Category: Buick LaCrosse

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Buick LaCrosse Avenir Makes World Debut

2018 Buick LaCrosse Avenir

Buick’s highest expression of luxury, Avenir, expands to flagship sedan

With the arrival of the 2018 LaCrosse Avenir, Buick’s new sub-brand expands its offerings and provides customers a way to experience the highest expression of Buick luxury, regardless of whether they’re shopping for a car or SUV. First introduced with the 2018 Enclave that went on sale in October, Avenir features unique styling cues, an extensive set of standard features and exclusive premium materials for customers who want more.

“Nine out of ten LaCrosse buyers are choosing one of the top two trim levels — customers are signaling they want more from Buick,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick and GMC. “With even more content and an elegant look, Avenir adds a unique name and appearance for those who want the best of our attainable luxury.”

Like the Enclave Avenir, the LaCrosse Avenir’s design details were channeled from our award-winning concept cars for a more dramatic look, expressed through a unique three-dimensional mesh upper and lower grille paired with chrome wings. Avenir script badging on the front doors and exclusive 19-inch Pearl Nickel or available 20-inch Midnight Silver wheels create a commanding road presence and complement the LaCrosse’s timeless design.



“Exterior styling is very important to LaCrosse buyers, and its sculpted beauty withstands passing trends,” says Bob Boniface, global director of Buick Exterior Design. “For Avenir, we focused on maintaining the timelessness of the LaCrosse, while giving these customers subtle and tasteful details that elevate this car to a new level.”

Inside, Avenir-exclusive details include a Chestnut interior color theme, embroidered first-row headrests and Avenir-scripted sill plates. Features available on other LaCrosse models come standard on the Avenir, including a powerful 310-horsepower V-6, nine-speed automatic transmission, navigation and Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound premium audio, as well as a panoramic moonroof.

Additional available features include Ebony interior, Intelligent Twin-Clutch AWD, Dynamic Drive Package featuring continuous variable real-time dampening control and a suite of advanced safety features. The Buick LaCrosse Avenir will arrive at dealers in early 2018. Discuss the new Buick LaCrosse right here.

2018 Buick LaCrosse Avenir interior seats



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Light Electrification Leads 2018 Buick LaCrosse Updates

2018 Buick LaCrosse

Buick’s technology flagship just got more sophisticated

DETROIT — The Buick LaCrosse expands its technological credentials by adding eAssist light electrification for the 2018 model. The combination of an electric motor with Buick’s latest 2.5L four-cylinder engine delivers quiet, refined and spirited efficient performance backed by the value and customer experience expected of Buick.

This new eAssist system, when coupled with the four-cylinder engine, has a 19 percent increase in city fuel economy compared to the LaCrosse’s advanced V-6 and leverages a compact lithium-ion battery pack to provide select benefits found in fully electric vehicles, such as torque-assisted launch, energy-saving regenerative braking and exceptionally smooth stop/start. It will be the standard powertrain for the 2018 LaCrosse, which goes on sale this fall.

“Executing innovative technologies in an approachable and meaningful way is core to Buick,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president, Global Buick and GMC. “By adding the eAssist system to the LaCrosse, our technology flagship, we are making electrification accessible to our customers as we chart our course to the future of mobility.”

Compared to previous Buick eAssist executions, this newest iteration is more sophisticated, powerful and compact. With its 9 percent increase in overall torque, drivers get the responsiveness expected from a full-size sedan. In addition, the newest eAssist system is discreetly packaged to maintain the LaCrosse’s fold-down rear seat and ample trunk space.

The new standard 2.5L four-cylinder with eAssist is the perfect complement to the powerful V-6 that launched on the 2017 LaCrosse last September. With the introduction of this new standard powertrain, the 2018 LaCrosse starting price will be lowered to $30,490. The 3.6L V-6 will be an available option on select trims.

Other notable updates to the 2018 Buick LaCrosse include expanded availability of AWD and an all-new nine-speed automatic transmission for V-6 models that will provide customers with a smooth and refined shifting experience. By this time next year, five Buick models will offer this advanced transmission. In response to customer demand, Buick’s intelligent AWD with active twin clutch is now available on the Essence trim level.

In addition, the 2018 LaCrosse will have three new exterior color options: Satin Steel Metallic, Dark Slate Metallic and Red Quartz Tintcoat.

About eAssist

Buick’s eAssist propulsion system combines a compact electric motor and an advanced 24-cell air-cooled 0.45kWh lithium-ion battery pack with the 2.5L four-cylinder gas engine to enhance efficiency and maintain refined performance through:

1. Motor Generator Unit (MGU): Replaces the traditional alternator and acts as an electric motor to assist the engine when needed. It also acts as an electric generator providing the energy stored in the lithium-ion battery pack.

2. Electric Assist: The MGU’s electric motor function provides a power boost for an extremely smooth launch from the Auto-Stop mode. It funnels additional torque to the engine when needed to optimize overall driving performance and efficiency.

3. Regenerative Braking: When braking or coasting, some of the energy normally lost is converted to electricity through the MGU and stored in the lithium-ion battery pack.

4. Lithium-Ion Battery Pack: The 86V lithium-ion battery pack, which has been repackaged to be more compact, stores energy captured during regenerative braking. This energy powers the electrical system when the vehicle is in Auto-Stop mode. It also powers the MGU to provide a smooth launch from Auto-Stop mode or additional torque to the engine as needed.

5. Seamless Stop/Start Technology: Contributes to added fuel savings3 by seamlessly turning off the engine when in Auto-Stop mode (e.g., at a stoplight or in heavy traffic) and restarting when the foot lifts off the brake pedal or presses the accelerator.

6. Aero Improvement: Upper and lower active aero shutters in the front fascia close under certain driving conditions to help maximize aerodynamics and contribute to improved fuel economy.

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The Buick LaCrosse impresses at under $50k

The all-new 2017 Buick LaCrosse arrives this year as Buick’s design and technology flagship.

The all-new 2017 Buick LaCrosse arrives this year as Buick’s design and technology flagship.

Let me just start off by saying I love the 2017 Buick LaCrosse. My third car was a Buick. I went from a 1970 Chevy Nova to a 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme to a 1984 Buick Regal. Boy, did I love that Regal. It was my first “nice” car. That generation of the Regal’s body style ended after the 1987 model so it still actually looked somewhat current in the early to mid 90s.

Since then I’ve always had a little something for Buicks. I’m a rare breed, however, considering the rest of my friends are into BMW and Mercedes these days. But I grew up driving as a passenger in my Father’s Cadillac Eldorado – so I had my own idea of which characteristics defined luxury. And Buick was one step down on the luxury ladder at General Motors.

One of my favorite Buicks these days is the LaCrosse. The LaCrosse came about in 2004 as a midsize sedan replacing both the LeSabre and Century. Since then it’s grown into the full-size position basically replacing the Lucerne (more or less a Cadillac DTS) – which replaced the Park Avenue in 2005 as a 2006 model. The 2017 LaCrosse is a 310 horsepower 3.6 liter V6 and 282 lb ft of torque powered front wheel drive or all wheel drive sedan with a big trunk, a soft (but compliant) suspension and gets a combined 25 miles per gallon for fuel economy with it’s 8 speed automatic transmission.

For under $50,000 you’re getting everything you’d expect from a modern day luxury vehicle. You get heated and ventilated seats with a driver’s massage feature, lumbar support, eight way power positioning and firm but supple leather. Heads up display is something you never knew you needed. A heated steering wheel is a welcome feature in the winter up north. The back seat is a very pleasant place to be. Fit and finish is excellent and will probably surprise you. The eleven speaker Bose sound system is impressively clear even at full volume.

The exterior is, in my opinion, a big change from the previous generation. It’s more subdued. But more classy at the same time. It’s difficult to explain but it took a little time to grow on me. I really liked the previous second generation LaCrosse but this one just looks more expensive to me. Chrome ventiports remain on a somewhat curvaceous body.

If you’re into technology and “devices” you’ll feel right at home in the Buick LaCrosse with the technology package. IntelliLink combines OnStar with an interactive touchscreen interface with the ability to connect to 4G LTE wi-fi, navigation, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. If you like listening to streaming audio, apps like Pandora are compatible.

If you like the floaty Buicks of old – you may be disappointed by the suspension in new LaCrosse. It’s firmer. Tighter. But it’s not harsh in any way at all. It’s like the perfect combination of capability and suppleness. Bumps and potholes are well handled. The car keeps its composure and doesn’t rattle everyone around inside. Firmness can be adjusted and the car actually handles quite well in sport mode.

The LaCrosse is tomb-silent inside. Bank vault silent. Buick is definitely competing with Lexus here. QuietTuning keeps the cabin peaceful and serene no matter what’s happening outside. Place the car in sport mode, grab the paddle shifters and put the pedal to the metal and you’ll barely hear anything but a muffled growl of the engine as you accelerate. The car hits 60 miles per hour in about 6 seconds flat.

What car does the Buick LaCrosse compare most closely with? In my opinion? The Lexus ES. It’s big, comfortable, quiet, refined, classy, plenty powerful and luxurious. My only complaint about the LaCrosse is the inability to turn off the engine auto stop/start feature. This feature helps with fuel economy and is barely noticeable. However, I know some people don’t like it. I think Buick needs to address this and get a few more conquest sales as a result.