It’s been a quiet front for Buick as of recent, though the brand is keen to capitalize on the momentum gained in the U.S. market since a self-proclaimed rebirth involving “white space” and major plans to revitalize the entire lineup.

Today marks an important step in that revitalization, as the Tri-Shield brand ushers in a new face for its future with the 2017 Buick LaCrosse.

Buick’s New Face

Foremost, yes, the Buick Avenir influence is very noticeable up front. The new grille includes a refreshed take on classic “waterfall” elements, and sits recessed at the front of the car with wing-shaped elements. And, as fans have clamored for, the red, white and blue tri-shield badge is back and here to stay.

The design has taken on a very sleek a fluid look, ditching the tall, portly proportions of the outgoing, second-gen LaCrosse. The 2017 LaCrosse wears Buick’s signature sweepspear,reinterpreting the body-side design element in a modern fashion to provide depth to the car’s sheetmetal.

Overall, the front wheels have been pulled forward and the wheelbase stretched 2.7-inches, while length is only 0.6 of an inch longer. A 1.6-inch lower roofline carries the 2017 LaCrosse’s sleek profile into a tasteful lip in the rear with a pair of winged LED taillights.

“It’s a sleeker design that looks confident and purposeful,” said Holt Ware, exterior design director. “Stretching the wheelbase, lowering the roofline and making it slightly wider creates a dramatic effect that is enhanced by the design’s supporting elements such as the swept headlamps.”

Interior Ambiance And True Craftsmanship

The 2017 Buick LaCrosse also welcomes a new approach to interior-cabin design. The new single-cockpit design is characterized by a horizontal form that sweeps into the doors and across the instrumental panel. A “floating” center console was made possible with the inclusion of the all-new eight-speed Electronic Precision Shift. Not only does it provide a major sense of design, it also creates extra storage below.

“There is fluidity in the interior forms – a seamless ambience that flows throughout the cabin,” said Liz Wetzel, interior design director. “Like the exterior, there is sculptural beauty in the interior’s functionality, complemented with high-quality, authentic materials and exceptional attention to detail.”

Buick has made it clear that nearly every touchpoint on the car is a wrapped in a premium, soft-touch material, which we can vouch for. Anywhere the hand will touch feels luxurious and soft. Depending on the trim level, genuine aluminum sills and wood decor washes the cabin, contrasted with true French stitching on the seats.

Additionally, the following are included to provide the greatest luxurious experience seen yet from a Buick sedan:

Three fashion-inspired interior trim choices: Jet Black Dark Atmosphere and Shale Jet Black and Brandy

Contemporary Moon White ambient lighting

Eight-way-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with new massage feature – with improved heating for quicker warm-up on cold mornings

Perforated leather-appointed seats

Heated steering wheel

Dual-zone automatic climate control

Power rear sunshade

Premium Bose audio system

Engineering Luxury And Silence

But the 2017 Buick LaCrosse isn’t merely a design statement. The full-size luxury sedan arrives with General Motors’ next-generation 3.6-liter LGX V6, including the latest stop/start technology. The V6 will be paired to the all-new eight-speed transmission with Electronic Precision Shift, sending power to either the front wheels, or Buick’s all-new twin-clutch all-wheel drive system that anticipates where power needs to be sent between the front and rear wheels, and between the rear wheels.

Two suspension packages will be available with the 2017 LaCrosse, each tailoring the vehicle’s driving experience to a different kind of driver. The first features a MacPherson front suspension setup to maximize driving comfort, and is paired with 18-inch wheels. The second utilizes Buick’s HiPer Strut setup for a more dynamic driving experience, and receives 20-inch wheels. Both suspension choices get an all-new five-link rear suspension. Continuous Dampening Control is also available to further enhance comfort and driving capabilities.

Finally, Buick’s QuietTuning has been taken to new heights in the 2017 LaCrosse. Over 100 sound points have been examined to ensure a refined, quiet driving experience. These include the window switches, wiper blades and triple-sealed doors.

Safety First With State-Of-The-Art Technology

Along with parent company General Motors, Buick remains committed to be the safest automaker in the market. That’s reflected in the 2017 LaCrosse’s bountiful amount of passive and active safety features, including:

Ten standard airbags

Front pedestrian braking

Lane keep assist

Teen Driver information system

The latest technologies will be ready for action with the all-new LaCrosse, too. OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot is front and center. It combines forces with an eight-inch MyLink infotainment system. Buick has also included a fantastic slot for mobile phones, which happens to charge the device as it sits, too.

The 2017 Buick LaCrosse will be built at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, and Buick states the 2017 LaCrosse will reach dealerships during the summer of 2016. And even though the new LaCrosse may not fit the brand’s “white space” motif, it looks to fill a void as a possible grand-slam volume player ready to do battle in the near-luxury space.