2010 Buick LaCrosse launches at Detroit Auto Show

Update: Click here to watch video of the Buick LaCrosse: http://miad.autoweek.com/vidcast/2010_buick_lacrosse.m4v

General Motors’ Buick division will launch the redesigned-from-the-ground-up Buick LaCrosse at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 12.

GM says the new LaCrosse is truly global, with an exterior designed in the States (and reminiscent of the Invicta concept from the 2008 Beijing motor show), an interior developed in China, Buick’s biggest market, and a platform done by Opel in Europe. Following the Opel Insignia (“Insignia Moves GM Forward,” Oct. 13, 2008), the LaCrosse is GM’s first North American car on the European midsize platform. The Chevrolet Malibu/Saturn Aura will be next, due in 2011.

The LaCrosse is instantly recognizable as a Buick, with portholes inside the character line on the hood and what GM calls Buick’s waterfall grille.

We’ve only seen a show car, but the interior is stunning. A flowing, uninterrupted design wraps around the instrument and door panels. GM sweated the details inside with nicely assembled, high-quality materials (wood, leather and chrome) and cool blue ambient lighting.

The car will be offered in three models: CX, CXL and CXS.

The CX is equipped with a new 3.0-liter direct-injection V6 producing 255 hp and 211 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The CXL level adds heated leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lamps and turn indicators in the mirrors and is available with all-wheel drive.

The high-end CXS gets a 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 good for 280 hp and 261 lb-ft of torque. The CXS is equipped with real-time active damping suspension, heated and cooled leather seats and chrome-plated 18-inch wheels. Nineteen-inch wheels are optional.

Detroit Auto Show News

By Wes Raynal