2000 Buick LaCrosse Concept

Introduced in 2000, the Buick LaCrosse Concept vehicle was a five-passenger sedan that was considered to be both stylish and graceful. Functional, the LaCrosse Concept could quickly and easily convert with a single voice command to open paneled ‘pickup-type' bed with plenty of room for oversized cargo. The LaCrosse Concept featured a vertical-bar grille, cross-car rear lighting, 'portholes' and a 'sweepsear' side profile, most of these design features were borrowed from Buick's heritage.

Buick's GM Roger W. Adams defines the Lacrosse as the ‘latest evolution of the class American luxury sedan'. Buick didn't want consumers to sacrifice anything in this latest upgrade, and the method behind this concept was to feature the Lacrosse Concept with as much luxury and comfort possible.

Featuring very advanced features and enhanced versatility, the Buick Lacrosse Concept has a transversely mounted engine with front-wheel drive, and a unibody construction with rubber-isolated front and rear subframe. There are also a variety of roof and cargo bay configurations. The 4.2-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 engine was showcased in a power-operated hood that opened from the side. The premium V-8 is branded with Buick's name and is coupled to an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission.
The LaCrosse is capable of 265 horsepower at an estimated 5600 rpm with 284 lb-ft at 4000 rpm.

The tinted-glass sunroof of the Lacrosse was the most innovative feature of the vehicle, and with a voice command could be opened for ventilation or stargazing. The sunroof retracts easily and efficiently the back window and trunk lid slide forward to transform the trunk into an open cargo bay. An additional voice command switched the rear seat into more load floor capacity.

The Buick GM Design team was assigned to this project to create a utilitarian vehicle in Buick's lineup. Unique design features on the Buick LaCrosse Concept vehicle were bi-metallic wheel and exhaust-tip adornments, clear headlamp lenses and a filigreed accent on the rear edge of the hood. The design team's intent was to create a versatile vehicle that would also be a gorgeous flagship for Buick.

The LaCrosse features the same amount of interior room as the Buick 2000 Park Avenue Luxury sedan, but its 121.7-inch wheelbase exceeds the Park Avenue's by 7.9 inches.

By Jessica Donaldson