2010 Buick LaCrosse

Bulky, but swoopy.

Here we have Buick’s 2010 LaCrosse large FWD sedan. Aimed squarely at the heart of the market, the new LaCrosse offers premium features, upscale styling and a bevy of contemporary engine and comfort technologies to entice buyers into their local Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealerships.

This design is a huge leap forward for the LaCrosse; the predecessor, while vaguely contemporary, bore a strong resemblance to the 1996 Ford Taurus. Next to that design, the new form is a revelation. In the broader marketplace, it fits well, and conveys a thoroughly contemporary visage. The chunky bumper and rocker volumes, combined with the 19-inch wheels seen here, plant the big sedan firmly in the massive and heavy camp.

GM design VP Ed Welburn claims that the LaCrosse “is instantly recognizable as a Buick, with its signature ’sweep spear’ bodyside styling, portholes inside the character line on the hood, and waterfall grille.” The grille and portholes do, in fact, say ‘Buick’. And the sweep spear feature line does harken to Buick designs from the 50s and 60s. But the stance, proportion, and execution are much more in line with premium sedans from Lexus and Lincoln than anything buyers might associate with recent Buicks

FWD, long wheelbase, chunky bumpers, shallow greenhouse.

In profile, the FWD stance of the LaCrosse is apparent. Like all new designs, the bumper/grille/headlamp cluster and leading edge of the hood all combine to form the leading surface of the car. Artful sculpting minimizes the length of the front overhang from many angles. Then we find the most distinctive element of the design: the Buick sweep spear, starting at the headlamp cluster, gently rising over the front axle then gradually falling until just ahead of the rear wheel arch, where it kicks up over the rear wheels before and meeting the wraparound taillamp cluster.

This is a beautifully sculpted feature line, and one that Buick can “own” the way BMW once owned the Hoffmeister kink. It is a smart move by GM, as the reverse wedge wars seem like they will never end, and Buick certainly is not the place for such gimmickry.

The shallow greenhouse is very typical for recent GM sedans. The CTS and Malibu both share this trait. The short DLO helps visually extend the profile, imparting a lower look to the car overall. But, much like the Lincoln MKS, the artful detailing cannot completely hide the actual proportions of the architecture: big and tall. The long wheelbase and long rear door also convey the idea that this car is meant for comfort and probably would make a great vehicle for long trips.

Buick, evolved.

Viewed directly from the rear, the tail of the car is the least distinctive angle. Thick swabs of chrome accent the taillight housings and of course the massive chrome bar above the license plate detente ensures all who follow know that this car is very luxurious.

In this rear 3/4 view, the sweep spear is evident, as are the long, low, gently arching roof, the near-fastback rake of the c-pillar, and the well-placed wheels. The design feels complete, fresh, and uncompromised. And, while it is not avant-garde, it is just as modern as recent efforts from Acura, Audi, and Jaguar. The car looks rather large, but the stigma of appearing to be an old man’s car is totally gone with this new design.

GM has done well to retain some essence of Buick-ness while at the same time leaping into uncharted waters for the brand. Unlike the MKS, which has almost no emotional tie to Lincoln, the LaCrosse is at once a totally new design without abandoning it’s heritage. If potential buyers can get past the fear (and stigma) of purchasing a new GM vehicle, there may be life left in the Buick brand after all.