The Buick LaCrosse receives its most powerful engine ever for 2012 with the addition of a revised 3.6-liter V6 that puts out 303 horsepower, a 23 pony bump over the 2011 model.
Buick says that, despite the power increase, the LaCrosse will still be rated at the same 17 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway as the outgoing 2011 LaCrosse V6. The new V6 can also be paired with all-wheel-drive, although Buick hasn’t released fuel economy numbers for that model. In 2011, it was rated at 16/26 with the outgoing 280 horsepower V6.
A new cylinder head design with a revised intake port and larger diameter intake valves in the heads, as well as a longer-duration intake camshaft are responsible for the increased horsepower. Torque is rated at 264 lb-ft. for the new engine, a 5 lb-ft. improvement. The new V6 is codenamed LFX, while the old unit was known internally as LLT.
The automaker released a video from an engineering lab to detail the V6′s changes.
Despite the improvements, General Motors says that its engineers were also able to shave 20.5 lbs. from the V6′s weight by using lighter materials and more creative packaging.
“The changes we’ve made to the 3.6L V-6 represent greater refinements to an already well-balanced package,†said Tom Sutter, global V-6 chief engineer. “We are using the latest designs, lighter-weight components and enhancements to improve the engine’s performance, efficiency and durability.â€
For 2012, four-cylinder LaCrosses will also be available with a new eAssist mild hybrid system that boosts fuel economy to 37 mpg.
GM has not released photos or additional trim detail changes for the 2012 LaCrosse.
