2007 Buick Lucerne Cxl Sedan 4-door 3.8l on 2040-cars

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2017 Buick LaCrosse priced at $32,990

Buick has announced the starting price for its totally redesigned LaCrosse sedan, and it's looking competitive. According to the company's consumer website, the base trim will start at $32,990, while the vehicle featured on the page is helpfully listed as "As Shown: $45,560." Buick is being coy about the standard equipment list, but we do know a few traditionally higher-end options will be free of charge, including an eight-inch touchscreen that's compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and HID headlamps. General Motors' 4G LTE wifi is a no-cost feature (although you'll need to shell out for a data plan, eventually). The optional extras list, which will include goodies like adaptive cruise control, hasn't been published yet. Underhood, all LaCrosse models will get eight-speed automatic transmissions paired with 305-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engines. The new powertrain, plucked from the Cadillac XT5, has stop-start and cylinder deactivation as standard to save fuel, although it's still too early to predict where the LaCrosse will fall on the EPA scale. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive will be available for a unknown premium. Buick says the sedan's reasonable starting price backs the company's "position of attainable luxury." And that's true. At $32,990 the LaCrosse is $560 less than the $33,550 base Toyota Avalon, $355 less than the $33,345 Nissan Maxima S, and $850 less than the $33,840 Kia Cadenza. Only the antiquated Ford Taurus, at $27,985, can undercut it. On the opposite end, the LaCrosse is $6,945 less than a front-drive Lincoln MKS and $6,060 less than a Lexus ES. Starting prices are useful tools for comparison but they only go so far – we'll have to wait until next month, when full details are released, to see how truly reasonable the LaCrosse's price is.

GM trademarks 'Sport Touring' for Buick Regal, LaCrosse

Discovering trademarking or patents from automakers always fascinates us since the filings hint at the possible future of motoring. Based on two recent applications, Buick has something possibly brewing for two of its sedans, because the company now has the trademark for Sport Touring on the Regal (pictured above in GS trim) and LaCrosse. According to GM Inside News, both trademarks are dated April 27 and are simply described to the US Patent and Trademark Office as being for "motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles." That doesn't narrow things down at all. However, since the moniker is specifically for both sedans, Sport Touring might be a new trim or special edition for them. Buick had no comment when reached by Autoblog. Of course, there are a whole host of automotive trademarks that are claimed that end up with no actual vehicle in showrooms. Unfortunately, we just have to wait to find out if this is another case like the Buick Enclave Tuscan where the filing offers a preview of the future or a situation like the still long-awaited return of the Supra.

Early 2024 Buick Envision pricing is out, and there's some good news

Early price guide data is out for the refreshed 2024 Buick Envision, although we're still waiting for the Envision to emerge for behind-the-scenes drama. The automaker announced its handsome midsizer with a single photo last June, promising the debut of Super Cruise and more information before the end of the year. There have been no official updates since then. The last unofficial update came from GM Authority, the rumored intel being GM pushed the Envision's market launch to the end of this year, and Super Cruise had been nixed from the menu.  Autodata reported not long after the online reveal that Buick was culling front-wheel-drive Envision trims, and that's borne out by pricing. This move usually raises prices by four figures before inflation, the profit motive, and Wall Street obligations exert their pressure; such is the case here, too. The 2023 Envision Preferred FWD still shown on the Buick retail site starts at $34,745, but the early MSRPs show buyers will need another $2,500 for a chance to open the door on a 2024 Envision. However, there's good news for everyone who wanted an AWD Envision. Assuming destination holds steady at $1,395, the AWD base prices and their differences from 2023 AWD trims are: Preferred: $37,295 ($1,150 less) Sport Touring: $39,795 ($900 less) Avenir: $48,395 ($460) Hard to complain about two of three trims costing less, and the flagship trim only costing $460 more. Oh, and the middle trim was called the Essence in 2023, we'll eventually learn if the name change to Sport Touring involves a new feature set.   As to changes, Buick designers gave the SUV's front end a complete overhaul up front. A bigger grille is positioned lower on the front fascia, there's reworked bright trim, and the new Buick emblem on the hood. Headlights are now integrated into the bumper, Jeep Cherokee-style, and LED daytime running lights replace the outgoing Envision's headlights. The revamped look brings the Envision in line with other recent additions to the Buick range, like the Encore. Because Buick released one picture for the summer reveal, we still have no idea what the Envision's back end and interior look like. In our previous post on the delay, we mused that GM might get good news and move the production date up from year-end. GMA says that's what's happened, production now slated for Q1 of this year at one of Buick's plants in China.