At the 2023 Canadian International Auto Show, there were a number of actual vehicles coming soon but there were also concepts like Buick’s Wildcat EV.
While the Buick Wildcat EV concept was officially unveiled last year, the actual vehicle was shown off for one of the very first times at CIAS 2023.
With the Buick Wildcat EV, the company is trying to show an all-new design language that will help influence future productions models.
At CIAS 2023, we had the chance to talk to Heba Amin, National Marketing Manager at Buick Canada to talk more about the Wildcat EV concept.
TheCanadianTechie: Could you tell me a little bit about about this Buick Wildcat concept vehicle?
Heba Amin: With Wildcat is actually one of the visual representations of the future of the brand, which is very exciting for us, especially at this time now as the brand is going through this important transformation towards an all electric future.
So it actually demonstrates the future design language of Buick. With basically the new face of Buick, you will see a lot of like the design elements in it are inspiring our production models, like for example, the Encore GX, which we’re revealing here today.
Key things to note are the low silhouette of the vehicle. It’s nose leading to the front. Of course, like the signature projector headlamps LED projector headlamps.
Another thing that I like to highlight here is the fact that the Wildcat also carries the new Buick logo, which is also like a huge transformation or transition for the brand and its transformation journey. Actually, this is the first major change to the logo since 1990.
So it’s it’s basically demonstrated for the first time on on the hood of the Wildcat. But then again, it’s made its way to our first production vehicle, which is the Encore GX.
CT: Do you see the Wildcat EV concept actually being turned into a production vehicle? If not, are there any design elements/tech features of the Wildcat that most likely would be translated to other future Buick models?
HA: So the Wildcats is more of like a platform for us to showcase the future of the Buick and how it’s going to look like from a design perspective, as well as also some of the technology in the vehicle. So one key thing that I would like to highlight is the virtual cockpit system actually captured from from the inside here of the vehicle. So this is basically the the new infotainment system. It is visually like blending amazing displays and at the same time, of course connected technology.
CT: Is that infotainment system in the Wildcat, could be coming to like future vehicles?
HA: It actually made it to production vehicles. So the Encore GX has that. So if you look at the inside of the Encore GX, it has the virtual cockpit system. So you can see here this is basically two screens under one glass panel. It has an eight-inch instrument display as well as an 11-inch infotainment screen.
CT: Since Buick is planning on like becoming fully electric by 2030, are you going to be mostly focused on SUVs like electric SUVs?
HA: So currently, Buick offers a premium lineup of SUVs. This is also in line with with where the market is so we are operating under segments of the market in terms of SUVs. Again, like for now this is where our direction is and will continue to be into the future.
CT: Has Buick announced any like actual production electric vehicles? or not yet?
HA: We are moving fully electric by the end of the decade. More details will be available once we can reveal them.
Some design elements that standout of the Buick Wildcat EV are the new tri-shield logo, semi swing doors, micro-LED lighting technology and thin-beam projector lenses for the front lighting.
There’s also Blade-style taillights woven into the roof’s sail panels, an “state of charge” indicator that can been seen from the rear glass.
The Wildcat EV concept also has some futuristic element that are powered by AI, biometrics and aromatherapy. Some of these elements include the vehicle being able to detect elevation in driver heartrate. Then the vehicle can automatically adjust the vehicle settings such as massage seats, dimming the interior lighting to help calm them down.
While the Wildcat EV concept won’t officially be going into production, some of the elements most likely will.
Some of which already have to the upcoming 2024 Buick Encore GX, which is set to go on sale in the spring.
TheCanadianTechie 