Buick LaCrosse
The Buick LaCrosse is a Buick automobile model slated to be introduced in the United States for the 2005 model year. It is expected to be a mid-size sedan and replace the previous Buick Century and Buick Regal models. V-6 power and front wheel drive are likely. It uses an updated version of the 16-year old GM W platform rather than a planned stretched GM Epsilon platform.
Three trim lines will be offered:
The new model, as is generally the case with Buick, will probably stress quality and reliability over styling or performance. Early press commentary has noted somewhat unfavorably that the new car looks very similar to Buicks of the past decade.
The name was reputedly chosen as a reference to the sport of lacrosse, seen as popular with a younger, more active demographic which Buick would like to pull into its showrooms. An introduction in the city of LaCrosse, Wisconsin was also planned.
In Canada, however, the car is scheduled to be called Allure. News reports have indicated that General Motors Corp. had to scrap LaCrosse after discovering it was teenage slang for masturbation in French-speaking Quebec.
