Buick has always played second fiddle to Cadillac under the GM umbrella, but the brand's refreshed design language has finally allowed it to stand apart as something unto its own. In this digital concept, the long-discontinued Park Avenue undergoes a radical modernization, transforming the stately Buick sedan into something strikingly streamlined -- even forward-thinking.

Transforming the Buick Sedan with a Striking New Design

Buick's "Exceptional By Design" design language first debuted on the Wildcat concept back in 2022, and the brand has been quick to apply the formula to its production cars. Over the past two years, we've seen Buick refresh the Encore GX , the Envista , and the Envision, and the upcoming Enclave will be the next model in the lineup to feature the new look.

In keeping with the trend, this Park Avenue render features a low grille, a body-mounted badge, and some sharp angular headlights. Taken together, they make for a dramatic change -- while the 2000s model was bulging and wallowy, this concept is comparatively sleek and refined. It skews way more Audi than it does Oldsmobile, and it would raise the bar for American luxury cars were it to hit production.

However, this rendition certainly pays homage to its roots. In fact, the Park Avenue is rich with classic Buick elements. The iconic "Ventiports" embellish the sides of the hood, while the rims hint at the classic spoked wheel design. You can even spot resemblances in how the mufflers are seamlessly integrated into the rear bumper. Additionally, despite the modern sweeping roofline and elongated taillights, the overall aesthetic unmistakably evokes the nostalgia of the original Park Avenue.

Reimagining the Performance of Park Avenue

When it was last produced here in the States, the Park Avenue was offered with a 3.8-liter Buick V6. Assuming you went for the Park Avenue Ultra, you also got a supercharger that brought output up to 240 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. In spite of iconic Buick V6s models like the GNX , though, the Park Avenue was pretty pedestrian in its performance. 0-60 mph came in 7.7 seconds and top speed was capped at a governed 107 mph.

Now, Buick may be one of several GM subsidiaries making the transition to an EV lineup. However, we like to think that the brand would right its past wrongs should a Park Avenue concept such as this ever make it to production. Accordingly, this Buick render retains its ICE powertrain, though it would instead feature a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6. Cadillac incorporated such a setup within its CT4-V Blackwing , and it managed to make a healthy 472 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque.

Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing发动机规格

Cadillac

The Park Avenue doesn't demand the same kind of performance as a luxury sports sedan, but we do think that it could do with a bump in power -- especially because of its size. And besides, when you're going up against the likes of Tesla, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, it never hurts to have a little extra grunt.

Seeing as Buick briefly revived the nameplate for the Chinese market, it's unlikely that we'll ever witness a Park Avenue-badged car like this hit production. Even still, it's exciting to see where the brand is headed -- there's certainly potential for its "Exceptional By Design" design language.