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HiPer Strut Suspension
Buick LaCrosse CXS incorporates North
America's first use of a unique front suspension design called HiPer Strut. It
is a premium, technologically advanced suspension design that improves ride and
handling characteristics in four significant ways:
- Reduces torque steer
- Improves vehicle sensitivity to tire irregularities and wheel imbalance
- Provides more linear and communicative steering through improved camber
control
- Improves impact isolation on bumps and rough surfaces.
Derived from "High Performance Strut," the LaCrosse CXS' HiPer Strut
suspension is partnered with conventional dampers when used with the standard
18-inch wheels and an advanced, electronically controlled damping system with
the available 19-inch wheels.
HiPer Strut is based on the MacPherson
strut front suspension design and features dual-path top mountings that separate
the transfer of spring and damper loads to the body structure. A combined
steering knuckle/strut carrier is unique to the design. The lower control arms
are attached to a rigid sub-frame that is bolted to the body structure with four
isolators that reduce the transmission of noise and vibrations to the interior.
The design also enables a limited-slip differential, for even greater
traction, and supports better ride quality with larger-diameter wheels -
including LaCrosse CXS' available 19-inch wheels.
At the rear suspension,
the CX, CXL and base CXS models feature a four-link design that is mounted to
the body at four points. CXS with optional 19-inch wheels and Touring Package
feature a more sophisticated H-arm design that uses the same attachment points
as the four-link system but with the cross member attached via isolated mounts.
The lower H-arm replaces the basic trailing link, delivering a greater ride
quality and lower noise.
The Touring Package also includes real-time
damping and Sport Mode Selectivity, which uses four electronically controlled
dampers to constantly "read" the road and make adjustments within milliseconds.
Vehicle Control
Along with HiPer Strut suspension in the CXS,
all LaCrosse models employ a variety of state-of-the-art systems that enable
exceptional vehicle control through the steering system, brakes and more. GM's
StabiliTrak electronic stability control system is standard on all models.
Additional highlights include:
- Variable effort power steering that delivers greater assistance at
low speeds, such as parking maneuvers, and reduced effort at higher speeds
for a greater feeling of control. The steering system has a quick, 15.2:1
ratio, requiring only 2.75 turns lock to lock.
- Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS, including large,
12.6-inch-wide (321 mm) front discs and 12.4-inch-wide (315 mm) solid rear
discs. Lightweight, aluminum-body calipers are used at each corner.
- Electronic Brake force Distribution that ensures optimum braking force
is applied simultaneously at both axles, for maximum stability under heavy
braking; and a Brake Assist System that senses the severity of a braking
situation and applies additional braking pressure when needed.
Luxurious Interior Experience
Inside, the interior is defined
by a flowing, uninterrupted design theme that wraps around the instrument and
door panels. Attention to detail is evident throughout the interior, including
the analog instrument cluster, chrome offset by dark woodgrain accents, and
contrasting stitching on the instrument panel.
Buick's signature
QuietTuning - an engineering process to reduce, block and absorb interior noise
- provides a distraction-free passenger environment.
An unexpected,
inviting touch is the ice blue ambient lighting throughout the cabin from the
center console, instrument panel and door handle pockets.
Intelligent
Personal Technologies
The contemporary atmosphere of the cabin is
accented with available digital connectivity and personal technologies that
include in-dash navigation with a 40-gig hard drive (10 gigs reserved for
music), Bluetooth, an auxiliary audio input and a USB port. Rear-seat passengers
can enjoy an available power rear-window sunshade and a DVD entertainment system
with two display screens integrated into the seatbacks.
LaCrosse's
intelligent technologies also work to deliver a 360-degree field of vision
behind the steering wheel, for a greater feeling of comfort, security and
safety. It starts with the available head-up display in the windshield, allowing
the driver to monitor speed while keeping his or her eyes on the road. At night,
available adaptive lighting can direct the high-intensity discharge headlight
beams up to 15 degrees for enhanced illumination of the road and its curves.
LaCrosse offers Side Blind Zone Alert technology that notifies the driver if
a vehicle in adjacent lanes is traveling in the driver's blind spot. The
available rearview camera features a display integrated into the navigation
system screen.
The technologies available on LaCrosse enhance a suite of
standard safety features, including front-, side- and roof-mounted head-curtain
air bags, and GM's StabiliTrak stability- and traction-control system. The
safety and security of OnStar is also included for the first year of ownership.
LaCrosse is manufactured at GM's Fairfax Assembly facility in Kansas City,
Kan.
Buick LaCrosse CXS: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications