Buick releases pricing of new mild hybrid LaCrosse e-Assist

Buick has announced pricing of $30,820 for the LaCrosse e-Assist, which becomes the base LaCrosse now, replacing the regular 2.4-liter four-cylinder version. The sticker includes an $850 destination charge.

A conventional 3.6-liter V6 engine is still optional.

The car uses GM’s mild-hybrid belt-alternator-starter hybrid system, along with a 2.4-liter version of GM’s four-cylinder Ecotec engine. In its previous life this system was used in the Malibu Hybrid. However, in the Buick, it's an evolved version that uses a new 115-volt lithium-ion battery that weighs 65 pounds. The conventional six-speed automatic transmission remains.

Although GM refrains from calling it a hybrid, the mild hybrid system shuts down the engine at stops and provides some regenerative braking capacity. It also improves low-end torque and throttle response but cannot propel the car without the gas engine running.

GM says the newly renamed eAssist system should net the LaCrosse a 37 mpg EPA-rating on the highway, though the agency has not yet signed off on that rating. The last four-cylinder LaCrosse we tested returned 37 mpg on the highway and 15 mpg in the city, for an overall 23 mpg. GM claims a 24 percent fuel economy improvement overall.

We think positioning the eAssist as the base version is a good move. The LaCrosse e-Assist will go on sale later this summer.

Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/06/buick-releases-pricing-of-new-mild-hybrid-lacrosse-e-assist.html

Buick Sales in China Surpass 3 Million Since 1999

Shanghai – Shanghai GM announced today that sales of Buick products have surpassed 3 million units since the joint venture began offering its original vehicle brand in 1999.


Buick has become one of China’s fastest-growing passenger car brands. With Shanghai GM’s rollout of its new Buick brand strategy in 2008, sales have increased by more than 100,000 units annually.

Shanghai GM has introduced the Buick Intelligent Performance (BIP) system, which merges European-style suspensions and powertrains with American vehicle communication systems. It is enabling Shanghai GM’s Buick portfolio to fully meet the demands of domestic consumers for products that can handle varying road and weather conditions, lower fuel consumption and emissions, and provide improved performance.

This is in line with Shanghai GM's Drive to Green strategy.  The adoption of technologies such as intelligent direct injection has greatly improved the efficiency of Buick products built and sold in China.

Buick has more than 400 4S stores across China and offers the award-winning Buick Care aftersales service brand. Shanghai GM’s design partnership with GM’s Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) joint venture in Shanghai has resulted in the development of a series of new and upgraded Buick models including the Excelle GT and XT passenger cars and all-new GL8 luxury MPV.

At Auto Shanghai 2011, Shanghai OnStar announced the introduction of a mobile app that will enable Buick owners who subscribe to activate all of the functions on a traditional vehicle key fob – remote start, horn and lights, and door lock/unlock – securely from their smart phones.

Shanghai GM is a joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC). It builds, imports and sells a comprehensive range of Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet products.  In 2010, Shanghai GM became China’s first passenger car maker to sell 1 million vehicles in a single year.  It ended the year with domestic sales of 1,033,307 vehicles.

Read More: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news/news_detail.brand_buick.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Apr/0426_buick