In today’s growing global economy, the only certainty is that the cost of gasoline is uncertain. Because of this, consumers are putting fuel economy among the highest criteria when considering their next automotive purchase. Enter the 2012 Buick LaCrosse with fuel-saving eAssist™ technology – a full-size luxury sedan delivering incredible gas mileage.
Available this summer, just in time for the seasonal rise in fuel prices, the 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist (MSRP $29,960) not only returns fuel economy numbers competitive with smaller, non-luxury cars, but GM engineers have also combined luxury, style, comfort and impressive driving performance with advanced, “light electrification” technology that increases fuel economy by 25 percent over the 2011 four-cylinder LaCrosse. Drivers can expect up to 25 mpg city and 37 mpg highway.
The LaCrosse with eAssist also performs at the same level as more expensive and complicated hybrid sedans. The eAssist system features an advanced 115V lithium-ion battery and latest-generation 15kW motor-generator unit that contributes up to 15 hp and 79 lb/ft of torque to the 2.4-liter ECOTEC direct-injection four-cylinder engine. At full throttle, the powerplant cranks out 182 hp and 172 lb/ft of torque for an ideal balance of performance in both power and efficiency, put to the wheels through a next-generation six-speed automatic transmission.
The innovative eAssist system does far more than just assist the gasoline engine to achieve greater fuel economy numbers. It also employs regenerative braking – diverting up to 15kW of electricity to charge the lithium-ion batteries – incorporates seamless engine start/stop to use only electricity when the vehicle is stopped, engages aggressive fuel cut-off on deceleration all the way to full stop and the lithium-ion battery allows for more intelligent and efficient charging and discharging.
Even when the LaCrosse is stopped on steep uphill grades, the eAssist system incorporates Hill Assist, capturing brake pressure to ensure the vehicle remains stationary and can accelerate smoothly from a stop; a feature both you and anyone behind you will greatly appreciate.
One of the most important aspects of a car’s fuel efficiency isn’t found under the hood, it’s found all around it. Aerodynamics plays a crucial part in helping achieve high fuel efficiency, and each LaCrosse with eAssist features electronically controlled shutters in the lower grille that close at higher speeds to push more air over the body to improve aerodynamics. Even the underbody is sculpted with aerodynamics in mind, and tires engineered for optimum fuel economy come standard.
Perhaps the greatest part of the 2012 LaCrosse eAssist is that none of these fuel efficiency gains comes at the expense of any of the superb performance and luxury attributes that make the 2011 LaCrosse such an enormous sales success. QuietTuning™ – a Buick-signature engineering process designed to reduce, block and absorb interior noise – hushes the cabin to enhance the luxurious opulence of the LaCrosse. Unfortunately, QuietTuning won’t block the noise from backseat drivers.
The LaCrosse benefits from one of the most tastefully appointed interiors of any full-size luxury sedan in its class, making it appear far more expensive than its window sticker indicates. Ice-blue LED backlights accentuate a gently arcing dashboard, and a new ECO gauge on the instrument panel continuously adapts to driving behavior for improved fuel efficiency.
The LaCrosse with eAssist is rich with technological features including an available 40GB hard drive navigation system with 10GB reserved for music, Bluetooth, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with two seatback display screens, a rearview camera system and Side Blind Zone Alert technology to alert if an adjacent vehicle is driving in your blind spot.
Later in 2011, LaCrosse with eAssist will feature Buick IntelliLink as a standard feature, using Bluetooth or USB to link a smartphone to an eight-inch, high-resolution, touchscreen radio for control of streaming audio services like PANDORA Internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio. All of these features are controllable from Buick’s infotainment system, by voice control or steering wheel controls, allowing drivers to safely keep their hands where they belong - on the steering wheel.
Before the announcement of eAssist, the 2011 Buick LaCrosse was already one of the best luxury-sedan values going. Now, with fuel economy numbers at the level of far more expensive and complex hybrid sedans, the 2012 LaCrosse with eAssist is perfectly positioned to help Buick achieve even greater success.
Some people say you can’t have it all, but this Buick proves that you can. Performance, luxury, style, value and outstanding fuel efficiency all wrapped up into an American car; it’s a combination you have to see for yourself, so schedule a test drive of the 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist today.
