Buick Launces eAssist Version of LaCrosse in China

The LaCrosse, Buick’s mid-size sedan offering, is doing quite well in China with 215,000 deliveries in the first seven months of the year alone. Now General Motors is adding the eAssist mild-hybrid version to the LaCrosse's Chinese line-up and is taking orders in 25 pilot cities, with the first cars scheduled for delivery in September.

The eAssist mild hybrid system combines a 2.4-liter direct injection gasoline engine and a 115V lithium-ion battery pack along with a 15 kW generator. The latter charges the battery and offers electric power assistance during heavy acceleration. The eAssist LaCrosse also has an auto stop/start system, with the battery pack powering all of the car’s systems when the vehicle is stopped.

Improved underbody aerodynamics, active grille shutters that close at higher speeds to optimize airflow and low-resistance tires contribute further to fuel saving.

Average consumption is claimed to be 20% lower than that of the conventionally powered version, at 7.2 lt/100 km (32.6 mpg), and drops more than 30% in city driving.

Prices in China are start at RMB 265,900 (US$41,700) for the Elegant version and at RMB 285,900 (US$44,800) for the Luxury Elegant model.

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GM Canada Puts a Price on 2012 Buick Regal eAssist and Regal GS

Following a similar announcement in the USA earlier this month, General Motors has now released pricing for the 2012 Buick Regal eAssist and Regal GS in Canada.

The new Regal with GM's eAssist micro-hybrid technology that's good for 8.3 lt/100km in the city and 5.4 lt/100km on the highway, will start at CA$34,190, while the sporty Regal GS fitted with a 270-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine will start at $42,345.

In Canada, Buick will continue to offer the base Regal with a 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated four-pot as well as the 220-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo.

The Regal is built locally at GM's Oshawa plant.

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GM Releases Pricing on 2012 Buick GS and Buick eAssist

This fall will see Buick adding two more offerings to its Regal range, namely the performance orientated GS that's powered by a turbocharged four, and the fuel efficient eAssist featuring a "light" hybrid powertrain.

Pricing for the 2012 Regal GS starts at $35,310 while the 2012 Regal eAssist at $29,530 , with both prices including $860 in destination charges.

The Regal GS comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 270 horsepower (201kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400Nm). Power is transferred to the front-wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, with a six-speed automatic to be available later in the year. The Regal GS returns an estimated fuel economy of 27 mpg on the highway.

Standard features include 19-inch rims, push-button start; a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom sport steering wheel with audio controls; metal sport pedals; leather-appointed, heated and 12-way adjustable sport seats and a Harman Kardon sound system with nine speakers.

The Regal eAssist features a belt-driven, liquid-cooled electric motor/generator in place of the alternator that provides15HP (11 kW) and 79 lb-ft of assistance for the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

The system allows the Regal eAssist to deliver an EPA-rated 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Buick said the eAssist system is a $2,000 option on the Regal base model which will continue to be offered as a standalone model with the 2.4-liter gasoline engine.

Report: GM to Launch Key Fuel Efficient Cars and Trucks in the Next 18 Months

USA’s biggest car manufacturer, General Motors, is scheduling a series of new vehicle launches for its four brands in the next 18 months. And the dominant theme here, both in passenger cars and trucks, will be improved economy figures as GM prepares its vehicle lineup to meet the more stringent fuel-efficiency standards.

For example, the Detroit automaker plans to introduce 8-speed auto transmissions and downsized turbocharged engines in its new pickups, and also intends to fit more models with the eAssist light-hybrid technology.

Both Chevrolet and Cadillac will launch two key models next year: the former the new Malibu mid-size sedan (in early 2012) and the Spark minicar (at a later date), and the latter the new ATS compact sedan and the XTS full size sedan in the second half of the year.

Last, but not least, GM also plans to launch its next generation of full-size pickup trucks and SUVs in 2013 and 2014.

Via Autonews

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