Buick Unveils Wildcat EV Concept
In addition to announcing its future as an all-electric brand, Buick also unveiled its new Wildcat EV concept, which the company is calling a “vision of the brand’s new design direction as it transitions to an all-electric future.”
The Wildcat was developed to convey the all-new design language that will influence Buick production models for the foreseeable future, company representatives said. Buick’s new tri-shield logo, which new production models will wear starting next year, is featured on the body front and rear.
“The Wildcat EV concept represents the real design future for the brand,” said Sharon Gauci, executive director, Global Buick and GMC Design. “Buick has always been forward looking and this expression is a glimpse of where we’re going, and the optimism we have for the limitless possibilities of an electric future.”
The Wildcat EV concept also introduces a new face for Buick, distinguished by a forward-leaning front-end appearance that features a low-mounted, trapezoidal grille, designers said. Sharp, high-mounted and horizontal check mark-shaped lighting flanks the vehicle, while the outer edges of the grille house primary lighting. The lighting elements are configured to create a unique welcome choreography when the driver approaches.
Further, the vehicle — a two-plus-two coupe — strikes a powerful, expressive presence, with an all-new, laid-back proportion complemented by a low, wide stance, the company said. The windshield wraps around and flows into the side glass, which tapers with the fast roofline to accentuate the profile.
“From every angle, the vehicle looks like it’s ready to pounce,” said Bob Boniface, director, Global Buick Design. “It’s the result of careful attention to the proportions and sculptural beauty derived from the intersection of forms, not lines.”
Additional exterior design highlights include:
- Semi-swing doors for easy entry and exit.
- Aluminum trim that appears to flow seamlessly into the interior seat structures.
- Micro-LED lighting technology and thin-beam projector lenses for the front lighting.
- Blade-style taillights embedded in the roof’s sail panels, culminating in check mark-style horizontal lamps that echo the front lighting signature.
- An external “state of charge” indicator visible in the exterior hatchback glass.
- Jet Age-inspired 18-spoke “turbine” wheels.
Inside, the Wildcat EV concept’s cabin integrates new technologies designed to make the riding experience more enjoyable, Buick designers said.
The two-plus-two configuration, delineated by a console that extends from the base of the instrument panel to the rear seating area, uses graphic and color contrasts to create the perception of visually floating elements intended to accentuate the cabin’s lightweight feel and spaciousness, the company said.
Color plays an important role in the warmth and comfort the interior conveys, designers said. Legato Green flows through the cabin and is accented with brushed or polished aluminum trim and orange elements, including the seat belts.
Additional interior design elements include cockpit-style seats with cantilevered headrests that appear to be floating, and a lightweight, flat-bottom steering wheel.
When it comes to technology integration and infotainment interaction, a touchscreen is the access point on the instrument panel, along with a complementing screen on the console.
The Wildcat EV concept is built to be a platform for futuristic features such as artificial intelligence, biometrics and aromatherapy. The vehicle is designed to detect an elevation in driver heart rate and automatically adjust vehicle settings to calm them down. For example, when Zen Mode is activated, it will dim the cabin lights, disperse calming aromatherapy scents and activate massaging seats.
