Buick Could Bring LaCrosse Hybrid To US
Buick doesn’t offer any hybrids in its US lineup but has a very electrified global lineup that could make its way to our market if needed.
Talking to Buick spokesperson Stuart Fowle, he explained that the brand is a truly global one, with departments in North America, Europe and China collaborating on the model lineup. This is seen with the new Buick Envision, a model that’s made in China and sold in the US. Additionally, the Buick Encore, one of the brand’s more successful products, is made in Korea and sold over here too. Many of the models get tweaks to accommodate their respective home markets, with the brand embracing a strategy that a good car works anywhere.
When asked about the future of the brand lineup, Fowle explained that they have a long list of vehicles that could fill in the gaps if needed. The example given involved the LaCrosse Hybrid, a China-only vehicle that swaps out the 3.6-liter V6 engine under the hood for a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that’s aided by a 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that’s found in the trunk. It’s a similar setup to the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, a car that earns 46 MPG in the US.
Thanks to low fuel prices in the US market, there isn’t a huge appetite for hybrid Buicks, but as soon as buyers show any interest, it looks like Buick is ready to respond.
Sami has an unquenchable thirst for car knowledge and has been at AutoGuide for the past six years. He has a degree in journalism and media studies from the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto and has won multiple journalism awards from the Automotive Journalist Association of Canada. Sami is also on the jury for the World Car Awards.
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