Here come the Avenirs. Automotive News reported last Friday that the 2018 Buick LaCrosse Avenir will go on sale with a $45,795 starting price next month, which includes a $995 destination fee. The LaCrosse Avenir will be the second Avenir-branded vehicle from Buick following the 2018 Enclave Avenir.
As the report notes, the $45,795 starting price is $3,700 higher than the current range-topping LaCrosse. Options for the LaCrosse Avenir will include all-wheel drive, an ebony interior theme and additional active safety features. Standard equipment is aplenty, however, and includes a Bose sound system, panoramic sunroof and differentiating Avenir design pieces like the 20-inch nickel-pearl finish wheels and a unique grille. Avenir badges are present throughout.
General Motors has big hopes for the Avenir sub-brand and believes it has the potential to become Buick’s Denali. GMC’s Denali sub-brand continues to rake in profits for GM.
The 2018 model year includes a few other notable changes for the LaCrosse. The 3.6-liter LGX V6 engine is no longer the standard mill. Instead, the LaCrosse eAssist is now the entry-level model. The powertrain pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with GM’s mild-hybrid system for greater fuel economy. It also lowers the entry-level price point from $32,990 to $30,490.
Comments
Nice enough car but pricey and I highly doubt they will sell more than a few hundred examples a month if that without discounts. Still curious why the 3.6 lost 14 LBS FT of torque and why with the newer more efficient 9 speed highway and combined MPG went down on FWD cars for 2018.
too costly again GM screws up where is a upscale nameplate for the middle income buyer ???? Buick is stepping on Cadillacs . if GM didn’t have their heads up their butt they should discontinued Buick and kept Oldsmobile or even Pontiac to be more affordable for that market
Agree. Either of those would have been a better choice for the US. I always preferred Olds over Buick outside of the turbo Regals in the 80s. They seemed to intentionally starve Olds at the time.
Pontiac should have stayed, perhaps concurrently. They were finally getting a good solid lineup when they killed it. The G8 was really, really nice. The Solstice was solid and just needed a diet and some polish. The G6 was a looker but would’ve been great in the second generation and so on.
I miss Pontiac and Oldsmobile. They were alway my go to brand from the 80’s to the early 00’s. As time marches on we have less and less choices unless you go sport ute or truck of course. Hatchbacks, wagons, coupes and pickup bed cars like the El Camino plus stick shift transmissions are all but extinct or hard to find these days. I sure hope that we don’t lose the sedan also.
This is actually much cheaper than I anticipated. If you consider that a Lacrosse Premium with the Sun and Shade package, and Sights and Sounds package (both of which are included on the Avenir) costs $45,185. Therefore, the Avenir only costs $610 more than a comparably equipped Premium. The upgraded 19″ wheels alone are worth that much.
Don’t see it being Buick’s Denali Especially with the Large car market dying. Buick should have built the Avenir concept car not use it as a sub brand like they are
China loves these things and GM offers several more options on the Chinese Lacrosse than on the United States such as the pano roof…GM sold just a hair over 20K Lacrosses in the States…Really not the best vehicle to “Avenir”, a crossover would make more sense…
It has a nice looking interior , but that steering wheel ….Ugh !
The question will be if GM will release the funds necessary to advertise the new LaCrosse Avenir . There isn’t a potential customer even going to look at the LaCrosse unless they know about the upgrade .
Had GM knew ahead of time about the lack of interest in Buick’s semi-luxury car this trim level wouldn’t even be available , but it was already coming down the pipeline .
For sure the Chinese will love it .
That’s a variation of the latest Caddy wheel. I don’t care for it either.
This won’t work.
Build the Avenir, call it the Park Avenue. Build a slightly larger Avista, call it the Riviera. Don’t cut corners; prices should be luxury level. Stay away from rental car fleets. Then, hire a competent marketing agency and get rid of the god-awful “It’s a Buick” moniker. Utilize epic shots and throw in a moody soundtrack and introduce these cars big-time, make it seem as if “Buick” is here. I’m thinking moody soundtrack like Moby – Natural Blues, or similar for one commercial, then pump it up with something modern and fun, Killers – The Man for the next. Contradict, but make it work. Next, end both commercials with a fade to black shot; original Riviera R logo for the Riviera; and Park Avenue in large stylish font, appears on black screen for the other respective commercial.
Then after enough of this, you can start charging ~$45k for a LaCrosse. Image and marketing is everything for the automotive industry luxury brands.
Also, both commercials filmed at dark, one in Las Vegas cruising down the strip, the other on a dark freeway somewhere; Mexico City or something exotic.
Buick, hire me.
I have been a Buick owner since August 1999. The Lacrosse is a nice luxury car needs 3 modifications: (1) more front and rear headroom, (2) more trunk space, (3) more prominent LED tail light w/red, amber, backup in one housing. I’m a Buick owner for reliability, quiet smooth ride, and comfort.
I would also like to see a normal shifter return plus a slimmer front center console and a defeat button for stop/start like every other manufacturer gives you.
I don’t know about you guys but I’m having a ball with my 300 hp+ La Crosse with 6-speed auto/manual trans. The VVT DI engine has an amazing power curve. But judging Buick’s advertising, I may the only one that knows about performance in an attractive package.