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Buick Introduces Apple CarPlay Capability

Apple CarPlay is standard in the 2016 model year Buick Regal and LaCrosse

2016 LaCrosse and Regal add phone integration technology

NEW YORK – 06.23.2015 – As the world becomes increasingly connected, Buick remains at the forefront of new applications and connectivity that provide customers with a seamless, integrated driving experience.

That legacy advances with new Apple CarPlay capability for smartphones offered in all 2016 Regal and LaCrosse models. Buick made the announcement at the C3 Connected Car Conference in New York City.

The technology connects a smartphone through Buick’s IntelliLink system, integrating applications such as navigation, hands-free text messaging, contact lists and entertainment apps for news or music onto the eight-inch-diagonal IntelliLink radio display. Later in the model year, Android Auto capability will also be offered with IntelliLink.

“Buick understands the importance of connectivity integration in everyday life and this new connection technology provides drivers with a smart and simple way to have all the conveniences of their mobile devices safely at their fingertips,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick. “It’s another step in building and implementing technology that consistently puts our customers first.”

Apple CarPlay takes the iPhone features customers want to access while driving and puts them on the vehicle’s display in a smart, simple manner. This allows drivers to make calls, send and receive messages and listen to music right from the touchscreen or by voice via Siri. Apple CarPlay-supported apps include Phone, Messages, Maps, Music and compatible third-party apps. A full list of those apps can be found at Apple.com/ios/carplay. Apple CarPlay is compatible with iOS 7.1 or higher.



Android Auto is built around Google Maps, Google Now and the ability to talk to Google, as well as a growing audio and messaging app ecosystem that includes WhatsApp, Skype, Google Play Music, Spotify and podcast players. A full list of supported apps is available at g.co/androidauto. Android Auto requires a phone running an Android Lollipop 5.0 operating system or higher.

Using both applications is simple. A “Projection” icon on the IntelliLink screen is visible when a phone is not connected, then changes to indicate CarPlay or Android Auto when a compatible phone is connected via USB.

A majority of the smartphone applications with the respective systems are controlled via voice commands through a steering wheel button, which ensures drivers keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Compatible apps need to be downloaded to a phone before using. Apple and Google’s privacy statements and terms of use apply. Data plan rates may also apply.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability complement the OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with Wi-Fi hotspot offered in all 2016 Buick models, including Verano, Encore and Enclave.

The state-of-the-art technology provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected wherever and whenever they like, with up to seven personal devices. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three gigabyte data trial, after which there is an option to purchase additional data.



 

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Buick Introduces the New 2014 LaCrosse

  • Elegant sedan featuring refreshed exterior with wing-shape LED lighting
  • New interior design with new seats and available Ultra Luxury Interior Package
  • New advanced technologies: next-gen IntelliLink, standard eight-inch color display instrument panel,  camera- and radar-based safety features that work with General Motors-patented Safety Alert Seat

NEW YORK – Buick today introduced the new 2014 LaCrosse, the evolution of the landmark luxury sedan that established the brand’s modern sedan lineup with design leadership and technological innovation.

The full-size LaCrosse offers new interior and exterior design cues, advanced safety technologies and enhanced in-vehicle connectivity. New front and rear styling, featuring signature wing-shape LED daytime running lamps and LED wraparound tail lamps, complements its sculpted exterior design. The interior is more contemporary, with new seats, enhanced materials, redesigned central instrument panel and console – and an all-new, available Ultra Luxury Interior Package. The cabin also incorporates Buick’s next-generation IntelliLink infotainment system, with intuitive controls and natural voice recognition.

New radar- and camera-based safety features help surround the new LaCrosse with protection. They include Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Change Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Automatic Collision Preparation. GM’s patented Safety Alert Seat works with these features, providing seat vibration pulses indicating the direction of a potential crash threat.

Adaptive Cruise Control is also offered. It senses traffic in front of the LaCrosse to adjust vehicle speed, including stopping the vehicle in heavy traffic and accelerating again.

“We evolved the interior and exterior design, increased luxury amenities and materials, and enhanced the safety and personal technologies to give customers more reasons than ever to rediscover Buick,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing.

Globally, LaCrosse sales have exceeded 500,000 since its 2009 introduction and U.S. sales topped 57,000 in 2012, making it more popular than many other full-size luxury sedans, including Lexus ES, Acura TL and Lincoln MKS.

The 2014 LaCrosse is offered in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models and offers two powertrains: a 2.4L engine with eAssist light electrification technology or a 3.6L direct-injected V-6. Each is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

All models feature Buick’s QuietTuning engineering process that reduces, blocks and absorbs unwanted noise from the LaCrosse’s cabin, making it one of the quietest in the segment.

The new LaCrosse makes its public debut at the New York International Auto Show, where it will be on display March 29-April 7. It goes on sale this summer.

Ultra Luxury Interior Package

Sangria seating color and Ebony accents, with semi-aniline leather seats and trim, along with Shadow Tamo Ash wood décor, represents LaCrosse’s new Ultra Luxury Interior Package.

“The warm color combinations, premium interior materials and advanced technology in the 2014 LaCrosse provide the interior environment our discerning luxury customers are seeking,” said Ven Lai, Buick creative designer for color and trim.

The new Ultra Luxury Interior Package features premium semi-aniline leather. It covers the seats, console armrest and door armrests and is complemented by synthetic suede on the headliner and door pillars. The Sangria contrast color with the Ultra Luxury interior is exclusive to LaCrosse.

2014 BUICK LACROSSE PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

Overview

Model: 2014 LaCrosse FWD/AWD
Body style / driveline: front-drive/all-wheel-drive, front-engine, four-door, five- passenger sedan
Construction: integral
EPA vehicle class: midsize sedan
Manufacturing location: Fairfax (Kan.) Assembly
Key competitors: Acura TL, Lexus ES350, Lincoln MKZ

 

Engines

Type: 2.4L DOHC I-4 3.6L V-6 VVT DI
Displacement (cu in / cc): 145 / 2384 217 / 3564
Bore & stroke (in / mm): 3.46 x 3.85 / 88 x 98 3.7 x 3.37 / 94 x 85.6
Block material: precision sand-cast aluminum cast aluminum
Cylinder head material: cast aluminum cast aluminum
Valvetrain: DOHC with four valves per cylinder; continuously variable valve timing DOHC with four valves per cylinder; continuously variable valve timing
Ignition system: individual coil-on-plug individual coil-on-plug; individual cylinder knock control
Fuel delivery: direct injection and electronic throttle control direct injection
Compression ratio: 11.2:1 11.5:1
Horsepower

(hp / kW @ rpm):

182 / 136 @ 6700 rpm SAE certified 304 / 227 @ 6800 SAE certified
Torque

(lb.-ft. / Nm @ rpm):

172 / 233 @ 4900 rpm SAE certified 264 / 358 @ 5300 SAE certified
Recommended fuel: regular unleaded regular unleaded or E85 (E85 capability not available in Northeast states with PZEV emissions)
Emissions controls: close-coupled, catalytic converter; continuously variable valve timing; positive crankcase ventilation evaporative system; supplemental air injection system, partial zero emissions vehicle capable (eAssist) dual close-coupled catalysts and single underfloor catalyst; variable valve timing, evaporative system
Fuel economy (city / hwy): TBD TBD

 

Transmissions

Type: Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic
Application: 2.4L four-cylinder 3.6L V-6
Gear ratios: (:1):
First: 4.58 4.48
Second: 2.96 2.87
Third: 1.91 1.84
Fourth 1.45 1.41
Fifth: 1.00 1.00
Sixth: 0.75 0.74
Reverse: 2.94 2.88
Final drive ratio: 2.64 2.77

 

Electric Drive System (for eAssist)

Type: belt-driven, liquid-cooled motor/generator unit and lithium-ion battery system; air-cooled power electronics and battery pack
Maximum electric generating power: 15 kW @ 1570-3180 rpm
Maximum electric motor torque (cranking): 110 lb.-ft. / 150 Nm
Maximum electric motor torque (electric assist): 79 lb.-ft. / 107 Nm @ 1,000 rpm
Maximum electric motor power (electric assist): 15 hp / 11.2 kW @ 1,000-2,200 rpm
Lithium-ion battery: 115V, 0.5-kWh, 15 kW peak power

 

Chassis / Suspension

Suspension (front): MacPherson strut coil-over-spring; twin-tube dampers with gas-charged valving; hollow direct-acting stabilizer bar (eAssist and 3.6L FWD/AWD without Touring Package);HiPer Strut coil-over-spring; twin-tube dampers with gas-charged valving; hollow direct-acting stabilizer bar; real-time damping and Sport Mode Selectivity (3.6L FWD with Touring Package)
Suspension (rear): four-link (eAssist and 3.6L FWD without Touring Package); H-arm (3.6L AWD); H-arm with real-time damping and Sport Mode Selectivity (3.6L FWD with Touring Package)
Steering type: electric variable-effort power steering (eAssist and FWD V-6); power variable-effort: (AWD models)
Steering ratio: 15.2:1
Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock: 2.75
Turning circle (ft / m): 36.8 / 11.2 (eAssist); 38.8 / 11.75

 

Brakes

Type: split, dual-circuit four-wheel-disc with power assist
Rotor diameter x thickness

(in / mm):

V-6: front: 12.6 x 1.2 / 321 x 30 (vented)

rear: 12.4 x 0.9 / 315 x 23 (vented)

eAssist: front: 11.7 x 1.2 / 296 x 30 (vented)

rear: 11.5 x 0.47 / 292 x 12 (solid)

 

Wheels / Tires

Wheel size and type: 17-in machined alloy (std w/ eAssist)18-in machine-faced alloy, painted (std on 1SB, 1SL, 1SP FWD V-6)

19-in painted, machined alloy (std on 1SL, 1SP AWD V-6)

19-in chrome alloy (std on 1SP FWD V-6, and opt on 1SL FWD V-6)

20-in alloy (std on 1SR)

Tires: P235/50R17 low rolling-resistance all-season (std w/ eAssist)

P235/50R18 all-season

P245/45R19 all-season

P245/40R20 all-season

 

Dimensions

Exterior

Wheelbase (in / mm): 111.7 / 2837
Overall length (in / mm): 197 / 5001
Overall width (in / mm): 73.1 / 1857
Overall height (in / mm): 59.2 / 1504
Track (in / mm): front: 61.7 / 1567

rear: 62 / 1575

Curb weight (lb / kg): 3765 / 1708 (eAssist – estimated)

3906 / 1772 (3.6L V-6 – estimated)

Interior

Seating capacity: 2 / 3
Headroom (in / mm): front: 38 / 965

rear: 37.3 / 947

Legroom (in / mm): front: 41.7 / 1059

rear: 40.5 / 1029

Shoulder room (in / mm): front: 57.4 / 1459

rear: 56 / 1423

Hip room (in / mm): front: 55.2 / 1402

rear: 53.9 / 1369

 

Capacities

EPA interior volume

(cu ft / L):

99 / 2805
Passenger volume (cu ft / L): 101.7 / 2878
Cargo volume (cu ft / L): 10.8 / 306 (2.4L eAssist)

13.3 / 376 (3.6L V-6)

Trailer towing maximum

(lb / kg):

1000 / 454 (3.6L V-6)
Fuel capacity (gal / L): 15.7 / 59.4 (eAssist)

18 / 70 (3.6L V-6)

Engine oil (qt / L): 5 / 4.7 (2.4L)

5.5 / 5.2 (3.6L)

Cooling system ( qt / L): 9.6 /12 (2.4L)

7.6 / 7.2 (3.6L)

*SAE certified.

Note: Information shown is current at time of publication.

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Discuss the Buick LaCrosse with other owners and enthusiasts at www.buickforums.com – or just go directly to the Buick LaCrosse forum.

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Quiet Cabin Makes Buick LaCrosse a Better Listener

Speech engine picks up accents and dialects from IntelliLink voice commands

DETROIT – When General Motors speech recognition engineer Robert Sims worked to develop one of the industry’s first in-car hands-free calling systems years ago, his goal was to make the call quality clear enough that his wife wouldn’t hang up on him.

Today, Buick’s IntelliLink system can do far more than place a call, and QuietTuning technologies like those in the LaCrosse luxury sedan make using voice controls easier for owners regardless of marital or relationship status.

QuietTuning is Buick’s comprehensive engineering process to reduce, block and absorb interior noise. For LaCrosse, that means features like laminated window glass, triple door seals and liquid applied sound deadening.

“There’s definitely an advantage when we’re developing voice controls in a quieter cabin,” said Sims. “The system’s ability to hear a command relies on SNR, or signal-to-noise ratio. If noise is extremely low like it is in the LaCrosse, the user’s voice, or signal, can be lower. In other words, a LaCrosse driver can easily speak to the IntelliLink system at a normal, conversational volume.”

As someone who drives an 80-mile commute each day, quietness and minimizing distractions are a personal matter for Sims. That’s helped drive him to make Buick’s IntelliLink voice commands simple, intuitive and designed around the controls drivers need most.

With IntelliLink – standard on every 2013 Buick – drivers can use voice commands to control navigation and audio functions with the push of a button while keeping eyes on the road. With a smartphone paired, IntelliLink’s voice commands can even tune to a Pandora internet radio station or “like” a song.

How does it work? Using a microphone in the cabin’s headliner – optimally placed by Sims and his team – the system uses a speech engine to match spoken words to known voice commands. When the engine finds a match, that command is executed.

“We’ve also designed the system with speaker adaptation, which means the engine is trained for different accents or dialects,” said Sims. “It can begin to predict speech patterns based on those models. Your LaCrosse remembers your speech patterns even after the car is turned off and on, but it can also identify another user and predict his or her patterns as well.”

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