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In the mid-2000s, the marketers at Buick touted a top trim level named Ultra, offering near-Cadillac luxury content and extra design flourishes. That notion has now been revived for 2018 as a sub-brand named Avenir, first applied (outside of a minivan sold in China) to the Enclave SUV. Now there’s an Avenir version of the most loaded, plushest LaCrosse possible.
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The new 2018 LaCrosse Avenir does for Buick customers what the Park Avenue Ultra did when sedans with three-across bench seating were in vogue. Avenir script badges appear on the doors and sills and are embroidered into the headrests. Avenir-specific 19-inch wheels are standard, while 20-inch wheels come with adaptive dampers on the optional Dynamic Drive package. A new Chestnut leather interior, a darker version of the current Brandy color, is exclusive to Avenir models, although the seats in the LaCrosse don’t have the white piping found in the Enclave Avenir.
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The LaCrosse Premium trim level’s optional navigation system, 11-speaker Bose stereo, and panoramic sunroof are all standard in the Avenir, as is the top-grade 3.6-liter V-6, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Just as GMC does with its Denali models, Buick wants its Avenirs to stand out, so the black vertical grille lines are swapped out in favor of a chromed crosshatch pattern to ensure that owners can spot their cars when parked next to Buicks that are merely Premium grade.
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- Instrumented Test: 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir AWD
- In-Depth Review: 2017 Buick LaCrosse
- The 15 Most Beautiful Cars under $ 50K That You Can Buy Right Now
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All-wheel drive and safety features such as automated emergency braking are still extra-cost options. It’s possible to crest $ 50,000 on a fully loaded LaCrosse Premium AWD, so we expect the LaCrosse Avenir (which hasn’t been priced yet) to exceed that top end when it arrives at dealerships in January.
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