Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Marketing/Advertising, Buick, GM
Buick to invest in LaCrosse, let Lucerne dodder toward oblivion
by Jonathon Ramsey on Dec 22nd 2008 at 4:32PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of 2010 LaCrosse spy shots
Small(er) is the new big as far as Buick's concerned. With the precipitous sales falloff of full-sized cars, Buick's putting its chips on the mid-sized 2010 LaCrosse, which will go on sale in the U.S. and in China. That leaves the full-size Lucerne in terminal orbit; built on GM's G Platform, Buick has no plans to redesign it, and no plans to replace it with the Park Avenue, which goes straight from its Holden assembly line in Australia to a port in China.
The LaCrosse will aim at the U.S. premium mid-size buyers and be the first domestic entrant on GM's new global mid-size platform. While it can fit both four- and six-cylinder engines, the pick of the litter will probably be the all-new 3.0-liter direct-injection V6. To give it a serious chance as an import fighter, the LaCrosse will also receive features like a heads-up display and all-wheel-drive. We'll be bringing you the full story on the car that will be Buick's spearhead from next month's Detroit Auto Show, so stay tuned.
Gallery: 2010 Buick LaCrosse - spy shots II
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
RayJ 4:37PM (12/22/2008)
STUNNING!!!!
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DC_1 4:43PM (12/22/2008)
So far so good.
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Monkaroo 4:44PM (12/22/2008)
This car looks like a winner. I love the interior (Ford are you
taking notes). Now if they could just lower the ride height about 1.5
to 2 inches It will be ready.
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Kevin 4:49PM (12/22/2008)
My dearly departed dad used to say that Buicks' are an old mans car. That isn't an old mans car. Looks like there is hope for them if GM can get through this economic craziness.
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Donpella 4:52PM (12/22/2008)
Ahhhhhh! What are you doing GM? You'll never let Buick become America's Lexus with ideas like this. A great car the Lacrosse promises to be, it would just compete with the Lexus ES (as sporty as it looks, without rwd it wont compete with the GS) and it surely isn't a LS. What is wrong with idea of bringing over the Park Avenue at low volume, that basicly no money spent beside advertising. A fullsize rwd with all options says Buick like no other. Lacrosse, a midsizer, as the flagship doesn't say Buick ,That would make a complete line-up
Suv or Cuv (or what ever they call it nowadays) = Enclave
Fullsize = Park Avenue
Midsize = LaCrosse
Smallsize = Regal (depending on actual size)
I'm 28 and I actually like Buick's and had faith in them, but if GM keep making wack choices I say forget it just let Buick die then!
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Derek 5:59PM (12/22/2008)
Buick should not compete in anything smaller than the midsize segment unless it is a two seater (Reatta, anyone?) It's just not the right image, let Chevy cover that segment. The only way to do it economically would be to borrow the Cobalt of Cruze architecture anyways.
Lexus doesn't pirate the Corolla platform, either.
happy_penguin 4:54PM (12/22/2008)
Yes! Give this thing a smooth, quiet ride but not too disconnected. Make it a road car with some decent handling and Buick can change it's image from "old" to "premium upscale" like Buick was known for in the past. Buick ownership is something to which people should aspire, not retire.
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Jei 5:01PM (12/22/2008)
I think letting the Lucerne die is a good strategy. GM really needs to gain market share in the small & mid-size sedan categories. The classic "land yacht" is pretty much passe unless it's a respected luxury cruiser like the LS, 7-series, or S-class. Cadillac and Lincoln have burned so many bridges with their antiquated designs of past, that the US cringes whenever there's any mention of the Big3 producing a new large sedan to replacing their aging flagship passenger cars.
In any case, any large sedan being developed today must have a hybrid variant or some type of powertrain that doesn't scream gas guzzler so loudly that it overshadows the exterior design and interior comforts & technology.
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Mazda FTW! 5:03PM (12/22/2008)
See that Ford? THATS the steering wheel I alluded to when I talked about in the Taurus post.
Stunning. And AWD and HUD? Winner.
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ChopperDave 5:10PM (12/22/2008)
Jeez, I'm already sick of that interior. I know it's a huge step up from the current corporate interior (at least in design; I have yet to touch the plastics), but is GM going to keep failing to differentiate? Are we going to see this interior on the next Saabs (provided they continue to exist)?
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xxxxxxx 5:20PM (12/22/2008)
to ChopperDave:
What are you talking about? What other car have you seen this interior before?
Differentiate from what ?
Maybe its time for you to get some prescription glasses..
ChopperDave 5:27PM (12/22/2008)
Check out the photos of the new Equinox, some spy shots of the alleged new 9-5, even the Volt--almost the same steering wheel, with those two blades on the bottom spoke(s). Now look at the center stack, the way the angled vents come out like ears--also similar to the CTS. I'm not saying they're identical, but I'm seeing a major corporate similarity in the new and upcoming models across brands.
Brent M 5:29PM (12/22/2008)
You cannot be serious that you are tired of this interior. It's like no other interior out there from any maker! Look at an Accord and Camry, THEN tell me that you are tired of this stunningly beautiful layout.
ChopperDave 5:34PM (12/22/2008)
Hey, no doubt, it's a gorgeous interior (especially in the Buick)! I would be happy to have an interior design like this in my next car. I just feel like I've seen variations of it in a dozen applications already.
Derek 5:59PM (12/22/2008)
OMG, I've seen that interior in, like, so many cars that aren't for sale yet. It's so five minutes ago!
If you get tired of interior designs this fast, I assume you lease a new car every few months because you're tired of it too?
xxxxxxx 10:37AM (12/23/2008)
ChopperDave:
Car companies share components all the time to save money., yet giving us all new interior designs. Most of the time they share the internal cmponents, which makes it harder for the the layout to be totally different - Ex: air vents position that you mentioned. But will give you freedom to design the outer surface (buttons, material etc.)
But than again Look at Toyota and the similarities between interiors- layout-steering wheel. Nobody complains about their interiors.
Lexus:
http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/j/8/1/tmc_08isf_int.jpg
Camry:
http://us.autos1.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/ag/toyota_camry_sev6_2008_interior_19_346x270.jpg
Rav4:
http://us.autos1.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/ag/toyota_rav4_sportv64x2_2008_interior_19_346x270.jpg
xxxxxxx 10:38AM (12/23/2008)
and Scion:
http://us.autos1.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/ag/toyota_rav4_sportv64x2_2008_interior_19_346x270.jpg
casey 5:15PM (12/22/2008)
it looks fantastic. i just wish they would change the name to something better from Buick's past. i think Invicta, like the concept, would be just fine. Centurion maybe?
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happy_penguin 6:25PM (12/22/2008)
Electra, 225, Electra 225...
happy_penguin 7:05PM (12/22/2008)
OH! And a performance version: Wildcat!