Spy Shots: 2008 Buick LaCrosse Super
We reported early last year that the Buick LaCrosse would likely be getting a Super Sport or Sport model boasting a 300-horsepower V8. The program is still ongoing and we found this most recent spy shot published on the Detroit News Insider (our intel, however, reveals this shot was taken in November of 2006). As reported, the LaCrosse Sport will have a front end tweaked to recall the 2004 Velite Concept with a new grille shape and different headlights. Though not shown on this mule, there will also be side skirts and a deck lid spoiler. The LaCrosse Super will basically be Buick's version of the Chevy Impala SS, and thus is a product that will likely cost the brand pennies on the dollar to develop. It will use the same 5.3-liter V8 producing three C-notes of horsey power, and will also wear 18-inch alloys. Our insider sources, however, don't believe the LaCrosse Sport will get Delphi's MagneRide suspension as the Detroit News reports. The system, that's also used on the Corvette, Cadillacs and Ferraris, would be a major expanse for a badge engineered product like this.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
P.J. 6:20PM (1/15/2007)
I'm sure they'll be venom galore spewed at this vehicle, but having driven the Grand Prix GXP, I can vouch for there being hope for this product. And that's coming from a GM/FWD/W-body skeptic.
The GP GXP is a surprisingly good drive, with good, firm steering, pleasing grip, and a well-tied-down suspension. In normal-to-brisk driving, it's hard to tell which wheels are doing the driving. Only over 6 or 7/10ths does it start to unravel, and even then, there's a sort of twisted fun in pushing its inherently flawed chassis.
Hopefully it'll feel more like that car, and less like the Impala SS, which is just too soft and floaty, besides having Teflon-quality lateral support in the seats. The LaCrosse would certainly have the nicest interior of the three.
Of course, the bottom line is that--as with the GXP--while I could feasibly admire this car, I'd never shell out $35K for a wrong-wheel-drive Buick over a 325i Sport. Those few who do will likely be minimally informed of their alternatives at the price.
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MattS 6:49PM (1/15/2007)
They really ought to kill Buick, the engineering hours should have been spent on the interior of the aura, or for that matter the malibu or on any car/brand that anyone under the age of 70 would legitimatley consider...you know...paying money for.
m
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Michael Karesh 6:52PM (1/15/2007)
I agree on the GP GXP, P.J. But then there's the Impala SS, which isn't nearly as much fun to drive. My money's on the Buick being more like the Chevy than the Pontiac.
My reviews of the two:
Impala SS: http://www.epinions.com/content_193309544068
GP GXP: http://www.epinions.com/content_183470755460
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jamey 6:57PM (1/15/2007)
why super though
couldnt they have gone for somthing a bit mor original? such as Buick LaCrosse X cheesy I know but at least it has some brand heritage in the way of the GSX and GNX...or better yet call it the LCX
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Rastus 7:01PM (1/15/2007)
I hate to say it, but this news falls into the "Who Cares?" category.
Honestly. I mean, will the 80 year old geezer who shits his pants over the previous model shit his pants even MORE over this one??? Mmmmm....okay...
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MikeW 7:49PM (1/15/2007)
Where is the 3.6 with the non POS intake manifold?
Where is the 6t70 to go with it?
Let the 3800 go.
Will the old people balk at the required 'high test' for the 303hp?
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AZMike 8:28PM (1/15/2007)
boy guys, I really hate to disappoint you. I'm a 52 year-old geezer, and I've owned seven Buicks. I'm assuming some in this bunch must still be in high school. I figure I'm still a few years away from those Depend undergarments, hopefully.
my first Buick was a new 1978 Regal. in case you don't know, most young people in their early 20's at this time aspired to own cars like the Regal, Cutlass Supreme, Monte Carlo, and Grand Prix, not little teeny, rust-prone, Japanese shitboxes.
I bought a new Buick Rendezvous in August, and it is everything I expected it to be. of course, not one problem. the sticker price was $26,000. with incentives, I paid $16,200. that's about $4,000 less than a 4 cylinder base Honda CR-V, and the fuel economy on the Rendezvous (3500 V-6) is better than the CR-V, too. and I'm driving a 'real' car, not a tin box that will fold up in an accident.
in case you didn't know, Buick has had quite a history of building fast cars, running from the Buick Century in the 30's (and up), and continuing thru the 60's, 70's and 80's, right thru the Buick Grand Nationals. do you think that Grand Nationals are geezer cars, too, or are these not Buicks?
Buicks thru the years have always been premium cars, and still are. my 1990 Reatta convertible has 412,000 miles on it's "obsolete" 3800 engine; it's never been open, and still uses no oil, and provides 30 mile-per-gallon economy all the time. yep, it's really time to get rid of this "obsolete" engine, isn't it? in case you didn't know, this "obsolete" engine was nominated by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) as one of the top ten engines of the 20th century. do you suppose they just might know something that you don't?
I'm sure this might disappoint some, but Buick is not being dropped. all the new Buick models (LaCrosse, Lucerne, Enclave) are truly world-class vehicles, and if many would take off their blinders, they might find out for themselves.
I think the biggest problem is that many folks couldn't think (or act) for themselves if their lives depended on it. their purchases always consist of buying what their friends buy, and "belonging" is far more important than anything else.
I've owned Japanese cars before; then I grew up.
Mike
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P.J. 9:18PM (1/15/2007)
IMO, enjoying Japanese vs. American cars isn't an "either or" proposition.
In fact, to the average motorist, there isn't much difference between the two, since they've both been striving to copy each other at various points in the last three decades. Certainly, there's more variation within each group than between them.
The 3800 is labeled "obsolete" not for its reliability or fuel economy, both of which are well-proven, but for its tactile qualities: the clunky noises at start-up, the hoary groan at full throttle, the ultra-low 5,XXX rpm redline and attendant reluctance at high engine speeds. Aside from the healthy low-end tug, it's not an aesthetically pleasing engine anymore.
That being said, if I *had to* buy a midsize family sedan today, the LaCrosse CXS would be on my short list. But what enthusiast would choose it over an Accord V6? A six-speed manual and 0-60 in 5.9 seconds (C&D, 2/06) is plenty "grown-up" for me.
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Rastus 9:31PM (1/15/2007)
Buick lost me at Wildcat II:
http://www.autoweteran.gower.pl/concept/1954_Buick_Wildcat_II.jpg
Note the date in the URL.
(And you tell me what a WONDERFUL car the GN was...give me a freakin' break while I hurl chunks:
http://home.milkmandan.org/dev/null/archives/1982_buick_grand_national.jpg
)
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Gary 12:40PM (4/03/2008)
Toyota lost me on the 1954 Toyota Toyopet:
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/data_e/images/a03_08_7_12.jpg
And who the hell would buy this 1969 Honda?
http://www.carsplusplus.com/specs1969/honda_s600.php
Rastus 10:23PM (1/15/2007)
You know the ironic thing? Oldsmobile's slogan was "This isn't your father's Oldsmobile.".
Oldsmobile is now dead. And as far as Buick goes, one wishes it WERE your father's Buick!!!
What a downward spiral Buick has become. A steaming pile of shit, whereas it once represented beauty, grace, sophistication, etc.
It's pathetic GM(!!) no longer even knows what a Buick represents.
Take a good look at that photo above (of the LaCrosse)...does it make you want to vomit????
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Fabulo 10:48PM (1/15/2007)
FWD V8! THAT is a good idea.
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whofan 11:17PM (1/15/2007)
When I was in school back in the eighties everyone wished they had a Grand National.
Buick is no more an old persons car than Toyota.
The new Lucerne looks like a young person`s ride. I think its sporty. One of the nicer new cars today.
Perception is a crazy thing with people. I don`t get it. Reality is better.
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whofan 5:49AM (1/16/2007)
When I was in school back in the eighties everyone wished they had a Grand National.
Buick is no more an old persons car than Toyota.
The new Lucerne looks like a young person`s ride. I think its sporty. One of the nicer new cars today.
Perception is a crazy thing with people. I don`t get it. Reality is better.
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Noah 11:54PM (1/15/2007)
Bravo, AZMike! You know, older people have lived long and know something about life, and they are wiser (generally). So if they go for Buicks, maybe Buick is worth looking at? Since you shouldn't speed on public roads, a massive engine isn't necessary, nor is racecar, rock-hard suspension. What is important then? A comfortable interior, a nice ride, and competent power for passing and merging. A Buick does that all wonderfully (though should have a bit tighter suspension for emergency maneuvers).
And Rastus, those late model GN's were fast, especially the GNX, which ran as fast as Porsche's of the day. Buick has it's wild streak. And I think the GN is very attractive.
Sure, Buick isn't what it used to be, but hasn't ever really been bad. And now, with the Lucerne, the attractive LaCrosse (yes, attractive), the "more than meets the eye" Rendezvous, and the amazing Enclave, they bring entry luxury in a classy, comfortable way.
And I'm 24
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blurger293 2:42AM (1/16/2007)
How in the world does a Buick Rendevous get better mileage than a CR-V?
According to yahoo autos, the 2006 AWD Rendevous gets 18/23 and the other 2006-2007 trims get 19/26. Not horrendous numbers, but the 2006 CR-V trims, meanwhile get from 21/26 to 23/29.
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Richard Warren 6:07AM (1/16/2007)
Hey AzMike,
Hit it right on the head.
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Jimborino 11:23AM (1/17/2007)
Does it really matter what it looks like?
It will look like Impala with a different grill, much like Acadia/Outlook/Enclave thing
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Gooch 10:28AM (1/16/2007)
AZMike is exactly right. And #14, I can tell you that despite their archaic architecture and low-tech four-speed auto, GM cars generally get great highway economy, in my experience always 3-5 mpg better than the EPA numbers. I believe AZMike's assessment of the Rendezvous' economy. I think the Honda probably does as well, but I remember my 1982 Z-28 (now that was a POS) getting 25 mpg highway with a cross-fire V8 and a three-speed auto between 65-70 mph.
The GNs and GNXs were the bad-boy cars of the mid- to late-80s. Incredible performance for the time. I don't know what Rastus' problem is, but you cannot dispute what I know for a fact -- the GNs would run anything short of a Vette or Porsche off the road. And if those cars didn't have good drivers, they'd get smoked too!
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Phil 11:05AM (1/16/2007)
Rastus is like Paul, a complete ass being PAID by Toyota to disrespect Detroit on blogs everywhere.
That said, there is NO WAY GM SHOULD STILL BE MAKING THE 3800. It's 80's tech. Like this car's chassis. A new engine with some modern technology, even the 3.5 VVt makes more sense.
But GM thinks that people don't notice for some strange reason. Stuffing some stupid V8 in there isn't going to light ANYBODY'S FIRE for Buick. An all-new
LaCrosse on a widened, lengthened Epsilon is what will get the people going, because that's where this car should be.
Lucerne can go to the big Zeta chassis we've seen so much of on this blog. Not 4 years from now, NOW!!
Bob Lutz, do you wanna make money???
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