Who Needs To Worry The Most? Buick Targets Lexus And Acura With New LaCrosse

Acura is the one that needs to worry. Lexus is down, but not like Acura.

— adamsaf723 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 2:53:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

LOL

— Invisible (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 3:02:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Agent009, I know you like to create flamebait threads slamming Lexus, but really?

Who Needs To Worry The Most? Buick Targets Lexus And Acura With New LaCrosse


I just looked at Buicks website. Their flagship sedan has 227hp with a 4 speed.

Get real.

— Invisible (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 3:11:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Honestly, Buick really really really needs lots of good ads. Thumbs up for Lutz rejecting that other Buick commercial. What Buick really lacks right now is good advertising.

— WorldofLuxury (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 3:13:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Does Lexus need to worry about Buick? No.

Acura needs to worry about be relevent.

— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 3:18:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

The interior is gross and the exterior looks like an LS460 with a growth disorder; I dont know....

— Mason3Robert (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 3:47:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Why do I come here? Someone, please tell me.

— Hachee2001 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 3:52:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8   

Neither Lexus nor Acura should be worried by a Buick for God's sake. This will be just another failed car just like its predecessors.

— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 3:57:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

That's a good looking car. I wonder is it just skin deep? See similarities to the smaller Opel Insignia - not a bad thing.

— Colmfarl (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 4:07:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Doesn't Lexus and Buick serve the same Blue-Hair demographic?

— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 4:17:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Exterior very similar to Lexus ES. Interior needs work. But not bad.

— Dr550 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 5:34:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The only people that buy a Buick are the Geriatrics and people in the midwest and bible belt that have not evolved yet into realizing that we are importing cars now in the USA...Really?

— pennfootball (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 4:40:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

GM needs to worry - worry about their quality. If they want to take on Acura and Lexus, they had better have top of the industry quality or they will don't have a chance.

— thstone (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 4:54:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The front is Chevrolet cruz, rear is LS460.

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 5:22:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The Buick LaCrosse will crush Lexus like a bug.

lol :-D

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 6:12:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

No one. Its just a watered down Opel Insignia.

— veyron1001 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 7:29:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

It won't take down Lexus or Acura but it's a solid effort. However, dealerships need to clean up their act, ownership experience is the key to brand success.

— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 9:28:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Acura needs to worry about Buick, Subaru, and Hyundai.

1. Subaru is becoming more premium by the day, and they can match the power of Acura.

2. Buick is not playing anymore, and they call sell for cheaper.

3. Hyundai has gone upmarket, and can sell cars for less with more or equal content. Those spyshots of that Leather Sonata doesnt look any less premium than an Acura TSX, and did I mention that the Sonata will get 37 MPG with over 230 HP? Plus, most Acura Customers are old (50 is old compared to me). Whats the point of all of that power, and junk MPG. The Genesis coupe proves that Hyundai can make cars with more power and better MPG.

Before you guys jump on me I do have just 3 questions:

1. Why does the RL V6 have less MPG than a Genesis by 6 MPG yet has only 10 more HP?

2. Why is the Sonata and Azera catching up to the TSX and TL?

3. Why did Acura stop selling Premium C-segment cars?

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/28/2009 10:38:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

Iam talking about the V6 Model Genesis, not the V8 Joe. The V6 is good for 27 MPG.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/29/2009 12:28:45 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

Responses from the auto circles about the La Crosse:


Road and Track

Buick's going to easily lure in new blood with this LaCrosse.
In the past we'd have compared the LaCrosse to a Lexus and easily found the Buick to be lacking. No more. This is a new Buick, and it shows from the moment the driver's door swings open and the interior is flooded by a sea of ice-blue light. The color is everywhere, subtly emanating from almost every handhold and storage bin. Lights are of all the same uniform ice-blue color. Even the $350 head-up display matches. Touch the power button and a direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6 with 280 bhp purrs gently into action. At the same time the Adaptive Forward Lighting does its calibration dance swiveling the HID headlamps 15 degrees. A 6-speed automatic spins the front wheels and puts power down without fuss in most conditions.

Motor Trend

We'd almost go so far as to say the LaCrosse's interior carries more gravitas than it's exterior. Copied almost exactly from the Invicta concept, the new LaCrosse gains a wrap-around two-tone cockpit, complete with a French-stitched dash pad and blue LED accent lighting. LaCrosse out of the gates quickly and shorter gearing helps narrow the gap, but our test car's 7.4-second 0-to-60 sprint is 0.9 second off the Lexus's pace. That gap is maintained through the quarter mile (15.8 @ 90.3), where the speed differential is 5.7 mph. But this 3.6L sings such a happy tune under the whip that the car feels quicker.
And that's kind of how it goes with this new Buick. It generally seems like more than it is. More space, better gear, fewer annoyances, more quiet, less total road isolation-and more value. All this Lexus-contending fabulosity starts at $27,835 for the CX, rising to $30,395 for the CXL, and $33,765 for the CXS (similarly equipped, the savings is about $2500 relative to an ES 350) The perfect competitor for the Lexus ES 350. It's spacious for a midsize car.

Jalopnik

There are an unbelievable number of entry luxury cars in the segment, ranging from the Hyundai Genesis to the Lexus ES, we see a great amount of potential in this platform, but we're afraid without a strong statement of purpose, the LaCrosse will wallow in a market filled with strong contenders.


Autoblog

Sitting inside the LaCrosse at speed provides a remarkably serene environment. Wind noise was virtually nonexistent and carrying on conversations with "inside voices" allowed us to hear and be heard with ease. Considering that the engineering and design teams were scattered around the world, the LaCrosse seems remarkably well integrated and should prove very competitive in the "premium mid-lux" segment described by Docherty. Whatever you call it, the Lexus ES and GS, Acura TL and Volvo S60 and S80 better look out.



AutoAuthority

We got the chance to take the new LaCrosse for a spin at a GM press event in Detroit this week, and we can tell you in all seriousness: this is a really, really good

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/29/2009 12:53:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

If we consider individual models, ie Acura RL and Lexus ES350, I think the LaCrosse is closer to the ES350 in terms of design theme and intent. However, Buick as a brand is closer to Acura in terms of company principle. Think front/all wheel drive 4 and 6 cylinder cars and crossover trucks. Same principle both ways. GM is actually targetting Lexus/Acura with Buick so any sales taken from either one would be seen as a good thing. I really doubt GM is thinking that they can dethrone anybody with this effort, but it's a very good step in the right direction. The 1st gen Cadillac CTS made us smile and say "not quite yet". But Cadillac never gave up. They took the knocks and it paid off. Just like with Hyundai. It's a strange thing when you're at the bottom. EVERYBODY tells you what you need to do to be better. The wise ones heed the words and rise up the barrel. When you're at the top, nobody gives you advice and leaves you to set the trends. Toyota in particular has found that quite difficult a hat to wear. So I say let the criticisms continue, it can only mean better cars for us!

— tango (View Profile)

Posted on 7/29/2009 12:57:43 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Lexus worry about Buick? No. The other way round maybe. Have to wait and see i guess.

— darzav (View Profile)

Posted on 7/29/2009 2:46:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Buick have a great future if they keep the commitment for quality.

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/29/2009 9:46:27 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Let's keep this flame war in perspective. Honestly, Buick does not overlap with Lexus except possibly in terms of the ES and RX model lines. Lexus commands a higher price point due to its artifically created premium standing because of solid Toyota marketing and PR. There is no Buick (yet alone Cadillac) that competes with the LS or the other premium flagship sedans as the 7-Series, A8, S-Class, or the new XJ. Furthermore, Buick does not have the complete premium model range thanks to GM that Lexus and the other premium brands have. Buick is suited to take on Infiniti (though Infiniti is more sporty) and Acura (maybe). But even here this is a stretch as both have entry premium vehicles that cater to a younger demographic. Buick needs to redefine itself. Is it going to go upstream to take on Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and Lexus or it going to compete with Volvo and Saab? Where does it actually fit? Cadillac is GM's premium brand, yet it too lacks a proper model range to compete globally and has no true flagship. So, GM first figure out how to position your two brands. Buick is unnecessary and overlaps Chevy and Cadillac too much. Just get rid of Buick and have a volume brand in Chevrolet to compete against Volkswagen, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Fiat, Opel, Kia, Subaru, Renault, Peugeot, Skoda, SEAT, etc. Then position Cadillac to compete against the obvious - Audi, BMW, MB, Lexus, Jaguar. If you want Buick still set it to compete against Volvo and give it those brand values. It will do well to positioned in the middle if Buick has a solid message. That of course means radical restyling of Buick. Trying to be Japanese is not going to work for Buick. Buick has to think out of the box if it is to matter.

Anyway that's it. Peace.

— VISO (View Profile)

Posted on 7/29/2009 4:22:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

@agreed VISO

the tittle should say: Who Needs To Worry The Most? Buick Targets Lexus "insert model" And Acura "insert model" With New LaCrosse

the ES and TL????

ES alone outsell "double or triple" every car in its segment or above...FACT

TL might have to worry about sells but Acura costumers are not switching 2 Buick...FACT

— Denali (View Profile)

Posted on 7/29/2009 11:58:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Who should worry about this car? Potential owners, that's who.

— Anthony (View Profile)

Posted on 7/30/2009 4:58:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3