Reveal: 2017 Buick LaCrosse
Written by: Calvin Chan
Photography by: GM Canada
LOS ANGELES, California - It’s what we’ve all been waiting for – the next big step for the Buick brand. Over the past few years, the American brand has made some incredible transformations by appealing to a younger audience and lowering their median age of buyers around the world. And I’m not just talking about baby boomers or overseas in China – young Canadians are starting to take notice to Buick, and sales growth in North America has been exponential.
And here’s to the future - Buick has just revealed the new 2017 LaCrosse at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and it’s the vanguard of the new Buick face. Redesigned from the ground up, the new LaCrosse has been heavily influenced by the concept and award-winning Avenir concept and features a new grille design that inspires to be modern. The LaCrosse (and all future Buick models) sport a new waterfall grille that has been pushed back and the wing brought forward, creating a multitude of layers that ultimately looks very attractive. Buick has also brought back their traditional three-coloured shield logo to their vehicles (no longer in plain old silver).
The LaCrosse is Buick’s full-size flagship model, and it’s a vehicle they have always been proud of. They’ve sold nearly a million of them worldwide since it was launched back in 2009, and each year sales have actually been increasing. Buick knows that they aren’t going to attract away SUV or truck buyers, but the LaCrosse will act as a compelling alternative for those looking for a premium sedan.
And sticking with the theme of modernization, they’ve created a sleeker silhouette with a stretched out wheelbase and lowered roofline – giving it a more dramatic image. My first impressions drew a similarity to the Hyundai Sonata, and I also see a bit of Mercedes E-Class at the front fascia as well. The stance is much lower and the overall profile is rather glowing.
Not only is the new LaCrosse longer, lower, and wider than the current model, but it’s also 300 pounds lighter. We aren’t going to bore you with specific measurements (you can check those out at the press release below), but we spent some time checking out the new LaCrosse in Detroit a few weeks prior to the autoshow, and the added dimensions have really given the LaCrosse a generous-sized interior. The amount of legroom in the front and back seats is just staggering.
The rest of interior follows a harmonic design that exudes a sense of flow and continuity. Buick has also changed their ambience interior colour from blue to white, saying blue is not in anymore.
When we spoke with Buick engineers, they told us that sticking with Buick traditions was at the top of the docket and very important to their brand and customers. They focused on what their vehicles did well: comfort, quietness, safety, and performance.
Under the hood of the LaCrosse lies an all-new 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection that delivers an estimated 305 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque through a new 8-speed automatic transmission. Note that there’s no turbocharged four-cylinder option here, and that’s because customers demanded the linearity and responsiveness only found in a V6.
GM’s new V6 is also optimized for efficiency and comes with new features such as Active Fuel Management, or what we also call cylinder deactivation. What this feature does is temporarily deactivate two of the V6’s cylinders in light driving conditions to save fuel.
Another new feature is a Stop/Start system that will shut down the engine in certain driving conditions when the car isn’t moving such as at red lights or in a traffic jam. GM says that this system was designed from the ground up with the engine, so the transition between on and off should be seamless. We’re just going to have to do the Timmies cup spill test to find out ourselves when we get our hands on one.
For snow-bound Canadians worried about how it will perform in treacherous weather, Buick says you can rest easy, as the LaCrosse also comes in all-wheel drive guise with a new twin-clutch system that allows torque to be split between the rear wheels for better control and performance.
Mass reduction was also a big goal here and through a meticulous diet from the materials, chassis, seats, and structure, the LaCrosse managed to shed nearly 300 lbs – that’s equivalent to the weight of a standard refrigerator. So not only should it handle better, but the powertrain should feel more responsive as well – there are even paddle shfiters for spirited driving runs. Yes, paddle shifters on a Buick. Who would’ve thought?
With a sleeker profile, modern looks, and better proportions, the Buick LaCrosse has set the stage for a competitive segment. With its crosshairs aimed at the Lexus ES sedan, Buick will have their work cut out for them but this is one step in the right direction, and the new looks and added interior space will surely swoon some drivers away from the prevalent Japanese brand. The 2017 Buick LaCrosse goes on sale early next summer and will be built at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center in Michigan. Pricing has yet to be announced.
Photo Gallery:
Press Release:
LOS ANGELES – Beautifully crafted and thoughtfully innovative, the 2017 Buick LaCrosse offers full-size sedan customers a striking, all-new design, sophisticated technologies and more-responsive performance.
The next-generation LaCrosse also introduces the new face of Buick, which is influenced by the dramatic cues of the award-winning Avenir concept. Notably, it features a new grille design with a large opening distinguished by the return of a three-color – red, silver and blue – Buick tri-shield insignia, accented by wing-shaped elements set against darkened waterfall grille bars.
Buick revealed the 2017 LaCrosse today at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It goes on sale early next summer.
“The new LaCrosse signals the next phase of Buick’s international momentum,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick Sales and Marketing. “Its quietness, comfort and connectivity were developed to set new standards in the segment, supported by technologies not offered on competitors such as the Lexus ES. It is also drop-dead gorgeous.”
Longer, lower and wider than the current model, the 2017 LaCrosse is built on a stronger yet lighter structure. In fact, it is about 300 pounds lighter than the current LaCrosse – thanks largely to the use of press-hardened, high-strength steels – which contributes to greater efficiency and more responsive handling.
The new LaCrosse’s lower weight is also due in part to new, dissipative sound-absorbing materials that are lower in mass, but provide more effective sound attenuation, resulting in a new threshold for Buick’s signature QuietTuning and forming a pillar of the car’s enhanced comfort.
The balance of the efficiency equation comes from a technologically advanced, second-generation 3.6L V-6 paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard Stop/Start technology improves efficiency in stop-and-go driving.
Additional new and enhanced features include:
- New five-link rear suspension and available HiPer Strut front suspension
- Available electronically controlled Continuous Damping Control active suspension with selectable Touring and Sport modes
- Driver-selectable Electronic Precision Shift
- Advanced, all-new dual-clutch AWD system (available)
- Efficiency-enhancing low-drag disc brakes with Duralife rotors
- Electric power steering system with Lead/Pull Compensation
- Easier rear-seat entry/egress and more usable storage space
- Technologies including available wireless charging, available Teen Driver and configurable, LED driver information center with 8-inch-diagonal color display
- Perforated leather-appointed front seats with new lumbar massaging feature
- IntelliLink with frameless 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot integration.
The 2017 LaCrosse also features extensive active and passive safety features that offer driver awareness and protection surrounding the vehicle, including:
- Ten standard air bags – including two knee air bags for front passengers
- Front Pedestrian Braking, which alerts drivers to and can automatically apply the brakes for pedestrians detected directly ahead in some driving conditions
- Lane Keep Assist, which provides gentle steering wheel turns – and Lane Departure Warning alerts, if necessary – to help drivers avoid crashes due to unintentionally drifting out of their lane
- Automatic Park Assist, which helps the driver parallel park/perpendicular park by automatically steering the vehicle into a detected parking space while the driver applies the brakes
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Forward Automatic Braking
- Forward Collision Alert
- Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
- Rear Vision Camera
- Safety Alert Seat.
“The blend of sophisticated technologies and advanced safety systems offer a more enjoyable and engaging driving experience,” said Aldred. “It’s a rewarding sedan for those who seek luxurious appointments, style and quality.”
New face of Buick
The new LaCrosse’s expressive exterior design creates a new proportion, rendering a more dramatic road presence. The front wheels have been pulled forward and the wheelbase stretched 2.7 inches (65 mm), while the overall length is only 0.6-inch longer (15 mm). The dynamic proportion is further enhanced by a roofline that’s 1.6 inches (40 mm) lower than the current model.
The longer wheelbase is matched by wheels pushed outward 1.3 inches (33 mm) in the front and 1.1 inches (28 mm) in the rear, while the car’s width has grown only 0.4-inch (10 mm), creating a wheels-at-corners stance that conveys road confidence.
“It’s a sleeker design that looks confident and purposeful,” said Holt Ware, exterior design director. “Stretching the wheelbase, lowering the roofline and making it slightly wider creates a dramatic effect that is enhanced by the design’s supporting elements such as the swept headlamps.”
LaCrosse’s new proportion is further complemented by an all-new grille that signals the next chapter in Buick’s design anthology. Inspired by the Avenir concept, it’s distinguished by a new, three-color tri-shield insignia set on a wing-shaped element. Contrasting with darkened waterfall grille bars and spanning the width of the opening, it connects the grille and headlamps, and emphasizes LaCrosse’s new sculptural surfacing. The design was introduced on the Avenir concept and was inspired by the 1954 Wildcat II concept.
“It’s the new face of Buick – one that reflects the sophistication, modernity and international reach of this evolving brand,” said Ware. “The new, winged motif also emphasizes the wider, lower proportion of the LaCrosse.”
The signature sweepspear body-side design element has been reinterpreted in a modern fashion, enhancing the car’s sculptural identity. It has a split design that gives the body side a greater perception of depth, while picking up additional body lines, for an elegant, uninterrupted flow from the front fenders to the rear.
The 2017 LaCrosse’s body lines are reinforced by a longer, uninterrupted “daylight opening” – the portion of the upper body between the A- and C-pillars. They’re ringed with chrome, which adds a tastefully restrained premium accent to the body side.
Other details blend form and function such as outside mirrors mounted on pedestals on the doors rather than the corners of the front side windows. The design offers a greater field of view, while the mirror housings were shaped in the wind tunnel to help reduce wind noise.
Aerodynamic considerations also drove the dynamic sweep of the decklid, which acts as a spoiler to optimize airflow over the LaCrosse, and the front of the car features deflectors in front of the tires to reduce drag.
Additional exterior elements include:
- High-intensity discharge headlamps and LED signature lighting are standard
- LED taillamps are standard
- Eighteen-inch wheels are standard and 20-inch wheels are available
- Active grille shutters
- Capless fuel filler on all models.
Seamless ambience, authentic craftsmanship
The new LaCrosse’s interior is designed to offer an open and inviting space for passengers – one that is relaxing, luxurious and well-connected. Sculpturally beautiful form and premium materials complement technologies developed for effortless interfacing.
It is the first Buick with a new single cockpit design aesthetic, characterized by a horizontal form that sweeps across the instrument panel and into the doors. It also incorporates a “floating” center console that positions the controller for the new Electronic Precision Shift high and close to the driver, while creating storage space below the console for items such as a handbag or tablet.
“There is fluidity in the interior forms – a seamless ambience that flows throughout the cabin,” said Liz Wetzel, interior design director. “Like the exterior, there is sculptural beauty in the interior’s functionality, complemented with high-quality, authentic materials and exceptional attention to detail.”
That attention to detail includes soft materials for virtually every touchpoint; real French stitching on the seats, instrument panel and more; and genuine aluminum sill plates and wood décor trim, depending on the model.
“There is a handcrafted essence that is inviting and rewarding,” said Wetzel. “It is clean environment that is designed to refresh and inspire.”
A number of new and enhanced available luxury features amplify the LaCrosse’s comfort quotient:
- Three fashion-inspired interior trim choices: Jet Black, Dark Atmosphere and Shale, and Jet Black and Brandy
- Contemporary Moon White ambient lighting
- Eight-way-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with new massage feature – with improved heating for quicker warm-up on cold mornings
- Perforated leather-appointed seats
- Heated steering wheel with power tilting/telescoping steering column
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Power rear sunshade
- Premium Bose® audio system.
It also offers greater, more practical storage space and easier access. The rear doors, for example, open wider and offer easier entry/egress, and the trunk not only offers approximately 7 percent more storage space than the current model, but was configured to accommodate four golf bags.
Sophisticated, intuitive technologies – including phone integration
As one of the segment’s most technologically advanced vehicles, the new LaCrosse offers a host of communication and convenience features designed for effortless connectivity.
The central technology is the latest edition of Buick IntelliLink, which is controlled by a new, frameless 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen located at the center of an ergonomically optimized instrument panel. Along with the climate system and other features on the “center stack,” it was designed with fewer buttons and controls for more intuitive use.
Phone integration technology is paired with IntelliLink and is designed to take phone features users would want to access while driving and put them on the 8-inch display via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The features allow customers to use select smartphone apps through the touchscreen interface. Many features can be controlled via voice commands through a button on the steering wheel, helping drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Additional LaCrosse technology highlights include:
- All-new Electronic Precision Shift – Rather than a traditional shifter, gears are chosen and engaged via a simple toggle pull. It provides smooth, precise and responsive shifting while enabling added storage in the center console.
- Configurable, high-definition driver information center – Located in the center of the gauge cluster and flanked by round instrument binnacles, it has a large, 8-inch-diagonal full-color display.
- Head-up display – This available feature offers four page views: speed, audio, navigation and performance. It also offers alerts for certain active safety features such as Lane Keep Assist and Forward Collision Alert.
- Available Teen Driver Technology – It encourages safe driving habits for new drivers by muting the audio or any device paired with the vehicle when front-seat occupants aren’t wearing their safety belts. It also provides audible and visual warnings when the vehicle is traveling over predetermined speeds – and offers a “report card” for parents.
- Wireless charging – When equipped with this available feature, the phone storage slot in the center console enables inductive charging without the need for plug-ins or cables.
Buick QuietTuning process
The new LaCrosse builds on the exemplary reputation of the current model – already a benchmark in the segment – to offer an even quieter driving experience that contributes to the car’s comfort and enjoyment.
Significantly, the Buick QuietTuning team employed a dissipative approach to sound attenuation rather than the current model’s barrier system. That means the sound is absorbed primarily with a specialized, lightweight dissipative dash mat rather than heavier noise-blocking pads.
Additional quieting features include:
- New five-link rear suspension provides greater isolation from road noise than the current four-link design
- Active noise cancellation is standard on all models
- Acoustic wheelhouse liners
- Acoustic-laminated windshield and front side windows
- Triple-sealed doors
- Improved body noise-path sealing
- The windshield wipers “park” below the hood line to reduce wind noise.
Next-generation powertrain
LaCrosse’s all-new 3.6L V-6 engine with direct injection and dual overhead cams represents the second generation of GM’s acclaimed DOHC V-6 engine family and incorporates new features such as Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and Stop/Start technology.
Active Fuel Management system temporarily deactivates two the 3.6L’s cylinders in light-load driving conditions to enhance fuel efficiency and seamlessly reactivates them when the driver demands full power.
With the efficiency-enhancing Stop/Start system, the engine is shut down in certain driving conditions such as stop-and-go city driving to reduce fuel consumption, automatically restarting when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake pedal.
Additionally, noise-reducing features including an all-new cam drive system contribute to the vehicle’s benchmark quietness.
The 3.6L is estimated at 305 horsepower (227 kW) and 268 lb-ft of torque (363 Nm); and it’s matched with a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
Balanced, efficient driving experience
Thanks to its new, lighter and stiffer architecture – and a number of new and enhanced complementing technologies – the 2017 LaCrosse offers a driving experience that is as responsive and direct as it is quiet and comfortable. It also offers enhanced capability with Buick’s first twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system.
A new five-link rear suspension is the central component of the improved ride and handling characteristics. It helps reduces roll center motion, enables positive lateral control and promotes excellent dynamic stability. In short, it helps keep the tires planted on all surfaces – and contributes to a quieter ride through greater isolation from road noise.
At the front, a MacPherson-strut suspension is standard and Buick’s HiPer Strut suspension is used on front-wheel-drive models with 20-inch wheels. It helps reduce torque steer and maintain negative camber during cornering, improving maximum grip in all road conditions. It also improves the direct feel of the vehicle, while isolating undesirable feedback.
Available, electronically controlled Continuous Damping Control further optimizes ride comfort and handling capabilities over varying road surfaces and profiles. It’s an active suspension system that can adjust damping every two milliseconds, with Touring and Sport damping modes selected by the driver through the Electronic Precision Shift.
Also contributing to LaCrosse’s more-direct driving experience is an enhanced, rack-mounted electronic power steering system, which incorporates Lead-Pull Compensation. It automatically adjusts the steering angle to account for factors like crowned roads or high crosswinds.
LaCrosse’s new twin-clutch AWD system offers the ultimate in grip in and control, with better performance during acceleration and cornering. It allows torque to be split between the rear wheels for optimal performance and the twin-clutch design uses independent clutch actuation to determine and control the amount of torque sent to each rear wheel.
Additional chassis and driver control features on the 2017 LaCrosse include:
- Low-drag four-wheel disc brakes with Duralife rotors, which offer up to double the service life of conventional rotors
- Hill Start Assist with Automatic Vehicle Hold, which can hold the brakes up to five minutes, depending on conditions
- Electronic park brake
- Shear-type suspension mounts that offer greater ride, handling and noise isolation attributes.
2017 BUICK LACROSSE PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS
Overview
Model: |
Buick LaCrosse FWD & AWD |
Body style / driveline: |
front-drive/all-wheel-drive, front-engine, four-door, five- passenger sedan |
Construction: |
integral |
EPA vehicle class: |
midsize sedan |
Manufacturing location: |
Detroit-Hamtramck, Mich. |
Key competitors: |
Lexus ES 350, Lincoln MKZ |
Engine
|
3.6L V-6 DI VVT |
Displacement (cu in / cc): |
223 / 3649 |
Bore & stroke (in / mm): |
3.74 x 3.37 / 95 x 85.8 |
Block material: |
cast aluminum w/ cast-in-place iron bore liners |
Cylinder head material: |
cast aluminum |
Valvetrain: |
DOHC, four valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing; Active Fuel Management |
Fuel delivery: |
direct high-pressure fuel injection |
Compression ratio: |
11.5:1 |
Horsepower |
305 / 227 @ 6800 (est.) |
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): |
268 / 363 @ 5200 (est.) |
Recommended fuel: |
regular unleaded |
GM-estimated fuel economy (city / hwy): |
TBD |
Transmission
Type: |
eight-speed, electronically controlled automatic overdrive with torque converter clutch |
Gear ratios (:1): |
|
First: |
5.25 |
Second: |
3.02 |
Third: |
1.95 |
Fourth: |
1.47 |
Fifth: |
1.22 |
Sixth: |
1.00 |
Seventh: |
0.80 |
Eighth: |
0.57 |
Reverse: |
4.01 |
Final drive ratio: |
3.07 |
Chassis / Suspension
Suspension (front): |
FWD/AWD with 18-in. wheels & AWD with 20-in. wheels: MacPherson strut coil-over-spring |
Suspension (rear): |
FWD/AWD with 18-in. wheels & AWD with 20-in. wheels: five-link |
Steering type: |
electric variable-effort power steering with Active Return Assist |
Steering ratio: |
TBD |
Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock: |
TBD |
Turning circle (ft / m): |
38 / 11.6 |
Brakes
Type: |
split, dual-circuit four-wheel-disc with power assist; Duralife brake rotors; brake pre-fill and Electronic Brake Force Distribution |
Rotor diameter x thickness |
TBD |
Wheels / Tires
Wheel size and type: |
18-in. aluminum |
Tires: |
P235/50R18 all-season |
Dimensions
Exterior
Wheelbase (in / mm): |
114.4 / 2905 |
Overall length (in / mm): |
197.5 / 5017 |
Overall width (in / mm): |
73.2 / 1859 |
Overall height (in / mm): |
57.5 / 1460 |
Track (in / mm): |
front: 62.9 / 1599 |
Curb weight (lb / kg): |
TBD |
Interior
Seating capacity: |
2 / 3 |
Headroom (in / mm): |
front: 38.4 / 975 (w/o sunroof) |
Legroom (in / mm): |
front: 42 / 1067 |
Shoulder room (in / mm): |
front: 57.7 / 1466 |
Hip room (in / mm): |
front: 54.7 / 1390 |
Cargo volume (cu. ft. / L): |
14.2 / 402 |
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2010 Buick LaCrosse
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