Buick is in currently the midst of a major marketing campaign in an attempt to appeal to a younger audience, and the new 2017 LaCrosse is the company’s latest effort to reinvent itself. Closely tied to the Avenir concept, the car features a new grille design with the red, silver, and blue tri-shield emblem as part of Buick’s new face. Compared to the current model, the wheelbase is 2.7″ longer, the roofline 1.6″ lower, and the width 0.4″ wider. The result is a LaCrosse that the company is confident will bring in the new buyers it’s looking for.
“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.”
There is an all-new 3.6L V6 (same as in the Cadillac XT5) with an estimated 305 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque mated to an 8-speed automatic to provide forward momentum for the vehicle’s mass, which is 300 lbs less than the outgoing model. Handling is said to be improved through the use of a new five-link rear suspension and on 19-inch-wheeled front-wheel-dive models, a standard MacPherson strut suspension. For buyers looking for a bit more bling on their Buick, there is a HiPer Strut suspension on models with 20-inch wheels. Also available is a new twin-clutch AWD system for driver’s who often face unfavorable weather conditions.
Inside the cabin are perforated leather-appointed seats, a heated steering wheel, Bose audio system, and a power rear sunshade. The center console boasts an 8-inch full color display that uses Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to enable users to control commonly used features via the touchscreen. To help keep eyes on the road, many of those feature can be controlled by voice commands or steering wheel-mounted buttons. Look for the new Buick to go on sale early in the summer of 2016. Pricing has yet to be announced but for now, check out the video of the 2017 LaCrosse below taken at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show.
