Imagined 2028 Buick GNX Brings Back a Legend

An imagined 2028 Buick GNX has surfaced as a tribute to the original 1987 Grand National Experimental, and it is not a real production model. Buick probably won't build it, but the concept makes a case for reviving the nameplate as a mid-engine hypercar.

The 1987 GNX was the final and wildest version of the turbocharged Grand National. Buick built only 547 examples, all finished in black and fitted with numbered dashboard plaques. GNX stood for Grand National Experimental. 8-liter V6 received freer-flowing cylinder heads, a larger Garrett turbocharger, a more effective intercooler, revised engine management, and a less restrictive exhaust.

Buick advertised 276 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque, though dyno tests at the time suggested closer to 300 horsepower. The car also had revised rear suspension, extra body bracing, and wider tires. 5 seconds at 102 mph, putting it near Porsche 911 Turbo territory.

The 2028 design drops the Regal shape for carbon-heavy bodywork while keeping black paint and intimidating intentions. Its mid-engine layout is unmistakable: the cabin sits forward, with huge side intakes and rear-deck louvers behind the seats. 5-liter twin-turbo LT7 V8 that already makes 1,064 horsepower before hybrid assist.

Adding the ZR1X's front electric motor would give all-wheel drive and 1,250 horsepower from GM's existing parts shelf, and the article suggests a 1,300-horsepower tune for a Buick halo car. The rear view features a nearly full-width light bar and two rectangular exhaust outlets inside a carbon diffuser.

The article also names other Buicks worthy of revival. The Riviera served as Buick's flagship halo coupe for 36 years, including the striking Boattail version. " The Reatta was a late-'80s front-drive sports car that struggled because of its premium price and front-drive layout; a rear-drive revival could target cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Nissan Z, if Buick kept pricing within reach.