Just imagine what the Buick Regal, Verano and LaCrosse might look like over 15 years from now. It seems like a relatively short period of time, so you may not envision anything wildly different, but a group of forward-thinking design school students in Michigan foresee major transformations in the world of automotive design over this course of time. Buick recently partnered with BASF to sponsor a competition for students at Detroit's College of Creative Studies and their ultra-futuristic vehicle concepts will astound you.
A jury of Buick designers from various departments and BASF coatings and performance materials experts hand selected their four favorite concepts and awarded $7,000 total to the honorees. When coming up with their concepts, students had exclusive access to future trend research used by industry professionals, as well as assistance from mentors who provided access to special materials. These were the winners:
- Two awards went to Namsuk Lee, originally from Seoul, Korea, who won honors for having the best interior and best overall concepts
- The best exterior design award was given to Sam Kenny, originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, whose project was recognized by the jury for its "dynamic elegance"
- The final award went to Justin Salmon, former resident of Boca Raton, Florida, who received honors for having the most innovative use of materials
"For Buick, this project is an invitation for new insights and interpretation of our brand and the future portfolio of products we will offer ... Buick design that conveys youthful energy and fresh thinking is essential to the future of this modern, international luxury brand," said Andrew Smith, executive director of Buick global design.
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