MotorAuthority

More details on 2010 Buick LaCrosse

Posted Thu Oct 30 2008 1:30 PM by Ralph Hanson

The grille of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse

The next-generation LaCrosse has already been spotted behind the scenes completely free of camouflage, and in August General Motors released a new teaser image which reveals the logo and a portion of the grill, but little else. Now new information comes just weeks ahead of the car's intended official debut in Los Angeles, which has now been pushed back to January's 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

A pair of direct-injection engines lie at the heart of the newest information. A new 3.0L direct-injection V6 rated at 250hp (186kW) will be the base engine, while the 3.6L V6 engine found in the Chevrolet Traverse, generating 286hp (213kW) and 345Nm (255lb-ft), will be standard in the upscale models, reports GM Inside News. The same engine is likely to propagate across the rest of the Epsilon II lineup as well, after its debut in the Buick.

Buick’s next-generation LaCrosse has also previously been spotted testing at GM proving grounds both in the U.S. and Germany and as expected the shape of the prototype closely resembles the design of the recent Invicta Concept. GM vice chairman Bob Lutz confirmed earlier this year that the two vehicles would be very similar and that the new LaCrosse will be shared on the same FWD Delta II platform as the Opel Insignia and next-gen Saab 9-5 as well as a new Chevrolet model.

Production of the 2010 LaCrosse was expected to start at GM’s Fairfax plant in Kansas in early 2009, with the first cars are to arrive in U.S. showrooms towards the end of the year but cost-cutting measures that translate into delays on new-model development at GM have caused that timeline to be pushed back toward later in 2009. The new model will be a global car and will likely be built in China with GM’s local partner Shanghai Auto as well.

The Chinese model could get the new V6s, though reports of a new four-cylinder powerplant rated the same as the base V6 at 250hp (186kW) and 220lb-ft (298Nm) of torque could also be in the cards for that market. All models will come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission.

story Tags:

• Buick LaCrosse
• General Motors
• Sedans
• Spy shots

Reader Comments

• Thu May 22 2008 10:10 PM

  Danny says

  Hmm, wonder if the Chevrolet model will be for the Impala?

• Fri May 23 2008 5:20 AM

  HECTOR says

  I heard it said once and it's appropriate for this occasion: *I am so full of anticipation that my genitals are getting sucked into my body cavities*.
  
  Really, why do they bother with the camuflage?

• Sat Aug 9 2008 9:59 AM

  Nick S. says

  You know, if Buick can pull off what Jag did with the XF then it could produce a pretty amazing car. I don't know if this is necessarily it, but it's good the car company is trying to get away from the image of old-fart-mobile.

• Mon Aug 11 2008 6:03 PM

  Tom Mills says

  The one thing that bothers me about this design is the line of the hood and how it (doesn't) flow into the body. It may blend in when painted a dark color, but otherwise that seam is going to be a major distraction.

• Mon Aug 25 2008 9:12 PM

  NoNameDenton says

  Be better then the current LaCrosse

• Thu Oct 30 2008 2:30 PM

  NoNameDenton says

  This 3 liter V6 should be the top engine for the Caddy Alpha 3 series fighter

• Thu Oct 30 2008 7:47 PM

  john m says

  All wheel drive is a nice suprise. This car should be pretty awesome when it goes on sale. I hope it's not too expensive. I too wonder if Chevy has the makings of an Impala here.

• Thu Oct 30 2008 8:02 PM

  NoNameDenton says

  Same platofrm as the future Impala

• Tue Dec 23 2008 6:02 AM

  Bahba says

  This car looks to me so good and beuty, and if ther is the motor ander the hood they are tolking about I'm ready to have it NOW!