While Buick has made news by reaching down into the compact and subcompact segments with its Verano sedan and Encore crossover, the brand is also nudging upward, ever so slowly. First comes this fancy Ultra Luxury interior package for the 2014 model year on its strong-selling Lacrosse, and the high-zoot treatment may soon be applied to more Buicks, most likely those wearing Enclave badges.
At this point, the fancy-pants interior is available in only one color scheme: deep "sangria" and black. The cabin is swathed in soft semi-aniline leather below shoulder level, with a nappy synthetic suede headliner above, while dark-veined Tamo Ash wood—yes, real wood—and chrome dress up the dash, doors, and center console. The asking price for the upgrade is $2495. It's a very nice treatment—if very purple, which is said to be a hot new trend this year—but, interestingly, the color combo is not offered in China, where the LaCrosse interior was designed and where the car is extremely popular as a luxury livery vehicle.
Don't be surprised to see additional color schemes added to the Ultra Luxury palette in the future, using the same premium materials, and for it to appear elsewhere in the lineup. "We're looking at it for future models," said a spokesman, who added that it makes the most sense for higher-end vehicles like the LaCrosse and Enclave versus the Regal, Verano, and Encore.
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When asked about what other high-end aspirations Buick has, we got little we haven't heard before: "We're continuing to look at the portfolio . . . and explore and push the boundaries of the brand." How much further could Buick push itself? Rumors continue to swirl regarding more GS variants, rear-drive Grand National/GNX models, and the possible addition an Opel Cascada–based convertible to the lineup. So watch this space.
from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/nSHy27
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