Buick: Born To Be Mild
GM is leveraging the strong growth of its Buick brand to bring back a technology that might otherwise have ended up on GM’s discard pile: the mild hybrid, or as it’s now called “e-assist.” The updated version of the old BAS mild hybrid first debuted as the base engine option on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse, and now GM has included the stop-start system as an optional drivetrain for the Buick Regal. Here’s the weird part though: in the larger, heavier LaCrosse, the system provides 25/37 MPG, while in the more-efficient Regal it returns a mere 26/37. Given that the two vehicles could already be better differentiated, the fact that Buick’s engineers weren’t able to squeeze more efficiency from the Regal e-assist is a bit disappointing. Still, GM’s strategy of addressing its hybrid shortcomings by attaching its hybrid hopes to its fastest-growing brand seems like a solid one. Who would have seen Buick as The General’s hybrid standard bearer just a few short years ago?
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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Could the reported numbers also be showing very little difference due to the lack of Stop/Start effectiveness in the EPA testing regime? Wasn't it Mazda that said they weren't bringing the technology to the US specifically because it made no difference on the test they had to report, even though it does return somewhat higher real world fuel economy?
See, this is why I started reading this site again. It's wonderful to see level-headed reporting on something happening in a domestic automaker without piles of pointless cynicism and vitriol. Well done, TTAC.
Hmmm... with a light foot I can make a full-sized sedan get close to 40 mpg.
It sounds very attractive for the road warriors. My only concern would be the longevity of the battery.
I am mildly amused by Buick of late. I can remember when Buick began seeling Opels here in the late 50s. At one point they were referred to as Opels "By Buick." Then briefly in the 70s it was Opel By Isuzu. And now it's Buicks by Opel. More than a bit ironic, no?