Buick has announced plans to offer an all-electric vehicle portfolio by the end of the decade– a commitment spearheaded by the unveiling of their Wildcat EV concept.
The Buick Wildcat concept, marketed under the tagline of “Electric in Every Way,” is a 2+2 coupe with an exterior appearance unlike anything we’ve seen from the Three Shields– even down to said badging ,which has been redesigned for 2023 models. While just a concept, the WIldcat is said to embody the brand’s future design direction.
“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 front of the WIldcat is… wild, with a forward-leaning front bumper extending out above the trapezoidal lower grille. The edges along the lower front fascia and grille surround are sharp, along with the LED headlights. The side profile features continuous bodylines traveling forward and aft, broken up by the wrapping windshield and semi-swing doors; the “turbine” wheels appear larger than they are at 18-inches. Large “L” taillights outline the rear buttresses, shooting up along the large rear glass. That window makes up a large portion of the downward sloping roofline. The interior is equally futuristic, with cockpit-style seats and cantilevered headrests. A flat-bottom steering wheel meets the driver, along with digital instrumentation.
Of course, there’s plenty of tech embedded throughout, but if large touchscreens and gauge clusters aren’t futuristic enough for you, you’re in luck. Buick says the Wildcat is designed as a platform for additional tech-integrations, like artificial intelligence, biometrics and aromatherapy. The example given was the vehicle’s “Zen mode,” which dims the lights, cranks up the massaging seats and disperses pleasant scents to calm the driver down. How does it know to do this? Biometrics; specifically, monitoring the driver’s heart rate.
This could be seen as a techie’s dream or a 2001-esque nightmare; either way, the Wildcat is just a concept vehicle. We don’t expect this level of human/car integration just yet, but we do expect Buick to hit the EV segment very soon. Along with their all-electric goal for 2030, the automaker plans to launch its first EV’s under the Electra name in the North American market by 2024.
Keyword: Buick’s Wildcat EV Sets Tone for All-Electric Promises