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2010 Buick LaCrosse from Detroit

While the outgoing Buick LaCrosse featured one distinct superpower -- invisibility -- the 2010 iteration could be a savior for the brand. With classy sheetmetal that will probably remind you of the Buick Invicta concept, vastly improved interior materials, and an all-new powertrain, the 2010 LaCrosse should compete better with cars like the Lexus ES350 and the Lincoln MKS. Powered by either a 260 hp, 3.0L direct injected V6 or a 280-hp 3.6L, it should offer performance to match its portholed good looks.

We actually took a close look at this new LaCrosse a couple of weeks ago, and you can see that video and review by clicking here, but for now we've added a new live gallery from Detroit and posted the press release after the jump. There's also some new video to see of the unveiling. Hit the jump to view the live press video for yourself, and if you'd like to read our extensive preview of Buick's newest sedan.

Click above to watch video after the jump

The current Buick LaCrosse is one of those cars that passes you on the road and you don't even notice it. GM and the Buick design team are looking to remedy that situation with the 2010 LaCrosse. Classy sheet metal, vastly improved interior materials, and an all-new powertrain will help the new LaCrosse compete with the likes of the Lexus ES350 and the Lincoln MKS. A 260 hp, 3.0L direct injected V6 and a 3.6L powerplant that outputs 280 ponies means the new LaCrosse will also be able to compete on performance and efficiency as well.

We had the opportunity to talk with several of the people responsible for the new LaCrosse, and we had cameras rolling so you could get in on the conversation. Hit the jump to view the video for yourself, and if you'd like to read our extensive preview of Buick's newest sedan, click here.

2010 Buick LaCrosse

If the car you see here looks somewhat familiar, it should. It appeared in concept form at last spring's Beijing Motor Show as the Buick Invicta concept. At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the Invicta becomes the 2010 Buick LaCrosse. Like many recent examples, the Invicta was a less a concept than a very mildly disguised version of the upcoming production car. Just before the Christmas break, General Motors gave the media a preview of the new production LaCrosse in the design dome at the company's tech center in Warren, MI.

GM North America VP for Buick-Pontiac-GMC Susan Docherty, global mid-size car vehicle line executive Jim Federico, and Buick brand character chief designer Dave Lyon provided a run-down for us on the new LaCrosse. The mid-size Buick is the first North American market application of the revised Epsilon II architecture that debuted last summer as the basis of the Euro-only Opel Insignia. Follow the jump and we'll tell you all about it.

Chinese-spec Buick Regal

General Motors has just released a huge gallery of photos of its new Chinese-only Regal sedan. Anyone who has seen the Opel Insignia will immediately recognize the Regal as a badge engineered version of Opel's mid-size model. Aside from the standard Buick waterfall grille and the badges, the new Regal is essentially the Insignia. Prior to the launch of that car last summer, we had been expecting that car to arrive stateside in the next year or two as the next-generation Saturn Aura. However, GM delayed that program earlier this year and it may in fact be dead.

When GM revealed its viability plan to congress earlier this month, Buick, along with Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac were announced as the core U.S. brands, with Saturn on the backburner. GM has not provided any indication of whether it will offer the Regal in the US market as a Buick, but the Epsilon II platform it uses will also sit under the new LaCrosse and the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu so it should have no trouble passing US safety regs. With Buick being a core brand and only having the LaCrosse, Lucerne and Enclave right now a fourth model might be helpful. Some suggest that it could be offered as a lower cost four-cylinder alternative to the LaCrosse, but there's no word yet on how much the Regal will cost to manufacture. We hope to learn more about Buick's plans at the Detroit show in a couple of weeks when the LaCrosse is finally unveiled.

Small(er) is the new big as far as Buick's concerned. With the precipitous sales falloff of full-sized cars, Buick's putting its chips on the mid-sized 2010 LaCrosse, which will go on sale in the U.S. and in China. That leaves the full-size Lucerne in terminal orbit; built on GM's G Platform, Buick has no plans to redesign it, and no plans to replace it with the Park Avenue, which goes straight from its Holden assembly line in Australia to a port in China.

The LaCrosse will aim at the U.S. premium mid-size buyers and be the first domestic entrant on GM's new global mid-size platform. While it can fit both four- and six-cylinder engines, the pick of the litter will probably be the all-new 3.0-liter direct-injection V6. To give it a serious chance as an import fighter, the LaCrosse will also receive features like a heads-up display and all-wheel-drive. We'll be bringing you the full story on the car that will be Buick's spearhead from next month's Detroit Auto Show, so stay tuned.