Knowing GM’s recent luck this Lacrosse probably won’t outsell the current model. GM will have another vastly improved car that won’t find buyers.

Luck has nothing to do with it.

Of course it’s cheaper to put a smaller engine in a car than to totally rethink the engineering of it to cut weight or to make it smoother to push through the atmosphere; and you have all the reasons to add weight: reduce nvh, make the roof and pillars stronger, add twenty or thirty little electric motors; and a 6- or 7-speed automatic tranny must weigh more than a 4-speed, right?

Game

Set

Match

Buick is done.

Some people honestly don’t care about the engine THAT much.

The new GM 4 cylinder is direct injection, and very fuel efficient for a 2.4L (a 2.7L 4 cylinder in say the rav4 toyota gets about the same power, but its not direct injection). It is actaully supposed to be a very good engine. I think the commenters above comparing it to diesels and turbo VW engines are… um idiots. Why dont you just compare it to a v6 then? It DOESNT have a turbo.

Considering this engine doesn’t have to rev to say 7000rpm to get its power I think it will be fine for most people.

Granted I can only think of 2 other cars that have engines this small that are non turbo in an entry level premium brand (volvo S40… which is 5 cylinders and the TSX).

I am not sure what GM is doing weight wise, maybe they just aren’t using light weight materials? The v6 lacross weighs as much as a 2010 FWD v6 taurus but is 10″ shorter. Its about the size of a toyota avalon v6 , but 300 pounds heavier in v6 version (so probably still heavier even with the i-4). Maybe they are betting people wont care as much about speed. A comparable car power and weight wise is a toyota highlander 2.7L i-4. And I am guessing people buy the 4 cylinder version and are “ok” with it. I’m sure most older people don’t even care as long as its quiet inside and the seats are comfortable but buick is still taking a real risk here branding wise (then again no one understands their branding strategy since they seem to just be completely retarded)

Oh well just another case of GM putting a good engine in a terribly overweight car. I actaully think its a pretty nice looking car, but the fact it weighs so much probably says something about how it was designed.

past experience has show this patently does not work

the motor is higher stressed so doesn’t last as long

the driving experience is massively diminished because it’s just not fun and often bordering on unsafe to drive a car desperately underpowered especially when loaded

resale is rubbish

remember how the Camaro was supposed to get a direct injection turbo four cylinder as an economy option. What happened?

They probably worked out that even with a turbo, the powerplant is just not suitable for a 3,800lb frame.

Why the hell need it go faster than what 180 hp can take it – given Buick’s positioning in the automotive world.

I hope it comes with a tweed hat!

And that tagline is still the funniest damn thing ever written on TTAC!

Buick does have a horrible identity crisis though. I sounds like Susan is reprising the Think Different campaign from her Saturn days. Ugh. Has everyone forgotten that the “Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile” campaign was a dismal failure?

If GM would bring new inefficient 6 cylinders TTAC would cry that they don’t prepare for high gas prices at tax payer’s expense?

And I don’t think a company that can’t even really build 2-valve pushrod engines should bring a (more complicated) turbo. they have to learn to produce 4-valve motors for some decades, then variable valve timing, then maybe they can be trusted with a turbo. Trust me, for a GM vehicle it is better if it is not too modern. turbos need cooling, lubrication.. all things that GM has failed in very often. didn’t they once build a diesel with the gasoline engine parts where the pistons melted and they kept building it for years? So, better no turbo with high compression etc.

I really love TTAC for the most part, but sometimes the complaining is for the complaining sake. What is GM supposed to do to make it right? (besides giving me my money back). I’m really against GM and want them to die, BTW.

For the typical Buick driver a 50 hp motor would provide sufficient acceleration and top speed. As long as the tape player doesn’t get stuck.

Not saying that the engines are the same, but as gas prices go up, what else are you going to do? If gas prices are low, point people at an Enclave or something.

I’m curious as to what the thought process was behind Cadillac abandoning its offering of a true top of the range car. In the 50’s a Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was it, no Mercedes or Rolls was more expensive. By 1964 the Mercedes 600 was $22,000 while a Cadillac Fleetwood 75 was only $10,000.

Could you imagine if Toyota announced that it was launching “Celsior”, similar to Scion but between Lexus and Toyota? We would all laugh at the ridiculousness of the idea. Lexus isn’t high enough up market to warrant a Celsior brand.

In 1959 the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, at $13,000, cost more than a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. If in 2009, the top of the range Caddy cost more than a Phantom, there would be room for Buick. As it stands now… not so much.

A Buick is a Chevrolet with more chrome and a higher price. It’s paired with GMC, Chevrolet trucks without the horizontal bar/bowtie front facia. I guess GMC style Chevrolet trucks must contribute significant revenue to justify the redundant Chevrolet by another name sales channel.

But what do I know? I’m just a guy that likes cars and actually bought one.

But then I realized that Cadillac could have all these.

That’s pretty stout for a 4-banger. Maybe not the best choice for this car, but more than adequate for a lot of daily drivers.

The Acura TSX gets 21/30 EPA, this seems quite competitive.
If (when) gas prices spike again, Buick has a higher mileage engine to offer. It sounds like good planning to me.

There are better engines to work with, but the spreadsheets said this was more “economical”, and whatever the spreadsheet wants, the spreadsheet gets.

Honoring the spreadsheet’s every single wish is what got General Motors to morph into Government Motors.