Beijing '08: Buick Invicita ('10 La Crosse) concept

[Scotsman]

I would NOT mind driving this car, at all.

Buick's sleek, luxurious Invicta sedan concept is essentially a mildly camouflaged replacement for the lackluster Buick LaCrosse.

The Invicta is the next step in the evolution of Buick's styling direction, said Dave Lyon, General Motors' executive director of interior design for North America. The Invicta concept debuted on Saturday at the Beijing auto show.

Before August of last year, Lyon was GM's executive director of design for Asia Pacific.

"The Buick brand in China was one of my highest priorities," he said during a Monday, April 14, conference call.

The Invicta concept draws on design cues first seen on the Riviera coupe concept that debuted last year at the Shanghai auto show. That vehicle design generally received high praise from the automotive media.

The LaCrosse replacement will debut this year, developed on GM's new front-wheel-drive, global mid-sized vehicle architecture. The new sedan will go on sale next year.

Lyon said "graceful" and "powerful" describe Buick's styling direction.

"Above all, I would say 'graceful.' These vehicles above all have to be very well balanced--lots of flowing lines from nose to tail. If there is anything that stops your eye, it is completely intentional."

One difference between the Invicta and the production sedan is the sharp slope of the roofline. The concept mimics the steep slope on the Riviera concept. But industry sources say the production car's roofline will not have such a steep slope because that would hinder entry to the rear seats.

The Invicta is 3.9 inches shorter and 0.8 inches wider than the 2008 LaCrosse. The wheelbase is 114.5 inches, 4 inches longer than the LaCrosse's.


Buick Invicta

High-powered four banger
The Invicta concept also signals that the LaCrosse replacement will be marketed, at least in China, with a high horsepower four-cylinder engine.

The Invicta concept is powered by a direct-injection, turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 250 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque. The engine is teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Beijing auto show was selected for the unveiling because China is Buick's biggest market. Last year 332,115 Buicks were sold in China, a 9.2 percent increase from the previous year. In contrast, Buick's U.S. sales totaled 185,791, a 22.8 percent decline from the previous year.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...800263908/1065

[Scotsman]

[Camaro Lives On]

WOW, that is nice!! I'm not a huge fan of how short the rear is but it is still beautiful. The interior is definatly classy, but cool! looks mean up front, and the profile is sweet (tho missing any door handles), and it has a nice stance to it. The signature tri-vents is a cool touch too, yet different because they are on the hood instead of the side. I really like it!!

[AirGoya]

Does that little speaker in the middle of the dash look familiar?

[TAG UR IT]

^

very, very nice looking car. Give it RWD and a lil' more power and I'd take one. Loving...well, the exterior and the interior. Has the looks all the way around!

[COPO_Chevy]

looks sweet like buick back in the day and i hope they start getting a big turn around in there performance department and bring back some good names such as skylark or GS, GSX, riviera, or something owell still a sweet looking car

[Navy Blue]

this is a amazing car. i'm actually working on trading in my current car for one of theese (a 07-80) they look so comfortable, and thats what i'm looking for right now, i dont mind if it isnt powerful or if it is thast just one more plus to it. i need a cruising car