General Motors has released new information on its top-of-the-line 2012 Buick LaCrosse equipped with a new and more potent version of its direct-injected 3.6L V6 engine that joins the freshly released standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with eAssist, which we’ve already told you about in a previous article.
For the 2012 model year, the direct-injection 3.6-liter six-cylinder unit has been upgraded with several new features including a different cylinder head design, larger-diameter intake valves in the heads and new, longer-duration intake camshafts.
In addition, the V6 also uses several lighter-weight components including a new integrated cylinder head/exhaust manifold design that save 13 pounds and a new composite intake manifold shaving another 5.5 pounds. The lighter structural front cover and connecting rods help bring the total weight savings to 20.5 pounds or 9.3 kg.
In terms of performance, the updated V6 delivers 303-horsepower and 264 lb.-ft. (358 Nm) of peak torque on the front-wheel-drive LaCrosse, an increase of 23-horses and 5 lb-ft respectively over the current engine.
GM says the improved performance numbers come with no loss in fuel efficiency with the FWD model rated at 17 mpg city and 27 highway. The Detroit firm has not yet rated the all-wheel drive version of the V6 model.
“Thanks to increased use of lightweight components and other enhancements, the new 3.6L V-6 offers 2012 LaCrosse buyers improved acceleration with no hit to fuel efficiency,” said Doug Osterhoff, LaCrosse product marketing manager.
Sales of the 2012 LaCrosse will start in the U.S. before the end of summer.
*Opening photo: 2011 Buick LaCrosse CSX
