Posted on Thursday 24 April 2008
Buick’s next-generation LaCrosse has been spotted testing at GM proving grounds both in the U.S. and Germany and as these latest images reveal the new car sports a similar shape to the Invicta concept unveiled over the weekend. Like the concept, the production version’s styling is being handled by teams in both the U.S. and China and the final styling is expected to be very similar to the concept.
Production of the car is expected to start at GM’s Fairfax plant in Kansas in early 2009 and the first cars are tipped to arrive in U.S. showrooms towards the end of the year. The new model will be a global car and will likely be built in China with GM’s local partner Shanghai Auto.
Buick won’t adopt GM’s new Zeta RWD platform for this model as earlier reported, but will instead utilize a revised version of the FWD Epsilon II platform. This is the same design found in the recently revealed Opel Insignia but the Buick will feature its own suspension settings and unique powertrains.
American versions will get the same direct-injection 3.6L V6 engine found in the Chevrolet Traverse and should output a similar 286hp (213kW) and 345Nm (255lb-ft). The Chinese model could get the V6 as well as a new four-cylinder powerplant with 250hp (186kW) and 220lb-ft (298Nm) of torque. All models will come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission.
I know that it is difficult to determine the speed this driver is going based of a picture, but I hope that he is really cooking this corner. That looks like some serious body roll. I have to say that this is the first Buick in a very, very long time that has my attention, mainly to see what kind of performance the 3.6L V6 will put out.
turkle: i was thinking the same but based on the size of the car and the amount of compression on those tires (note the inside tires are almost off the ground), I think this cars really booting it. that being said, the roll is actually really good. for a buick anyways. typically u’d expect this thing to float like… well… a buick.
should be really interesting to see how close it is to the invicta.
I just looked into the epsilon platform and I really think that ford should do what GM has been doing with their platforms. the E1 platform was first used in 2004 buick and opel, and as late as 2008 with the new malibu. lincoln, and maybe volvo (depending on how ford wants to push lincoln globally) should get the newest platforms, and then mazda get the platform a year later, with mercury, and then ford a year afterwards. suddenly a single product release keeps people excited about your cars for 3 years. and it gets the suckers (like me who always want the newest junk) buying more expensive cars than they otherwise would buy (yes, I would have gone to a lincoln focus to get the eurospec focus).
who cares its a buick, this is just another reason why GM is going bankrupt, and their stock price is horrible, get rid of this company, just like ford is going to get rid of mercury.
uhm, andrew, like I stated in the last comment, this car is running on the same mechanicals that will be under the 2012 malibu. 2012. currently buick’s quality is on par with lexus. you probably missed that article though. today’s buicks aren’t your grand daddy’s buicks.
mercury is nothing more than a rebadged ford. buick is what chevy is going to be 4 years from now. its a great business scheme. people pay more for a “premium brand” that makes use of the latest mechanicals from that company.
Chris if you think buick “is a great business scheme”, than you dont know business. I could supply tons of examples why this company is going nowhere fast, read the related articles, on this website, even bob lutz described this company as a damaged brand, and gm and buick are laying off workers left right and center. This company doesnt have an image. Is buick or cadillac the luxury brand? Buick may have some good designs but they will never recover, and sales will keep on declining guaranteed.
I dont know andrew, buick does have one good selling car, i think it is the enclave, but i do agree this company doesnt have an image, gm should pick a luxury brand cadillac or buick, there is no need for 2 in a company that isnt doing that well in sales.
its simple really cadillac is the perfomance focused brand not so much luxiry while buik is you pipe and slippers brand kind of audi and bentley to VW thoug not that price diifernece