Buick's latest mid-size luxury sedan - the 2010 La Crosse unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show - goes on sale in summer 2009 in the US with the Lexus ES and Nissan Maxima firmly in its sights. In the equally important Chinese market it will take on the Nissan Teana and the more upscale Chinese version of the Toyota Camry.
Changes from Buick's 2008 Invicta concept are refreshingly small. According to exterior design duo Justin Thompson and Richard Duff the production car's roofline has been raised by 24mm, the width narrowed by 13mm and the wheelbase shortened by 70mm to accommodate a V6 engine. The rear bumper is shorter and more upright, 20-inch polished aluminum wheels make way for 19-inch chrome ones and the full-length glass roof has been replaced with metal. The LED front lamps and flush door handles of the concept also unsurprisingly do not make the cut.
However, the essence of the concept - designed side by side with the production car - remains, including the unusual and striking side character line that dips down on the rear door before kicking back up over the rear wheelarch.
The genuinely upscale interior with its cocooning wraparound dash is even more similar to the Invicta concept's - the only major differences being in the choices of material used. Susan Docherty, Buick-Pontiac-GMC vice president, said of the car: "It builds on the success of the Enclave as the next step in Buick's revitalization. And, as with Enclave, our goal is to attract a whole new buyer."
Judging by the quality of the car on display it could well do just that.
Related Article:
Buick Invicta - Beijing Motor Show 2008
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