Columbia Loves Five-Star Crash Test Rated Buick LaCrosse

Today, Buick announced that the 2011 Buick LaCrosse has received a five-star safety rating from the federal government's crash testing regimen. The NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program has become more stringent starting with 2011 models, incorporating more information on technologies that help avoid accidents and the performance of safety features. With a five-star overall rating in both Overall Front Crash and Overall Side Crash, Buick LaCrosse is one of the safest options among luxury midsize sedans.

Beyond LaCrosse's body-frame integral structure uses high-strength steel in strategic places to protect all passengers in the event of an accident. In addition, six airbags come as standard equipment: the standard front airbags for the driver and front passenger, two side airbags in the driver and front passenger seat that deploy in a side impact to protect the torso, and two side curtain airbags that protect the heads of passengers in the outboard seats on both rows. For additional protection, side torso airbags are available for rear-seat passengers as well.

In addition, the Buick LaCrosse in Columbia SC features a host of other safety features designed to reduce the chances of getting into an accident in the first place. An available heads-up display projects critical instruments onto the windshield, allowing you to see them without taking your eyes off the road. In addition, LaCrosse's side blind zone alert system uses radar to alert you to drivers that may be in your blind spot for an additional degree of reassurance beyond your mirrors and checking over your shoulder. This combination of safety features isn't available on the Acura TL in Columbia SC.

Should you find yourself in an accident, know that the Buick LaCrosse is there to help you using OnStar's Automatic Crash Response system. When the system detects you've been in an accident, either because the airbags deployed or because of violent movements of the car, it will attempt to send an alert to OnStar to connect you with a specially-trained OnStar advisor that can summon local emergency services and relay critical information about the nature of the accident to them. OnStar service with turn-by-turn navigation comes standard on every new Buick LaCrosse for six months.

Of course, many Columbia drivers love Buick because it's never one to rest on its laurels. LaCrosse gets even better for 2012 with the introduction of the eAssist system on the four-cylinder model. LaCrosse with eAssist combines the efficient 2.4L four-cylinder engine with a 15-horsepower electric motor to improve acceleration and fuel efficiency. With estimated highway fuel economy of 37 miles per gallon, this LaCrosse with mild hybrid technology is sure to be a hit among Columbia drivers when it arrives later this year.

The 2011 Buick LaCrosse is available now from Jim Hudson Buick in Columbia, South Carolina, South Carolina's #1 Buick dealership. Jim Hudson has over 30 years of experience serving the midlands of South Carolina including Newberry, Sumter, Orangeburg, and Lugoff with a commitment to complete customer satisfaction. Voted Best New Car Dealership ten years and counting by readers of The State, Jim Hudson is the most trusted name in cars in Columbia. For more information on the 2011 Buick LaCrosse, call Jim Hudson Buick toll-free at (888) 377-4971 or visit them at 7201 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, South Carolina.

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.

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".