There are things we enjoy about the new LaCrosse, things we hate and things that leave us furl-browed as we try to reconcile the package with its price point and place in the GM universe. The LaCrosse is a beautiful car in person, borrowing proportion from the much-lauded 1993 Lexus GS which was penned by Giugiaro. The interior is handsome too, with sweeping lines, modern styling and enough ambient lighting to shake a cane at. Though it's got the looks, your enjoyment of the LaCrosse is a direct function of your age and the trim level you choose.

A Buick-loving octogenarian will absolutely adore the basic CX, this entry trim comes with a 3.0 liter, 255 HP direct injection V6 hooked to a standard six-speed automatic, 17-inch wheels, AM/FM/CD, A/C and very, very cushy muppet-soft cloth interior. It's a simple car, without unnecessary and complex gadgetry, good feel to buttons, knobs and switches and very capable when it comes to performance. Acceleration is strong, smooth and actually enjoyable. The transmission is well sorted with shift points exactly where you'd expect and none of the hunting you dread. We even managed 30 MPG during highway cruising. The interior is so quiet you can hold conversations at 100 MPH without even hearing the engine. Laminated acoustic glass, liberal use of sound deadening material and careful engineering of powertrain mounts make Buick's slang term to describe cabin noise, "coffin-quiet," accurate, despite the foreboding overtones for aged customers. What we were pleased to find in even the base LaCrosse is a suspension capable of insulating without isolating. It certainly soaks up bumps and coarse road surfaces, but the car is also easy to handle at any speed. It's confident and easy to drive faster around a clover-leaf than your Grandpa's slowed reactions will allow. The CX's hydraulic steering is comfortably overboosted and on-center feel is a bit numb, but so are the buyers' hands.

Stepping up to the mid range CXL, where Buick expects to see the bulk of its sales, you get magnetically assisted power steering, an optional Haldex all-wheel drive system with electronic limited-slip differential and significantly upgraded interior appointments. Cloth seats move to leather, a super basic radio readout goes to a navigation and entertainment screen, 17s become 18s and, overall, you get more of the pampering. Think of this as the choice for tech-savvy 60-somethings. The wood on these cars is quite impressive or, rather, we should say fake wood. Magnification may be necessary to confirm the screen-printing. It's really quite remarkable. What isn't remarkable is the center console storage space. For large cars in a luxury segment, the cubbies and storage in the LaCrosse are pretty terrible. There's a small shallow bin at your elbow with a USB port and a 12V power point, as well as a small shelf, but nothing big enough to store your fanny pack full of medication in. There are expandable map pockets, which we'd never thought a necessity and now know are not. The cupholders pop out to reveal a storage space good for... well, nothing really. A couple bottles of prescription drugs smuggled over from Canada perhaps, but nothing else.

Punching into the lucrative "middle manager in his 50s" demographic, you have the big-daddy CXS with the 3.6 liter V6 making 280 HP, the variable orifice dampers good for real-time damping adjustments (optional on the CXL), optional 19" wheels and heated and cooled seats. You get a bigger price tag and more equipment, but not a lot more car. Acceleration, though stated as 6.5 seconds instead of the 3.0 V6's 8.0 seconds, doesn't feel appreciably faster. The real time damping system doesn't really real time damp much better than the stock system. The gauge cluster can be had with a full-color info center, but other than provide eye-candy, it doesn't provide additional information. The sky-view sunroof is nice, but it can be had on the CXL as well.

The most nagging problems with the LaCrosse are the nagging problems with Buick in general. What is the point of the car and the brand? It sits betwixt the working-class, but honest, Chevy product lineup, where the slightly smaller Malibu offers an arguably better value proposition and the upper crust Cadillac brand, which is sportier, more aggressive and filled with slick technology. The Buick feels like the ignored middle grandchild between the two brands. It can't be too affordable or it's peeing in Chevy's pool and it can't be too luxurious or Caddys become overpriced.

The middle ground is a bewildering place, and it shows in the LaCrosse's execution. The interior is quiet, yes, but not without its flaws, material choice are occasionally mediocre, with the dreaded GM flat gray and beige plastic making an unexpected reappearance. There are hard plastic panels at knee points where there should be soft; rubberized plastic across the dash where it should be leather and a bizarre application of real stitching into fake leather to simulate a French seam which isn't even there. Everything inside is very pretty, until you look closely at it. The whole car makes you scratch your head, especially when you look at the price tag. Our entry CX with a base price of $27,085 was optioned out to $30k while looking inside and out like a rental car special. The powertrain and chassis was still lovely, but wrapped up in a box of meh-spec materials. Our AWD CXL started at $31k and was optioned out to an eye-watering $40,205; the CXS we tested was a darling to drive and came with a base price of $33K but crossed the options finish line around $39,195, somewhat dear for a FWD-only ride. There are an unbelievable number of entry luxury cars in the segment, ranging from the Hyundai Genesis to the Lexus ES, we see a great amount of potential in this platform, but we're afraid without a strong statement of purpose, the LaCrosse will wallow in a market filled with strong contenders.

Everyone knows there're better cars to sleep with than a 2010 Buick LaCrosse or a 2009 Buick Enclave. We mean, don't get us wrong, Buick's new design's light-years better than what we've seen from Buick in the past — umm, two decades — but by no means is it enough for us to want to spend the night with one. There's just something about a high plastic belt-line that makes us think "grandma" — and not in the sexy way. Well, not without a lot of coke and hard liquor. And is the message of "If you're young, you'll need drugs and alcohol to want one of our cars" really what Buick wants to be getting across to the public? We think not.

Consider the 182 HP, 172 lb-ft four cylinder LaCrosse the el-cheapo model which make the 3.0 liter and 3.5 liter versions possible. GM's expecting about a 25% take rate on the slowmobile version, and considering the volatility in the fuel markets it's likely to hit that target. We won't whine too much about the inclusion of the Ecotec in the LaCrosse's engine lineup, it's not a bad mill, and really how much power do you want under grandma's right foot?

A fuel-efficient, direct injected Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder engine will be the third engine offered in the 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan. Backed by a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission, the new powertrain combination is expected to deliver fuel economy of 30 mpg highway and 20 mpg city*– making LaCrosse one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment.

"Buick LaCrosse customers will have the fuel-efficient option of the Ecotec 2.4L direct injection engine, a four-cylinder that is not available by key competitors, such as the Lincoln MKZ and Acura TL," said Susan Docherty, Buick-Pontiac-GMC vice president. "Features such as a rear-seat entertainment system and remote starting are other technologies that are segment exclusives, contributing to LaCrosse's balanced package of design, performance and intelligent technology."

The Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder joins the lineup later this year as the standard engine in the LaCrosse CX. Direct injection technology helps it deliver 182 horsepower (136 kW) and 172 lb-ft. of torque (233 Nm). Buick expects about 25 percent of customers will opt for 2.4L-equipped models.

The 2.4L's injection of fuel directly into the combustion chamber enables a higher compression ratio to increase efficiency and horsepower. That means more power is made with less fuel and lower emissions. In fact, cold-start emissions are reduced by up to 25 percent with direct injection. Engineers tuned the Ecotec 2.4L engine to deliver greater torque at lower rpm and build it smoothly toward its peak at 4,900 rpm, giving the Buick LaCrosse excellent performance in all driving conditions.

"Direct injection is a key component of GM's ongoing strategy to use advanced propulsion technology to help us deliver more fuel-efficient cars today and in the future," said Tom Stephens, vice chairman, Global Product Development. "GM is using multiple technology pathways to achieve increased efficiency and to diversify energy sources – and we're applying them where they make the most sense for customers when it comes to efficiency, performance and cost."

Every engine in the LaCrosse lineup is direct injected and matched with a fuel-saving six speed automatic transmission. Along with the Ecotec 2.4L, a new, direct injected 3.0L V-6 is offered and a larger-displacement, more powerful 3.6L V-6 is standard on the LaCrosse CXS model.

Quiet, low-maintenance performance

As with the 3.0L and 3.6L V-6 engines, the Ecotec 2.4L is designed to deliver exceptional quietness with low maintenance requirements and minimal environmental impact – including 100,000-mile service life ratings for the spark plugs and accessory drive belt. It is also equipped with GM's Oil Life system, which uses a sophisticated algorithm to determine when it's time for an oil change. The system calculates the oil life based on a variety of closely monitored variables, such as engine speed, temperature, load and others, allowing fewer oil changes over the life of the vehicle for a significantly reduced amount of used oil that must be recycled.

LaCrosse and Buick's renaissance

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan is the newest example of the globally influenced product renaissance at Buick. It offers all-wheel drive, a suite of advanced intelligent personal technologies and safety features, and great styling that blends heritage cues with modern design.

"The new LaCrosse builds on the success of Enclave as the next step in Buick's renaissance," said Docherty. "It will attract a whole new type of buyer to our dealerships, as Buick strengthens its position as one of GM's core brands."

At $27,835, you get a LaCrosse equipped with a 255 HP 3.0-liter direct-injection V6 with a six-speed automatic and 17-inch wheels. Moving up the scale a notch is the CXL which dons 18-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, and leather for $30,395, with all-wheel drive a $2,175 option.The big poppa LaCrosse CXS, with the 3.6-liter direct-injection 280 HP V6, all-wheel-drive starts, heated and cooled seats, and other fancy bits starts at $33,765 Options like the active dampers, automatic parking system, rear seat DVD players and premium audio package are all options to pile on top.

Considering GM has set it's sights on the Lexus ES 350 at $35,145, which isn't exactly a looker lately, we suspect the LaCrosse will sell like hotcakes. Well, hotcakes everybody thinks are only eaten by old people. We just want to don our blue wigs and throw it at a track to see what this car can do. [Edmunds Straighline]

Say what you will about Buick as a brand for old people, but the new 2010 Buick LaCrosse does it up with styling designed to attract a younger crowd (in their 50's), a comfortable, well appointed interior and enough gadgets to make technogeeks happy. Add to it direct injection V6's and a six speed transmission with optional all wheel drive and an active suspension and you have a proposition for decidedly un-Buick-like performance.

BUICK TRANSFORMATION CONTINUES WITH THE 2010 LACROSSE LUXURY SEDAN
* Sculpted styling defines Buick’s modern global design

* Luxurious interior crafted of premium materials with cool blue ambient lighting

* Intelligent personal technologies enhance the driving experience

* Responsive performance via efficient direct injection dual overhead cam engines paired with six-speed automatic transmissions

DETROIT – Redesigned from the ground up, the 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan makes its world debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 12. The LaCrosse offers all-wheel-drive, a suite of advanced intelligent personal technologies and safety features, and a choice of two fuel-saving V-6 engines.

“The new LaCrosse was created with great attention to detail, craftsmanship and advanced technology,” said Susan Docherty, Buick-Pontiac-GMC vice president. “It builds on the success of Enclave as the next step in Buick’s transformation. And, as with Enclave, our goal is to attract a whole new buyer to our dealerships for LaCrosse.”

Sculpted design

Buick’s long heritage of leading designs, such as the Y-Job Concept, the Roadmaster and the Riviera, helped define American automobile design through the years, according to Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. Today, Buick design is a product of a global team and resources. Creative collaboration between designers in the United States and China, in partnership with the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) as well as chassis and body engineers in Europe resulted in the first General Motors vehicle to be created on three continents.

“The new LaCrosse is intended to represent modern elegance,” said Welburn. “Throughout the design, you experience a balance of contrasts. Both the interior and exterior have been designed with harmony in mind. The exterior balances taut, sculpted lines with sensuous accents and surfaces. Inside, smoked chrome accents, warm wood, first-class leather and materials combine with cool blue ambient lighting to create an inviting environment.”

The exterior design is faithful to the Buick Invicta show car introduced at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

“It is instantly recognizable as a Buick, with its signature ‘sweep spear’ body-side styling, portholes inside the character line on the hood, and waterfall grille,” added Welburn.

Luxurious interior experience

Inside, the two-tone interior is defined by a flowing, uninterrupted design theme that wraps around the instrument and door panels. Attention to detail is evident throughout the interior, including the analog instrument cluster, chrome offset by dark wood accents, and the contrasting thread and French stitching on the instrument panel.

Buick’s signature QuietTuning – an engineering process to reduce, block and absorb interior noise – provides a distraction-free passenger environment.

An unexpected, inviting touch is the cool blue ambient lighting throughout the cabin from the center console, instrument panel and door panels.

Intelligent personal technologies

The contemporary atmosphere of the cabin includes the digital connectivity and personal technology offered in the new LaCrosse. That includes features such as in-dash navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, an auxiliary audio input and a USB port. For rear-seat passengers, a power rear-window sunshade and a DVD entertainment system, with two display screens integrated into the seatbacks, is available.

LaCrosse’s intelligent technologies also work to deliver a 360-degree field of vision behind the steering wheel, for a greater feeling of comfort, security, and safety. It starts with the available heads-up display in the windshield, allowing the driver to monitor speed without taking his or her eyes off the road. At night, the available adaptive lighting package can direct the high-intensity discharge headlight beams up to 15 degrees for enhanced illumination of the road and its curves.

LaCrosse offers Side Blind Zone alert that notifies the driver if a vehicle in adjacent lanes is traveling in the driver’s blind spot. The LaCrosse is also available with a rear-view camera, with the display integrated into the navigation-system screen.

The technology available on LaCrosse enhances a suite of standard safety features that is designed to meet the criteria for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 20 Star Safety Rating. Highlights include front-, side-, and roof-mounted head-curtain air bags, StabiliTrak stability- and traction-control system. The safety and security of OnStar is also included for the first year of ownership.

Responsive performance

LaCrosse’s stiff body structure serves as the foundation for precise suspension tuning, safety and a quiet ride. Buyers can choose from a family of efficient, direct-injection six-cylinder engines and a fuel-conserving six-speed automatic transmission with tap-up/tap-down control.

The direct injection engines in the LaCrosse create more power with less fuel and reduce vehicle emissions through greater combustion control – particularly cold-start emissions that are reduced by up to 25-percent.

The 2010 LaCrosse will be offered in three models - CX, CXL and CXS:

* CX – equipped with a new 3.0L direct injection V-6, premium cloth seats and 17-inch wheels. The 3.0L engine generates an estimated of 255 horsepower (190 kW) and 211 lb.-ft. torque (286 Nm) and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

* CXL – also equipped with the new 3.0L direct injection V6, adds leather-appointed heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lamps, outside rearview mirror with LED turn indicators and puddle lamps, and 18-inch wheels. Intelligent AWD is available.

* CXS – equipped with a 3.6L direct injection V-6; real-time active-dampening suspension; perforated, leather-appointed, heated and cooled seats, and chrome-plated 18-inch wheels (19-inch optional). The 3.6L engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, generates an estimated 280 horsepower (209 kW) and 261 lb.-ft. of torque (354 Nm).

LaCrosse production will begin this summer at the Fairfax Assembly facility in Kansas City, Kan.

This 2010 Buick LaCrosse thumbs its nose at Buick stereotypes with handsome styling and an options list a mile long. Over the last several decades, the idea of a Buick with flip-up DVD players in the rear passenger compartment would have elicited a question on whether a DVD box set of Matlock was included in the purchase price. As the second car in the Buick revolution, and the first Buick Sedan with all-wheel-drive, it has a lot to prove.

GM is positioning the LaCrosse in the "near luxury" segment. Those are cars like the Lexus ES350, Toyota Avalon, and Chrysler 300 Limited, a tough crowd to say the least. Well, except maybe the last one. But, with the average historical age for Buick customers in their 70's, Enclave buyers in their 50's with intenders in their 40's; the brand's strategy of presenting boomers with the tech they're used to in a mid-luxe environment with an affordable price may actually have a shot of working.

The LaCrosse embraces technology in ways its predecessor doesn't. The car wears every tech buzzword; Bluetooth, GPS, ambient lighting, an eight inch touch screen, heads up displays borrowed from the Corvette, timeshift radio, road-following headlights, pop-up DVD players, power rear sunshade, USB inputs, blind spot warning sensors, and a back up camera. Something of a quantum leap from the LaCrosse's current incarnation as a staid fogey-mobile.


That kind of tech is available on practically everything these days, so what sets the LaCrosse apart? Well, it's the way the systems are packaged into a platform that wears it like a comfortable coat that defines the LaCrosse. When we took our first look at the car in GM's design dome at the Warren Technical Center, the fully-loaded interior managed to feel light and airy, largely due to the sweeping curved surfaces and a huge two-piece moonroof overhead.

Airy it may be, but it targets class leading levels of fit and finish as well as noise isolation as some of its most important benchmarks. The Buick team calls it "library quiet" but we'll have to judge that for ourselves when we get a road test. We can say the materials, surface finishes, knobs and buttons are first rate, while gaps, squeaks and rattles are nowhere to be found on the hand-built version of the car we saw. It also carries over what will be Buick design elements going forward; French stitched seams, smoked chrome trim, and contrasting wood trim. Actually, we should say simulated wood trim, though it's the best fake wood trim we've ever seen, it fooled us.

The exterior of the LaCrosse strikes an unfamiliar pose for Buick; solid, crafted, actually stylish. Shockingly so. The shape reminds us of the first generation Giugiaro-penned Lexus GS300, and that's a compliment. It also retains the signature Buick waterfall grille, but the fender portholes become hood portholes, which, actually works pretty well. The side showcases what Buick is terming the "sweep spear body side," which in non-designer terms means the body line that runs from the headlights to the tail, with the kick-up in front of the rear wheels. The tail end gets all-LED lights and a trunk mounted on a yoke hinge that makes the space more useful.

On the hardware front it delivers as well. Motivation comes from one of two direct injection V6 engines. The base level is a 3.0-liter mill that makes 255 HP and 211 lb-ft torque, the optional engine is a 3.6-liter DI V6 with 280 HP and 261 lb-ft of torque. Both get hooked to a six-speed auto transmission (paddle shift option on the 3.6) but you get to choose front or all-wheel-drive. Now, as far as that all wheel drive system goes, it's something that'll make your standard Buick driver's toupee spin. It comes with an electronic limited slip differential, and a distribution system able to transfer up to 85% power to the rear wheels. That's not the only trick up the LaCrosse's sleeve. The dampers are a new system for GM, think of them as the light version of GM's magnetorheological dampers. They utilize a standard damping fluid but vary the diameter of the damping orifice in the shock, that means without using highly complex controls and extremely expensive fluids, the LaCrosse can vary the spring and damping rate at each wheel independently. If you can manage to have all four wheels on a different road surface, the LaCrosse will adjust all of them to maximize ride or comfort, depending on driving mode. Yeah. Whoa.
There are things we can't get on board about with the new LaCrosse — primarily, the odd, Aquafresh ambient lighting color — and — well, we actually can't come up with anything else at the moment. But aside from that, the car is quite a piece of work. Which makes us wonder, with an expected price range of $26,000 to $35,000, does the Buick risk infringing on Cadillac sales? Perhaps, but Buick's marketing team feels its customers are the kind of folks buying into the near luxury market but not looking to advertise it. More of a subtle luxury without the luxo-brand badge pricing, luxury without excess, if you will. We're not entirely sure we buy that, but those are their words, not ours.
For the first time in a long time, we're actually interested in seeing what a Buick will do on the track. There's something wrong here, someone take our collective temperatures.

BUICK TRANSFORMATION CONTINUES WITH THE 2010 LACROSSE LUXURY SEDAN
* Sculpted styling defines Buick’s modern global design

* Luxurious interior crafted of premium materials with cool blue ambient lighting

* Intelligent personal technologies enhance the driving experience

* Responsive performance via efficient direct injection dual overhead cam engines paired with six-speed automatic transmissions

DETROIT – Redesigned from the ground up, the 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan makes its world debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 12. The LaCrosse offers all-wheel-drive, a suite of advanced intelligent personal technologies and safety features, and a choice of two fuel-saving V-6 engines.

“The new LaCrosse was created with great attention to detail, craftsmanship and advanced technology,” said Susan Docherty, Buick-Pontiac-GMC vice president. “It builds on the success of Enclave as the next step in Buick’s transformation. And, as with Enclave, our goal is to attract a whole new buyer to our dealerships for LaCrosse.”

Sculpted design

Buick’s long heritage of leading designs, such as the Y-Job Concept, the Roadmaster and the Riviera, helped define American automobile design through the years, according to Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. Today, Buick design is a product of a global team and resources. Creative collaboration between designers in the United States and China, in partnership with the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) as well as chassis and body engineers in Europe resulted in the first General Motors vehicle to be created on three continents.

“The new LaCrosse is intended to represent modern elegance,” said Welburn. “Throughout the design, you experience a balance of contrasts. Both the interior and exterior have been designed with harmony in mind. The exterior balances taut, sculpted lines with sensuous accents and surfaces. Inside, smoked chrome accents, warm wood, first-class leather and materials combine with cool blue ambient lighting to create an inviting environment.”



The exterior design is faithful to the Buick Invicta show car introduced at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

“It is instantly recognizable as a Buick, with its signature ‘sweep spear’ body-side styling, portholes inside the character line on the hood, and waterfall grille,” added Welburn.

Luxurious interior experience

Inside, the two-tone interior is defined by a flowing, uninterrupted design theme that wraps around the instrument and door panels. Attention to detail is evident throughout the interior, including the analog instrument cluster, chrome offset by dark wood accents, and the contrasting thread and French stitching on the instrument panel.

Buick’s signature QuietTuning – an engineering process to reduce, block and absorb interior noise – provides a distraction-free passenger environment.

An unexpected, inviting touch is the cool blue ambient lighting throughout the cabin from the center console, instrument panel and door panels.

Intelligent personal technologies

The contemporary atmosphere of the cabin includes the digital connectivity and personal technology offered in the new LaCrosse. That includes features such as in-dash navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, an auxiliary audio input and a USB port. For rear-seat passengers, a power rear-window sunshade and a DVD entertainment system, with two display screens integrated into the seatbacks, is available.

LaCrosse’s intelligent technologies also work to deliver a 360-degree field of vision behind the steering wheel, for a greater feeling of comfort, security, and safety. It starts with the available heads-up display in the windshield, allowing the driver to monitor speed without taking his or her eyes off the road. At night, the available adaptive lighting package can direct the high-intensity discharge headlight beams up to 15 degrees for enhanced illumination of the road and its curves.

LaCrosse offers Side Blind Zone alert that notifies the driver if a vehicle in adjacent lanes is traveling in the driver’s blind spot. The LaCrosse is also available with a rear-view camera, with the display integrated into the navigation-system screen.

The technology available on LaCrosse enhances a suite of standard safety features that is designed to meet the criteria for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 20 Star Safety Rating. Highlights include front-, side-, and roof-mounted head-curtain air bags, StabiliTrak stability- and traction-control system. The safety and security of OnStar is also included for the first year of ownership.

Responsive performance

LaCrosse’s stiff body structure serves as the foundation for precise suspension tuning, safety and a quiet ride. Buyers can choose from a family of efficient, direct-injection six-cylinder engines and a fuel-conserving six-speed automatic transmission with tap-up/tap-down control.

The direct injection engines in the LaCrosse create more power with less fuel and reduce vehicle emissions through greater combustion control – particularly cold-start emissions that are reduced by up to 25-percent.

The 2010 LaCrosse will be offered in three models - CX, CXL and CXS:

* CX – equipped with a new 3.0L direct injection V-6, premium cloth seats and 17-inch wheels. The 3.0L engine generates an estimated of 255 horsepower (190 kW) and 211 lb.-ft. torque (286 Nm) and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

* CXL – also equipped with the new 3.0L direct injection V6, adds leather-appointed heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lamps, outside rearview mirror with LED turn indicators and puddle lamps, and 18-inch wheels. Intelligent AWD is available.

* CXS – equipped with a 3.6L direct injection V-6; real-time active-dampening suspension; perforated, leather-appointed, heated and cooled seats, and chrome-plated 18-inch wheels (19-inch optional). The 3.6L engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, generates an estimated 280 horsepower (209 kW) and 261 lb.-ft. of torque (354 Nm).

LaCrosse production will begin this summer at the Fairfax Assembly facility in Kansas City, Kan.

We first showed you our rendered speculation, thanks to KORSdesign, back in October and judging by the looks of it, we were spot on. The new Buick LaCrosse shown in these spy shots has lost most of the camo it wore in previous images, giving us a pretty clear view of the sumptuous body side surfaces and shoulder design. The shoulder design is a throwback to Buicks of yesteryear, but the younger crowd will compare it to Bentley’s Continental GT and it seems GM’s engineers have played the connection up with a front mask that resembles the Bentley’s headlights and grille.

While mostly covered, the headlamps and tail lights will heavily resemble those used on the 2008 Buick Invicta Concept and can be seen in our illustrated rendition.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse is the first car developed in the U.S. for GM’s new global front-wheel drive Epsilon II platform and will begin production in February 2009. Expect to see the LaCrosse at country clubs near you by mid-2009, but if you can’t wait, we’ll bring you live images from the Detroit Auto Show floor next month.
(Hat Tip to Scott!)

Although retaining the front engine/front wheel drive layout, the LaCrosse will now be perched upon GM's new Global Epsilon II platform. On the outside, the Buick LaCrosse is a radical departure from the frumpy vehicle of yesteryear and is now targeting a much younger audience in the same fashion as Cadillac a few years ago. Inspired by the Invicta concept car, the 2010 Buick LaCrosse carries much of the showcars design through to production. The most noticeable changes made from the Invicta are a higher DLO with less rake to the front windshield, smaller wheels and less tech in the headlights and taillights. The wheelbase has also been shortened from the concept car, but it’s not a very drastic change.

The biggest design departure from previous Buicks are the portholes. Yup, the "go-faster" holes have been relocated from the front quarter-panels onto the hood, nestled in a sharp inset crease. The traditional Buick waterfall grille has been reshaped and appears very modern in contrast to past Buicks, thanks to a machined finish with chrome strips on each of the slats, giving it a very jewel-like appearance. The headlights have a very strong design and pull rearward into the shoulder line.

The signature body line evokes classic Buick style, but the younger audience will most likely relate it to the Bentley Continental GT. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The DLO features a chrome strip that wraps very delicately toward the C-pillar and finishes in a very BMW-esque “kink”. The trunk wraps neatly into the C-pillar and is perched fairly high. The taillights somewhat mimic the headlights in that they are stretched forward, wrapping around the rear fender and run into the shoulder feature line. Chrome strips on the taillight lens carry that line across the rear and around the trunk. A large chrome strip sits above the license plate surround and encompasses the bold Buick badge. Dual chromed exhaust ports sit within the lower bumper surface and are a nice detail reminiscent of current luxury cars from Europe and Japan — especially the new Acura TL. Expect 17- and 18-inch wheels to be offered as standard with 19-inch chrome rollers in the style of the Invicta concept cars to be optional.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse interior will not lose anything in the translation from concept to production with the exception of material finishes. It will feature a hands free key with push button start/stop and ambient interior lighting.

Expect to see the 2010 Buick LaCrosse in person in November at the LA Auto Show and in Detroit in January for the Detroit Auto Show. The wait won’t be much longer from there as the LaCrosse is due to go on sale in early 2009.

Some say he has a tattoo of a Saleen S7 on his rear end. Others tell us he was born with a penchant for oil rather than his mum's milk. All we know is he's called the Auto Insider and he's always ready to provide the scoop from the other side of Eight Mile.

We caught a convoy of 2010 Buick Lacrosse prototypes running on public roads—this time with drastically reduced camouflage. Prior Lacrosse test vehicles had always been clad under oppressive covers, but now we can see all but the finest details on Buick's new sedan. The prototypes captured here definitely show a resemblance Buick's Invicta concept car shown in China earlier this year.

Two distinct prototypes were identified in the group: one with no visible exhaust tips and a clean rear bumper, the other with sporty dual exhaust tips cut into the bumper and larger, more aggressive wheels.

We also managed a revealing interior shot, showing the impressive feeling of craftsmanship that will be applied to the Lacrosse's passenger compartment. It looks as if Buick stylists have learned a lesson, or two, from the Cadillac CTS' interior design.

The test group had an interesting mix of comparison vehicles along for the ride, covering a wide range of market segments. Running alongside the Lacrosse prototypes were a Mercedes E-class, a Lincoln MKS, and a Volkswagen Passat.

Under the Invicta's porthole-punctuated hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four making 250 HP. Presumably, that power would be delivered to the front wheels, but since the 2010 LaCrosse will be riding on GM's Epsilon II platform, that might not be the only possibility. We just recently saw the 2009 Opel Insignia revealed, which is the first Epsilon II car. The Opel is available with all-wheel-drive, so who knows, maybe the Buick will have an AWD option too. Another possibility would be a hybrid model, seeing as the current Chinese-market LaCrosse already has this option. So go ahead and make your jokes about Janet Reno's underwear, we think Buick might just be ready to shed its retiree vibe. Full press release below:

Buick Evolves Global Design Inspiration Into Invicta Show Car

BEIJING - The sleek Buick Invicta show car revealed here in conjunction with Auto China 2008 is Buick's strongest statement yet of its deliberately international plans. The four-door midsize sedan with a coupe-like roofline presents bold direction for Buick's new generation of vehicles in the world's two biggest automotive markets - the United States and China.

Invicta has evolved from Buick concepts such as the 2004 Velite convertible and 2007 Riviera coupe, both of which received accolades for their thoroughly modern adaptation of classic Buick themes. Invicta was designed collaboratively by GM centers of expertise in Warren, Mich. and Shanghai, China. The name, which is Latin for "invincible," returns to Buick after a 45-year hiatus in the United States.

"Buick's global appeal created an opportunity for GM Design Centers to elevate our collaboration to new levels. Using our virtual reality centers in Warren and Shanghai, designers fused the best ideas from both cultures during the development of the Invicta," said Edward T. Welburn, vice president, General Motors Global Design. "The result will set a new design standard for Buick, and it couldn't have been achieved by one studio working in isolation. The Invicta represents another significant design milestone in Buick's history."

Invicta is powered by Buick's first direct injection turbocharged engine, a four-cylinder powerplant that produces 250 horsepower (186 kW) and 220 lb-ft (298 Nm) of torque. The engine is matched with a six-speed automatic transmission for maximum fuel efficiency.

Modern, sleek exterior

Invicta's designers drew inspiration from the Riviera concept. Invicta features modern and sleek proportions with exterior lines that flow uninterrupted around the vehicle. For example, Invicta's cat-eye headlamps transition into the Buick heritage-inspired sweepspear design cue, which flows seamlessly along the body sides and merges into the taillamps. Similarly, one can trace the top of the headlamp casing to the roofline and the rear of the vehicle without interruptions.

As with Riviera, Invicta features short overhangs with wheels pushed out to the corners for a well-planted stance. The overall appearance is sleek, thanks in part to a sweeping, low roofline and a front windshield that has an aggressive rake.

Up front, the Buick tri-shield is prominently displayed inside the Velite-inspired chrome vertical waterfall grille. Polished aluminum surrounding the headlamps, portholes, around the D-pillar and along the lower side of the vehicle on the lower doors accentuates the overall exterior design. Reminiscent of a number of historic Buick models, Invicta's portholes - three per side - are located on the hood rather than on the front quarter panels.

Invicta's wheelbase and high belt line give the vehicle more substantial proportions while visually reinforcing its premium appearance. Invicta's 20-inch polished aluminum wheels feature a milled Buick tri-shield in the center cap.

To signal its premium attributes while enhancing the vehicle's sleek proportions, Invicta's exterior is draped in a sumptuous AluStone color. Its warm beige tone contains wafer-thin flakes of aluminum that reflect light to emit a liquid gold appearance.

Flowing, crafted interior

The focus and attention to seamless transitions carry over inside Invicta. The doors merge to become one with the instrument panel, which morphs into the center console.

The wrap-around design of the interior and fluid design provide a spacious cabin for all passengers, especially those seated in the back of the vehicle. At nearly 100 cubic feet of interior space, Invicta delivers large-car comfort in a mid-size sedan. The sense of roominess is further accentuated by a full glass roof, which allows all passengers to enjoy the sights, day or night.

Invicta also showcases a high level of interior craftsmanship while creating an environment that is soothing, quiet, comfortable and inviting for all passengers.

The blending of premium materials - such as wood trim and polished aluminum accents, soft aniline leather, supple suede-like material and soothing Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting technology - encase passengers in Buick luxury.

Beyond its sumptuous appearance, Buick created a show car for the senses. Authentic French seam stitching on the soft-touch instrument panel pad, door panels and steering wheel invites touch. Buttons, switches and door pulls are crafted to deliver a tactile quality experience. Soft and soothing Ice Blue ambient LED lighting on the instrument panel, around the central vehicle function controls, along the console and center storage, and in the front footwells provoke visual sophistication. Two discriminating "spotlights" also accent the center point of the front and rear seats.

Buick introduced the Invicta in North America as a production vehicle in 1959. The Invicta show car is the first time the nameplate has appeared on a Buick in China.

BUICK INVICTA SPECIFICATIONS

Vehicle type: four-door, five-passenger luxury show car sedan

Wheelbase (in / mm): 114.5 / 2908

Length (in / mm): 194.2 / 4932

Width (in / mm): 73.8 / 1874

Height (in / mm): 57.7 / 1466

Track (in / mm): 64.4 / 1635 front; 64.5 / 1637 rear

Engine: 2.0L DOHC, direct injection turbo

Horsepower (kW): 250 / 186

Torque (Nm): 220 / 298

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Suspension: MacPherson strut, front; independent, rear

Brakes: four-wheel anti-lock disc

Wheels: polished aluminum, 20 in. x 8.5 in. with milled Buick emblem

Tires: P245/40R20

Opel Insignia: A New Design Language For A New Era

* Sculpted design with a flowing coupé silhouette
* Four-wheel drive, active chassis and seven engines available at launch
* World premiere July 2008 at the London Motor Show

Rüsselsheim. A new name, a new car, a new ambition. With its groundbreaking design and sophisticated technology, the Insignia makes a quantum leap toward rejuvenating the brand and providing the perfect opportunity to discover Opel. The styling of the new 4.83 meter five-seater clearly expresses Opel's strategy to make advanced technology and attractive design affordable.

The Insignia boasts a flowing, powerful silhouette with a coupé-like roofline. The body's sculpted shape is accented by a distinctive radiator grille with a newly-designed Opel emblem. Unmistakable design elements include a sweeping front and rear light "wing" signature and a "blade" side contour that begins directly behind the front wheel and glides through the entire side of the body. Both details give the Insignia's a muscular but graceful allure.

"With Insignia we are introducing an exciting new sophisticated design vocabulary, which combines sculptural artistry with German precision," says Mark Adams, Vice President Design, GM Europe. "Our aim was to develop a confident look which compels the world to experience for themselves the superb driving dynamics the Insignia radiates."

Echoing the exterior, the interior shapes and surfaces, which articulate this promise for exciting mobility, are crafted with high quality materials. The dashboard wraps around from the instrument panel to the door in a very sophisticated way, embracing the occupants. This wing theme will be echoed across all Opels. Red ambient lighting, which also will be featured in future Opel models, vibrate a warm, luxurious aura. A lot of emphasis too has been put into the seating, which set the highest standards in ergonomics, comfort and safety.

Opel's pioneering role and unique expertise in lighting technology continues in the Insignia with the latest generation AFL Adaptive Forward Lighting system: Nine different light beam settings automatically adjust themselves to cater to various driving conditions, simultaneously enhancing safety and driving excitement. Another new element on the AFL system is the LED daytime running lights, which consume considerably less energy than a conventional system featuring halogen lamps, thereby lowering CO2 emissions from 6 g/km to nearly zero.

"As each feature demonstrates, the Insignia is the result of our quest to develop a car that combines striking design, excellent driving dynamics and innovative technology" says Hans H. Demant, Managing Director, Adam Opel GmbH.

The Insignia is offered from the start with front-wheel and all-wheel drive. The "Adaptive 4X4" system's proactive, instantaneous torque distribution not only ensures optimal traction but also enhances driving stability and dynamic handling performance. In the all-wheel drive Insignia, the FlexRide mechatronic chassis system with its Adaptive Stability Technology helps the car adjust to prevailing driving conditions and allows the driver to select settings to match his mood. FlexRide is also available in the front-wheel version.

The Insignia will launch with an exceptionally broad range of seven engines. All meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come with either manual or automatic six-speed transmissions. The four gasoline engines range from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp. The three new direct-injection diesels feature a displacement of 2.0 liter and outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp. Subsequently the Insignia engine line-up will be expanded with an EcoFLEX version offering very low CO2 emissions in addition to other, more powerful variants.

"The Opel Insignia sets new standards in technology and innovation — this will be obvious right from the launch. But we are keeping several cards up our sleeves when it comes to environmental compatibility, excitement and safety, which we will play strategically overtime" says Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer, GM Europe.

The Insignia notch- and hatchback will debut July 22, 2008 at the London Motor Show and hit showrooms starting in November. The Insignia was developed at GM Europe's International Technical Development Center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, which also is home to its production. The Rüsselsheim facility is one of the most advanced car plants in the industry.

Then we broke all the windows on the car and nearly ripped the car doors out. It was quite a scene. But the car was solidly built as the front window never came off.

These are the very first pictures of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, and trust me - these were not easy to catch! Although these were caught in public areas, General Motors had two security guards for round-the-clock coverage - even though thick car cover with huge locks were placed on the camouflaged prototypes when the engineers weren't around. And, surprisingly, these were driven on the roads only 10 to 30 minutes total each of the days that we did surveillance on them. Far less than we expected, but we still managed to get quality photos. Codenamed GMX353, this second generation LaCrosse will be riding on the new (global) front-wheel-drive Epsilon II platform. It will be the first car in the United States to use this architecture. Production is expected to start at the Fairfax facility in February of 2009, reaching dealerships shortly afterwards as a 2010 model. Annual production numbers in the 65-75K range are expected.

A reporter at the Road that is never unWinding says a GM Shanghai exec confirmed the Buick Lacrosse will get a hybrid powertrain. But the hybrid-drive version of the Buick it's-a-dirty-word-in-Canada model will be for China only. As WR reports, no confirmation of a US variant is forthcoming. The report also indicates the powertrain will be a version of the Belt-Alternator Starter kit, a mild hybrid system used in Saturns Aura and Vue that improves mileage about 10 percent. The LaCrosse hybrid will also be GM's first hybrid in China, which has yet to take up hybrids in any significant number, though both Chery and Geely have announced plans to produce hybrids. Maybe China is bizarro US car market after all. – Mike Spinelli

Buick Set To Get First-Ever Hybrid In '08 - But There's A Catch... [Winding Road]

Related:
China's Hybrid Race: Chery to Show Hybrid at Beijing Show, Others to Follow? [internal]

For 2008, the brand that even the General's vice-chairman wonders whether they got to in time, is going retro. The company's reintroducing the "Super" designation from the early 1950s. "Super," not to be confused with its hetero-life-mate, "Duper" was the umm...actually we're not sure what it used to be...as near as we can remember and as near as we can tell from the releases, Buick's "Super designation was:

"The name Super, evoking the glamour and elegance of rail travel of the late '30s, harks back to a time when America was on the upswing, having weathered the trials of the Great Depression, but had not seen the horrors of a second world war that was on the horizon."

BUICK LACROSSE SEDAN GETS NEW FACE OF BUICK AND MORE EQUIPMENT STANDARD

NEW YORK - Buick will freshen its 2008 LaCrosse line with the new face of Buick - a front-end design inspired by the Velite convertible concept - and an elevated list of standard equipment across all LaCrosse models.

Like the recently introduced Buick Enclave luxury crossover and Super models, the 2008 LaCrosse features a more distinctive front end. The new design brings the 2008 LaCrosse sedan in line with a common Buick family appearance. The fascia, hood and chrome waterfall grille are new. The 2008 model will also offer four new exterior colors, including: Scarlett Red, Gold Mist Metallic, Dark Mocha Metallic and Dark Slate Metallic.

Inside, the '08 LaCrosse continues to offer a well-equipped, comfortable and quiet interior. More comfort and convenience features are now standard for CX, CXL and CXS models for 2008. The LaCrosse CX, for example, is a richer entry-level car, adding a leather-wrapped steering wheel, theft deterrent system, illuminated vanity mirrors, driver information center personalization and more. All trim levels now have a chrome exterior appearance package, remote starting, XM Satellite Radio, telescoping steering wheel column, redundant steering wheel controls and dual-zone climate control as added standard equipment.

"LaCrosse really started the evolution to the new Buick you see today," said Buick General Manager Steve Shannon. "It introduced a new direction for Buick cars with great design, performance and fuel economy with a premium and quiet interior. Indeed, LaCrosse set the foundation for the new Buick."

The LaCrosse line now offers three powertrains. The CX and CXL trims are powered by the 3.8L V-6, now in Series III form. With more than 25 million sold, it is one of the most proven and reliable engines in the industry. Rated at 200 horsepower (149 kW), the 3.8L features electronic throttle control to improve engine response and optimize fuel efficiency, along with upgrades for quiet operation.

The performance-oriented LaCrosse CXS has a standard 3.6L V-6 with variable valve timing that delivers 240 horsepower (179 kW). The premium, all-aluminum engine features dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Its fully variable intake and exhaust valve timing achieves outstanding flexibility, delivering 90 percent of the engine's peak torque where it is most useful, between 1,500 rpm and 6,000 rpm. The 3.6L VVT delivers a market-leading balance of good specific output, high torque over a broad rpm band, fuel economy and first-rate noise vibration and harshness control.

The recently announced 2008 LaCrosse Super introduces a V-8 engine and portholes to the LaCrosse lineup. With the fuel efficiency of a V-6, the new 300-horsepower (224 kW)* 5.3L small-block V-8 with Active Fuel Management (AFM) technology can propel LaCrosse Super from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. GM's AFM engine technology seamlessly switches between four- and eight-cylinder-power to save fuel.

The LaCrosse line is built at GM's Oshawa 2 Assembly, ranked North/South America's top manufacturing facility the last two years, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

The 2008 LaCrosse will arrive in dealer showrooms this summer. Pricing has not been announced.

*Pending SAE certification.

# # #

While Mr. Wert attends some manner of press event at the Buick Home for the Aged, the Detroit News maps the crossroads at which the GM brand finds itself. How will the Buick brass navigate the "damaged" brand (said Bob Lutz) to a more prosperous future? One way is by resurrecting the "Super" tag that once denoted early postwar high-performance. Super models, built between 1940 and 1958, included the Buick Super, the Buick Super Riviera, and the Buick Super Convertible. They were a favorite of city chicks in hunter's caps and the turtlenecked, cardigan-wearing accountants who once took them ice skating in the Catskills (see above).

Of course, Buick could have reached for the later-day GS designation of the 1960s and 1970s. Those were the days when the Skylark GS-X was a drag-strip halo car and the Rivera GS was a favorite of dentists and other male social climbers. But by going back to Super, Buick can still emphasize luxury and avoid a semblance of muscle-car fogginess (thus avoid impinging on Pontiac's supposed brand slot), while giving a hint of performance pedigree. It can also glom onto the underground VIP-car movement, just now reaching critical mass in Japan and the West Coast of the US. Will it save the company? Who knows. But it might reduce the age of its average buyer by a few critical years. Sixty would be nice. – Mike Spinelli

GM's Buick brand reaches crossroads [Detroit News]

Related:
Skylark, Have You Anything to Sing to Me? The Joy and Pain of Buick's A-Body; Sweet Peet Has A Woodsy For GM's Buick Brand; DUB Pimps a Buick; Jalopnik Interview: Richard Earl on Harley Earl [internal]

The old man used to go on and on about the glory of Grandpa Loverman's 1953 Buick Roadmaster. It was beautifully styled, possessed a powerful straight-eight, had advanced features like... wait for it... power door-locks! Best of all, it was called the frickin' Roadmaster! Car names don't get better than that. Neither, really, do cars. Today's Buicks on the other hand, in the words of Car Tzar Bob Lutz, are damaged. Even if the new rides (like the Outlook Enclave) do manage to follow in the mighty footsteps of their noble ancestor (they don't), they will still have lousy names. Lucerne is reminiscent of dairy products and LaCrosse is only interesting if you recall Jim Brown's college days when he lettered in lacrosse at Syracuse. I won't ruin it for you, but the NFL great enjoyed chasing rich white guys around with a stick. Even so, Jim Brown would never drive a LaCrosse. However, another dominant American athlete, Tiger Woods, would be happy to. My point? I just hope Mr. Woods is aware what they do with tiger dongs in China. – Jonny Lieberman

China could save a tarnished GM brand [msnbc.com]

Related:
Breaking? GM Has Enough Problems, Will Not Save Ford...Did We Mention The Buick Enclave?; More: What Happens in Vegas: Buick My Ride [Internal]