This is definitely not your grandfather’s Buick, nevermind your father’s Oldsmobile (my grandfather was a GM Service Manager that drove Pontiacs).
The General Motors’ Lexus-fighter has rolled out their latest iteration of their full-sized flagship, the LaCrosse. Eagle-eyed enthusiasts will notice slight changes to the front and rear fascias, highlighted with LED headlights and taillamps. Mechanically speaking, the LaCrosse comes with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive, as well as two powertrains: an 2.4L engine with eAssist, or an 3.6L direct-injected V-6, both paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
But the real change is where it matters the most in any luxury car…on the inside. The latest LaCrosse sports an all-new interior, replete with new seats, improved materials, and a redesigned central instrument panel and console, amongst other features. Topping it all off is the availability of the Ultra Luxury Interior Package, which features Sangria seating color and Ebony accents, with semi-aniline leather seats and trim, along with Shadow Tamo Ash wood décor.
On the technology front, the LaCrosse does not disappoint. From all of the seemingly prerequisite (for this class) safety features keeping one in the right lane, to helping one avoid an accident, to Buick’s next-generation IntelliLink infotainment system, there’s a feast for the eyes, ears, and fingers. Quickly becoming the signature of all Buick models is the most improved QuietTuning engineering process to date, adding to the overall luxurious feel.
“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.
Not wanting to mess with a successful formula, Buick has instead enhanced what works, with sales topping 57,000 last year, and over 500,000 since its introduction in 2009. Ultimately replacing the Buick Lucerne as the flagship, it has outsold other full-size luxury sedans such as Lexus ES, Acura TL, and the Lincoln MKS.
Look for the Buick LaCrosse to go on sale this summer, hopefully with extended sales hours…
Photo Credit: Buick
