Who Needs To Worry The Most? Buick Targets Lexus And Acura With New LaCrosse

LOL @ LOL Maybe Ford should be worried.....Why is that Lexus somehow keep popping up....You were right, Invisible.

Because that is the target market. The ES ,TL and MKS is who the La Cross is after. Why is it so hard to understand that? Do you go out to looking to purchase an executive suit made by Old Navy or by Giorgio Armani, Hermes Paris or Baldessarini? Apple to apples please.

The Enclave has been out for about 2 years (as a 2008 model, released in 2007). The articles mention it came on line last year.

That's weird, when I go there I see a a 300hp sedan, which for the target demographic is exactly how much it needs.

I don't think the Avalon/Lucerne buyer gives a crap about the mechanical specifications of their vehicle. They care about size, comfort, and reliability.

Good to see the Lacrosse moves the bar up for Buick cars. The Enclave is actually "desireable" a quality missing from the division's fleet for a decade, or so.

Honestly, Buick really really really needs lots of good ads. Thumbs up for Lutz rejecting that other Buick commercial. What Buick really lacks right now is good advertising.

It'll be nice to see the return of Buick vs. Jaguar.

Can't believe Mercury used to compete with Mercedes-Benz.

Does Lexus need to worry about Buick? No.

Acura needs to worry about be relevent.

The interior is gross and the exterior looks like an LS460 with a growth disorder; I dont know....

Why do I come here? Someone, please tell me.

Neither Lexus nor Acura should be worried by a Buick for God's sake. This will be just another failed car just like its predecessors.

That's a good looking car. I wonder is it just skin deep? See similarities to the smaller Opel Insignia - not a bad thing.

Doesn't Lexus and Buick serve the same Blue-Hair demographic?

Exterior very similar to Lexus ES. Interior needs work. But not bad.

The only people that buy a Buick are the Geriatrics and people in the midwest and bible belt that have not evolved yet into realizing that we are importing cars now in the USA...Really?

GM needs to worry - worry about their quality. If they want to take on Acura and Lexus, they had better have top of the industry quality or they will don't have a chance.

The front is Chevrolet cruz, rear is LS460.

JUGNU

The Buick LaCrosse will crush Lexus like a bug.

lol :-D

Just like they have in everything else they've done.

No one. Its just a watered down Opel Insignia.

It won't take down Lexus or Acura but it's a solid effort. However, dealerships need to clean up their act, ownership experience is the key to brand success.

Buick would do very well to learn what Saturn has know for years, Customers come first. Will Buick take down these companies, no. Buick will command a small market share like Hyundai has done to other premium manufactures. That is all that is needed right now. Get the small things right.

Invisible is like the soldier that sleeps. He looks at the website, sees the Lucerne and think that is what will be the face of Buick. Big mistake. That is how Hyundai crept up and punk slapped the competitors.

Look at the Opel Insignia, no one cares it sells in Europe, it will be new here and for sale. The La Crosse will have a 4 cyl. and two V6 engines along with a solid 6 speed tranny with more tech than most of it rival. Looks good for most in class to admire and priced to move. This car should be marketed strong in the middle of the country, you will see a firestorm of sales because that is the demographics. Every review has this car pegged to do very well within its segment.

It is amazing to know that most rental vehicles are imports at this time. Who would have thought that. Times are changing. Get with it.

Hasn't Subaru always been relatively premium? They have always charged more for a very solid product.

As to the RL, lets see... combined fuel economy according to the epa is 18mpg vs 21mpg for the Genesis, yes it's lower but not 6mpg lower. It is also awd whereas the Genesis is rwd meaning that it will also see much more in the way of drive train losses. And finally it's pumping 10hp more out of a slightly smaller displacement engine, meaning that the engine has been tuned further towards performance then fuel economy.

That is why the Genesis is 3mpg less.

I am not enough of an Acura fan or a hyundai fan so I don't know enough to answer confirm or answer your other questions.

I was talking about the v6 model too, 27mpg is it's highway mileage, and since people also drive in cities I used the combined mileage.

Responses from the auto circles about the La Crosse:


Road and Track

Buick's going to easily lure in new blood with this LaCrosse.
In the past we'd have compared the LaCrosse to a Lexus and easily found the Buick to be lacking. No more. This is a new Buick, and it shows from the moment the driver's door swings open and the interior is flooded by a sea of ice-blue light. The color is everywhere, subtly emanating from almost every handhold and storage bin. Lights are of all the same uniform ice-blue color. Even the $350 head-up display matches. Touch the power button and a direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6 with 280 bhp purrs gently into action. At the same time the Adaptive Forward Lighting does its calibration dance swiveling the HID headlamps 15 degrees. A 6-speed automatic spins the front wheels and puts power down without fuss in most conditions.

Motor Trend

We'd almost go so far as to say the LaCrosse's interior carries more gravitas than it's exterior. Copied almost exactly from the Invicta concept, the new LaCrosse gains a wrap-around two-tone cockpit, complete with a French-stitched dash pad and blue LED accent lighting. LaCrosse out of the gates quickly and shorter gearing helps narrow the gap, but our test car's 7.4-second 0-to-60 sprint is 0.9 second off the Lexus's pace. That gap is maintained through the quarter mile (15.8 @ 90.3), where the speed differential is 5.7 mph. But this 3.6L sings such a happy tune under the whip that the car feels quicker.
And that's kind of how it goes with this new Buick. It generally seems like more than it is. More space, better gear, fewer annoyances, more quiet, less total road isolation-and more value. All this Lexus-contending fabulosity starts at $27,835 for the CX, rising to $30,395 for the CXL, and $33,765 for the CXS (similarly equipped, the savings is about $2500 relative to an ES 350) The perfect competitor for the Lexus ES 350. It's spacious for a midsize car.

Jalopnik

There are an unbelievable number of entry luxury cars in the segment, ranging from the Hyundai Genesis to the Lexus ES, we see a great amount of potential in this platform, but we're afraid without a strong statement of purpose, the LaCrosse will wallow in a market filled with strong contenders.


Autoblog

Sitting inside the LaCrosse at speed provides a remarkably serene environment. Wind noise was virtually nonexistent and carrying on conversations with "inside voices" allowed us to hear and be heard with ease. Considering that the engineering and design teams were scattered around the world, the LaCrosse seems remarkably well integrated and should prove very competitive in the "premium mid-lux" segment described by Docherty. Whatever you call it, the Lexus ES and GS, Acura TL and Volvo S60 and S80 better look out.



AutoAuthority

We got the chance to take the new LaCrosse for a spin at a GM press event in Detroit this week, and we can tell you in all seriousness: this is a really, really good

I am sure Inspiron7 that is a very good car. But there are just as good cars if not better out there as well. So, why would I buy this vs. buying a brand that matters. The problem for Buick is beyond just product (which it must have in the first place), but about what Buick is. No one knows. The Buick has no relevancy today.

Buick has a chance to sell the best vehicles it can. For most, Buick has a past that is linked to older individuals, but to give up and not offer new product is foolish at best. Maserati for goodness sake had Chrysler to make models for it in the 80's, and look at the product line now. GM took a line of cars and totally disregard it and allowed the customer base to grow old with the product. It's not if Buick is relevant, but if the company can produce product consumers will want purchase. The answer is yes. The Enclave shows that a good design will attract customers. Buick in china has fresh, bold designs and some will make it to the states within the next 2-3 years. Lets remember to look back at this thread 2 years from now and see what is going on over at Buick.

If we consider individual models, ie Acura RL and Lexus ES350, I think the LaCrosse is closer to the ES350 in terms of design theme and intent. However, Buick as a brand is closer to Acura in terms of company principle. Think front/all wheel drive 4 and 6 cylinder cars and crossover trucks. Same principle both ways. GM is actually targetting Lexus/Acura with Buick so any sales taken from either one would be seen as a good thing. I really doubt GM is thinking that they can dethrone anybody with this effort, but it's a very good step in the right direction. The 1st gen Cadillac CTS made us smile and say "not quite yet". But Cadillac never gave up. They took the knocks and it paid off. Just like with Hyundai. It's a strange thing when you're at the bottom. EVERYBODY tells you what you need to do to be better. The wise ones heed the words and rise up the barrel. When you're at the top, nobody gives you advice and leaves you to set the trends. Toyota in particular has found that quite difficult a hat to wear. So I say let the criticisms continue, it can only mean better cars for us!

Wow! You actually went to look all this up for a Buick. Haven't seen a Buick I like since the 70s.

Lexus worry about Buick? No. The other way round maybe. Have to wait and see i guess.

Buick have a great future if they keep the commitment for quality.

Let's keep this flame war in perspective. Honestly, Buick does not overlap with Lexus except possibly in terms of the ES and RX model lines. Lexus commands a higher price point due to its artifically created premium standing because of solid Toyota marketing and PR. There is no Buick (yet alone Cadillac) that competes with the LS or the other premium flagship sedans as the 7-Series, A8, S-Class, or the new XJ. Furthermore, Buick does not have the complete premium model range thanks to GM that Lexus and the other premium brands have. Buick is suited to take on Infiniti (though Infiniti is more sporty) and Acura (maybe). But even here this is a stretch as both have entry premium vehicles that cater to a younger demographic. Buick needs to redefine itself. Is it going to go upstream to take on Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and Lexus or it going to compete with Volvo and Saab? Where does it actually fit? Cadillac is GM's premium brand, yet it too lacks a proper model range to compete globally and has no true flagship. So, GM first figure out how to position your two brands. Buick is unnecessary and overlaps Chevy and Cadillac too much. Just get rid of Buick and have a volume brand in Chevrolet to compete against Volkswagen, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Fiat, Opel, Kia, Subaru, Renault, Peugeot, Skoda, SEAT, etc. Then position Cadillac to compete against the obvious - Audi, BMW, MB, Lexus, Jaguar. If you want Buick still set it to compete against Volvo and give it those brand values. It will do well to positioned in the middle if Buick has a solid message. That of course means radical restyling of Buick. Trying to be Japanese is not going to work for Buick. Buick has to think out of the box if it is to matter.

Anyway that's it. Peace.

@agreed VISO

the tittle should say: Who Needs To Worry The Most? Buick Targets Lexus "insert model" And Acura "insert model" With New LaCrosse

the ES and TL????

ES alone outsell "double or triple" every car in its segment or above...FACT

TL might have to worry about sells but Acura costumers are not switching 2 Buick...FACT

Who should worry about this car? Potential owners, that's who.