2014 Buick Lacrosse Premium Ii on 2040-cars

Auto blog

The 2020 Buick LaCrosse we won't get looks exceptional

GM is killing off the Buick LaCrosse in the United States after the 2019 model year, but elsewhere it lives on. Buried by all the Geneva news this week, GM quietly took the wraps off a 2020 Buick LaCrosse facelift for China. It only makes sense to keep selling the big Buick in the popular Chinese market (now Buick's largest), but we're a tad jealous of what we can't have stateside. The changes Buick has implemented make the LaCrosse into a far more handsome option. Both the front and rear get massaged here. A new horizontal patterned grille, slimmer headlights with a neat LED design, plus new lower bumper surround all work together to provide a more upscale look. The view out back is an even larger departure from the old and somewhat awkward rear end on the 2019 LaCrosse. Smaller, flowing taillights mesh well with the chrome strip on the trunk lid, then dual exhaust outlets offer a sporty flair to the squat rear end. The Buick badge looks cohesive with the look as a whole now, instead of just chilling out alone on the expansive trunk lid. An updated powertrain package goes along with the new looks, too. GM is snagging its new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder LSY engine it uses in the Cadillac XT4 for duty here. It makes 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to GM's nine-speed automatic transmission. China will be the only market to see this generation of LaCrosse as GM plans to exclusively produce it in its Shanghai facility. The Detroit-Hamtramck plant that previously made it for all North American markets was among those facilities GM announced would close, bringing with it the LaCrosse and other vehicles. Related video:

10 of 18 midsize SUVs earn 'good' IIHS side impact safety rating

It's not terribly surprising that midsize SUVs earned better safety ratings than small SUVs in the latest side-impact tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Just how much better they scored, on the other hand, certainly raises an eyebrow. Ten out of 18 midsize SUVs earned the highest rating of 'good' in the stringent new test, altered for vehicles starting with the 2020 model year with a heavier barrier (4,200 pounds) that moves at a higher speed (37 miles per hour) and is fitted with a hard honeycomb frontal structure. By way of contrast, just one out of of 20 small SUVs earned a 'good' score.  SUVs that receiving 'good' scores were the Ford Explorer, Infiniti QX60, Lincoln Aviator, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, Volkswagen Atlas, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and Volkswagen ID.4. For EV fans, it's worth noting the ID.4 was the only electric vehicle included in the test. The Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse scraped away with 'acceptable' ratings while the Honda Passport, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Wrangler 4-door, Kia Telluride and Nissan Murano were deemed merely 'marginal' in the tough new test. Only two models — the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen ID.4 — earned a "Good" rating in every test category.  Interestingly, the Jeep Wrangler would have scored a 'good' rating if it were equipped with side airbags for the rear seating positions. It would likely be an engineering challenge to equip its removable top and/or doors with airbags, but the lack of that safety feature allowed the head of the rear passenger dummy to hit the vertical support of the top. Otherwise, the Wrangler scored good ratings across the board. The new Ford Bronco, which makes more allowances for side-impact safety, has not yet been tested.  The popular Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride SUVs stand out in the test with 'poor' ratings for driver pelvis injuries. The Nissan Murano, a vehicle last redesigned for the 2015 model year, was the only vehicle tested that received a 'poor' rating for its structure and safety cage. Videos of the tests of 12 of these 18 SUVs can be found on the IIHS' YouTube page. Related video: Green Buick Chevrolet Ford Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jeep Kia Mazda Nissan Subaru Toyota Volkswagen Safety Crossover SUV IIHS Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Leno recalls '90s showdown with Tim Allen and his mullet

Not many of us have buddies with garages full of classic cars, but that isn't the case for Jay Leno and Tim Allen. Of course, one of the advantages for two guys with such vast collections is occasionally getting to pit their cars against each other. The two comedians did just that in the mid-'90s with a burnout battle on The Tonight Show between Allen in a race-prepped Mustang and Leno in a drag racer. After some time away from regular television, Leno is returning to the airwaves with a Jay Leno's Garage series premiering on Oct. 7 (tonight) at 10:00 p.m. ET on CNBC. Let this clip serve as another taste of what to expect for the new TV show's mix of comedy and cars. After reminiscing about the old days in a gorgeous garage, the comedians get into two modern machines to reprise the classic challenge – after a little trash talk anyway. Don't worry because the YouTube series isn't going anywhere, though.