Remember Buick's stunning Avenir sedan concept from the 2015 Detroit auto show? It seems the name does indeed have a future in the Buick line-up – though not in the way we'd hoped.
In essence, Avenir will be a sub-brand – a flagship trim level that will be to Buick what Denali is to GMC trucks.
"We're taking a lot of what we learned from Denali," said Buick design chief Helen Emsley. "You start small and then you grow."
Differentiators from lesser Buicks will include wheels, a three-dimensional mesh grille, and interior trim with "embroidery," she said.
Buick says that the brand has grown quickly with female buyers expecting a high-end experience and premium quality. A large proportion of those buyers have been brought into the brand by the Encore small crossover.
Buick isn't saying yet when Avenir will debut or on which nameplate.