At next week’s 2010 New York Auto Show Buick will roll out its latest versions of the LaCrosse sedan, this time with just a single four- and six-cylinder engine on the table.

Coming in for the 2011 model year, the LaCrosse is being offered with an Ecotec 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine as standard and with a 3.6-liter V-6 remaining an option. The current 3.0-liter V-6 model will be dropped from the lineup. Also new for 2011 is the addition of optional all-wheel drive on models equipped with the 3.6-liter V-6.

As for the new four-cylinder, direct injection technology helps it deliver 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. The 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.

Backed by a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission, this powertrain combination delivers an EPA-rated 19 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway--making LaCrosse one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment.

The base 2011 Buick LaCrosse CX with the Ecotec 2.4-liter engine has a starting price of $26,995 and Buick expects about 25 percent of LaCrosse customers will buy this model.

[Buick]