coupe that transcends culture and national boundaries.

Described as a rolling showcase for Buicks of tomorrow, this Riviera takeson the form of a 2+2 coupe, but the most impressive

Fan-blade wheels are a tribute to the past. (Photo: Buick)

feature of its design is its massive gullwing doors. It's a refreshing change from the four-door coupes that many manufacturers have attempted to emulate, not to mention that their large size makes entrance to both rows of seats easy. The aggressive, sporty bodywork of the Riviera concept is made from lightweight carbon fiber, which seems a bit at odds with the luxo-barge image that beleaguers the brand in North America. At least the concept's elegant waterfall grille remains intact with the concept. Shyr says that the Riviera is neither anonymous nor in your face; a vehicle that will make people want to run their hands across it, rather than just look at it. At 76.4 inches the Riviera is very wide, giving it a relatively compact look, but the specification sheet reveals that it's roughly the same length and height as Infiniti's popular G35 Coupe.

The interior of the Riviera is just as sleek and modern as its exterior. The seats aretrimmed

It's a real coupe in terms of its profile. (Photo: Buick)

in a cream-colored leather, but most of the interior surfaces, such as the dashboard, headliner, carpets and even the steering wheel are covered in wave-patterned Alcantara. Like many concept cars, the Riviera is clean and simple in its layout, with a single gauge in its instrument cluster, and an MMI-like system to control the HVAC unit.

At night, the Riviera gives an entirely different impression created by its exterior lighting. Key details of the exterior design are highlighted via backlit ice green illumination, such as the upper surface of the headlamps, the side-view mirrors, the hood's center crease and the front and rear Buick logos. When the gullwing doors are opened, they cast the Buick logo on the ground. The use of night time illumination continues into the interior, which looks completely different at night than during the day. Curved panels at the base of the windshield, the door inserts and the center spine that stretches the console are all backlit in ice green.

Though the main purpose of the Riviera is an exercise in design,

Buick is bigger in China than it is in the USA, hence the Chinese Riviera. (Photo: Buick)

theissue of powertrain was addressed. Potentially, the Riviera would be powered by a hybrid drivetrain developed by Buick and SAIC, which suits the “earth and water” design theme to a tee. The production version of this system will debut prior to the 2008 Olympics, which will take place in Shanghai and will be used on future Buicks, perhaps some destined for North America. Besides the fact that the Riviera is a hybrid, there's little additional information about what's under the hood. Should GM produce the vehicle, we think that the Holden-developed 3.6-liter V6 featured in the Caddy CTS, Saturn Aura and other prevalent GM cars would be right at home in this sleek body... as would the Northstar-derived V8 currently slotted in the top-line Lucerne.

While no production decisions have been made regarding the Riviera, we think that the interpretation of the future of Buick is spot on. The brand's direction is best summed up by Shry himself who said, “Designing this car made us realize how small the world could be. It's not East, it's not West. It's not the United States or China. It's Buick.” We couldn't agree more.

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