Car and Driver Loves Buick LaCrosse with eAssist!

2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist (GM Media)

Car and Driver magazine recently had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a development version of the 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist, which is designed to offer increased fuel economy of up to 25 percent without sacrificing the ride quality and quiet interior Columbia drivers have come to love in the new Buick LaCrosse.  Indeed, Buick's own benchmark for ride quality on the Buick LaCrosse with eAssist was a standard 2011 Buick LaCrosse that has been immensely popular among South Carolina's Buick drivers.

Buick estimates that the mild hybrid LaCrosse will achieve EPA fuel economy ratings of 25 city MPG and 37 MPG highway, fuel economy estimates that would have been impressive for compact cars of just a few years ago in a much roomier package.  The four-cylinder Ecotec engine makes 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque, aided by a new electric motor that makes an additional 15 horsepower and 79 pound-feet of torque.  As electric motors make maximum torque right as they begin acceleration, this will provide a significant boost in acceleration from a stop.  Indeed, C&D was told to expect an improvement in 0-60 times of about 0.2 seconds compared to a four-cylinder LaCrosse of today.

There are additional tricks underneath the Buick LaCrosse with eAssist that improve fuel economy further, including active air shutters that close for improved aerodynamics when the additional cooling capacity is not required by the engine, additional underbody panels that smooth airflow underneath the car, and special low-rolling-resistance tires that maintain the current LaCrosse's lateral grip all combine to maximize the energy drawn into the regenerative braking system.

The 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist goes on sale this summer. Exact pricing has not been announced, but Buick has indicated that pricing will start around $30,000, and that pricing will match the popular V6 option featuring the same standard equipment.  When looking for a Buick LaCrosse in Columbia SC, we encourage you to visit Jim Hudson Buick, the #1 Buick dealership in the state of South Carolina.  Jim Hudson Buick is located at 7201 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, and can be reached at (803) 783-0110.

Columbia Loves a Buick, and So Does America!

As the dust settles from the rebound year that was 2010, many manufacturers are releasing their end-of-the-year sales numbers.  With all the major brands reporting, we're thrilled to announce that the fastest-growing brand in the United States of America is Buick!

In 2009, Buick delivered 102,306 vehicles in the United States.  In 2010, following the launch of the all-new Buick LaCrosse in Columbia SC (up a staggering 112 percent in 2010 alone) and the revival of the Buick Regal in Columbia, and on the continued love shown by Columbia drivers to the Buick Enclave crossover SUV, a whopping 155,389 new Buicks found their homes--a boost of over 51 percent!

December saw Buick sales increasing 40 percent year-over-year, the fifteenth consecutive month of retail sales increases.  Many Columbia shoppers are drawn to the exciting new lineup, as about 41 percent of Buick buyers are coming from outside the General Motors family, and 27 percent from import brands.  Needless to say, the demand has kept Columbia Buick dealers busy for the past year, and you know that we look forward to an even stronger 2011 with the arrival of exciting new models like the Buick Regal GS, Buick LaCrosse with eAssist, and the all-new Buick Verano.  Stay tuned as these exciting new models will be arriving soon!

Love Buick's fuel efficiency, Columbia? Get ready to love it even more!

Buick LaCrosse, coming soon with eAssist
technology to Columbia, SC

Even with gas still below $3 a gallon (knock on wood), fuel efficiency remains a concern for a lot of drivers in Columbia, South Carolina.  Buick's fuel economy has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few years with new models like the Buick Enclave crossover and the new Buick Regal.  Perhaps the best example of the improvements, though, has been in the Buick LaCrosse.

The final model year of the LaCrosse's first generation offered a V6 engine rated for 28 highway MPG, or a 5.3L V8 rated for 24.  For 2011, LaCrosse offers a 4-cylinder engine rated for 30 highway MPG.  Now, for the 2012 model year, Buick is introducing the eAssist system to the four-cylinder Buick LaCrosse as standard equipment with an estimated 37 MPG!

Don't call it a hybrid--you won't be driving on the electric motor alone--but the eAssist system uses an electric motor coupled to the four-cylinder engine on the LaCrosse in lieu of a traditional alternator.  A 115V battery pack in the rear of the car provides the motor with up to 15 horsepower (or 11 kilowatts) of electric assistance during heavy acceleration.  This is a huge leap over the 2 kilowatts of the last-generation system found on models such as the Saturn Aura Green Line and Chevy Malibu Hybrid.  The eAssist system also provides up to 15 kilowatts of regenerative braking power, capturing energy for later use that would otherwise be lost to heat and friction.  The system also allows the 2.4L Ecotec engine to shut down fuel delivery in certain situations, allowing the motor to spin the engine to a stop at just the right position to restart smoothly.  Unlike many hybrid sedans available in Columbia, the LaCrosse will retain its split-folding rear seat; cargo space will be reduced slightly to make room for the battery.

LaCrosse with eAssist will also include improved underbody aerodynamics and actively-controlled shutters on the lower grille.  When cooling is not needed for the engine, such as while cruising down the highway, the shutters will close to force air around the body of the car to reduce drag.  In cases where more airflow is needed, such as in the city or while going up a steep grade, the shutters will open to provide better cooling for the engine.

All of this, save for an ECO gauge on the instrument panel, is invisible and effortless to the driver as you'd expect from a Buick in Columbia.  Although pricing has not been announced for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist, Buick expects the sedan to come in "about $30,000".