Photo: AutoHome.com.cn
Underpinned by the Epsilon II platform, the second-gen Buick LaCrosse is many things, ranging from the China-spec Roewe 950 to the Saab 9-5 and Chevrolet Impala. In production since the 2010 model year, there’s a new LaCrosse in the pipeline, riding on the GM E2XX platform of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu.
What the spy photographers from AutoHome.com.cn snapped in the adjacent gallery is it and we like what we see. From the side profile, the China-spec 2017 Buick LaCrosse is a smooth operator with a slender body thanks to the slim glasshouse and low roofline.
Around the rear of the LaCrosse, the sheet metal gets even better, thanks to carefully sculpted elements. An interesting detail is shape of the taillamps, resembling an L. At the front, the trademark Buick waterfall grille is the dominant design cue, visually enhanced by an Audi-like front splitter. The headlamp clusters, on the other hand, have slim chances of winning any beauty contest.
On the inside, things appear to be thoroughly all-new in terms of materials and design. Speaking of design, the center armrest and dashboard design are inspired by what we’ve seen inside the Buick Avenir concept, with a huge touchscreen infotainment system overseeing the dash. As expected, there are less buttons than on the current LaCrosse for better ergonomics and ease of use.
In terms of drivetrain, the outgoing 3.6-liter V6 and lazy slushbox are going to be discontinued with the arrival of the 2017 Buick LaCrosse. In their place we expect GM to offer a front- and all-wheel drive chassis married to an all-new 9-speed automatic connected to the 3.6L LGX V6 used by the 2016 model year Cadillac ATS, CTS, and CT6, as well as the sixth-gen Chevrolet Camaro. Rumor has it a 2.0 turbocharged four-cylinder motor with 275 HP and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) could act as the entry-level engine.
Around the rear of the LaCrosse, the sheet metal gets even better, thanks to carefully sculpted elements. An interesting detail is shape of the taillamps, resembling an L. At the front, the trademark Buick waterfall grille is the dominant design cue, visually enhanced by an Audi-like front splitter. The headlamp clusters, on the other hand, have slim chances of winning any beauty contest.
On the inside, things appear to be thoroughly all-new in terms of materials and design. Speaking of design, the center armrest and dashboard design are inspired by what we’ve seen inside the Buick Avenir concept, with a huge touchscreen infotainment system overseeing the dash. As expected, there are less buttons than on the current LaCrosse for better ergonomics and ease of use.
In terms of drivetrain, the outgoing 3.6-liter V6 and lazy slushbox are going to be discontinued with the arrival of the 2017 Buick LaCrosse. In their place we expect GM to offer a front- and all-wheel drive chassis married to an all-new 9-speed automatic connected to the 3.6L LGX V6 used by the 2016 model year Cadillac ATS, CTS, and CT6, as well as the sixth-gen Chevrolet Camaro. Rumor has it a 2.0 turbocharged four-cylinder motor with 275 HP and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) could act as the entry-level engine.
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