The standard gasoline/electric hybrid drive system is now fairly common place in the automotive industry, so it takes something truly unique to make some honest noise. Buick made a move in 2011 to do just that by introducing the eAssist powertrain for the Regal and LaCrosse sedans and now, they seem to be showing their worth. At the end of February 2012, the larger four door with the lithium-ion battery pack took a hold of 25 percent of LaCrosse sales: an all-time high for the powertrain. In 2011, the four cylinder Buick only held on to an average of 11 percent of its sales. Clearly, consumers are beginning to take notice as one in four new LaCrosse owners took custody of an eAssist.
“Consumers want fewer visits to the gas pump, but they don’t want to compromise either,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick and GMC Marketing. Those fewer visits come by way of a hybrid drive system that isn’t necessarily a hybrid. Though the LaCrosse and Regal eAssists use a compact lithium-ion battery pack, electric motor and conventional 2.4 liter inline four cylinder engine, it does move solely on electric power. In the Buicks, the system aids the gasoline burning mill so that it can operate at its most efficient capacity. At stop/start feature also allows the eAssist to use zero fuel while waiting for a traffic light to change green.
”The eAssist technology is bringing in buyers from premium brands like BMW, Lexus and Audi,” said Greg Anderson, sales manager at Casa de Cadillac Buick GMC in Sherman Oaks, California. “These new Buick customers are interested in technology and fully loaded models. One came off the truck on Sunday that we had already sold on Thursday. The eAssist story is getting out, and buyers are interested.”
Source: Buick
