The Mild Hybrid Is Back… At Buick

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: November 15th, 2010

According to a GM press release, the 2012 model-year version of the Buick LaCrosse is dragging a skeleton out of the GM marketing closet: the mild hybrid. But don’t you dare use the “m” word… it’s the eAssist.

Mated to a 2.4L Ecotec direct injection four-cylinder engine and next-generation six-speed automatic transmission, the eAssist system uses power stored in the battery to provide needed electrical boost in various driving scenarios, optimizing engine and transmission operation. An advanced 115V lithium-ion battery and latest-generation 15-kW motor-generator unit help increase fuel economy through:

Regenerative braking, which provides up to 15 kW of electricity to charge the battery
Providing up to 11 kW (15 hp) of electric power assistance during acceleration
Automatic engine shut-off when the vehicle is stopped
Aggressive fuel cut-off during deceleration down to zero vehicle speed, enabled by the torque smoothing provided by the motor-generator unit
Intelligent charge/discharge of the high-voltage battery.

But most importantly:

While the eAssist system shares the same basic belt-alternator-starter configuration of previous BAS designs, it delivers more than three times the power and is much more capable than the previous-generation BAS system.

Buick says this will be the standard powertrain option for the LaCrosse starting in 2012, and along with aero and tire tweaks will loft the model’s mileage to (shout it) 37 MPG highway and (whisper it) 25 city. The price: 65 lbs and a $2k-$3k sticker increase to “about $30,000”. The Lacrosse has sold well this year (by recent Buick standards… 52k sales year-to-date), and the LaCrosse’s average transaction price is reportedly sitting at $32k… but that doesn’t mean this isn’t a gamble. The question now: will GM also drop a two-mode hybrid in the LaCrosse as threatened?

#Buick #Hybrid #LaCrosse #Marketing #MildHybrid #NewCars

Edward Niedermeyer

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3 of 29 comments

William442 on Nov 16, 2010

No, you are not alone M1. It has gotten a lot more difficult, as you know, but some of us still do it.

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Philadlj on Nov 16, 2010

(Old) GM's mistake was sticking BAS into everything they could, then actually adding weight (and hype) with waaaay too many flashy hybrid badges. This time, it would seem (New) GM has actually learned a lesson: This isn't the Lacrosse Hybird. It isn't even going to be marketed as such. If a fat pig like the Lacrosse can actually do 37 on the highway, that's definitely an improvement. Just don't call it a hybrid!

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- Golden2husky on Nov 16, 2010
  
  Exactly. It's not a hybrid, but it still is a damn good idea and at least on paper, it returns a good bang for the buck. GM, restrain the marketing guys to keep the hybrid name off. BTW I have to add that GM's hybrid badges are awful. I like the circuit board thing, but all those arrows and huge text, yuk. Next up: GM cars go to the Jillian Michaels school and drop to 10 percent bodyfat..
  
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