Now that Buick has fewer internal competitors, its first truly new sedan in more than a decade might garner some attention. The 2010 LaCrosse drops the ancient 3.8-liter V-6 and W-body platform that have served as the basic ingredients for every mid-size Buick sedan since the 1990 Regal; in their place, it uses mechanicals from the Opel Insignia. That means it rides on the next generation of GM's Epsilon architecture and is powered by a pair of direct-injection V-6s producing either 255 or 280 hp.
AND IT DOESN'T EVEN LOOK OLD: Styling is also a departure from the geriatric current model. GM tapped its youngest U.S. designers for the project, resulting in an edgier take on traditional Buick styling cues. For the interior, GM looked to its Chinese studio to make sure that it appeals to the tastes of what is now Buick's biggest market.