2017 Buick LaCrosse Arrives at Dealerships Next Summer: 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show
LOS ANGELES – The all-new 2017 Buick LaCrosse sedan, unveiled today at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, will begin arriving at Buick dealerships early next summer.
A Buick spokesperson told Edmunds that pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date.
In addition to the Lexus ES 350, competitors to the LaCrosse include the Acura TLX, Chrysler 300, Hyundai Genesis and Toyota Avalon.
With styling cues inspired by the Buick Avenir concept that was introduced early this year, the restyled LaCrosse is longer, lower and wider than the previous model but 300 pounds lighter, thanks to lightweight structural steel and other high-tech materials.
“It’s a sleeker design that looks confident and purposeful,” said Holt Ware, Buick’s exterior design director, in a statement. “Stretching the wheelbase, lowering the roof line and making it slightly wider creates a dramatic effect that is enhanced by the design’s supporting elements such as the swept headlamps.”
A compelling new signature touch is that the traditional Buick three-color tri-shield emblem is now set on a wing-shaped element in the grille.
“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.”
Inside, Buick’s updated flagship has been appointed with soft premium materials in a choice of complementary or contrasting shades. Interior features include perforated leather-trimmed seats – heated, ventilated and eight-way adjustable in front – a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control and a premium Bose audio system.
Communication and convenience technology includes an 8-inch color touchscreen, smartphone integration with the latest GM IntelliLink infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and available head-up display and wireless phone charging.
The LaCrosse is equipped with a new 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces an estimated 305 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque. It features economy-minded active fuel management, which deactivates two cylinders under light-load conditions, and the first stop-start technology to appear on a LaCrosse.
The engine comes mated to an all-new eight-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with gear selection provided by a new electronic shift lever and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Traction can be enhanced with an available twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system that not only apportions torque between the front and rear axles, but also between the two rear wheels as needed.
Buick says ride and handling have been improved with a new five-link rear suspension and a MacPherson-strut front suspension. Available electronically controlled active suspension, with driver-selected damping modes, provides additional comfort and handling over varying road surfaces.
Edmunds says: The new design of this often-overlooked model should help the LaCrosse gain some traction in the small but steady market for large, luxurious sedans.
