Buick News: Buick LaCrosse Goes Upscale With Avenir

[William Maley]

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Currently, Buick only offers their upscale Avenir trim on only the Enclave crossover. But that will be changing in the coming weeks as the brand has announced the 2018 LaCrosse Avenir.

The LaCrosse Avenir stands out from its brethren with new mesh grille inserts, chrome "wings", 19-inch wheels (20-inch wheels are optional), and Avenir badging. Inside, Buick went all out by using chestnut-brown leather upholstery, embroidered headrests, and special sill plates. Like the Enclave Avenir, the LaCrosse Avenir comes fully loaded with a Bose audio system, panoramic moonroof, and the 3.6L V6 with 310 horsepower. Optional equipment includes all-wheel drive, a suite of active safety equipment, and Dynamic Drive Package.

Pricing will be announced closer to the LaCrosse Avenir's launch.

Source: Buick
Press Release is on Page 2

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Buick LaCrosse Avenir Makes World Debut

• Buick’s highest expression of luxury expands to flagship sedan

LOS ANGELES ― With the arrival of the 2018 LaCrosse Avenir, Buick’s new sub-brand expands its offerings and provides customers a way to experience the highest expression of Buick luxury, regardless of whether they’re shopping for a car or SUV. First introduced with the 2018 Enclave that went on sale in October, Avenir features unique styling cues, an extensive set of standard features and exclusive premium materials for customers who want more.

“Nine out of ten LaCrosse buyers are choosing one of the top two trim levels — customers are signaling they want more from Buick,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick and GMC. “With even more content and an elegant look, Avenir adds a unique name and appearance for those who want the best of our attainable luxury.”

Like the Enclave Avenir, the LaCrosse Avenir’s design details were channeled from our award-winning concept cars for a more dramatic look, expressed through a unique three-dimensional mesh upper and lower grille paired with chrome wings. Avenir script badging on the front doors and exclusive 19-inch Pearl Nickel or available 20-inch Midnight Silver wheels create a commanding road presence and complement the LaCrosse’s timeless design.

“Exterior styling is very important to LaCrosse buyers, and its sculpted beauty withstands passing trends,” says Bob Boniface, global director of Buick Exterior Design. “For Avenir, we focused on maintaining the timelessness of the LaCrosse, while giving these customers subtle and tasteful details that elevate this car to a new level.”

Inside, Avenir-exclusive details include a Chestnut interior color theme, embroidered first-row headrests and Avenir-scripted sill plates.

Features available on other LaCrosse models come standard on the Avenir, including a powerful 310-horsepower V-6, nine-speed automatic transmission, navigation and Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound premium audio, as well as a panoramic moonroof.

Additional available features include Ebony interior, Intelligent Twin-Clutch AWD, Dynamic Drive Package featuring continuous variable real-time dampening control and a suite of advanced safety features.

LaCrosse Avenir will arrive at dealers in early 2018.

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[G. David Felt]

Nice looking car, for a car. Interior is sweet, we have such nice interiors compared to just a few years ago.  

[Drew Dowdell]

Now that I'm almost an old man, I should be in the target market for this.... but it just kinda looks like what a next generation Taurus might look like from the front. 

[ocnblu]

When I think back to the Avenir concept... seeing this and the otherwise nice new Enclave... I get sick in the stomach.  The Avenir and Avista should be in Buick showrooms RIGHT NOW.  GM is halfassing this brand... which is the brand that is the earliest foundation of General Motors.  To me, the people who run GM are committing high crimes against the corporation's heritage.

[smk4565]

Looks a little like a last generation Lucerne in front.  It just doesn't seem all that luxurious, I guess some funeral homes will buy them up when the XTS goes out of production, some of the 75 and up crowd will like it, but a Lexus ES is a nicer ride than this and I hate the Lexus ES.

[regfootball]

4 hours ago, ocnblu said:

When I think back to the Avenir concept... seeing this and the otherwise nice new Enclave... I get sick in the stomach.  The Avenir and Avista should be in Buick showrooms RIGHT NOW.  GM is halfassing this brand... which is the brand that is the earliest foundation of General Motors.  To me, the people who run GM are committing high crimes against the corporation's heritage.

you know, i was lukewarm on the Avista just because it was a coupe and i know coupes don't sell.  But after awhile I go back and look at the images and it really was sweet.  I am sold that the Avista is a better coupe idea than an ATS coupe.  Avenir concept also....needed some tweaking from concept to production and it is a large beast which is what i think Buick needs for a sedan.  It really was 100% Buick in idea and a production version could have been that much more bodacious.

Waterfall grilles need to come back BTW.

It is true, GM is dumbing down Buick and applying the Avenir name as a trim just does that more.

There's a few things that really grate me about the new Regal that leads me to think that Buick doesn't really give a shit or that the Allred guy is just clueless.  One, the GS has a basic engine.  Yes, its a v6, but hello, its a GS, it needed the twin turbo.  The v6 roll on acceleration is not a step up above the 2.0.  Second, the Insignia as built in Germany has these award winning seats (not the same seats the GS has) that are built for extreme comfort.  Instead, stupid GM looks to have put the miserable same as Malibu seats in the Regal for US consumption.  Flat, unsupportive, lacking padding and comfort.  Overall it seems the Regal interiors will not be as trimmed out as the Insignia's as far as lush door panels etc.  Third, not offering the sexy GS wagon, or a wagon that is not outbacked / butched up with gray cladding.  The Insignia wagon is sexy as shit, and they aren't going to supplement the TourX with another wagon body offering.  

LaCrosse is jello styling and the current grill may fool some into thinking Buick 2010 Taurus.  Center console is hugely intrusive and they used a shifter that older drivers will have problems using.  Interior space is ok but not cavernous.....it feels more like a midsize inside.  I've only seen one new LaCrosse on the road that I did a double take on thinking it looked good and that was only because it had the big wheels on it.  2.5 engine option that is new this year is an embarrassment.

I love the Encore updates, but Encore needs a real motor.  As least as an option.  Encore needs to grow just a bit in size i think, despite its notion of being a subcompact.  It's a narrow ride.  Leg space is good and a surprisingly large cargo area....so to enhance what is there would help.

New Enclave to me is a solid A plus but it is priced crazy high and i guess that is ok because they will probably sell well.  

The Envision has tired old styling and is made in China.....they really could update the design and build it here.  2.5 engine choice is embarrassing at the prices they want.

Regal Sportback fills the Verano void but to some degree Verano provided a nice entry to Buick brand.  So Buick will need to keep Regal prices in check and not price it out of reach, but I'm sure they will price it out of reach because it is GM.

What is missing at Chevy and Buick is a Ford Edge clone.  Large two row SPORTY crossover.  Not a Trailblazer that looks like another butch truck.  Something that would sell well vs a Lexus RX or Ford Edge / MKx.  Enclave does that to some extent but not everyone wants a 3 row.  Midsize like an Escape is not large enough and 3 row is too large.  So something of that ilk.  If they scrapped the sedan and basically took this LaCrosse platform as is, same drivetrain, wheelbase, seats in the same locations, jacked it up crossover high and put a sloping rear crossver body on it, we'd be talking about how Buick can't keep it in stock.

Edited November 9, 2017 by regfootball

[ocnblu]

I see what you're saying and I agree, reg.  I think Chevy though will pitch their "Blazer" CUV toward the Edge.  Literally.  And with regret, I predict the Encore will go electric, or at least hybrid, for the next round.  I am hoping they at least have the OPTION of a gas powered version so they can move some units.

The Envision is a prime example of an afterthought in a segment primed for profits... the whole "made in China" thing is genuinely hurting it, I believe, and social media is partially fueling that.  People who don't know soon will and seem turned off.  Plus the styling is not right by a long shot.  Its face is a throwback, and the sides and rear have no grace or flow, they are abrupt and poverty-stricken.  Like the Chinese Buick minivan...

Edited November 9, 2017 by ocnblu

[surreal1272]

13 hours ago, smk4565 said:

Looks a little like a last generation Lucerne in front.  It just doesn't seem all that luxurious, I guess some funeral homes will buy them up when the XTS goes out of production, some of the 75 and up crowd will like it, but a Lexus ES is a nicer ride than this and I hate the Lexus ES.

“When you’re trying to up your trolling game”^^

[A Horse With No Name]

20 hours ago, dfelt said:

Nice looking car, for a car. Interior is sweet, we have such nice interiors compared to just a few years ago.  

Agreed...

7 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

“When you’re trying to up your trolling game”^^

...and failing badly at that task...

16 hours ago, ocnblu said:

When I think back to the Avenir concept... seeing this and the otherwise nice new Enclave... I get sick in the stomach.  The Avenir and Avista should be in Buick showrooms RIGHT NOW.  GM is halfassing this brand... which is the brand that is the earliest foundation of General Motors.  To me, the people who run GM are committing high crimes against the corporation's heritage.

Quoted for absolute truth....!

19 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Now that I'm almost an old man, I should be in the target market for this.... but it just kinda looks like what a next generation Taurus might look like from the front. 

If I didn't love you like a brother, I would actually down vote this...it is a nice looking car!

[Drew Dowdell]

I just think the prior models were more striking. 

[A Horse With No Name]

2 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I just think the prior models were more striking. 

Far enough....I must be really ancient because I like the current model.

[Suaviloquent]

The Avenir models just don’t do anything for me.

 

Now, will the Regal get Avenir trim????

[Drew Dowdell]

At least on the Avenir trims, there are actual hardware upgrades.  Both the Enclave and Lacrosse get upgraded electronic suspensions. 

[Paolino]

Eh

[Paolino]

I will say this, Wards voted the LaCrosse interior as one of their top 10 auto interiors.

[trinacriabob]

I couldn't find a more recent LaCrosse article so I figured I'd post my comment here.  Buick's website shows their 2019 lineup sans Regal, possibly because it recently got released.  I'm sure they'll add the Regal to 2019 sooner than later.

At any rate, there are SIX LaCrosse levels to choose from.  It was interesting to see that the base model is given an unflattering 1SV designation, as was the case for the decontented Verano as it was on its way out.

The base model is something like $29,### and it is only available with a 2.5 L 4 with start-stop, a 6 speed automatic transmission, a choice of 2 exterior colors, and 1 interior trim model.  When it's all added up, I believe it priced out at $ 30,495.  Not bad for their flagship.  BUT ... is this the same 2.5 L 4 that powered the Chevy Malibu in 2013 and 2014?

If you want one trim level up, so you can get the 3.6 V6 (it pushes you up to a 9 speed automatic transmission), along with a REAL choice of exterior colors, you will be hitting a MSRP in the mid $37K range.  Obviously, there's much more standard equipment in the car, but $7 K is a big jump.

I have never read much about the new LaCrosse nor have I driven one.  I then proceed to read some consumer reviews.  A good many are pleased as punch while some are pissed.  They say that noise isn't suppressed as well and the ride isn't as nice as it was in the previous gen LaCrosse which they traded in to get the most recent gen LaCrosse. 

I like the svelte current gen LaCrosse much more so than the chunky looking last gen LaCrosse.  I never warmed up to the last version. However, between the huge price changes with the trim levels, the iffy consumer sound-offs, and the confining high center console, I don't know what to think of this car.  I just wish a person could get a more simple one with a 3.6 V6 (one of Ward's Top 10 engines, as we all probably know) and a few colors to pick from with a MSRP of less than $ 37,000.  I don't need 9 gears, either.