One year after having launched the new generation of the Buick LaCrosse, which we reviewed for you this past winter, General Motors is bringing back the eAssist light electrification system to complement the luxury sedan’s 4-cylinder gasoline engine. It will be offered as the standard powertrain when the 2018 model arrives on the market this fall.
In combining an electric motor with the 2.5L 4-cylinder, the American manufacturer is promising performance that is as quiet and refined as it is muscular. The company also announced that fuel consumption should be some 16% lower in city driving in comparison with the V6 engine-equipped Buick LaCrosse.
Exploiting a lithium-ion battery, the eAssist system delivers some of the benefits of all-electric cars, for example instantaneous acceleration from a stop (thanks to the torque provided by the electric motor), the energy savings earned through the braking system’s energy-recovery function, and an exceedingly smooth stop-start system.
The eAssist technology included in the 2018 LaCrosse is actually a new version, more sophisticated, more powerful and more compact than previously. That last quality allowed Buick’s designers to keep the fold-down rear bench and avoid compromising on trunk space.
“Executing innovative technologies in an approachable and meaningful way is core to Buick,” explained Duncan Aldred, vice president, Global Buick and GMC. “By adding the eAssist system to the LaCrosse, our technology flagship, we are making electrification accessible to our customers as we chart our course to the future of mobility."
Buick has also announced that the V6-equipped version of the 2018 Buick LaCrosse will get an entirely new 9-speed automatic transmission, replacing the old 8-speed gearbox. As well, three new exterior colours will be offered for all 2018 LaCrosse models: Satin Steel Metallic, Dark Slate Metallic and Red Quartz Tintcoat.