As Buick tries to amp up interest in a flagging product line, the carmaker is making its foray into mainstream small cars with the upcoming 2010 Buick LaCrosse. However, this shift from big luxury sedans could possibly mark the cancellation of the bigger models such as the Lucerne.

Every automaker is now looking to cost-effective, fuel-efficient, and environment-friendly cars to boost sales in the changing automotive sales landscape; so is Buick. The LaCrosse will be Buick’s first model that will be on the new global midsize setup for General Motors cars. The Lucerne, on the other hand, posted a 34.1-percent sales decline over the past year. The dismal sales for the brand’s biggest sedan could prompt management to shelf any plans for a next-gen model.

The priority shift is seen by many as a good decision, with big luxury being far from the minds of most consumers in this current economic slump. Only time will tell if the LaCrosse really is the answer that Buick is looking for.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse is set to debut at Detroit’s North America International Auto Show in January 2009.

Source: Left Lane