Friday, September 23, 2011

All about eAssist

2012 Buick LaCrosse


2012 Buick Regal

Back in November 2010, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, General Motors announced the next generation BAS (Belted Alternator System) Hybrid system called "eAssist" and the first models to be equipped with this new mild hybrid system are the 2012MY Buick LaCrosse and 2012MY Buick Regal.

Before we explain about the new eAssist system, let's talk about what just happened at the Buick LaCrosse and the Buick Regal for the 2012 Model Year. The change was the trim names. As of now, Buick will start ditching the CXL/CX/CXS trim names in favor of something specific like Base, Convenience, Leather, Premium, or Touring. That's all, let's explain about eAssist:

The new eAssist system features a powerful 115-Volt Lithium-ion battery sourced from Hitachi, generating a 20HP, 79lb-ft electric motor that provides aid to the 2.4L ECOTEC engine. This new system will provide useful features such as idling stop system, regenerative braking, and a fuel economy of 36MPG (15.3km/L) highway. The new eAssist system comes standard on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse but on the 2012 Buick Regal, it may be considered an optional feature. Either way, they both come with a modified version of the 6T40 6-speed AT FWD transaxle.

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