[car fanatics]

Buick
Photo credit: Buick
March 7, 2012
By: CF staff

Fuel-efficient model represented 25 percent of sales in February

DETROIT – The 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist continues to lure customers looking for a spacious fullsize luxury sedan that gets the fuel economy of many compacts. In February, an all-time high one in four LaCrosse buyers chose the eAssist model.

In California, the take-rate for the 36-highway-mpg sedan reached 31 percent.

”The eAssist technology is bringing in buyers from premium brands like BMW, Lexus and Audi,” said Greg Anderson, sales manager at Casa de Cadillac Buick GMC in Sherman Oaks, Calif. “These new Buick customers are interested in technology and fully loaded models. One came off the truck on Sunday that we had already sold on Thursday. The eAssist story is getting out, and buyers are interested.”

LaCrosse with eAssist uses a compact lithium-ion battery pack and small electric motor to aid the performance of a fuel-efficient 2.4-liter gas engine, while advanced start/stop technology allows the vehicle to operate on just electricity while at rest. eAssist replaced a conventional 2.4L gas engine in the 2012 LaCrosse lineup, which averaged 11 percent of 2011 sales.

Fuel prices historically have helped drive sales of four-cylinder LaCrosse vehicles. When sales peaked for eAssist’s predecessor, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel was $3.90, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Gas prices are again on the rise, up more than 50 cents a gallon since the beginning of 2012. Many predict U.S. fuel costs to reach an all-time high this summer.

“Consumers want fewer visits to the gas pump, but they don’t want to compromise either,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick and GMC Marketing. “Through intelligent technology, the LaCrosse with eAssist delivers great fuel economy without sacrificing a spacious cabin, strong acceleration, or signature Buick quietness.”

Buick’s eAssist was listed among the “Best of What’s New” technologies for 2011 by the editors of Popular Science.

According to hybridcars.com, LaCrosse with eAssist outsold the Lincoln MKZ hybrid three to one in February. The LaCrosse with eAssist also outsold hybrids like the Lexus RX450h, Infiniti M35h, and BMW Hybrid 7.

Retail sales of the LaCrosse – eAssist and V-6 models included – were up 24.9 percent in February, a month in which it was Buick’s top-selling nameplate.

The eAssist powertrain is standard on the 2012 LaCrosse with a suggested starting price of $31,045 including destination. Buick recently announced eAssist technology will be standard on the 2013 Regal luxury sport sedan. It is currently available on that vehicle as a stand-alone option.

[McLovin]

Buick stated they plan only e-assist for this model.
How soon before that happens?

Only 25% choosing the option is kind of low. Interesting strategy however, to offer it as standard.
These are the kind of tricks that automakers, including Ford, will do as they slowly jack prices up to meet CAFÉ, and share the bill with the consumer.
I guess some still don't like the idea of all that e-assist hardware, adding plenty of weight as well, for modest fuel economy gains. 31mpg average is trumped by more powerful GTDI motors. Oh, and it does not have a Blue oval on it either.:WINK:

[Cmicasa the GreatXvX]

McLovin;186138 Wrote:Buick stated they plan only e-assist for this model.
How soon before that happens?

Only 25% choosing the option is kind of low. Interesting strategy however, to offer it as standard.
These are the kind of tricks that automakers, including Ford, will do as they slowly jack prices up to meet CAFÉ, and share the bill with the consumer.
I guess some still don't like the idea of all that e-assist hardware, adding plenty of weight as well, for modest fuel economy gains. 31mpg average is trumped by more powerful GTDI motors. Oh, and it does not have a Blue oval on it either.:WINK:

Anyone ever notice how this dick.. always tries to spin negative shit outta a positive GM article?

Usually he has no facts.. and is completely wrong about so many things. :yeeees:

HEY DUMBASS.. the E-Assist config adds a blazing 65lbs on to the car over the previous 4cylinder model. And since when is 25City/36
Highway "modest" in a car this size? The Ford Focus.. a FUCKIN COMPACT... is pulling in 28City/38Highway.. just 3 and 2 more MPG than a car twice it's size.

[RougeRiver]

Tractability is a desired aspect of a near-luxury sedan. The numbers:

ICE 182 hp / 172 lbs

Motor 15 hp / 110 lbs

Peak
Total 197 hp / 282 lbs


This would compare to the Ford 2.0 liter ecoboost


220 hp / 270 lbs


In the Taurus, mpg will be 31.


I have read that the Fusion will be near 34 mpg using the 2.0 liter ecoboost.

Both approaches have their pros and cons.

One problem a possibly see with the E-assist system is that peak power can only be held for a finite amount of time, so the ICE can not be downsized too far.

Argue away, I have no position on this one.

[McLovin]

E assist is a lot of weight and complexity, for absolute minimal benefit.

Yet another half measure from gm.


And we know they don't bother with hybrids, cuz they can't.

[jspookss]

I always imagine Wings plugging his ears and going "la la la la la la la" when facts are presented to him.

Look how he just went and ignored casa's factually correct rebuttal.

[Chevroletguy]

McLovin;186230 Wrote:E assist is a lot of weight and complexity, for absolute minimal benefit.

Yet another half measure from gm.


And we know they don't bother with hybrids, cuz they can't.

How is 65lbs more on a 3800lb car a lot of weight.

[Cmicasa the GreatXvX]

McLovin;186230 Wrote:E assist is a lot of weight and complexity, for absolute minimal benefit.

Yet another half measure from gm.


And we know they don't bother with hybrids, cuz they can't.

Again.. who the fuck are U trying to fool into believing this shit? On this forum everyone knows that the shit your kicking is fucking FALSE

65-pound weight of the battery and powertrain control pack that resides in the trunk (it blocks the 40-percent side of the split-folding seat), so that overall the car weighs just 10 pounds more than a 2011 LaCrosse 2.4.
LINK

GM doesn't kno how to do Hybrids.. yet they have the most fuel efficient large SUV on the market in the Dual-Modes. Amazing enuff.. wasn't it your sorry ass that continuously claimed that the Volt... was not an EV, but in fact.. a Hybrid??? If that is the case.. GM makes a DAMN awesome Hybrid that just won ANOTHER.. Car of the Year award..

[Cmicasa the GreatXvX]

RougeRiver;186188 Wrote:Tractability is a desired aspect of a near-luxury sedan. The numbers:

ICE 182 hp / 172 lbs

Motor 15 hp / 110 lbs

Peak
Total 197 hp / 282 lbs


This would compare to the Ford 2.0 liter ecoboost


220 hp / 270 lbs


In the Taurus, mpg will be 31.


I have read that the Fusion will be near 34 mpg using the 2.0 liter ecoboost.

Both approaches have their pros and cons.

One problem a possibly see with the E-assist system is that peak power can only be held for a finite amount of time, so the ICE can not be downsized too far.

Argue away, I have no position on this one.

Good post.. and spot on. Now.. the question I have is how much more does the Turbo hardware add to the Eco-Boost set up to allow it to get 5mpg LESS.. than the E-Assist set-up

[RougeRiver]

Quote:

Cmicasa the GreatXvX;186340 Wrote:

RougeRiver;186188 Wrote:Tractability is a desired aspect of a near-luxury sedan. The numbers:

ICE 182 hp / 172 lbs

Motor 15 hp / 110 lbs

Peak
Total 197 hp / 282 lbs


This would compare to the Ford 2.0 liter ecoboost


220 hp / 270 lbs


In the Taurus, mpg will be 31.


I have read that the Fusion will be near 34 mpg using the 2.0 liter ecoboost.

Both approaches have their pros and cons.

One problem a possibly see with the E-assist system is that peak power can only be held for a finite amount of time, so the ICE can not be downsized too far.

Argue away, I have no position on this one.

Good post.. and spot on. Now.. the question I have is how much more does the Turbo hardware add to the Eco-Boost set up to allow it to get 5mpg LESS.. than the E-Assist set-up

The added capital cost question is a good one.

MT has some hints in their review.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alte...ewall.html

Quote:the upcharge will be the cost differential relative to the 2011 LaCrosse 2.4-liter, about $1370 (5 percent). That's a pretty healthy bump in return-on-investment.

Everything's upgraded big-time. The Hitachi-supplied lithium-ion battery pack operates at 115 volts (the Malibu ran a 36-volt NiMH pack), stores 0.5 kilowatt-hours worth of energy, and is optimized for power delivery. (By contrast, the Volt's Li-ion cells are optimized for energy storage.) The three-phase electric motor provides 110 lb-ft of peak torque like the Malibu's

That makes sense. Right now, the cost of a battery is about $500 per kwh with 50% of capacity being usable so $1370 - 500 = $870 to take care of the upgraded motor/generator and control systems


Ecoboost requires a turbo and more expensive high pressure fuel injections systems. A long time ago, I believe a read that Ford pegged the added capital cost at around $800.

By packaging these cars with high value options that are capital cost minimal but profit maximal, I bet that money is made when either technology is chosen.

MT also made an observation of the price differentail of E-assist vs a full hybrid.

Bottom line: It's a bit more car, but a lot less hybrid than its closest competitor, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid (EPA 41/36 mpg, $35,455), and comparably equipped it should ring in about $5000 less [ emphasis mine ]. So, how high do you expect fuel prices to go?

Quote:


The article also point out that GM offset the battery weight with changes in suspension materials etc.. that ended up with a net weight gain of ten pounds.

Swapping aluminum rear suspension knuckles for the standard iron ones and reducing the fuel tank capacity from 18.4 to 15.7 gallons offsets the 65-pound weight of the battery and powertrain control pack that resides in the trunk (it blocks the 40-percent side of the split-folding seat), so that overall the car weighs just 10 pounds more than a 2011 LaCrosse 2.4. The last trick was to swap from a 3.23:1 final drive ratio to a super-tall 2.64:1 gearset, letting the BAS motor's robust low-end torque cover for the engine's lack thereof. In a drag race, Buick claims eAssist gets the new LaCrosse off line 0.2 second quicker, improving 0-60 times by about that much. (Its performance contribution is far smaller in second through sixth gears during such a run.)

Quote:

[Speed Devil]

This is one of the few times I'd say I wish we were eupore, Diesel>Electric

[McLovin]

Cmicasa the GreatXvX;186338 Wrote:

McLovin;186230 Wrote:E assist is a lot of weight and complexity, for absolute minimal benefit.

Yet another half measure from gm.


And we know they don't bother with hybrids, cuz they can't.

Again.. who the fuck are U trying to fool into believing this shit? On this forum everyone knows that the shit your kicking is fucking FALSE

65-pound weight of the battery and powertrain control pack that resides in the trunk (it blocks the 40-percent side of the split-folding seat), so that overall the car weighs just 10 pounds more than a 2011 LaCrosse 2.4.
LINK

GM doesn't kno how to do Hybrids.. yet they have the most fuel efficient large SUV on the market in the Dual-Modes. Amazing enuff.. wasn't it your sorry ass that continuously claimed that the Volt... was not an EV, but in fact.. a Hybrid??? If that is the case.. GM makes a DAMN awesome Hybrid that just won ANOTHER.. Car of the Year award.. [/b]

My bad, I meant to say GM does NOT know how to make series-parallel hybrids, you know, the ones everyone seems to want to buy.
Does GM even make those full size pseudo half hybrids still? I have seen like two, ever.

And I also see you are conveniently cherry picking facts to try and keep up with an argument you always lose.
When you are not comparing sales of new Buick to outgoing Fusion hybrid in sales, you are cherry picking the manual Focus mpg, instead of the automatics, which everyone is buying, which is BETTER than cruze mpg in automatic, which everyone is buying - not the stripped down manual model. Nice try, as usual. Matters not, for soon there is a plethora of new engines coming for Focus, including the small ~50mpg EcoBoost. Care to compare to that?

You need a reality check, and here it is:

Ford makes the most "Fuel Efficient SUV" on the planet.
Ford makes the most "Fuel Efficient Hybrid Sedan" on the planet that is about to get much more fuel efficient.
Ford is making the most "Fuel Efficient PHEV Sedan" on the planet in preparation for launch in a few months.
Ford is making the most "Fuel Efficient MPGe 5 passenger BEV" on the planet in preparation for launch in a few months.
The list goes on and on.


Meanwhile, volt is closing factories and you are over-the-top seething with anger and hating right now like I have not seen since GM got owned by taxpayers, after going belly up.

Suck down the facts and swallow hard, you half-assed-half-breed-internet tough guy.
Anybody can use foul language, in some lame attempt to sound more serious.
For example,
Fuck you and that whore mother of yours, who still does not know who your father was, before he left you and her.
Fucking degenerate-punk-bitch-motherfucker.

See what I mean!!!
Meanwhile, I am here for the edification of your dribble.
Carry on.

[Speed Devil]

Wings, your fucking hilarious man, I wanna buy you a drink for that "fuck you and your momma" comment

[ncguy]

I can see wings is in full force trying to shoot down anything GM, no I cannot see his comments except the ones people have replied too but I can only imagine how he's trying to dispute this news. Makes me have to ask: How are those Fusion Hybrid sales? You know the one he's stated that's a 'real' Hybrid......

Yea... seem no one's interested in those as well huh?

Also talking about the upcoming Ecoboost 4-banger in the lead sled Taurus.... if its rated 31 mpg then it will be on par with a Charger 3.6L and a Impala 3.6L on FE... now both of those especially the Impala will leave it in the dust.

[Cmicasa the GreatXvX]

McLovin;186510 Wrote:My bad, I meant to say GM does NOT know how to make series-parallel hybrids, you know, the ones everyone seems to want to buy.

Yet.. GM sells more Hybrids than Ford who has been doing it longer

Quote:Does GM even make those full size pseudo half hybrids still? I have seen like two, ever.

I see them all the time. And I live in fuckin Maryland. I think U see what U wanna see...

Quote:And I also see you are conveniently cherry picking facts to try and keep up with an argument you always lose.
When you are not comparing sales of new Buick to outgoing Fusion hybrid in sales, you are cherry picking the manual Focus mpg, instead of the automatics, which everyone is buying, which is BETTER than cruze mpg in automatic, which everyone is buying - not the stripped down manual model. Nice try, as usual. Matters not, for soon there is a plethora of new engines coming for Focus, including the small ~50mpg EcoBoost. Care to compare to that?

I haven't see this 50MPG Focus yet. As always U like to cite pipeline shit. Of course every time Ford ups the ante.. GM does the same. RIGHT NOW.. yes the automatic Focus SFE beats the Eco AUTOMATIC Chevy Cruze by 1 MPG.. but the manual ECO beats the Focus by 2. I will call 'em even even tho we all kno that people are pushing 50MPG already in that Cruze.

Quote:You need a reality check, and here it is:

Ford makes the most "Fuel Efficient SUV" on the planet.
Ford makes the most "Fuel Efficient Hybrid Sedan" on the planet that is about to get much more fuel efficient.
Ford is making the most "Fuel Efficient PHEV Sedan" on the planet in preparation for launch in a few months.
Ford is making the most "Fuel Efficient MPGe 5 passenger BEV" on the planet in preparation for launch in a few months.
The list goes on and on.

1) The Chevy Nox is able to compete with the Hybrid Escape even without being a fuckin hybrid.
2) The Most FE sedan on the planet STILL remains the Volt
3) Sadly even with a gas engine on board the Volt still competes damn well against he Focus EV's MPGe, and since U like looking into your future... Chevy will probably steal the EV title when teh Spark arrives

Quote:Meanwhile, volt is closing factories and you are over-the-top seething with anger and hating right now like I have not seen since GM got owned by taxpayers, after going belly up.

Ford mortgaged itself to the hilt. It still owes the Gov't money.. It still has a debt load that is hardly enviable. The Volt is shutting production down for 5 weeks. I wouldn't in any way say that is closing FACTORIES. What makes it worse is that it has still almost outsold the Ford Fusion which costs about $10K more

Quote:Suck down the facts and swallow hard, you half-assed-half-breed-internet tough guy.

I have offered U many time to jump on 70 and and get your ass to Baltimore. Email me that U have arrived and I will have no issue meeting U so we can do what needs to be done.