Is This a 2017 Buick LaCrosse Prototype Testing in a Blizzard? [Spied]

2017 buick lacrosse
2017 Buick LaCrosse prototype (by Jared C.)

A new car must withstand anything mother nature can throw at it. Manufacturers often put hundreds of thousands of miles testing the latest cars, crossovers, and trucks. Jared C. caught what appears to be a 2017 Buick LaCrosse resting on a side of a road after a major snow storm.

The new Buick will be equipped with 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. Acceleration should be brisk, considering that the redesigned LaCrosse is 300 lbs lighter 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, which would come in useful in these snowy and icy conditions.

2017-buick-lacross-grille-prototype
(by Jared C.)

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.

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 from the 2015 L.A. Auto Show.