2010 Buick LaCrosse will be available with 2.4-liter Ecotec I4
06-22-2009, 10:55 PM
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2010 Buick LaCrosse will be available with 2.4-liter Ecotec I4
Four Play: GM confirms 2010 Buick LaCrosse will be available with 2.4-liter Ecotec I4
General Motors has announced that its new 2010 Buick LaCrosse will be available with its fuel-sipping 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder. Equipped with the direct injected engine and paired with the sedan's standard six-speed automatic, GM says the combination should deliver 30 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg in town.
It will be interesting to see if the 182 horsepower, 172 pound-foot of torque inline-four will be able to effectively motivate a car of the LaCrosse's size, but either way, plugging the capable engine in the Buick ought to give GM a unique selling point against V6-only competitors like the Lincoln MKZ.
Buick says it expects about 25% of LaCrosse buyers will check the four-cylinder box at purchase time. Check out the official press verbiage after the jump.
06-23-2009, 07:09 AM
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I'm very surprised they did this. Hopefully this means that engine is going into the Malibu for 2010.
This is a good move from a marketing stand point, It will be the only car in its class with over 30mpg. My guess is final EPA rating will be 32mpg hwy just like the similar weight Chevy Equinox.
This is a good move from a marketing stand point, It will be the only car in its class with over 30mpg. My guess is final EPA rating will be 32mpg hwy just like the similar weight Chevy Equinox.
06-23-2009, 02:53 PM
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Weight is about the same as the Equinox 2wd (3700), this isn't an official EPA rating, just the GM low ball GM estimate. Equinox was 30mpg before the EPA said it was 32mpg.
06-23-2009, 03:27 PM
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When was the last time Buick was available with a 4-cyl? I remember the last A-Body Buick was in 1997, but it had the 3.3 V6, right?
And before that, the only car that comes to mind was the Buick Skylark of the 80's with the Tech-4.
And before that, the only car that comes to mind was the Buick Skylark of the 80's with the Tech-4.
06-23-2009, 03:48 PM
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2.4 makes a huge amount of sense in this economical and volatile environment. the questions remains how does GM market this and does it fit in with GM's intent of making Buick aspirational. Where will they price this? with the right amount of forward thrust and refinement, the 2.4 still makes a competent luxury vehicle, if not a traditional luxury car with potent engines. a luxury pricetag is still in line given the high level of content style and accomodations. but buick stupidly offers this car with decidedly downlevel and prehistoric options such as steel wheels. with that kind of product imaging, buick will never escape the legends of the past.
06-23-2009, 03:50 PM
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tuned for MPG not HP
06-23-2009, 03:52 PM
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06-23-2009, 04:57 PM
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I don't think Buick's premium North American sedan should have a 4 cylinder, unless it's a turbo 4. I know the performance will be much better but this reminds me of the 1976 LeSabre being available with the 231 - a desperate attempt to improve the fuel economy of a heavy car Keep the 2.4DI for the Insignia/Regal.
06-23-2009, 09:57 PM
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Hrrmm..
What's funny is my wife had a Rav4 back in thge day witha 4 cylinder. Just to get the thing to move in normal city, rushhour driving, she always was flogging the hell out of it and got surpisingly terrible gas milage. Matter of fact she got better gas milage in the bigger, 6 cylinder Trailblazer she replaced it with.
What's funny is my wife had a Rav4 back in thge day witha 4 cylinder. Just to get the thing to move in normal city, rushhour driving, she always was flogging the hell out of it and got surpisingly terrible gas milage. Matter of fact she got better gas milage in the bigger, 6 cylinder Trailblazer she replaced it with.
06-24-2009, 10:32 AM
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I don't think Buick's premium North American sedan should have a 4 cylinder, unless it's a turbo 4. I know the performance will be much better but this reminds me of the 1976 LeSabre being available with the 231 - a desperate attempt to improve the fuel economy of a heavy car Keep the 2.4DI for the Insignia/Regal.
When gas hits $3.50-4.00 a gallon next year and this car has a 50% Di-4 sales rate GM will look smart for offering it. What if they didn't offer the Four and people bought a cheaper car from GM or another Brand based soley on MPG's. BTW I've seen this motor rated at 18X HP. And for those who think it would be slow, its all about the gearing. 6spds give a heck of an advantage. I remember 22re toyotas being faster then 4.3L S-10's thanks to gearing.