German Car Zone

Developed at its Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in China, the Buick Riviera concept bowed at the Shanghai auto show, signifying the importance of the Chinese market for the GM division, which now accounts for more Buick sales than those in the U.S.
In addition to resurrecting a legendary Buick nameplate, the Riviera is also a technical showcase for a new hybrid power system that GM is promising to build with its Chinese partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).
The Riviera has a carbon-fiber body, a bold waterfall grille and large gullwing doors. LED headlamps sweep up into the front fenders, and the lighting modules are punctuated by Buick's signature Ventiports--three per side, which indicates that the hybrid powerplant will likely employ a V-6.The new expressive shape, which also incorporates Buick's "sweep spear" character lines, is said to point a future design direction for all Buicks, according to GM Design VP Ed Wellburn. It also underscores that future Buicks will be developed in China as well as the U.S.



Buick Riviera Concept

Inside, the Riviera features an organic design approach, with traditional wood accents, blue trim and cream-colored leather. The chrome bezel around the dash is a modern interpretation of classic instrumentation from '50s and '60s' Buicks, while the touch pad on the center console is designed to resemble a computer mouse. Ambient light strips run through the door trim panels and the center console adding, another dimension to the car's interior.
The Riviera rides on 21-in. 10-spoke alloy wheels shod with ultra-low-profile tires. While the interior is snug, glass panels on top of the gullwings give the occupants a panoramic view out.

When the Buick Riviera concept debuted at the Shanghai Motor Show last summer, many didn't give the car a second glance because, while imminently snazzy, no one though it would have much impact on the U.S. market. We all may have been wrong, according to TheCarConnection, which is reporting that the Riviera Concept offers a sneak peek at what the next-gen Buick LaCrosse will look like. We've seen the next LaCrosse in spy shots and can maybe find a few similarities between the two, but otherwise we don't really see the resemblance. Aside from the obvious discrepancy in door count, you can see the grilles are markedly different, with the Riviera's upturned into a smile and the LaCrosse prototype's turned down in a frown. The Riviera also has three air intakes below the front bumper, while the spy shot shows only one on the prototype. Both cars exhibit a certain amount of Buickness in their look, though the Riviera definitely turns it up notch. For that alone we hope the connection between the two is real.

Gorgeous! Best looking American concept at Detroit this year.

really reminds me of the Z9 concept

leave it to the yanks to design some of the best concepts in the business and produce them in the most horrid fashion humanly possible

it aslo has this nissan'ish halo to it

It is really hot, its a shame, as said earlier, that these cars dont get produced.... But who knows, here in the US Buick has been on the rise in car sales, and even has the Enclave that is a SUV is hard to get/

^ yeah it is pretty good

Oh c'mon, Rob! Don't hold it back! I know you can give us a more analyzed opinion than that.