Not the usual pickup, dirt-hauling kind of company, but one with variations of sport-utility vehicles that offer a different versatility than a sedan.

Well, you Buick folks, and even drivers who never thought you would consider the brand, be aware that the car company is developing a range of vehicles that will bring fresh vision to the Buick nameplate.

The first entry is the LaCrosse sedan, a cross between European, Asian and American sedans that demonstrates a new direction for domestic automobiles.

The LaCrosse is sleek, yet continues to imbue the Buick attitude of being roomy and comfortable. This car also has a bit more European flair for driving. It offers a reworked suspension system. The goal for Buick engineers was to keep the ride quality people expect, and reduce the body roll while increasing the handling abilities.

This was possible by replacing the front drivetrain cradle with an all-aluminum structure. As a result, the soft-ride suspension provides excellent ride comfort while, at the same time, handles hard cornering. This isn’t a sports car, but it sure changes the face of Buick.

I found the interior to be full of wood and metal-accented trim. The seats are made of leather and a new material that is durable yet carries a premium appearance. Seating surfaces are leather while the sides are made of vinyl combined with silk material.

Two power sources are available: the 3.6-liter V-6 and the 3.8-liter V6. I found the 3.6-liter V-6 to be smooth and quiet. The components that surround both the powertrains make each a better package than previous models.

The four-speed overdrive automatic transmission is smooth in shifting and works well under normal use.

The design of the exterior is Buick refined. The front hood and fenders slope toward the road. And the front bumper and the fascia have a wide sporty look. Large 17-inch wheels provide a strong stance that is equal to a European sedan and the rear fenders have a slight bulge that suggests a muscular shoulder above the rear wheels. The truck lid provides a large opening for easy access to the storage area. Although I did not test the capacity, it appeared as though the trunk could easily swallow up four golf bags and still have room for more. The rear-end design is anything but mundane.

This is the first vehicle that has been touted as being heavily infused by product guru Bob Lutz. Since he came on board at GM, we have been promised exciting things from its design studio. While the LaCrosse isn’t going to set hearts to flutter, it does give us hope that his influence will, if nothing else, take the chains off the GM design studio and make room for more creativity. And by the sneak peeks the world’s biggest carmaker has given us of products coming down the pipeline, it is evident these folks have an unchained enthusiasm for automobiles.

Ron Moorhead, a nationally syndicated automotive columnist, can be reached at ronmoorhead@hotmail.com