- Buick will unveil the 2012 LaCrosse Hybrid at the L.A. auto show.
- The LaCrosse Hybrid's projected EPA fuel economy estimates are 25 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway.
- The new hybrid is expected to start around $30,000.
LOS ANGELES — Buick is pulling the wraps off its 2012 LaCrosse Hybrid at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, the latest entrant in a rapidly expanding premium-hybrid segment that includes the Lexus HS 250h and the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.
While the 2012 LaCrosse Hybrid, at around $30,000, will be considerably less expensive than the MKZ Hybrid, which retails for just over $35,000, it falls well short of the Lincoln's EPA city fuel-economy rating while just nudging it in highway fuel economy.
Buick said the LaCrosse Hybrid's eAssist system will mate a 182-horsepower 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder gasoline direct-injection engine with an electric motor/generator that can deliver an additional burst of up to 15 hp during acceleration. In comparison, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid couples a 156-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 191 hp. The LaCrosse Hybrid employs a revised six-speed automatic transmission, while the MKZ Hybrid uses a continuously variable automatic.
Buick said the LaCrosse Hybrid's projected EPA fuel economy estimates are 25 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway, compared with 19/30 for the 2011 LaCrosse's standard 2.4-liter gasoline engine. In comparison, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, which is on sale now, is rated by the EPA at 41 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway.
Buick said the eAssist hybrid powertrain will be standard on all 2012 LaCrosse four-cylinder models, starting next summer. It won't release official prices on the 2012 LaCrosse Hybrid until closer to the vehicle's on-sale date. The current 2011 LaCrosse CX is priced from $27,745, including shipping.
Inside Line says: Premium buyers are going to find an increasing number of green choices in retail showrooms over the next few years. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
tbone85 says:
02:43 PM, 11/18/2010
Where precisely did GM call this car an EV?
Why is it necessary to make things up?
qdp says:
05:09 PM, 11/15/2010
1.Following GM's spin, as long as there is battery powered milage, this car can be called EV. And if there is a gas-engine with it, the car is called EV with gas-engine extender. So because any battery-gas engine hybrid car has innate battery mile range, it can also be called EV with gas-engine extender too. A great twist and spin!
2.According to GM information, eAssista mainly works for stop&run city driving condition. eAssist has little to do with highway mpg improvement. This article's headline has a strange and dubious highway mpg claim, doesn't it?
http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.globalnews.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Nov/10los_angeles/1115_gm_lacrosse
"Regenerative braking, which provides up to 15 kW of electricity to charge the battery
Providing up to 11 kW (15 hp) of electric power assistance during acceleration
Automatic engine shut-off when the vehicle is stopped
Aggressive fuel cut-off during deceleration down to zero vehicle speed, enabled by the torque smoothing provided by the motor-generator unit
Intelligent charge/discharge of the high-voltage battery."
yellowperil says:
03:55 PM, 11/15/2010
GM IS NOT CALLING THIS A HYBRID. Per press release:
http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Nov/10los_angeles/1115_gm_lacrosse
By capitalizing the word 'hybrid,' you are implying that GM is calling this a hybrid. Please correct your article.
phewop118 says:
02:47 PM, 11/15/2010
Blah. Very bland hybrid drivetrain. Only difference from the old Malibu hybrid is the DI 4cyl. Where's the rumored 2-mode V6 that was supposed to be in the Vue? I'm sure it would fit in the Lacrosse and would be a hoot to drive.
hondalvr4life says:
02:25 PM, 11/15/2010
wow 25/37 is not very good for a 4 cylinder hybrid. Lets compare the MkZ hybrid gets 41/36 while when the Accord hybrid was out back in 05-07 it was rated at 25/37 as well with a 253 hp V6 hybrid powertrain. I think i would take the MkZ hybrid over this any day.